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StillKickinMusic

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  1. Sorry guys, I know most of you are probably like "I wish this guy would just shut up about Hamer imports!" I have totally revamped my entry in my database on Hamer imports now, realizing serials can't tell people much and instead just described some of the differences between import eras. This is my info as it currently stands. I post it here just so it's on the boards and maybe someone in the future could get some use from it: Hamer Imports Note: The models listed below are not exhaustive for each period, just samples. There is crossover between periods with some guitars having elements of two periods. All periods share model names being copies of USA-made Hamers. Serial numbers are not much help (with perhaps the exception of most recent Indonesian models at bottom). Your best bet is to narrow down the period by characteristics listed below. Perhaps try to cross-check with pot codes as well. Good luck! Slammer Series (Korea) Korean Slammer Series guitars began manufacture in the early 90s and went until approximately 1997-98. These guitars say “Hammer Slammer Series” on the headstock and their 6- or 7-digit serial numbers appear printed on the back of the headstock along with “Made in Korea.” Serial numbers do not appear to indicate production year. Some sample serials seen in the wild: 309542, 423640, 2551001, 6011692, 7071005, 8083800 Import Series (China/Korea) Around 1997 Hamer transitioned from the Korean Slammer Series into what has been called the “Import Series.” These say only “Hamer” on the headstock, which appears similar to USA-made Hamers, but does not say “USA.” (These can easily be confused with later Indonesian models but the serials on those will look different—see below). These were made in China and Korea. Some of these were continuations of previous Slammer models. The 7-digit serial should appear printed on rear of headstock. However, some had a sticker on back of headstock. If you ever see a guitar that says on “Hamer” on the headstock and says “Made in Korea” on the back with no serial, it is probably due to the sticker falling off. This series may have run as late as 2005 (unconfirmed). Sample serials in the wild: 1701186 (Stellar 1), 1702638 (Echotone), 9802283 (Stellar 1, sticker back of headstock), 9806571 (Diablo), 1702559 (Duotone) Models: Sunburst Arch Top Flame Top (SATF), Rick Nielsen Signature (RNS), Echotone (ECO), Stellar 1 (ST1), Californian (CAL), Diablo (DAB), Centaura, and Cruise 4 (CRS) and Cruise 5 (CRV) basses XT Series (China/Indonesia) XT Series guitars are hard to pin down. Around 2005 the Import Series was renamed the XT series, and this iteration of the XT Series appears to differentiate from later XTs by having “XT Series” printed on the headstock (later models have “XT Series” on the truss rod cover—USUALLY, THERE IS CROSSOVER). Most serial numbers are 7 digits printed on back of headstock and will say “Made in China” or “Made in Indonesia” below the serial. There are examples with a 9-digit number on a sticker as well. Samples in the wild: 1550512 (Vector), 3857208, 5880056, 8901517 (indonesia), 311419554 (sticker) Models: Vector (Flying V), Standard (explorer), Sunburst, Scarab, Monaco, Special, Velocity Bass, Californian 5 Slammer by Hamer Series (China, possibly Indonesia/Korea) These guitars seem mostly to have been produced in China, though you do see a few Korean crossover models and possibly even Indonesian models. In any case, the headstock will say “Slammer by Hammer.” Serial number will often be a sticker on the neck plate, and possibly have a sticker saying where it was made at the base of the neck. These are generally thought to be the lowest quality Hamer imports. This budget series may have run from approximately 2005 to 2009. Serials are generally 7 digits. Examples seen in the wild: 1151145, 1700031, 1905510 Models: Pacer, Centaura, Special/Special Bass, T5M-SB (sunburst Tele), WG1, XP Standard (XP-1 Explorer), Impact Bass, Blitz Bass, Chaparral Bass Newer XT Series (Indonesia) Like the Import Series detailed above, the newer Indonesian-made XT models say only “Hamer” on the headstock. Some say “XT Series” on the truss rod cover. Rear of headstock should say “Indonesia” or “Made in Indonesia.” Most serials begin with “IW,” though there are a few models you’ll see that begin with “P.” It is possible this period is better at indicating year by the serial number. The first two digits following the letters often seem to indicate year. Seen in the wild: P11040850 (2011?) IW12070188 (2012?) IW18020545 (2018?) Models: Monaco Special, SATF, STDF (Standard Flame Top), The Special Jr
  2. Hey guys, Sorry I didn't realize this thread finally got some replies. To answer someone's earlier question: why do people even care about import dates? For me, it's because I keep this database of serial numbers for different manufacturers. I get people contacting me asking do you know when this import was made?, so I try to get ahold of this info. Even if some Hamer import will never amount to a collector people want to know when their guitar was built. So I get what I'm hearing that these numbers are fairly useless and I will note that on my website. However, can someone at least give me the basic dates where manufacturing was ongoing in Korea, China, and Indonesia? Then I can at least narrow things down a bit for people. So far, I have been guessing approximately: Korea early 90s to late 90s China early- to mid-2000s Indonesia 2007-2018 If anyone knows if I'm at least close on this it really would help. So far no Internet research has turned it up for me. Thanks again!
  3. OK, thanks. I know import serial schemes are super fragmented. And I know many on this board could care less about imported Hamer's. I'll paste here the patchy info I have so far if anyone wants to see it. There do seem to be some periods where there was at least an attempt at indicating date by serial: ------------------------------------- Front of headstock can say “Hamer Slammer Series,” which I believe will be from the 90s, mostly Korean; “Hamer” perhaps on late 90s models, as well as newer Indonesian models; and “Slammer by Hamer,” which appear to be the cheapest models made in China. Dates below with a question mark are dates claimed by sellers in used guitar ads but not verified. Dates without question marks are ones I’m a little more confident of, but this whole section is guesswork at this point. Korea (6 or 7 digits. First digit may indicate year, but not verified.) 111255 423640 (90s) 428912 (1990?) 437604 (mid-90s?) 2551001 6011692 (1996?) 6042540 (1996?) 6078776 6053696 6094023 (90s?) 6544288 7071005 (90s?) 8083800 China (7 digits) 1552466 1151145 1700031 (early 2000s?) 1701147 (1999?) 1701186 1704636 5850831 (2003-06?) 5810800 (2000s?) 6850166 (early 2000s?) Indonesia (seemingly 3 different serial schemes shown below) (First digit indicates year perhaps) 7901643 7903583 = 2007? 8901517 = 2008 930xxxx = 2009? (Lesser seen scheme starts with “P.” Perhaps two following digits indicate year.) P10060561 (2010?) P11040850 = 2011 P11071351 = 2011 (Two digits following “IW” indicate year. This seems pretty solid.) IW11081118 = (2011) IW12070188 (2012?) IW18020545 = 2018
  4. Hi folks, I've received help in this forum in the past for a serial number database I compile and update as a hobby. My initial Hamer entry only covered USA made Hamers and forum administrator "cmatthes" kindly helped me verify some info for that. I'm now attempting to learn enough about Hamer imports to present at least a basic framework for people trying to date such guitars. I know it won't be possible to cover those serial number completely, but I'm making an attempt. Any help on Korean, Indonesian and Chinese serial is appreciated. I have started my database entry by looking through many guitar ads and at least making some initial guesses as to import serial schemes. You can check my full Hamer entry here: https://www.stillkickinmusic.com/blogs/still-kickin-blog/the-serial-bowl#hamer The import part comes at the end of the entry. Thanks for any help! (ps: if anyone has that 3rd installment from the old Vintage Guitar Hamer article I'd love to see it.)
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