PSA: Hamer Sunburst (could be a ’78 model) on ebay Germany

[RichRS6]

"use google picture search to identify real owner"

Good tip.

How do you do that ?

[HamerHamburg]

Good morning everybody !

I'm new to the forum AND ... I am the buyer of the Guitar !

My name is Thorsten, I am 49, and I live in Hamburg, Germany. I was born and raised in Arlington Heights, Illinois and my parents when they first came to the States in 1958 lived in Palatine, Illinois, before they moved to Arlington Heights a little later. A pure coincidence, but true !!

The Sunburst is not here yet, still in transit. The seller does not have the original case and wanted to package and ship it without a case, so I offered to buy a generic Les Paul type case for him. That should be arriving today. I hope to have the guitar here early next week, all going well.

There was a discussion on the price ... well indeed € 1710,00 is a lot of money. BUT very early Sunbursts are extremely rare in Germany. This is about the 4th and the earliest that I have seen. I always wanted a very early one, so I pulled the trigger. It was worth it to me. What do I get for my money ?:

- One piece Honduras mahogany body

- One piece Honduras mahogany neck

- A killer one piece curly/flamey maple cap, that is so well selected it actually looks book matched

- Most likely a brazilian board (will have to be certified in Germany, if it is brazilian)

- A mostly hand built instrument with selected woods and excellent craftsmanship

- AND ... 36 years of vintage understatement mojo.

I'll be smiling at my session friends who turn up with their R8, R9, Custom Shop, VOS, Murphy ... whatever, who think I'm playing a no name guitar made

in Korea .

And what do you get from from any other manufacturer ... unless you shell out 3 times or much more than I paid ... ? Nothing as good as an old Sunburst,

that's for sure.

I do have questions, but I would like to wait untl the guitar gets here, so I know what I'm talking about. I'll keep you updated.

Cheers for now,

Todde

[cmatthes]

Welcome, and big congrats on a cool old Hamer!

[Frank Neli]

Hi Todde,

Congratulations ...

In my view, the price is justified. In my opinion: a new Custom Shop guitar is no comparison, but it costs a lot more. The Hamers are underrated. I hope this changes in the next time.

Like here, there was a discussion in the German "musician-board / hamer-user thread", whether the sale was serious, because it at the same time on another sales platform.

from #1366:

Der Hamer Userthread | Seite 69 | Musiker-Board - das Musiker Forum

stay tuned and have fun with a beautiful sunburst sound

[emptypockets]

Hi neighbour!

(btw: my name is "Torsten"! )

I live in Berkenthin, about 50 km north of Hamburg, another owner of a rather old Sunburst. My first one, which had to be replaced von from '79. The one I got for it is a '80.

(eigentlich könnten wir ja in deutsch schreiben, aber ist hier vielleicht etwas unfreundlich. Deshalb mache ich 'mal in meinem verbesserungswürdigen englisch weiter....).

I bought the guitar at Amptown (these days still in the "Bunker"!) in Feb. 1980. It still is in absolute original condition.

Are you planning to "build it back"?

Excuse my poor english!

[ghamerinfrance]

Welcome and I hope you will be happy with it....and maybe next year to the European HFC with it

All the best from France Gilles

[RichRS6]

Welcome and congratulations on your new guitar.

I think you did ok, not a bargain price but not over the top either and you could be waiting a long time for another one to come along.

They're seriously undervalued IMO, this is a vintage guitar, 36 years old and quite rare to see over this side of the pond

A 78 L.P. would cost around double this price and you'd have to be Mr Lucky to buy one un-played and it be a good one.

BTW. Make sure it's packed well inside the L.P. case as it's likely a L.P. case will be a little too big for a Sunburst.

[HamerHamburg]

Thanks to all for the very nice welcome.

I'll post my story, "why it had to be a Hamer Sunburst" this evening, something to read ...

Frank - I read the thread on the German forum. It was a real sale. I'll find out if it wasn't if I don't get the guitar ... The guitar apparently showed up on another sales platform, but that was an attempted fraud. I too think the price is ok, but I indeed was hoping that it would be lower. There was discussion on that forum about the seller possibly pushing the price himself. I had contact during the selling process and the way he responded I think he's an older guy who was happy, that he made so much money with it. He said that he actually lost track of when he bought it, how much he paid, pickups etc. and apologized. But I knew what I was in for, so it was ok with me.

emptypockets - Moin moin ! About 3-4 years ago I also had a Special from 1981. A nice guitar, but I just did not bond with it for some reason. I think it was because I really wanted a Sunburst. I bought that one for €800,00 and sold 6 months later for €1200,00. So it was a good deal for me. I won't be fitting the Dimarzios, but I'll put it back to original with regard to the wiring and also the appearance. I might go to see Amber or Dommenget to have some Pickups custom made for me. Dommenget wins all the comparative reviews with his pickups in Germany and I also have one of his hand built Strats (a 1985 Salmon-Strat that was actually once owned by Roland Grapow of Helloween fame...). Let's see where it goes.

RichRS6 - Yep, I know. I did ask the seller to make sure the guitar is secured also inside the case. BTW: I wouldn't touch a '78 Les Paul with a ten foot pole ...

Think I paid too much ? Check this link ... http://shop.guitarpoint.de/de/Diverse/1979-Hamer-Sunburst-Flametop - albeit it was 100% original and with its OHSC.

As already announced, a little story this evening and more info once the guitar is with me.

Cheers, Todde

[RichRS6]

The one you linked to does not have the original Bridge P/U, it looks like a Super distortion to me as it has hex pole pieces.

It is in bloody good condition though and has a nice top (very similar to my 79 B&C).

If that went for over £2000 ($3300 to you colonials) then your 78 was a bargain indeed regardless of its non original parts, at least it hasn't been Kahlered or got extra holes all over the top for stupid switches.

Genuine Hamer cases pop up for sale occasionally for reasonable money.

[HamerHamburg]

On second glance you could be right about the bridge pickup. It wasn't even a bound and crowned for that price.

But - who knows. The guy is a vintage dealer (Bonamassa likes to shop there) and it may have gone cheaper on an offer.

[Frank Neli]

Hi Todde,

some appetizing snacks while have you wait - this is the best treat ever:

Sunburst appreciation thread - Hamer Fan Club Messageboard - Hamer Fan Club Message Center

[HamerHamburg]

Hi Frank,

seen that one already and have been through it aleady. But I'm going over it again tonite with the iPad under the sheets ... laugh !

I'll post mine when I'm ready.

Cheers, Todde

[Frank Neli]

we are all waiting Todde :-)

if you like, this is my beauty :-)

E-Gitarre (6-saitig) -> Hamer -> Sunburst -> Hamer Sunburst

[HamerHamburg]

Moin Frank,

Eine absolute Schönheit, die Decke ist der Brüller ! Sieht edel aus !

For you guys ... An absolute beauty, the top is stunning ! Looks very precious !

Update on the purchase:

The seller just confirmed receipt of the case and will pack her up tonite and send her on her journey to Hamburg tomorrow morning.

Looks like I will be able to put my hands on it on Monday. I have to work and wait all day, crap ! :-)

Fingers crossed ... !

Cheers Todde

[HamerHamburg]

Tracking states delivery expected monday !

[HamerHamburg]

Aaaaaaaahhhhh ! Tracking status changed. Estimated delivery today !!!!

Count down guys.

[RichRS6]

Whhhhaaaaayyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HamerHamburg]

Folks,

the Sunburst arrived in one piece ! Tadaaah ! Drum roll, cheers etc. etc . ...

She sounds rich, bright and full and plays well with kind of a "light C" neck. A very fast neck, indeed ! A little less bottom end than a Strat on the dry sound played without an amp. The board looks Brazilian to me. It has a nice reddish dark grain on it. No cracks, no repairs that I can see, neck is straight and true. Very well played but well kept, although it has the usual dings and signs of wear, but not abused. Frets really worn, but levelled and crowned. Will have to be refretted for my taste. I still have to check if the truss rod turns properly.

Electronics totally screwed ! I gues whoever did it had no clue. I did not open up the cavity yet, but took the ugly brass knobs off. Both volume pots apparently changed. One is a push/push for coil split. The brass knob obviously did not fit on the still original tone knob and was jammed on with force, which caused the shaft to totaly distort. How stupid can you be ... ?

I did not play through an amp yet. I tried, but there was a lot of buzz from the pickups. There is something completely wrong with the wiring. I think the bridge and/or pickups are not properly grounded.

I have very good replacement pots here (I use bourns on these types of guitars) and also some nice Hovland guitar caps. I'll have a look at it and re-wire it to original specs this evening or tomorrow morning. (I build turret board hand wired effects and rack wahs, so I know what i'm doing... and I have speed knobs that actually are designed for the shafts and fit properly ...)

Pickups are supposed to be Rio Grande. They are not staying. Either Amber or Dommenget PAFs. Nothing overwound, just standard. I'll have the chosen winder decide, when he sees and plays the guitar. They know about their stuff better than me ... :-)

What pisses me off is, that the seller never mentioned that the front strap pin broke off. The old screw is in the wood and a new screw is sort of screwed in over/next to it. The strap pin is not flush and it looks kinda weird. Structurally I think it's ok though. I'll need to talk to the seller about this defect. He should have mentioned it.

Summary:

A great guitar with stunning looks, not to heavy and absolutely great sounding. Has issues and needs some attention. But nothing I was not aware of before I pulled the trigger (except the sheared off strap pin screw and the lousy wiring, for which the seller will take a heavy complaint).

This will be a great rocker after some loving care ! :-)

I'll keep you posted with pics and further experience asap.

Cheers, Todde

[Stullkowski]

What pisses me off is, that the seller never mentioned that the front strap pin broke off. The old screw is in the wood and a new screw is sort of screwed in over/next to it. The strap pin is not flush and it looks kinda weird. Structurally I think it's ok though. I'll need to talk to the seller about this defect. He should have mentioned it.

Autsch, not good :-(

that is a really something a luthier must take care of - AND the seller should pay for a part or all of the repair costs. Not mentioning such a problem is very insincere in my opinion: there have to be at least 100 euros payback or alternatively a very bad rating for him!

Aber trotzdem! Du hast jetzt die geilste Gitarre die es gibt. Glückwunsch!

[HamerHamburg]

Moin Moin ,

Ja, nervig. Ich habe dem jungen Mann schon Bescheid gegeben, dass er die Reparatur bezahlen muss. Mal sehen was er sagt. Lässt sich wohl

ausbohren, dübeln und neu setzen - wird schon. Gebe ich Boris oder Alex. Das Teil ist aber einfach wirklich GEIL !!!

German mode off ... sorry !

Yep, I held the seller responsible and told him that I expect him to settle the repair costs. I reckon the sheared off screw can be drilled out, dowelled and reset. Shouldn't be a problem.

I'll post a detailed review with pics and so on over in my "Why it had to be a Hamer" thread.

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/67202-why-it-had-to-be-a-hamer-sunburst/

Have a nice evening y'all !

Cheers,

Todde

[The_Nuge]

Herlichen Glückwunsch!

Long may you enjoy!

Cheers

Es

[HamerHamburg]

Thanks !

[Frank Neli]

Hi Todde,

I think, to get a more than 30-year-old guitar in the original condition and without any "scars" is almost impossible. This is a wonderful instrument. It looks excellent. With a little work, it will again look like the original. No I'm wrong, it is an original. My one is also missing one of the original pickups, but what does it matter? It is and remains a Hamer Sunburst. The best guitar I have ever had and will have. The most important thing for me is the sound. And the sound is amazing.

Enjoy it ... and have fun!

[HamerHamburg]

Thanks Frank !

It is indeed one of the best - if not the best - guitars I have ever had. I did not buy it as a collector but a a player, so I don't mind the wear and tear and the non original electronics

and replaced pickups. The wiring has already been updated with the best components to the original specs. I gave it to my local luthier yesterday to have it refretted and the sheared off strap pin repaired.

I can't afford any new pickups yet since I have a Bogner Atma on order that has to be paid too ... But I was planning to also restore it to the original looks with a creme and reverse

zebra "booteek" PAF pickup set later this year. Amber Spirit of 59, specially wound for the guitar.

This one is a keeper and I'm looking forward to get it back refretted, so that I can gig it !!

Cheers, Todde

[Gino]

Let me chime in to tell you that Ambers are a perfect match for Hamers!

I have a set of Spirit of 59 in my Newport (slightly underwound neck pup) and a set of 59 Crosspoints in my Special FM - a match made in heaven!!

Viel Spass mit der Sunburst!