graham.mcdonald86 Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Hi Everyone, I'm new to the forum but I've developed a deep appreciation for Hamer Guitars due to their quality and story. I've owned a few over the years and regret letting them go so bad š I've got my eyes out for a nice studio custom or monaco elite. My question: Is there a "golden era" or are all years just as quality as any other? Thanks, Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff_hartwell Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Welcome! Thats a pretty loaded question, and I look forward to some of the responses, haha šĀ Nice Studio customs and Monaco Elites show up with some regularity, so if thatās your focus youāll be well met if you hang around and keep an eye out. And you wonāt find a more honorable group to deal with. My two cents about the āGolden Ageā is that it entirely depends on you. All of the models have their pluses and minuses, depending on your proclivities, but there is a thread of greatness in all of them. Basic elements, to craftsmanship and on to real world reliability.Ā Probably why weāre here right? Your relationships to the designs will also determine what models and what times you favor. I happen to love Duotones, but there are vast differences between the various stages of designs over time, and to me, all good, butĀ different. You are in good company, and I hope you find many beautiful Hamers in your future. š Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FGJ Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Hamer's "Golden Age" is from the time they started to the time Fender shut them down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamerhead Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 My personal favorites are from the late-'90s forward. The neck carve was perfect and the craftsmanship was incredible, second to none. The only niggle might be the choice of pickups they used, which was a love/hate thing in any era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BubbaVO Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Welcome! Studios and monaco are a great way to get back into the Hamer waters.Ā You should see them pop up now and then. Golden era?Ā For me, it was the CT era.Ā They weren't chasing anyone at that point.Ā Ā From a design, fit and finish perspective those guitars took a backseat to no one.Ā Of those the Talleys, monacos and newports are my fave. I've owned a few Hamers from different eras.Ā Not one was a dog.Ā Ā All had cool things about them.Ā They aspired to make gig worthy guitars at a reasonable price.Ā Ā I don't think they ever really missed that mark.Ā So regardless of the era you can't go wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Haynie Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 The quality always improved.Ā They learned things early on.Ā Hamer had a list of "firsts" in what they offered in regular production instruments that other guitar makers did not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveL Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 I like the late 90's very early 2000's...Ā Ā tops andĀ neck profiles were good,Ā liked some of the coolĀ stuff they were doing like the mahogany 25th/artists.Ā Ā Pricing still reasonable enough to buy new.Ā Ā Ā They were also doing the HFCĀ open housesĀ so it was possible to weasel your way thru the wood pile! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polara Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 +1 on the Connecticut time. They always have made excellent guitars.Ā I played an oldĀ Sunburst of Hardheartedbill's that I didn't care for. Had anĀ early 80s Blitz bass with a neck like a Tennessee state highway, all curves. An '81 Special that sounded nice but had a neck like a shadow, a Phantom a5 that wouldn't stay in tune. But never less than stellar in the modern era. My 2008 Standard Custom is monumentally good, the '94 Studio Custom is a keeper, despite Hameritis the likes of which I've never seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBraz Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 I love them all but generally I graduate towards shredders so early ā90ās for me. Having said that I own Hamers from the 70ās, 80ās, 90ās and 2000ās and love them all. Welcome back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 To me, the very best was their Daytona-T51-T62 era.Ā Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Shark Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 When I hear someone ask about the "heyday" of Hamer, I'm always reluctant to respond.Ā I can think of a Hamer i wanted to order every year of my knowledge of their existence as a company. That started around 1979 in the Guitar Emporium catalogs.Ā There was the "Sunburst" and the "Standard".Ā Something innovative and cool every year after that.Ā I fell for the Vintage S twice.Ā Silly boy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princeofdarkness56 Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 If it has a checkerboard stripe on the headstock itās a classic. Ā Canāt beat theĀ mojo that comes with those. Ā Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JochenP Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 I think it will depend whatĀ your personlyĀ preferences are. quality of the guitars still was great (i.m.o) I am a child of the early 80Ā“s and these are my "golden" Hamers. Hamer was a respected company in Germany this time. They lost market later ( I personally donĀ“t like the lateĀ 80Ā“s. FRose and Stratmonster.. ) Also I like theĀ 90Ā“s (duotone, eclipse, vanguard..) and of course the Artist series... ;-) something like back to the roots... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakeboy Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 Welcome! I guess it all depends upon how you define a Golden Era? Your focus seems to be on quality, as it should be These guyās gave good answers. I got to the party late and have owned a bunch in the last decade including one of the nasty boy Checkerboard Specials and the rest were 2000 eras.....they all played wonderfully and sounded great with flawless quality. Seriously. I have never played a bad Hamer.Ā My fave is the early to mid 2000 era cause I love love love the vintage carve neck. They just feel right. Again, welcome to the coolest music forum on the net! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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