Another sign of "no love" for Hamers

[specialk]

Between Stadium logo or MOP logo, MOP wins hands-down, for me anyway. Congrats again, sir.

[HSB0531]

Thanks specialk.

yeah MOP wins for sure.

Then of course there's the abalone inlay work on Moozak's Talladega.

[veatch]

Jol wouldn't do a Stadium Logo.

No Stadium logos from Hamer anymore?

Correct - no more stadium logos

[gorch]

I had the most of the money last year and placed an order.

I don't think I could've done it this year.

The quality is definately at the top.

Your bass is gonna be seriously bad ass. Congrats.

Thank you Sir.

...

In the near future it will look like this...

...damn nice bass but no carpets on the floor.

You will need to make an arrival photo like veatch did last time.

[HSB0531]

...

In the near future it will look like this...

...damn nice bass but no carpets on the floor.

You will need to make an arrival photo like veatch did last time.

And of course the ceremonial BCR photo.

[GaryT]

That Quilt Top is just KILLER. Very Nice!

Did you order the Quilt-Top one-piece?

[mirrorimij]

Judging by some the Gear Page guys, Hamer is doing themselves a disservice by putting out a finish that shows some depth. If it looks thick it must be thick (and must sound like my poly incrusted Strat).

I feel like taking a cabinet scraper to that guys finish just to prove a point.

[Sam]

Judging by some the Gear Page guys, Hamer is doing themselves a disservice by putting out a finish that shows some depth.

Gear Page guys (small luthiers board) are generally obsessed with unobtainium, and thus desirability is directly linked to how difficult something is to acquire. It must be incredibly frustrating for Hamer to put out top quality axes only to have them ignored by the masses (it's not a Gibson!) and dismissed by the booteek critics as factory guitars.

I suppose (selfishly) that this situation is good for me personally, though I'd love to see the brand get the recognition that it deserves.

[burningyen]

I love the inlaid logos, but the old-school plain logos still look cool to me too.

[GaryT]

From a couple feet away there isn't much difference. MOF I think I have a photo of the two from a couple feet away. The older White style actually looks better from a distance.

I don't dislike the larger style like on my T-62 either. Personal stuff I suppose.

[HSB0531]

That Quilt Top is just KILLER. Very Nice!

Did you order the Quilt-Top one-piece?

Thanks Gary.

The headstock top is 1-piece that was cut from the same billet as the body.

The body top is 2-piece, although the picture makes it look 1-piece.

I wanted a 1-piece top but Greg said that they don't make a tree big enough.

[Abaco]

^Seriously, this is one of the smartest posts about the subject I've ever read around.

I disagree. It's full of contradictions, the most glaring of which is the desire for cheap American-made products. Which do you want? Cheap or American made? The two don't typically go together.

Part of the issue here: the American dollar has been crushed. Different subject, I know. But, the dollar simply doesn't go as far as it did when we were kids.

I really love my Hamers. When I show up at a gig or jam I'm the only guy there playing one. Everybody else is playing Gibsons or Fenders. Man...it's hard to find a decent Les Paul. So many I've plucked off of racks have poor fit and finish, some with twisted necks. The last one I pulled had a twisted neck and the assembler at the factory had wound the strings around the locking machine posts. (?)

[Cary]

Quote:

And I bet ALL of those Fenders have increased in value.

Some people buy stuff to keep forever; others like me enjoy buying things, then flipping them for something else. There's validity to both approaches depending on who you are and what you want.

When I want a different kind of guitar, I first look to see what the street price for a new one is. I then look on eBay, TGP etc. to see what they sell for used. I then make the decision whether to buy a new one or wait to find the used one I want. When there's a huge disparity between new/used, it's a no brainer to go for the used.

And to me, that's Hamer's current challenge, especially if they plan to only take custom orders. But hey, I'm sure they have some reason to believe that's the track to follow and I certainly am in no position to say whether it's a viable business plan or not. I just know I won't be buying new Hamers.

Great!

That works for you and a lot of people.

As I've said before, we both/all get what we want.

But a new Hamer is not a mass produced item, and because of many things: Wood selection, components, method of build and quality of same, finishes, etc, they will continue to get more expensive.

Used Hamers are a steal though.

There's plenty of choices at great prices.

For me, having a custom built bass, going over the options with Greg @ BCR and finally getting the Hamer 12 that I've wanted for 31 years is worth every penny.

It will be exactly what I want at a price far below anything PRS, Gibson, Huber, or anyone else could build at that quality level with the wood quality and the options (even if they could or would).

And, you get to see it being built and documented:

Much Love for Hamers!

That is absolutely KILLER!

[gorch]

Except for one that I built, I still own every bass and guitar that I bought.

So, I don't care what the resale value is.

I don't buy a bass for its resale value.

I buy it for me.

I'm not in the business of selling.

I'm in the business of playing an instrument that I appreciate.

I don't buy-n-flip buy-n-flip.

I buy thinking 10-20-30 years down the road, will I still appreciate and enjoy this.

That's why, a new Hamer purchase will never be expensive.

Because I'll still have it 30 years from now.

Buy-n-fliping over 30 years will cost me a lot more money simply because of the depreciation.

Here's an example of what I bought New since 1974:

1973 Fender P-Bass $200.00

1977 MusicMan Stingray $400.00

1980 Fender P-bass Special $450.00

1981 Hamer Standard Bass $1,400.00

1982 Fender Walnut Elite II $750.00

1983 Fender 57 Re-issue P $350.00 (dealer cost).

1986 Fender 62 Re-issue P $400.00 (dealer cost).

2009 Hamer Standard 12 custom Order (not received yet) $*,***.**

All total, in 35 years of playing, including the Hamer on order my investment is less than $9,500.00.

That's $271.43 per year.

I still use them all.

I rotate playing them, so I've only had to do 1 fretjob.

Each one is a little different and a different color , so I never get bored.

It's like buying throw-a-way plastic forks & knives and paper plates verses keep it forever Oneida flatware and dinnerware.

Sure, initially the Oneida plates/flatware is a lot more expensive, but in the long run it's cheap.

Quality stuff will always be more expensive in the short run, while being cheaper in the long run....as long as you keep it.

You are doing exactly right.

I still own and care for my good old DUAL CS 626 record player I bought 1980. I refurbished my old Ohm Acoustics L speakers this year, because I immediately fell in love with their sound when I first heard them and thought I would not get anything better for the same money invested on new speakers. It's been the right decision doing so as they again deliver the sound I remembered from the early days.

Unfortunately, my good old receiver died a couple of years ago, but I invested in a new one for the long run again.

Although I bought my Hamers used for various reasons, I bought them for the long run. They are really good sounding guitars and of tremendous quality. Since they were stock, I made little changes to one or the other to have the sound delivered I like to hear. Maybe, when the kids are out someday in the future I will turn up with a custom order. Sharpen your pencils for the long run.

[Surfanarchist]

I just picked up on this thread this morning.

I have three Hamers now. I started out a few years ago looking in music shops for a used LP custom and in one shop a guy a had a new Hamer studio custom he told me was just as good as any Gibson. I had never heard of Hamer but as soon as I held it, started playing I thought "damn, this is a nice guitar". I figured though that the sales guy (who by the way did not have a Gibson LP custom in his shop that day) would tell me anything to make a sale so I passed and went on my way. I later spoke to a guy who I really trust, at Action Guitar in Alexandria VA, Matt, and he had no Hamers in the shop but said that he knew the brand and that he could not but recommend them highly " but the don't do well in resale" he said.

Since then I've bought a couple, like I said, three, a 2008 Studio, 1994 Mirage, and a 2006 Monaco Elite. I don't look for the cheapest used Hamer but the ones in the most pristine condition and so I don't mind paying 1K or a little more (I know they can go for less but I'm always wanting the axe to look like I'm the first owner) and at that price they are still such a great bargain.

I really believe that one day Hamer will be "discovered" in the sense that either someone, somewhere, will get real famous playing a Hamer and the jig will be up, or Hamer will fade out as a company and then they will take on the mystyque (sp?) of a guitar no longer made and that was always un appreciated. Really does not matter to me as I'm happy as a clam with mine and I don't intend to sell (I'm not a flipper, just not my nature) but this happy world of oustanding guitars at great prices (used) can't last forever.

[HSB0531]

You are doing exactly right.

I still own and care for my good old DUAL CS 626 record player I bought 1980. I refurbished my old Ohm Acoustics L speakers this year, because I immediately fell in love with their sound when I first heard them and thought I would not get anything better for the same money invested on new speakers. It's been the right decision doing so as they again deliver the sound I remembered from the early days.

Unfortunately, my good old receiver died a couple of years ago, but I invested in a new one for the long run again.

Although I bought my Hamers used for various reasons, I bought them for the long run. They are really good sounding guitars and of tremendous quality. Since they were stock, I made little changes to one or the other to have the sound delivered I like to hear. Maybe, when the kids are out someday in the future I will turn up with a custom order. Sharpen your pencils for the long run.

Speaking of refurbishing, I did the same with my parametric eq/preamp instead of buying a new high dollar one. Saved a fortune that way.

[MTM105]

Did Jimi Hendrix care if his guitar was upside down?

Or Cobaine played a Jaguar?

What was the point of Townshend smashing guitars?

It's about Rock n Roll. Not corporate correctness.

A Hamer should be played for it's sound and feel. Not because it's pretty.

[HSB0531]

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee118/j...16b0de970c1.jpg

Much Love for Hamers!

That is absolutely KILLER!

Thanks Cary!

[GaryT]

I happened to be organizing a mess of yearly Guitar Player Mags and Vintage Guitar I;ve collected over the years. The Guitar Players date back to 1997, While I put the years together by mth, year etc. I thought I'd glance through the index's to see how Hamer advertised over the years.

Here's how it went..............

1997-0

1998-0

1999-All 12 months

2000-0

2001-0

2002-1-mth August

2003-0

2004-10mths out of 12

2005-6mths out of th year

2006-6mths again

2007-4mths out fo the year

2008-0

2009-0

2010-this far 0 Januarys been out, I haven't recieved Feb as of yet.

Its possible I missed 1 or 2. But its basically correct.

Gibson, Fender and PRS amoung others, advertised monthly for all years.

For Seymour Duncans advertisment for 2010? He used a Gibson, Fender and a PRS to advertise his pick-ups? You think he would have dropped a Hamer in the mix?

[belgian]

What happened with the UK market, a couple of years ago there were rumours that half of the Hamer production of that year was sold in the UK.

Never saw those......

[Pieman]

Could a big factor be the market itself. Consider that in the last 15 years the number of guitars manufactured has just exploded. Not just by quantity but by manufacturer. In the 80s Fender was forced to use its Japanese affiliate to produce until it could get the US operations up to snuff. Then it was build 'em in Mexico, then Korea, China, Indonesia and now India. Fender-philes are raving about the Fender 50s Vibe Tele for $350. Two years ago it was the "51" model. And these are Squires. Not even MIM Fenders. I bought a 51. (I would by the Vibe Tele if I weren''t paying off a new Standard from BCR.) The Fender line has something for everybody at every price point. We snear at the Hamer imports but there are quite a few decent low-end guitars by many other manufacturers.

And look at the new revived manufacturers such as Eastwood or Danelectro, or offshored makers like Reverend. (I have a Dano re-issue and a Reverend). If I have $700 burning a hole in the pocket, I could pick up a fine used Hamer (but somewhat similar to my other Hamers), or I could buy a decent new guitar or a used one for 1/2 that and it would give me a different tone, a different feel and heft. The fun factor is there.

I am buying a new Standard from Greg from Hamer overstocked inventory. I didn't need it, although I have wanted one for years. The discount price was too much to pass up, especially if Hamer will now become a custom shop and won't be making "run-of-the-mill" Hamers. There will be likely fewer dealers selling new stock Hamers. Take advantage of the Eddie's Guitar deals now. You will need to pay $4000+ for those next year, new, if you want one. And that is way too rich for me.

[cmatthes]

You will need to pay $4000+ for those next year, new, if you want one. And that is way too rich for me.

I'm pretty sure that's not going to be the case at all.

[ajoso]

Put me in the camp that doesn't appreciate the headstock. All the guitar players I know say it looks clunky. The culprit to me is the straight edges along the long ends of the headstock. If they could put a curve in there you'd have something that would be more 50's looking. It's a subtle difference, but I think it would work; it would have a bit more style and frankly it would match the guitar better.

All the great (and expensive) guitars have great headstocks. Only the cheap-o's have clunkers.

Digression: I think that PRS' Starla has the reverse problem: a high-end headsock on what it supposed to be a funky, fun low-fi guitar. PRS should have come up with something else.

[JohnnyB]

All the great (and expensive) guitars have great headstocks. Only the cheap-o's have clunkers.

Like Martin?

[MCChris]

All the great (and expensive) guitars have great headstocks. Only the cheap-o's have clunkers.

Or Tyler?