HamerHamburg

Cornjulio, It's a keeper, sorry ... just to good to let go for the €850 I paid and I just love the "unburst" After I bought my eBay price record breaking 78 I thought I would need a backup, so I decided to get one. I looked around for weeks to no avail (I actually missed a near mint 79 that sold for €1300 in the Thomann classifieds). Last Sunday night I check eBay Kleinanzeigen, type in "Hamer" and the first ad is the above guitar. It had 70 views already and I reckoned it was long gone. It turns out that the guy did not want to ship, local pickup only. Apparently all the contacts were asking for shipment. I wrote him, told him I would come the next day any time convenient, told him I would not negotiate the price and shell out the dough cash and gave him my full name, address and phone number, so he could check me out. That was about 11 pm on Sunday. I got an SMS 10 minutes later with an appointment for the next day and ... well here she is ... I was just stupid lucky ... also that my buddy did not see it before me. He'd been checking eBay Kleinanzeigen too and lives only half the distance. So, if I ever sell it, it goes to my buddy, who's been scratching on my door ... Cheers Todde

Here are some more pics: Dont's ask me ... dunno what the rose is about ... it was there when I got it ... and the case seems to be original to the guitar. Cheers, Todde

Well, new guitar day today again ... 82 Sunburst B&C all original down to the frets. Killer sound and slightly bigger neck than my 78. What do you think ? Cheers, Todde

That's one nice top ! It's got more of a darker tone to it, that looks stunning too. Also well kept !! I'm into the '77s and '78s for the shimmed bridge and the one piece neck. Sort of a sexy and charming faulty design ... And I just love low serial numbers (8 0425). Next one is a '77, if I ever get my hands on one at a decent price ... preferably unbound and dotted. Cheers Todde

Hello everybody ! Here's my 1978 that I recently bought on eBay Germany. It came with a non original recent case. Just a few days ago I snagged a beautiful and very well worn original case on eBay. All latches working and handle not broken. Just well worn and period correct ... When the guitar arrived it had a replaced upper strap pin. The original pin was gone and the screw was sheared off. I had my local luthier drill the old screw out and plug/refinish the screw hole and fitted my favorite locking pins - Kluson Multi Locks. They have screw on caps and look very "Gretschy". I fit all my guitars with these strap pins. The guitar did not have the original pickups anymore and was fitted with push/pull pots for coil splitting. I put some nice Bourns pots in (love the loose feel of these) with an RS Guitarworks capacitor. It's wired normally (according to the available schematic), but I had the Neck pickup built reverse for the sweet out of phase sound in the middle position. Wolfgang Damm of Amber Pickups in Germany made a pair of sweet "Spirit of 59" Humbuckers with lightly aged bobbins in the correct colors. The pickups really compliment the guitar with very sweet highs and a nice PAF "honk". High gain leads in the middle position are my favourite !! It had a fret dress and a new nut installed. It plays and sound like a dream. Currently my main guitar. I love it and I'm definitely keeping it, so don't ask ... Here we go:

It's the same seller ...

The seller never responded to my request for shipment to Germany and the costs I'll try again ...

Yep, wow !

I put the guitar in a aftermarket Les Paul Special case and it fit in, but was tight on the lid. The neck tight on the rest but the body is not flush or supported. When you closed the case the guitar was pressed down lightly, which put stress on the neck. But, we found out that it fits snug in a Gibson 1st series protector case. But the shop wanted € 250 for for it, which I found a bit high. Luckily my luthier has one in great shape that he sell me for € 170. So I'm going for that for the time being. Cheers, Todde

I'm on it ... asked for shipping and costs to Germany and got a checking and reverting reply. Let's see what he says. If a 79 Sunburst fits in snug. I am sure my 78 will have a snug fit too

I'll check if he will ship to Germany. That price is indeed ok, even with tax/duties on top. Will it fit a 78 Sunburst (it is a Monaco case) ? Thanks, cheers, Todde

I went to my guitar shop recently and must have checked 30 LP and LP type cases ... either no fit (they would not close or bend the neck when closed) or a loose fit that I thought too loose ( in a way that would allow the headstock to bump into the end of the case = no protection at all). I have no problem with overseas purchases (being in Germany), but the shipping cost and the import tax and duties are mostly a deal breaker. I can have custom flightcase made by my local flightcase company for €250,00, but - way to heavy ... I'm close to buying more recent USA Special, just for the fookin' case ... watch out here for a Special for sale with no case ... Cheers, Todde

Crap ! Logged in with a wrong account and did not see this .... So ... bump.

Hey Montelovesco, I might have a buyer for the guitar ... and I'll take the case ... ! PM sent !

I'll settle for anything that fits ... I've been looking for LP Junior cases, but to no avail. If a more recent Hamer case turns up, I'll go for it. It does not have to be an original 78. Actually, that checkerboard case looks really fancy and the inside measurements fit exactly with my Sunburst, I just checked. They also ship internationally, so i might go for that. The Cheap trick look ... ah, why not ? My preferred luthier is currently relocating and will only be available in another couple of weeks. Meanwhile the guitar is looking pretty in its stand in my living room waiting for a refret, and the repair of the sheared off strap pin. Once the guitar is ready I'll post a couple of nice pics in the Sunburst appreciation thread, so you can all appreciate it ... Still, absolutlely no regret for the amount I paid. A stunning guitar and they just don't make 'em like that anymore. Cheers, Todde

That cherckerboard case looks awesome ! Is it a correct fit ? My expercience is, that generic LP cases are bit too big. I'll try to find out if the will sell to Germany. ARM OF HAMER - I contacted TKL and they offered me to build one of their custom shop case for $450 onwards, depending on the options. They stated that they do not make the original cases anymore. Actually, I believe a perfect fitting case would be the number TKL 7825, but TKL does not have any distributor in Germany/Europe as far as I know. A real pain ... I'll keep searching eBay ... Edit: Can anybody actually confirm that the TKL 7825 case is a snug fit ? I might be able to buy from the U.S. I just need confirmation. Cheers, Todde

I am looking for an original Hamer case for a Sunburst (the 78 I recently bought on eBay). Would settle for a third party case, but only with an absolutely snug fit. I am in Germany, so Europe preferred, but shipping from USA will be considered if somebody has one for sale. Cheers, Todde

Hi Frank, Yep, you can visit Amber and test all the pickups. He will check the guitar and either recommend a certain set or you can have them wound to match your gusto and the dry sound of your guitar. Disturber, Thanks. I'll have a look at these pickups. Are they available yet ? Do I order directly from Shishkov ? Cheers, Todde

Hi Gino ! Vielen Dank ! Good to hear that I'm on the right track. I'm looking forward to visiting Wolfgang and talking pickups. He's supposed to be a very nice guy and highly professional. Actually my luthier also recommended Amber yesterday. What do you like better, the Crosspoints or the 59's ? Cheers, Todde

Thanks Frank ! It is indeed one of the best - if not the best - guitars I have ever had. I did not buy it as a collector but a a player, so I don't mind the wear and tear and the non original electronics and replaced pickups. The wiring has already been updated with the best components to the original specs. I gave it to my local luthier yesterday to have it refretted and the sheared off strap pin repaired. I can't afford any new pickups yet since I have a Bogner Atma on order that has to be paid too ... But I was planning to also restore it to the original looks with a creme and reverse zebra "booteek" PAF pickup set later this year. Amber Spirit of 59, specially wound for the guitar. This one is a keeper and I'm looking forward to get it back refretted, so that I can gig it !! Cheers, Todde

Thanks !

Here's another one for sale in Germany. Have a look at the price ... http://shop.guitarpoint.de/de/Diverse/1980-Hamer-Special-Greenburst

Bidding seems to be slow on this one ... could turn out to be a steal ...

I am told that there were times after that raid that Gibson actually put out guitars with laminated ply fingerboards, because all the fretboard wood was confiscated. A story I heard from a reliable source, but one that I cannot confirm myself.