How does Hamer compare to PRS, your opinion

[Brownsound]

I personally dont care too much for the PRS line. I dont find anything special about them and the neck heel is ridiculous when compared to Hamer construction. Any oppinions here?

[kizanski]

If you mean the newer PRS's (I'm guessing when you mentioned "The Heal" that you do), I think Hamer makes a guitar every bit as good as anything that PRS makes.

That said, I wish I still had my '87 Whale Blue Custom 24, but that's another story for another day.

Here's my Turdus Maligned, but HHB Approved PRS Killer...

Rio Grande Genuine Texas and BBQ wired with a 5 way switch (PRS style). The Wilky bridge works very well, and it's long scale! It just needs bird inlays (but I might use Dolphins - heh heh heh).

Me likey.

[Turdus]

LOL Kiz... It ain't going to kill a PRS in the "Looks" department.

[kizanski]

LOL Kiz... It ain't going to kill a PRS in the "Looks" department.

Yea, yea, I know. You love 'em or you hate 'em, and some look better than others.

I have also seen some pretty gowd aweful-looking PRS's over the years.

[Travis]

I've never really connected with a PRS like I have a Hamer. Every Hamer I pick up feels instantly familiar and comfortable even if it has a dramatically different neck shape. As far as quality goes, Hamer is every bit as good if not better. I'm not anit-PRS. I just don't care for the feel of them.

[phoenix]

I find alot special about PRS and many of their models. I also find lots of similarities in the companies except for the size and to date, resale value. Funny part is when you talk to the execs at these companies like Jol and Paul, they are huge fans of each other and their work and see each other regularly at functions. As it was described to me last week, its not about "kicking the other guys ass in the industry, but rather building the absolute best guitars you can because you love the instrument." I have heard this from other builders as well. Both the spirit of the founders and the quality of their guitars remind me alot of one another. I have owned a bunch of both that I loved.

Maybe Kiz, but I don't feel "Killed." Here's mine!

http://www.willcuttguitars.com/details.asp?stock_id=1519

On an interesting note, while we probably won't ever see any Hamer doubleneck dragons, Paul did tell me there were things Jol was doing on my guitars that they "Probably couldnt do." at PRS. Love 'em both

[kizanski]

I find alot special about PRS and many of their models. I also find lots of similarities in the companies except for the size and to date, resale value. Funny part is when you talk to the execs at these companies like Jol and Paul, they are huge fans of each other and their work and see each other regularly at functions. As it was described to me last week, its not about "kicking the other guys ass in the industry, but rather building the absolute best guitars you can because you love the instrument." I have heard this from other builders as well.  Both the spirit of the founders and the quality of their guitars remind me alot of one another. I have owned a bunch of both that I loved.

Maybe Kiz, but I don't feel "Killed."  Here's mine!

All good points, Steve. My point was that it's a two 'bucker flamed maple top set neck guitar with a straight headstock angle and trem. Kinda like a PRS.

Let me qualify what I meant by "PRS Killer" when I say that a mint condition Mirage costs about a tenth of what that Private Stock PRS costs.

Of course, no one will be buying a Mirage for their "collectablity," but then, how many of those Private Stocks get PLAYED, rather than hiding out under the bed? The Mirage will not be winning any beauty contests. It's a utility guitar. Considering its price in a "bang for the buck" comparison, it's a killer.

[SteveB]

my #1

PRS's balance better for me because of the body shape. That one is a '91 CE, although I've also owned a 2000 which was also a great guitar. The neck heal on post '95's is a red herring argument; if you play one it really isn't in the way, you still get great access. Its a cosmetic issue, and while I agree it looks funny, I gotta give PRS credit for sticking with the extra mass for tone rather than going just for looks.

Personally, I love the guitars and think they sound and play great. I prefer offset doublecut bodies and 24 frets... ain't going to find a production Hamer with those spec's new on the wall. However, there is also no doubt that used Hamers are a steal, and that if you are going to go "off production" the Hamer custom upcharges are much less than a PRS Private Stock, although to my knowledge there isn't anything they won't do in the PRS Private Stock program, whereas Hamer has limits.

[gwayne]

I've never really connected with a PRS like I have a Hamer. Every Hamer I pick up feels instantly familiar and comfortable even if it has a dramatically different neck shape. As far as quality goes, Hamer is every bit as good if not better. I'm not anit-PRS. I just don't care for the feel of them.

Exactly. I love the way the PRS looks, but they just don't do it for me on "feel".

[DavidE]

Damn Steve, are those green birds?????

Ok, here's my take. I love my Hamers, but I'm more thrilled with my semi-hollow Hamers like my 25th, my Artist Customs and recently my Newport. The others are excellent, but there's something about those semi-hollows to me.

Now, I owned a Mirage but just never really bonded with it. Great guitar, but not for me. Not a big fan of the Wilky trem. To me, that's where PRS excels. I have a wonderful McCarty. The wide-fat neck is perfect for me and the guitar sounds and feels great. But I wanted a dual humbucker guitar with a killer trem. I hate Floyds. I didn't really like the Wilky. So, I went shopping and the only one that did it for me was the PRS. I ended up with a PRS Custom 22 with Birds with a really nice top in teal black for the price of a nice used Studio Custom. The PRS quickly became my #1 gigging axe. In fact, Paults bought a Custom 22 shortly after that and I know he's been gigging with it a lot too. Just great guitars and to me they're extremely comfortable to play.

Now the PRS has been in the case since I got the Newport and gold sparkle feather weight strat....

[Richard]

I like PRSs. I think they're very good guitars. I owned and had to sell a '95 electric blue CE24 that I really wish I had back. And I quite liked the hollowbody and archtop McCartys in particular. In fact, I think the PRS shape is possibly the most beautiful solidbody shape ever.

But at their current price points I won't buy them. When I bought my Newport Pro a few years back I spent $1500. I couldn't get near a PRS Hollowbody for that then, and much less so now. Didn't make me like it less, just made me decide not to buy it. When a bolt-on CE is going for $2000, I'm not buying that either.

I love my Hamer and think it's overall the equal in quality of anything comparable out there. That doesn't mean I don't like PRSs too. Being pro-Hamer doesn't mean you have to be anti-PRS (or anti-Gibson, for that matter). Hell, I love my Carvin Holdsworth Fatboy as much as my Newport, heresy though that may be to some here.

Some people are gonna like Hamers better, some PRSs. You're on a Hamer board, so you know what you're mostly gonna get here. I say buy whatever you like better. They're both good. I don't feel there's some huge qualitative thing that sets Hamer above, or the reverse for that matter. To me the PRS heel thing is an overhyped nonissue, but mileage obviously varies on that. I also don't buy the whole "the old ones were great but the new ones suck" line either--the hollowbodies, which are relatively new, seem to me as good as anything of theirs I saw in the '80s (and I was checking them then). But opinions differ on that too.

Just try as many things as you can and go with the one that works for you. In the end, what a bunch of people on a board think doesn't really matter, right?

[kizanski]

Here's mine...

Well, it used to be mine.

As the story goes, before I discovered the Internet, ebaY, and the HFC, I was a One Guitar guy, and to get something else usually meant selling what I had.

At the time, I was a small neck fan, and I couldn't bond with the neck on the PRS, even though it was an otherwise magnificent instrument.

I was also in the market for something (I can't remember what anymore), and sold this to a good buddy for $950. That was a good price at the time (c.1990), but for a friend, it was not out of bounds.

Fast forward to about a year ago, and my first opportunity to play the guitar again after I sold it.

"Let me check that one out," I said, "because I could never deal with that neck."

I held it in my hands and cursed myself and everyone in the room because the neck was PERFECT for me!

"Of course it is," my friend said, putting it back in the case.

"Tripple your money back, buddy?"

He didn't bite, but he did laugh a hearty belly laugh at me. He went on to tell me that he had been offered $6000 for it by a collector, but turned him down.

Some buddy. He'll get his!

[RRHamer]

I think that it is mostly personal preference. I love Hamers but can't stand PRS guitars. PRS guitars are great guitars but they just don't fit me.

[phoenix]

I wouldn't own it if I didnt play it and like playing it. It also gets played by friends and guests who stop by. Frankly, it would be pointless to me if it didn't. The frills are just collectablility stuff. I don't think it is "snooty" if everyone gets to play it.

[fretknot]

Here is mine, a '03 CU 22 BLE.

PRS makes wonderful guitars, with impeccable build quality. They seem to have a very consistent quality standard for a larger manufacturer. Having said that, I will be selling off this one soon, as it gets no playing time. More of a modern sounding guitar, not suited to my classic rock tastes. I know, I know, shoulda got a McCarty instead. Hamers just fit the bill better for me. Much better value, too. IMHO, I believe their Private Stock prices are insane.

I did play an import SE Soapbar II like this one the other day.

Sounded fantastic, and was blown away by the quality for the price.

[ceeb]

I suppose if there were no Hamers, I'd be playing a PRS as my main guitar. I love my Custom 22. But I don't play it a whole lot. Once every few months I break it out and am blown away by it again, and it get's played pretty regular for a week or so.

What struck me after watching the PRS DVD is all the quality control they have at every step of the process. They really drive home the fact that the guitars are inspected after every station. That's how they maintain high quality. Jol doesn't really talk a lot about QC. Prolly because the guys building them really know what they're doing, and don't need their work to be checked. The build process insures that the quality is consistent.

For whatever that's worth, just two different ways of building. Like Phoenix says, both builders love the guitar, and each has their own style philosophy.

[BruceM]

Here's mine. I purchased it from a friend 7 years ago before I discovered this board and went on a Hamer buying rampage. I never bonded with it like I have with my Hamer herd. I believe I've got a buyer.

[cmatthes]

Kiz - if you want to install some PRS birds on that Mirage, let me know - I've got several full factory sets!!

Here's my 80s Custom - I've had it for 15 years and this is the one I'll never sell. I've said that about many guitars, but this one feels right, plays great and even has its own smell - and not in a bad way! Lousy pic below:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/cmat...0sPRSCustom.jpg

I have been through the PRS factory enough times to know that I like the Hamer approach to things better - I've got some reject/bandsawed PRS body castoffs, and believe me, they toss away more of those daily than Hamer does in a quarter!

I'm not knocking PRS at all - I think they are fantastic guitars, Paul is a visionary in the guitar world, and they make some classics. I'm not too crazy about the newer stuff, not because of the BS about the "heel from hell" (which I think was made up by an Internet retailer so he could sell more of his own guitars - everybody buys into that kind of hype too easily!), but because they are missing something to me. It might be because I see more of those than Strats anymore, who knows?

Hamers and PRS are two different animals - I personally prefer the consistency, design, feel and attitude that Hamer puts out.

[Guerrilla]

why is prs so against tom bridges?

[kurtsstuff]

I've owned and played 3-4 PRS's and for some reason they always felt "fragile" to me...I don't know why and can't explain it...I always just chalked it up to...Damn...I paid a bajillion dollars for these (10 tops w/birds) and I'll be damned if my frickin bass player's gonna ding em with his beat to shit music man bass....bastard.....lol

[Michael_]

I'l just go ahead and say it: I'm not part of the "PRS Crowd." Teenager's dont really buy their own PRS'. I'm sure some do, but they are the exception. PRS is building guitars for people who are older and richer than I, and I don't want people thinking that my mommy bought me a really nice guitar for Christmas.

Just $.02

[DaxT1138]

honestly, i'm sick of everybody thinking they have to compare Hamers to everything else. we all love Hamers, that's why we're here. however, PRS and Hamer are two different animals. Hamers and Les Pauls are apples and oranges as well. let's take a studio and a mccarty, different scale lengths, weights, neck joints, bridges, etc. one isnt better than the other, they're just different. a Studio or Monaco will never sound JUST like a Les Paul, because they aren't Les Pauls. some people like one more than the other. big deal. they're all great guitars. a Hamer will never sound like a PRS or a Les Paul or a Quicksilver or a _____, but that's why i like 'em. i like what it does for me and i would not change it at all. why not just get a couple of each?

[RecRm Rocker]

I bought my McCarty Rosewood in 98. It was the 1st electric I had bought since my Les Paul I got in 76 ! I wanted to semi retire the Paul. I love the feel of the rosewood neck!

Since this there have been 4 HAMERS added to the stable. I'd like a Hollowbody 1 but can't justify it. My Duotone does the job. Love my "Junior" and Korina Artist. I think Hamer makes more guits for various styles than PRS.....

[jwhitcomb3]

I've only sat down with a few PRS, and none of them spoke to me. Nice looking guitars though! My bassist plays a very old beat-to-shit baby blue PRS bass. I guess it's very rare...I remember him laughing a couple years back when PRS annouced that they were making basses for the first time. Anyway, it is an amazing sounding bass, though it isn't the most stable instrument. He has to get it set up every 18 months or so or it becomes unplayable.

-Jonathan

[Brewmaster]

I had a 95 PRS C-24 that just did not do it for me. It was my first EBAY purchase.

I had played a bunch of PRS models back in the early 90's when I was starting to play again and some of the early ones I liked. That is why I gambled on the EBAY purchase.

They are, for the most part, nice looking guitars but I want more than a piece of furniture. Every time I go to SCAM CASH or GUITARGET and pick one up I'm just not blown away by them. There is something missing. The exception is some of the McCarty models but even then I think I could do better for the money.