mirrorimij Posted March 30 Posted March 30 (edited) It’s right around the anniversary of the Arlington to New Hartford move….1997. Just about half my life ago. About 12 of us left our lives in suburban Chicago and jumped on planes, got in cars, etc and headed East. The shop was downsized considerably and production went from damn near 100 per week down to a dozen. We lost a lot of good people that couldn’t make the move. Many said the “new” ones would never be as good. I think the team did a great job of preserving the brand from a build perspective. Many thoughts. Thank you to Frank and Jol for giving me the opportunity to move and for the advancement opportunities that followed. I’m in a much different spot in life now but a direct line can be drawn from my time at Hamer. Thanks to Dave Brown for putting up with me as a roommate/coworker for two years lol. Thank you Mike, Chip, Clay and the rest of the crew for being such a huge part of my life back then. I’ve lost touch with some but I think about you guys often and wish you all well. We did good Gentlemen. The instruments we built hang with the best of them. Edited March 30 by mirrorimij 35 Quote
kizanski Posted March 30 Posted March 30 I always felt that the NH Hamers were better than the Arlington ones. 7 2 Quote
JPDIII Posted March 30 Posted March 30 Was this move the evolution of the Hamer brand from the best-built journeyman instrument available, to something more in line with marketing of the instruments as the fine and collectible guitar that they also were? I wonder which models didn't survive the move, and it seems there was a new generation of Hamer's that followed the move that were the equal of any custom or designer instrument on the market. I know the bolt-ons didn't make it. I wonder about the Specials. Pete Davis 1 Quote
Stike Posted March 31 Posted March 31 11 hours ago, mirrorimij said: It’s right around the anniversary of the Arlington to New Hartford move….1997. Just about half my life ago. About 12 of us left our lives in suburban Chicago and jumped on planes, got in cars, etc and headed East. The shop was downsized considerably and production went from damn near 100 per week down to a dozen. We lost a lot of good people that couldn’t make the move. Many said the “new” ones would never be as good. I think the team did a great job of preserving the brand from a build perspective. Many thoughts. Thank you to Frank and Jol for giving me the opportunity to move and for the advancement opportunities that followed. I’m in a much different spot in life now but a direct line can be drawn from my time at Hamer. Thanks to Dave Brown for putting up with me as a roommate/coworker for two years lol. Thank you Mike, Chip, Clay and the rest of the crew for being such a huge part of my life back then. I’ve lost touch with some but I think about you guys often and wish you all well. We did good Gentlemen. The instruments we built hang with the best of them. Clay's shop is two exits down the highway from mine. 5 Quote
Kerry Marchman Posted March 31 Posted March 31 14 hours ago, mirrorimij said: It’s right around the anniversary of the Arlington to New Hartford move….1997. Just about half my life ago. About 12 of us left our lives in suburban Chicago and jumped on planes, got in cars, etc and headed East. The shop was downsized considerably and production went from damn near 100 per week down to a dozen. We lost a lot of good people that couldn’t make the move. Many said the “new” ones would never be as good. I think the team did a great job of preserving the brand from a build perspective. Many thoughts. Thank you to Frank and Jol for giving me the opportunity to move and for the advancement opportunities that followed. I’m in a much different spot in life now but a direct line can be drawn from my time at Hamer. Thanks to Dave Brown for putting up with me as a roommate/coworker for two years lol. Thank you Mike, Chip, Clay and the rest of the crew for being such a huge part of my life back then. I’ve lost touch with some but I think about you guys often and wish you all well. We did good Gentlemen. The instruments we built hang with the best of them. You all did fine work in both shops. I'm proud to own 4 Hamers, and will always cherish them. Thanks for your contribution! 6 Quote
HSB0531 Posted April 1 Posted April 1 Enrico "Frank" Glavash Tom Dave: Gary: Todd: Mike: The New Hartford Crew: 23 4 Quote
HSB0531 Posted April 2 Posted April 2 (edited) SOME CHEAP NEW HARTFORD TRICKS Edited April 2 by HSB0531 15 Quote
HSB0531 Posted April 2 Posted April 2 (edited) THE NIGHT TIGER TALLADEGA Original C/O: Moozak Ordered from BCR Greg < NIGHTFIRE FINISH Edited April 6 by HSB0531 13 Quote
HSB0531 Posted April 2 Posted April 2 (edited) On 3/31/2025 at 12:23 AM, Kerry Marchman said: You all did fine work in both shops. I'm proud to own 4 Hamers, and will always cherish them. Thanks for your contribution! Same here. My 4-digit in Arlington and the 12ver in New Hartford. 1981 Arlington Heights ^^^^^ 2010 New Hartford ^^^^^^^ Edited April 6 by HSB0531 2 Quote
Cboss Posted April 2 Posted April 2 4 hours ago, HSB0531 said: THE NIGHT TIGER TALLADEGA > < NIGHTFIRE FINISH Incredible.. what happened to this one? Quote
HSB0531 Posted April 2 Posted April 2 (edited) 16 hours ago, Cboss said: Incredible.. what happened to this one? I'm almost positive it was ordered by Special K who's here on the HFC. It's only 1 to 2 digits of from my C/O. Both were being worked on from October through December 2009. Update: Ok so Special K says it wasn't his, but I'm sure someone here ordered it. Edited April 3 by HSB0531 1 Quote
specialk Posted April 2 Posted April 2 3 hours ago, HSB0531 said: I'm almost positive it was ordered by Special K Sorry, not mine, but there's a good chance it might still be around here… Quote
Cboss Posted April 3 Posted April 3 1 hour ago, specialk said: Sorry, not mine, but there's a good chance it might still be around here… I hope it surfaces Quote
veatch Posted April 3 Posted April 3 That was moozak's originally. Not sure if he still has it. That was a righteous guitar. 5 Quote
HSB0531 Posted April 3 Posted April 3 12 hours ago, specialk said: Sorry, not mine, but there's a good chance it might still be around here… Was yours the one with the stacked binding? Quote
HSB0531 Posted April 3 Posted April 3 (edited) Stacked Purfling P-90 Korina Artist in Jazzburst Edited April 3 by HSB0531 14 Quote
stratacus Posted April 3 Posted April 3 16 hours ago, Cboss said: Incredible.. what happened to this one? The last time I saw the Nightfire Tally change hands on the HFC, @trashedman came up the winner. Epic custom order. 2 Quote
HSB0531 Posted April 3 Posted April 3 36 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said: Great post with Amazing photos!👍 Thanks! Although I wish I was the one who was there to take them!! 1 Quote
HSB0531 Posted April 3 Posted April 3 (edited) 23 minutes ago, stratacus said: The last time I saw the Nightfire Tally change hands on the HFC, @trashedman came up the winner. Epic custom order. I was following my C/O when I saw the Nightfire Tally with the Abalone Victory inlays. I had ordered 10 Victories in MOP with a center Abalone piece on the 12th fret. I was kicking myself for not thinking of that option. I'm glad to hear that an HFC member bought it. Hopefully it's still here. And yes, an absolutely EPIC C/O Edited April 3 by HSB0531 2 Quote
veatch Posted April 3 Posted April 3 1 hour ago, HSB0531 said: Was yours the one with the stacked binding? That was (and still is) mine. Still kicking butt, in spite of my meager skills. 7 1 Quote
Cboss Posted April 3 Posted April 3 1 hour ago, Dave Scepter said: Great post with Amazing photos!👍 Amazing pictures, that artist holy s***! 3 Quote
bruce919 Posted April 3 Posted April 3 56 minutes ago, HSB0531 said: Mike Shishkov in the Shop Part 1 That is the Tortoise Watson in Progress. 10 1 Quote
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