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hikarateboy

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Everything posted by hikarateboy

  1. Gorch focuses in on a great point. The first question I would ask in response to that is: What is the current cost to produce the attainable entry level $450-600 Hamer guitar from the mid 80's? A CNC machine just as Hamer used to rough things out later on cuts the time the labor cost but costs a lot. One option and I honestly dont know which companies are doing it but know that some are, is farming the basic CNC woodwork out overseas and assembling here. Is that a unacceptable or a a negative? I would assume you can set your acceptance standards anywhere you want for what you would take. Ulitmately (pun fully intended) the question is based upon the previously discussed production price (including overhead) what is the actual msrp after adding a reasonable profit and dealer margin? Is it $2500? I wont be surprised if it is but makes it hard to attract any buyers other than the recent target market? As Murkat and I believe, the corner stone are the Specials on the low end which make it work but a $2500 Special is a bit over the top no?
  2. Great thoughts. A bit of a clarification of the thinking behind the 3 million credit line. I set it there thinking or hoping that Hamer wouldn't be revived by a large musical instrument company with deep pockets but rather a person or two with a willingness to bringing it back by going back to how it was done before. Small shop, small work force, feet on the streets marketing just like before with an expectation that you need to build it again brick by brick and that would take some time even with the small but great reputation in place. Basically I was thinking what if someone like a Paul, Jol or someone here got a chance at it. 3 million seemed like a reasonable risk limit for a person or two. Absolutely agree on the guerrilla marketing thinking. social media aspect. I would throw this out there though. When I first discovered them the guitars were not cheap but definately within the reach of what your normal everyday player could afford with models like the straight forward rock machine we know as the Special. I would revive that approach as a gateway for the new fans. Would it be hard? Yes. Worth it? Hard to say and depends on what you value. I dont think Hamer regardless of marketing would ever be Fender or Gibson, PRS? It could of should of have been, I have to agree on the marketing fail and the tunnel vision from the mid 90s to current here unfortunately. I do think that it fully deserves it place along side the Tom Andersons, Suhr, etc. So with that said I am soliciting investors, who's in? I kid, I kid.
  3. You see me coming a mile away, but I'd add Diablo's to the list. A more organic Cali', with the same shape, rounder edges and no scalloped cutaways. Double hum, yes - though I'd add a 5-way blade switch for versatility... I think 2Tek is still around (?)... Would that be too niche for guitar models? Yep, I absolutely had the blinders on. While I am not a Cali player I agree its one of the home runs. Added to my production. Good point on the 2Tek, whats up with that? the guys I know that have the basses with them love them. How come they arent being touted as much anymore. Brings up another part I missed. Basses. Bolt on Cruise Basses are in as well as 8 and 12 double cuts long and short scale
  4. So lets hear a bit more about your business plan. Which guitars and how many would you shoot to produce. Would you focus on straight forward rock machines that are relatively easy and quick to produce or would keep the archtop semi's. Bolt ons? If it were me I would do: - Original standard with the correct headstock (albeit hardest to produce) in White with black binding, the converse Black w/ White binding and sunburst flame top customs. - Specials P90 and double Hums (solid colors) - Sunbursts, - Prototypes (not prototypes called phantoms) - Vectors Special order only: Newports, Monicos. Anything else.
  5. I was actually cheered a few minutes ago when I thought you will always be able to buy a NEW Hamer from Ed Roman. Then I realized he died last year and bummed out again.
  6. Hopefully people will get in to this and not think its too silly but I was thinking of possibilities and the whole one door shuts, another opens crap-ola Anyway I thought it might be fun to find out what YOU would do if FMIC gave the Hamer brand to you free and clear for a 49% stake in the new company. Here are the rules: You have rights to the brand, past history/marketing and to produce any past Hamer models produced.Obviously you can also develop new ones as well. You can't remain in the New Hartford factory.You have 3 million dollar line of credit to work with first yearWhat would you do? Whats your marketing strategy? What models? Would you pursue endorsers? Who? Take it as far as you like or just pull a Gordon Ramsay and shut it down and print black 'vintage' Hamer sleeveless t-shirts with the logo.
  7. From your lips to God's ears, brother. 'Cause it could easily go the opposite- NO name out there at all (as opposed to the tiny name it's been over the past decade or so) leads to no value except to the hardcore fanbase which is (sorry, old bastards, of which I am one) steadily dying off. If it goes the other way from what I suspect I'll die happy surrounded by every Hamer I ever wanted purchased for the standard going price of $350
  8. I am not surprised in fact it really have been a question of when for me. The bottom line for Fender or any large-ish company is money. There just wasnt enough demand for Hamers to justify the cost of devoting highly skilled american workers and overhead to it. A small company can be happy with a little profit from a labor of love whereas big company says these resources can be produce more revenue doing something else. I cant blame Fender for that its simple and the truth. Do I feel bummed? A little, but they werent going to make me my checkerboard standard anyway and that was really the only new guitar that they could make that I wanted. I can buy all the great stuff that they made now used. Now for the real problem. The best used guitar value out there is soon to disappear as price go up and supply diminishes. Get ready and I hope you have what you want cause it aint getting cheaper. Even with out Hamer the HFC is the best damn messageboard with the greatest members ever.
  9. This is probably no surprise to Z as I have played with him for what 4 going on 5 years now but my personal fav trem by miles is the steinberger S Trem. up down no problem. Its a bit more smooth and Kahler-esqe but up down no problem plus you dont have to worry about palm muting pushing notes sharp. that said I'm not a huge trem guy but the ones on my Musicman lukes when set up right are great and stay in tune with no trouble. Something to be said about a good trem with locking tuners.
  10. Its about as mainstream as he gets but I always had a soft spot for "I could never take the place of your man" (saw the replacements do it once VERY drunk) and "When you were mine" (covered maybe even better by mitch ryder)
  11. I've seen prince twice at surprise shows here in Minneapolis in the 80's and I wasn't a fan before the first one but afterward I couldn't argue with the genius take ever. I have never seen anything like it and havent since. He is the real mcoy. If you get a chance check it out, Smaller the venue the better. His bands are high performance machines and he is shift the gears and drives flat out. His performance with the all stars doing guitar gently weeps gives you a glimpse. into 2% of what he does. Recommended and not just because he is from here. Never dwelled on or thought that but honestly who cares? All that really matters to me is the music
  12. The Outer Circle is one of the forums on the Hamer Fan Club. It is the forum devoted to any topic that is not music-related. Nothing is off bounds, but common decency is still required. Because of the potential for off color topics, PARENTAL GUIDENCE IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED. All supporting members have access to the Outer Circle. Those wishing to become a Supporting Member can make a small contribution (however much you can afford or feel its worth) via PayPal [email protected] or by check to the HFC Server Fundto help defray hosting and licensing costs.
  13. I wasn't there but many of my friends were on Saturday night in St. Paul and all of them including some that don't pay too much attention to performance and are there for the show said. DLRs voice was gone and he had a terrible time singing, was missing notes everywhere and it was very obvious to everyone that he couldn't do it. Maybe someone on the board that is local can verify that. Anyway todays paper speculates that the reason for the break is so Dave can get his voice together. Sounds probably more true than any other story I have heard so far so could be true. However, continuing to July 4th before the break seems like that wouldn't make sense. So for what it is worth just another conspiracy theory.
  14. Its funny how coincidence happens. While I was backstage with Z (zoner to the hfc breathern) duing the intermission of our second night performing the rock opera, he stuck the headphones he was wearing to psych up for the second half on my head saying "check this out", It was Gamma doing voyager and while I was definately familar with it, I hadnt heard it in a long long time, It was great. A little over a week later we got the news. weird. It's too bad he's moved on but the music he left will continue to be there for everyone to enjoy forever. Hopefully this will get people to check him out again or for the first time. That's the brightside of the story.
  15. Sorry I didnt realize. I guess I dont pay enough attention to these kinds of things. I'm not surprised that with would be since its so awesome. haha how about weathercaster or plastercaster?
  16. I hear where you are coming from and sorry wasnt the point I was trying to make. The reason I linked that column was here is a guy who REALLY knows music and the business of music, I'd say much better than any of us music nerds. If you dont believe me read some of his archives or better yet subscribe to his list, worth it imo. The thing is even though I was totally unimpressed by Tatoo when I heard it on the video, Leftsetz, a guy I have a good amount of respect for, had the somewhat the same initial reaction but now LOVES it. It would be easy to say that putz doesnt know what good music is but as a follower of his for a while, I think he does and respect his opinion so it really surprised me. He's not your average everyday critic who will say anything for seats and a backstage pass when they roll thru town.
  17. Lefsetz latest pertains pretty much directly to this arguement as he talk specifically about Tatoo in his latest column, If you have never read him before and like music you should hes usually spot on. http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
  18. It didnt grab me but the solo sounded better than the usual nonesense eddie has been calling solos on most of the live youtube stuff. When I was a kid I was all about him but now I really notice how stuck in a box of his own tricks he is. Dont get me wrong thats pretty common I think, look at Gibbons or BB King. When your style is so your style how can you not be. The problem is the keys to it have become gimicks and dont get me like they did before every single person started copying them. He's still one of the greats just not the greatest. That said, I think the Roth songs from the greatest hits (me wise magic, cant get this stuff no more) were great and blow Tatoo away. They sound like what I was hoping for from this new record. You can really hear Roth struggle on those two and since as he purposely goes for the deep growl voice to hide that his top end is shot more often than not.
  19. Actually lesser known and much better for this particular situation (imo) Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
  20. I'll just take the best part and leave the rest. The best part is that the HFC, one of the first if not the very first guitar brand specific sites, still runs strong. As MANY people often comment, it remains the best guitar board on the net because of the people here. When Andrew Large emailed me in '96 or some where about in response to a web page I had about my guitars and my wanting to create a Hamer specific web site I never could have imagined this would be the result. All the thanks goes to the fantastic brothers and sisters I never knew I had that found their way here. It's amazing to me that the internet can create best friends, some of which you rarely or never see, but who are willing to bend over backwards if needed to help another of our brethren in need. Of course cmatthes and all the mods over the years are the ones that help make it what it is. I dare say I am proud of this site and what it has become and does, but I can not take any credit for it as it is the people who come that make it what it is. This site has brought me friends, band members, regular 4321 Jam sessions and welcoming hosts in almost any area of the world I desire to visit. With that I will say that the HFC once again is the best score of the year. I expect that to continue as long as you folk continue to show up. Oh yeah, I will also say however I am also thank for the return of Kiz and the Poe butt retirement but that's a 'hind sight' of course.
  21. The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I've never left you. Much like a whisper on a breeze or the smell of burnt toast. But more like the burnt toast thing. If this is what it takes to get Kiz to return to posting it was worth every second of effort! If he doesn't add the burnt toast thing to his signature I am stealing it for myself.
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