kanegon

So what does the red light do? My Duotone could use one, so I'd stop leaving it plugged in! Ditto my active bass.

Are you sure you've never done this before? Amazing, really.

Only on some, like the Bardens due to the position of the height screws, but that's not with Fender, Callahams and Wilks. Just make sure the strings are absolutely straight from the hole to the nut and they'll stay put. If not, a tiny notch will do the trick.

I did that too, but the T51 bridge is about 1/4 inch closer to the neck than a Tele, and it was impossible to intonate the low E and G. As much as I prefer the vintage 3 saddle design, I had to settle for a "modern" design that offered more latitude. I like the sound of the Wilky, but the deck/plate is twice as thick as Fender or Gotoh and gets in the way. No, I'm not changing the way I pick just to deal with an odd bridge. It of course has extra long travel. I settled on the solid brass Gotoh 6 saddle, if it's good enough for Keith, it's good enough for me, but you see the low E and G are maxed out (could shorten the spring 'spose).

bang-zoom!

I don't see much Hamer in any of those. Fender's been trying to claw back the high-end market it lost to boutique brands like Anderson, for years. Now, if those had 5-piece set necks and 3/8 inch figured tops, it would be a different story. Wait a minute, what if Fender reissued the T62 or TLE? Or Strats and Teles with 14inch radius? Then again, why resurrect something that Hamer killed years (and years) ago? I'm willing to cut FMIC some slack here, they're struggling too and I do like my Strats and Tele (err...T51).

Nahh, the ink would have to dry GLASS hard. That's the secret to these pre-CBS era Grey Poupon jars.

Guess the RJR era. They were/are still the same shaped jars, the only difference being the labeling was glazed onto the glass for a good few years, till they moved the UPC bars to the lid and eventually the sticker you see now. I loved the Steve Howe meets Glen Branca meets An Index of Metals (Fripp) sorta bowing effect I was getting from the raised UPC code and ingredients list but can't find any more of those jars!

Can't keep anything flat on my lap. I even play dulcimers like a guitar.

Actually, I hold it in my right hand, in place of picking. I slide and bow with it at the same time.

They just don't make them like they used to....

Grey Poupon c. 1980-1990 with the glazed UPC code on the side. I use it as a bow/slide but have not have had one since my last one broke about 10 years ago. The UPC code moved to the lid at some point, boo hoo, and the bottles lost their magic. You don't have one collecting brads in your shop bench do you? Thanks and happy holidays!

He was a formative influence, though I don't play the sitar.

When did this happen? I thought I read it right here -- about an exchang between Letterman and Felicia Colins, in which she mentions her Hamer(s). Of course, she was/is a Hamer endorser and I think it was early in her stint. There was a link to her rig rundown heremand I got curious, looked for more and stumbled across that mention. I haven't seen it, but it sounded awful typical of Letterman. I can just hear him quip, "ah, that company that's famous for...". Don't think it's urban legend, cannot confirm 100%.

As for latter day marketing and brand recognition, it probably didn't help that someone like David Letterman described Hamer as a "company famous for knock-offs of Gibson" on TV. I've got friends that own G&L and Heritage guitars that don't know a thing about Hamer. If you were just shopping, you'd think they were all imported. G&L and PRS were smart enough to rename their import line. Seems Heritage ain't going there at all. But Hamer interests made their decision years ago - though I'm not clear on the Fender factor. Actually, I'm beginning to think PRS is on the same slippery slope, with the SEs becoming less and less distinguishable from their US line.

It's my fault. I've owned five now, but have never purchased one new. I'm sure the vestiges of those high output years will be around for a while. Too bad about custom orders, I was hoping to afford one one day.

Actually, I'm not sure I have an ash bodied T51 after all. Some claim Hamer switched Daytonas and T51s to alder in 96. Mine has a 96 neck now, but I saw it with a 95 neck in an older HC ad. There's also mixed claims as to whether the bodies were one or two piece. The dating matters because I'm considering an NOS pickguard and they apparently used two different patterns for the T51. Questions: 1. are there any clues in the neck pocket? Looks like ash in the PUP cavity, but.... 2. can the bolt-on bodies be dated? Is pot dating accurate for mid 90s CTS pots? (Forgot how it works, but I've done it with 60s and 70s guitars...) What I can say is that it weigh 8.5 lbs -- heavier than anything else I have.

My ash T51 tips in at 8.5 lbs., about that same as my basswood MIJ Strat. All my other Hamers were/are under 8, so ash does not = light. Duotone is the only one anywhere near 7, it's mahogany and spruce.

Congratulations! Look forward to the family picture.

Either way, it's a steal for an American made S guitar --- if you like the 14.5 radius. Just a tad flatter than Fender's 12". Astonishing condition, no less.

Just ran into this thread searching for locking tuners for my Studio with the Stets. It actually works very well, i've got it floating both ways. As smooth if not smoother than my Jazzmaster, and you can lock the uptrem. I like it right in between with a little of both. The effect is bigger than a Strat's or a PRS; it pulls and shrinks the strings horizontally. Let me say that Eric Stets was great to work with - he made sure it was working on the Hamer. Compare that to the bizarre business practices of Schaller, which claims there are 6 million M6 tuner users out there (including all three of my Hamers), yet the only locking tuners that drop in aren't available in the US, or anywhere else it seems. Allparts tells me they don't stock it nor can they order it. The ones stocked at Stewmac are too short (by maybe 2mm...), which leaves Hamers with no drop-in replacements - screw hole and all. Also, can you imagine trying to get help for that LP Trem? I don't like the ground strip to the stud piece.

Why is this guitar so sexy? Is it the p90s or maybe the transblack? Some guitars are just plain cool.

Formal wear courtesy of willcutt. Tone differences discussed at TGP. Henry Ford would have been proud. Gibson Les Paul Hamer Monaco Elite PRS McCarty

My wife is like -- incredibly beautiful. I wouldn't want anyone to errr, y'know, "mess" with her or nothin', so I keep her locked up at home, in the bedroom. This way, when the mood hits me, I can just oggle at her and have her all to myself without worrying about dings and scratches. It's not easy keeping them in mint condition, you gotta think about resale.

I used to hate tube screamers cause I thought they sounded shrill and boxy. But I did a mix the other day with the Studio through a friend's Deluxe using a Nobles ODR... I was surprised how much character it added to our setup; bottom, treble and I dunno whatchacallit - color? to the middle. Just more room to maneuver in general. I'd say use'em both and see how it works, especially when everyone else is cranked. Can't say I've used them all, but I recently returned an OCD.