Hamer Ghost Built Guilds, Gretsches

[topekatj]

I recall there being some Guild acoustics and a few oddball Gretsches that were built in New Hartford >> does anyone have the specifics on these instruments ? Model numbers, identifying characteristics, etc. were there any other brands that were ghost built ?

TIA, TJ

 

[bruce919]

The Gretch was the Spectra Sonic Series (aka TV Jones Design) There was a guitar with Bigsby Trem, bass and Baritone. Semi hollow with spruce tops. All were painted black as far as I know. between the three only about 150 total were made at Hamer then I think Gretch moved it to Japan before TV jones took the model back under his name.



I picked this one up years ago used. Someone had replaced the bridge pick up with a Firebird style pickup.

 

[topekatj]

Thanks @bruce919 , and Whoa Nelly, check out the links and photos below, the serial number font on the back of the headstock of this guitar looks just like the Hamer stamps from BITD, Sperzel tuners too.THE reverb listing includes some correspondence with TV Jones regarding the guitar’s origins and mentions that the Hamer built Gretsches have an Volute. There’s also currently a Japan built SS resembling Bruce’s on reverb. Interesting.

https://reverb.com/item/97542818-2002-gretsch-g6144-spectra-sonic-c-melody-baritone-factory-special-usa

 

[crunchee]

IIRC, Hamer did some electric guitar production for Ovation in the last 25 years or so...this might be one of those, it's been sitting at DGS for a few months (no affiliation):

VXT Hybrid '07

Sunburst, Made in USA, Gloss finish, Bound Spruce top on a chambered Mahogany body, C shaped Mahogany neck with a bound 10" radius Rosewood fingerboard and medium frets, 25.25" scale length, 1 11/16th" nut width, Seymour Duncan SH-1 humbucking bridge and neck pickups, Rewired 3-way toggle...

www.davesguitar.com

 

[cmatthes]

The Ovation Vipers were built in the Ovation side of the house, not the Hamer side.

 

[topekatj]

IIRC, Hamer did some electric guitar production for Ovation in the last 25 years or so...this might be one of those, it's been sitting at DGS for a few months (no affiliation):

VXT Hybrid '07

Sunburst, Made in USA, Gloss finish, Bound Spruce top on a chambered Mahogany body, C shaped Mahogany neck with a bound 10" radius Rosewood fingerboard and medium frets, 25.25" scale length, 1 11/16th" nut width, Seymour Duncan SH-1 humbucking bridge and neck pickups, Rewired 3-way toggle...

www.davesguitar.com

IIRC, Hamer did some electric guitar production for Ovation in the last 25 years or so...this might be one of those, it's been sitting at DGS for a few months (no affiliation):

VXT Hybrid '07

Sunburst, Made in USA, Gloss finish, Bound Spruce top on a chambered Mahogany body, C shaped Mahogany neck with a bound 10" radius Rosewood fingerboard and medium frets, 25.25" scale length, 1 11/16th" nut width, Seymour Duncan SH-1 humbucking bridge and neck pickups, Rewired 3-way toggle...

www.davesguitar.com

Hey crunch @crunchee yeah, I remember that homely thing from the past year or so.

@cmatthes : do you recall any specifics about the Guild acoustics from NH?¥

 

[cmatthes]

Hey crunch @crunchee yeah, I remember that homely thing from the past year or so.

@cmatthes : do you recall any specifics about the Guild acoustics from NH?¥

That's where ALL USA-built Guild acoustics were made after they moved the operation/crew to New Hartford from Westerly, RI in 2008.

 

[velorush]

This was an interesting video and mentioned a few details about the New Hartford plant in the context of Fender beginning at around 10:19.

 

[RobB]

I had a New Hartford D55 for a while. I’ve got a pic of Terry Reid playing it live in SF somewhere, I’ll see if I can dig it out.

Surprisingly (too) skinny neck. Build quality seemed nice, until the bridge started to lift. I eventually sold it. Nothing has unseated my J160E to date.

 

[Jakeboy]

My 1990 Westerly D25 remains an extension of my arms when I am playing it. I have worn divots into the fretboard. For 10 years it was my only guitar and was played heavily. I badly want to replace it with a J200 but it meets all my acoustic needs so well.

 

[cmatthes]

I still have the '91 Westerly JF-65-12 that my wife bought me from Gil Southworth's shop (we were dating at the time) for law school graduation. It's PERFECT. The only thing I've had done to it was send it up to New Hartford for some TLC maybe 13-14 years ago, and the always awesome Bob Powers installed a D-TAR system in it and dialed everything to factory spec.

This thing is a CANNON!