PSA: The Artist Korina jazzburst I returned is on GC

[polara]

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Hamer/Artist-Standard-Korina-Hollow-Body-Electric-Guitar-116639242.gc?cntry=us&source=4WWRWXGP&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4ng00UCk8rPF0XQK3mXug1O47TyMhirC7sZcfEUOIFEHiDhyMnI2uHUaAlRWEALw_wcB

GOOD:

Vintage carve neck. Great color. Non-stinky case. Stays in tune. Perfectly cut nut. No rust. Low action, straight neck. No cracks, no signs of abuse.

BAD:

Six dings along edge of top, one on the back, on one headstock top (none big, though). Moderate fretwear first five frets. Grooves/cuts/damage on 5th, 6th, 7th frets under E and B strings make bends feel scratchy. Both low and high E strings are too close to the edge of fretboard for me: vibrato or even a "YYZ" series of pull-offs can send the string off the edge. Stock SD pickups are mediocre. Output jack (stupid barrel type) is loose but I put a spare in the case.

[a.bandini]

Too bad.  Conceptually that's a really nice guitar at a favorable price.   Thanks for letting us know the +/-.   

[HamerCustomEr]

6 hours ago, polara said:

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Hamer/Artist-Standard-Korina-Hollow-Body-Electric-Guitar-116639242.gc?cntry=us&source=4WWRWXGP&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4ng00UCk8rPF0XQK3mXug1O47TyMhirC7sZcfEUOIFEHiDhyMnI2uHUaAlRWEALw_wcB

GOOD:

Vintage carve neck. Great color. Non-stinky case. Stays in tune. Perfectly cut nut. No rust. Low action, straight neck. No cracks, no signs of abuse.

BAD:

Six dings along edge of top, one on the back, on one headstock top (none big, though). Moderate fretwear first five frets. Grooves/cuts/damage on 5th, 6th, 7th frets under E and B strings make bends feel scratchy. Both low and high E strings are too close to the edge of fretboard for me: vibrato or even a "YYZ" series of pull-offs can send the string off the edge. Stock SD pickups are mediocre. Output jack (stupid barrel type) is loose but I put a spare in the case.

After all that, how can I still be tempted?  But who here on this forum would possibly feel sorry for me?!?

[polara]

8 hours ago, HamerCustomEr said:

After all that, how can I still be tempted?  But who here on this forum would possibly feel sorry for me?!?

If yer comfortable with leveling and dressing frets, it's a good deal. I've done it on a cheap Chinese guitar but would want someone more skilled to do it for that Artist. I just figured that $140 for level and crown and polish + anywhere from $100 to $300 for pickups had me looking at more like a $1600 total cost (with tax on the original purchase). For someone with a set of Lollars in a drawer and the skillz to pay the billz, it's a great guitar.

[DaveL]

2 hours ago, polara said:

If yer comfortable with leveling and dressing frets, it's a good deal. I've done it on a cheap Chinese guitar but would want someone more skilled to do it for that Artist. I just figured that $140 for level and crown and polish + anywhere from $100 to $300 for pickups had me looking at more like a $1600 total cost (with tax on the original purchase). For someone with a set of Lollars in a drawer and the skillz to pay the billz, it's a great guitar.

makes sense,  sometimes the price just doesn't reflect the total cost on these GC (and/or reverb...) finds

[Hbom]

Sorry that didn't work out for you. Hopefully it finds a new home soon.

On another note from the same page, I don't see the  black cherry burst Newport Pro in the used rack this morning. Anybody here add a great guitar to their collection?

[bruce919]

that Jazzburst looks fantastic on the Korina. 

[Travis]

31 minutes ago, bruce919 said:

that Jazzburst looks fantastic on the Korina. 

Agreed. Jazzburst on korina is one of my favorite finishes. 

[Dutchman]

I do not need this.... I do not need this... bang head on countertop... I do not need this....

[Hbom]

3 hours ago, Dutchman said:

I do not need this.... I do not need this... bang head on countertop... I do not need this....

If you keep that up you're going to need a new countertop. And you're gonna have a headache. Buy the guitar. Cheaper, less cleanup, and no headache. Winner winner

[killerteddybear]

12 hours ago, Dutchman said:

I do not need this.... I do not need this... bang head on countertop... I do not need this....

Six dings along edge of top, one on the back, on one headstock top (none big, though).
Grooves/cuts/damage on 5th, 6th, 7th frets under E and B strings make bends feel scratchy.
Both low and high E strings are too close to the edge of fretboard.
Stock SD pickups are mediocre.
Output jack (stupid barrel type) is loose.

...

[Dutchman]

I have a Korina Artist and a Sunburst Artist... and I really want a Mon lll, I think I’m talking myself off the wall...

[Hbom]

And like a rubber ball it keeps bouncing back.

Used Hamer Artist Standard Korina Hollow Body Electric Guitar 2 Tone Sunburst | Guitar Center

I see this is back in the rack at GC. Bummer. Great guitar. Just needs love.

And a price more in line with it's current condition..

[VincentYGB]

I remembered reading this thread and had already pulled the Hamer Hammer on this. I've been coveting an Artist with P's/unbound neck but no idea how well they'll sing for me in the korina version. But jassburst's don't come along that often. I have a very good and reasonably priced luthier so If she doesn't work out (and I've bought a fair number of GC used instruments) then it's 45 days of fun for $21. On another note I found this there a couple of weeks ago and it's a keeper: 1 yr old Fender Deluxe Reverb Limited with pine cabinet and Celestion G12v.

[Hbom]

Looks like it didn't pass inspection. Now available at GC Tucson.

Used Hamer Artist Standard Korina Hollow Body Electric Guitar 2 Tone Sunburst | Guitar Center

 

[VincentYGB]

It would have for $200 less. Sounds and plays a little better after a small truss adjustment but definitely needs a fret level. In addition to the lower frets mentioned previously there's also a high one around 15. The pickups measure over 14. Sounds thick and full with lots of midrange overtones even acoustically but even with a pickup change the Korina isn't going to cut through a mix like my Artist FM with TVJ Classics. Great if you're the only guitarist who refers a fairly thick neck- 90 & .95 1st & 12th. I didn't experience any issue with the input jack as Polara did.

 

[coffeeroastee]

Welp i done did buy it. I have a pair of gibson cs p90s to install..cpuldnt pass up on the korina burst!!

[Travis]

28 minutes ago, coffeeroastee said:

Welp i done did buy it. I have a pair of gibson cs p90s to install..cpuldnt pass up on the korina burst!!

Congrats. If I did my own fretwork I would’ve seriously considered it. I had a jazzburst artist korina HB years ago that was a killer guitar. 

[VincentYGB]

You're halfway there with the pickups. She does sing.

[HamerCustomEr]

Congratulations!

[Marvelicious]

22 hours ago, coffeeroastee said:

Welp i done did buy it. I have a pair of gibson cs p90s to install..cpuldnt pass up on the korina burst!!

Nice! If the CS P90s don't wind up doing it for you, there are some truly excellent p90s out there, depending on your tastes. I'm a big fan of Lollars myself.

[HamerCustomEr]

I love the Phat Cats:  they have great tone without all the hum that I was accustomed to from P90s.

 

[polara]

1 hour ago, HamerCustomEr said:

I love the Phat Cats:  they have great tone without all the hum that I was accustomed to from P90s.

 

Yup, but this guitar is routed for P90-sized soapbars, so Phat Cats won't fit. I usually did Wolfetones and Lollars for soapbars myself.

[Dutchman]

On 4/3/2021 at 4:48 PM, Marvelicious said:

Nice! If the CS P90s don't wind up doing it for you, there are some truly excellent p90s out there, depending on your tastes. I'm a big fan of Lollars myself.

Don't forget about Josh's P90's!!

[Travis]

2 hours ago, Dutchman said:

Don't forget about Josh's P90's!!

THIS ^^^^