holLoWskull

Just found out about this…what a huge loss in the rock world! I was in a band about 20 years back that had the privilege of opening for him when he was fronting Thin Lizzy (post-Phil obviously). John was awesome, great tone, killer lead work, and did it all while singing lead vocals. I didn’t get to really chat with him, as they stayed on their bus, but he gave our band opener props (always appreciated when a national gives a tip of the hat to the “local nobody band “ lol. RIP Mr. Sykes…you and Gary Moore where two of my biggest rock influences style-wise.

You will think me daft for suggesting this amp if you're a guy who relies on "internet reviews" when selecting gear, but if you can deal with a 60 lb. combo I highly recommend you check out a used Genz Benz El Diablo 60 combo. Very good clean sounds in the warm channel and you have the hot channel for anything from AC/DC crunch to Metallica grind depending on which gain structure you choose. Also comes with a footswitch and has lots of features that can be controlled via the footswitch. The amp can take either 6L6's or EL34's (bias pot and selector switch on back of amp), has individual channel volume and reverb, it can be switched from 60W down to a more club friendly 30W via a switch on the back, and the best part...since so many self-proclaimed 'tone gurus' slammed the amp they can be found on the used market in the $300 - $500 range all day long. Very versatile and well built gig amp on the cheap (used).

Wow it looks alot like mine (back when I had EMG's in it) only a bit more cobbled together (tilted rear humbucker!? extra tone knob hole in the pickguard!?). Obviously I don't think it's ugly...imitation is the greatest flattery after all

Then you, sir, are just no fucking fun. C'mon man get the paraphrase right...I'm not the one looking to get in a beef, Kiz is All reasonable points stated so no beef taken with any of it, but there is a difference in the perceived urgency between a HFC member posting to "get your orders in while we can" vs. had Hamer said directly to dealers back in say September, October or even Novermber "there will be no more Hamer custom orders as of December 6". I guess my beef with FMIC is while I understand the timing might have made sense for them (factory closing down for the holiday and all) it would have been nice if they had given dealers and customers a little more lead time before pulling the Hamer life support plug to maybe work out a few final orders for early 2013 (a few sales for Hamer, a little extra revenue for its dealers, and hopefully a dream guitar for their customers).

I guess I'd ask Al, Dave, Greg, and any of the other (formerly I guess now) Hamer dealers here who've done their best to get Hamers into the hands of their customers if they think there'd be any use in petitioning FMIC to extend the window of opportunity for custom order Hamers? I am sure Dave is 100% spot on about Fender not wanting to put any more resources into Hamer, but damned if they didn't shut things down like a thief in the night (not much advance notice to dealers and at a time when potential customers where probably focused on Christmas gifts, Fiscal cliff talks, and Bush-era tax breaks expiring instead of custom ordered guitars). Seems like they should have given dealers a cut-off date that's at least a couple months into 2013 so dealers have a chance to drum up a few more orders before the brand is put on 'hiatus'. Hell Fender should do it as a final thank you to the craftsmen at Hamer who probably have enjoyed building some truly cool Hamers over the years (and might like a break from making Guilds), the dealer network who have promoted and sold Hamers over the years, and the fans of the brand who've promoted and bought Hamers over the years.

It's sad that FMIC didn't at least give a final gasp and say something like "no more orders after Dec 31," to let dealers/buyers get in under the closing gate. +1 on giving a future deadline so dealers and potential buyers could maybe get them a few more orders. At least they could have waited until after Christmas when people could maybe better afford to do one last custom order.

any word if the Hamer factory restoration service they were offering has had the plug pulled as well? Double bummer if that got shelved as well.

Nice job Lou. The guitar tone and the parts you played sit nicely in the track and overall recording. Do you have any more songs done yet?

I was there back in summer of 06' (or was it 07'!?...memory lapse LOL). I was down in Harrisburg for business and figured I'd never get a better opportunity to stop by and check out BCR Music. Only bought a set of strings but was treated like royalty by Greg (complimentary BCR Music T-shirt, got to try out several cool Hamers from Mr. Platzer's personal collection, as well as shooting the breeze for an hour or so. Probably one of if not the best music store experiences I've had...thanks Greg (and Kristin)! I'm sure I'll make it down there again when I'm passing through the area.

This: The lower case letters in my screen name spell out the the quasi-finish on the guitar (which I bought NOS back in 1994), capital L and capital W in the screen name are in reference to those times when I do something so brainless and dumb that I must have a hollow skull...there you have it...holLoWskull

Very cool song and the video compliments the music perfect. Kudos on a damn fine piece of work.

+1 the man did an awful lot for the Prog metal genre as well as being a driving force for DT all these years. As a former small-potatoes indie label Prog Metal recording artist myself, I thank Mike for giving that style of music a pulse during the Grunge years of the early/mid-90's. -1 on Rod M. Great drummer, but I'm not sure he's the right guy for DT based on their current sound direction. I think anybody who has been in Mike's shoes in a band (or a business or whatever) and has been the founder and/or person who pours their heart and soul into doing all the promtions and other behind the scences crap work to make the venture suceed would understand how he feels. To me his comments come accross more like someone who feels let down and dissapointed in the situation rather than someone who is overly arrogant.

Lots of choices, but I'll suggest also looking for a used Takamine Nashville series. All solid woods, good electronics, and STOUT necks. The 340 series was a dread w/ mahogany back/sides, 360 was same except it had rosewood back/sides, and the 460 was the Tak NEX body style (kind of a cross between a jumbo and a OM if that makes any sense) w/ rosewood back/sides. They all usually seem to sell in that $1K +/- range used.

Good God...$713!!! Must be there are a lot of closet purple Hamer fans coming out of the woodwork or something I didn't even bid once I saw it pass the $500 mark, hopefully the new owner is a member here and posts some pictures and a tone report.

Shhh Actually this is not a good time for me to even be thinking guitars, so I'll probably be out of the race quickly once the bids come in...but damn I do like me the looks of those purple Hamers especially if they sell cheap!