Leaderboard

I was a top dealer as well. I grew up in Evanston and went to Northern Prarie Music as a kid. I was there when the first Standard/s arrived. I remember Paul A/B-ing them with a late '50's Goldtop with buckers through a Marshall stack. Oh what fun! A kids dream. It's what really got me into the music biz. I am grateful to have been a part of it all. I am grateful to Paul, Jol, Frank & Jim. Let's never forget John Montgomery, the man who built the first Standards. This is now the new America. I think the general buying public is to blame. "We want it for cheap". No one is willing to pay what something is worth and weren't willing to support the dealers either. This is what killed the dealer network and consiquently the company. (in my opinion). Unfortunately we will all suffer as a result. Thanks to BCR Greg, Wilcutt's and anyone else who financially supported the Hamer guitar company. I play my USA Elite daily and it is as great as a guitar could ever be. My USA Hamer Standard hangs over my fireplace. I gaze at it daily. Long live the legacy. Pete Flynn, Flynn Guitars, Evanston, IL. USA.

There is a big factor missing from the equation - from the start Hamer understood the international market. Look at all those early and eighties endorsees - mostly European. Peter Wolf (Prosound - Germany) sold many more Hamers in the eighties than any US dealer, they even had their own models. Surprise, surprise - Peter Wolf marketed PRS in Europe and globally. (Edited to add that he recently left to start his own company - Brandwolf working with Knaggs Guitars). In 1995 Trace Elliot (Kaman) went bust in the UK and that wiped out a huge part of Hamer's market, that's a quarter gone in one go. I don't know what happened but Germany and Japan also lost interest soon after. No effort was made to publicise Hamer outside the US this century. The US market isn't enough on it's own anymore.

You're pulling up his brother's work at the Fender Custom Shop, probably. Try this...or maybe search for "Creative Lutherie" (Courtesy of Alpep's Lost Art)

I'd need a report on the high-gain tones first before I'd take the plunge.

Grunge peaked -'nuff said. Grunge wanted the guitars Hamer was building at the time - Cobain didn't "shred", he wailed on a cheap, used Jaguar before anyone really wanted them. Foo Fighters didn't 'shred' - Hamer missed an opportunity to put a Standard in Dave Grohl's hands....he was already playing the crap-Gibson reissues...Green Day wanted guitars - Gibson stepped in...Ozzfest and the Warped Tour WERE ALL GUITAR BANDS......I could go on....that ain't "it"....nu-metal was taking off - Hamer knew what those players wanted, they just refused to connect with those players and build them what they wanted on-stage.....the market was THERE.....

I also want to thank all of the Artisans/builders who built my Monaco Elite; Dave, Phil and the gang. I was lucky enough to go to the factory in 2001 for a tour. I feel bad for those who are so talented who now are out of a job. All the best to you guys. Pete Flynn

So good to hear from you Pete! You and Mike are the ones who made me aware of the best Guitars in the world-Thanks, and Oh, How I miss Fllynn Guitars!

This...

Bummer about the shut down, I hope the guys building still have jobs when it's all said and done. I should have ordered one more B4M when I had the chance. And who gives a shit who sold the most custom Hamers. I'll take good customer service over sales any day.

I don't think your logic works as almost nothing is made by the people who started the company. Are Ferraris still Ferraris? Prof. Porsche is long dead. Leo Fender? Many companies outlive their founders. The better comparison is an orchestra where the personnel change, even the leaders, but the entity continues. Things move on - it is the natural way.