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Look at the prices of old cameras — Nikons, Leicas, etc. People buy them, collect them, but don’t necessarily use them for photography anymore. I think electric guitars are moving in the same direction. Hamer is gone. These instruments come from a time when people went down to rehearsal or a gig with a six-pack of beer, lit a cigarette, plugged their 100-watt Marshall into the wall socket, cranked it to ten, gave the world a big FUCK YOU, and played power chords while the band went full nuclear behind them. Today, kids plug their tiny headless guitars into a computer, put on headphones, and record a one-minute YouTube clip covering Sweet Child O’ Mine just to get likes. Hamers aren’t made anymore. Just like ’50s cars, they represent an era. Look at the prices of ’70s and ’80s Japanese lawsuit guitars — same thing there. Prices have gone up a lot. A Greco EGF1800 Super Real now sells for over $10,000.

Since December 2025, I have purchased two incredibly impeccable Hamers (Tally and a Monaco2) that were very expensive but worth every penny. Did I pay too much? Maybe, but I don’t think so. One was ANOS and the other was an EXTREMELY rare Hamer. Both New Hartford craftsmanship at its best. I’d do it again tomorrow, they are that good. Only 0006 is safe…

Despite having the aggregate gear, talent and work ethic of a legit, gigging band, my current line up won't or can't do legit 3 set-gigs. Instead, we have to settle for 1 set opening slots with other bands, featured set appearances or 3- 4 song sets at open mics. It ain't so bad. True, we don't get paid BUT load in/load out is stupid simple, my gear can be carried in one trip and doesn't break my back, PA & sound is always provided, I am in no danger of forgetting parts to 3 - 8 songs and I'm in and out and home in +/- 1.5 hours and get a full good night's slumber. Win. Did an open mic last night where we followed the house band and got to do 4 songs, all of which featured my C3- Checkered Cali Custom. Behold...

Great post and pics even though I clicked the thread title thinking it would be about a band called "Short Sets." 🤫

Hold the emotion and let the market work. It will... IF allowed to. And rate swaps - vilified by an ignorant media with absolutely no understanding of how credit markets work, attempting to establish a "them" bad guy - were and are an excellent tool for managing rate risk.

It won't last no time at that price!

Aside from Standards and a subset of the Calis, most nice Hamers are going up but they're not eclipsing what a new LP standard costs. At least they don't seem to be selling at the huge asking prices. Its likely there are some Hamer collectors slowly liquidating collections through stores and that's why a place like El Diablo seems to list a new $8000 Hamer every month. There are a decent number of bargains out there. A crazy quilt top Sunburst sold for $1000 on Reverb yesterday. I didn't buy it because it seemed to low to be real. Also it had gold hardware/

As we have said many times here, askin' ain't gettin'. I agree that higher asking prices make it harder to determine true average values.

Maybe Robin or Frank could, but I doubt Dave would do anything worthwhile with it.

Good price if you/re looking. The seller is GravityMusicGear out of Denver, CO. Ad says the listing has ended not that it was sold, so maybe it's still available: https://reverb.com/item/2309660-hamer-made-in-usa-t-51-telecaster-electric-guitar-w-case

I've noticed over the years that Prototypes often get listed for high prices and I wonder if people think they are actual prototypes worth extra money.

Nope but our vocalist does wear shorts to most of our appearances. The HFC Attire Police have not yet shown up to make arrests or write tickets.

Guitars are listed for high prices for multitude of reasons - sellers want to test the water, listing price is a starting point, not really looking to sell (but are forced to list by a spouse), super rare instruments, delusional sellers, etc. Keep in mind that on platforms sellers add fees premium. Many sellers are willing to negotiate, their listings are to start the negotiation. If you want to see realistic prices - check Reverb sold listings.

I thought Jim bought new sets of shorts for gigs...

And some of us get priced out. OR our desires change. I lost track. I think I have owned close to 100 Hamers over the years. Including at least one of most of the "limited editions". At one point, I know I had around 60. I think I have 7 now. One has been listed for sale at what I think is a very reasonable price. Some bites, no follow-through. No big deal. Two others (unique Duo-Tones) that I have been offered what I believe to be above market prices, but I do not wish to sell. The others I am not motivated to sell. Of those I have passed along, all (or virtually all) could be sold for more now than then. Such is life. Same as all those vintage Gibsons I sold a few decades back. My faves HAVE changed. And there are some great options today for those who want a great playing and sounding guitar at a price comparable to some of the "vintage" pieces. As but one example, a couple Suhrs I picked up in recent months (2 new, 2 used) were very reasonably priced and arguably better than some of my former (or even current) Hamers. And not higher than many current ASKING prices for Hamers. Is that MY taste or just the market? And how many of the subject asking prices make sense for PLAYERS as opposed to collectors? Not that I MIGHT not ever buy another Hamer. I would certainly buy back some that I have sold IF the price as very right. But to pay a premium price for something when my current choices for playing out are something different.....Highly illogical. Even if my ears are not pointed. 😉

They always reminded me of a bottle opener...

I hope he gets it.

"Run" away, you mean.

The world has gone mad!!!

It got swapped to another guitar that needed one quite some time ago (can't remember exactly which/when), I think the truss rod is still ok

I I have completely 100% cleared my memory and still does let me upload pics... 😒 says: "There was a problem uploading the file"... even after shrinking to smallest size

I 'd like to start a discussion about the present real value of Hamer USA guitars. I'm not really interested in dealer irrational prices like Diablo Guitars and the like. I have a particular disdain for anyone who attempts to push values to the heights that aren't sustainable- you buy it, you probably couldn't re-sell at that price. My opinion is that the values have become very difficult to determine. Hamer owners are posting prices on Reverb that are high and are not selling, but yet the prices don't ever get lowered. The guitars just sit there. What is going on? The Market has changed. The guitars listed at what I would consider a honest value sell immediately, virtually on the spot. This new market seems to be very polar, whereas the years leading up to now prices were very stable, only occasionally I would see a guitar sky-high priced or a low-ball deal. An amazing, really good deal seems to have become a fantastical unicorn. A $4400 Diablo- come on. Whoever you are that is listing these, you should be put in some kind of smouldering purgatory to repent for your sins. You and the Wall-Streeters selling credit swaps in 2005. I hate you both.

¡NSOS!

MAWR photos: I am even more convinced of my original contention. 1975 maple neck with marker-less ebony fretboard added in July of 1989.

The problem seems ongoing. (See error message below) Cannot load pics as before- dragging and dropping nor choosing files, do NOT work. Even in edit mode, cannot do after the fact ... BUT... I've found that if you copy and paste existing (appropriately sized) files while constructing your text, it seems to work.

"I'm moving overseas and don't want to sell my very first guitar but open." if someone is willing to pay a ridiculous price for it. fixed it for him.

Yes! And not in a good way!

RIP to the “Sixth Member” of Aerosmith (as stated by Perry for a long time). He was a no-nonsense producer who understood mics and how to get a good sound from a band. Old school…he believed if it sounded great it was great, even if things like the tempo varied. JD was a key part of the golden era of recording. I would have loved to have met him. He seemed like a cool guy in interviews.

1970-01-31 Jack Bruce & Friends Fillmore East, New York, NY

Dang. $25 grand. I do love The Humbler, but on electric.

Everything has skyrocketed and not to change the subject, but have you seen the prices of vintage audio equipment?.. example: Marantz, Pioneer SX-#### receivers?.. JBL, Klipsch speakers?... USA Jackson's at $7k 😳 and at a time where everyone is flooding the market

Very nice. I suppose treefiddy won't cut it.

Before you go replacing it, I would try dampening the springs in the rear cavity: A buddy of mine tried a Vegatrem on one of his Charvel-style partscasters. We both agreed that it sounded dull compared to the Strat-style bridge he had on before, and he ended up swapping that back in.

My brother's band just released their latest music video, and I thought you guys might enjoy. No Hamer content here, but my bro plays a pretty tasty solo on this one. ...However, there IS some Hamer content in the acoustic version they did of the first single "Goin' Crazy;" the bass player is playing my brother's fretless cruisebass (i think?)

I wanna goooo!! Seriously, get togethers with fellow members has rarely disappointed and many times been an outstanding good time. You gents will have to share some photo views and or video along with a few Hamer beauties 😎😵‍💫👍❤️🏁

It has more to do with the length of the cable than anything. My bandmate Steve was a firm believer that a coiled cable sounded better than the same length straight cable. Then, Eric Johnson made it so. Frankly, the treble and presence controls on the amp mitigate the need for a coiled cable. JMHO. I do, however, have a coiled cable in my gig case, if my wireless units fail. It's more of a trip precaution than anything...

Mick Mars!

That is the case.

I looked at that one when I bought mine. For hundreds less. The guitar electronics where fckd up but the guitar it's self was perfect!

Still the same problem with me!!!

he even sanded Hamer logo on the headstock!