zorrow

I am working on several things: 1- Strength and stamina: I want to play for hours without getting exhausted. 2- Singing while I play: Luckily the other guitar player who usually plays with me covers well all the sound holes; but someday I would like to play and sing at the same time. I sing pretty well and I am not so bad at playing, but I suck at doing both things at the same time -- so I am not the entertainer some people think I am... 3- Expression: that is, tone, finger vibrato, dynamics, melodic ideas, rhythmic shifts... I am not interested anymore in pure speed, as I think I'm already fast enough for what I do -- no, I don't want to be Yngwie Malmsteen anymore. I am getting older, I guess. 4- Theory: My guitar teacher is doing a great job on this. I always thought theory would make my playing more mechanical and would limit my inspiration. I was all about "freedom", so I never took lessons, I didn't want my thoughts to be conditioned by external ideas. Man I was completely WRONG! In fact, theory is pushing me to go to places I never went before. Now I am even more "aware" of the music, the chord changes, the modal twists... I still bet on spontaneity, but as John Coltrane said: "learn everything you can, then forget everything and just play".

Ah, my precious!!! But I'm just concluding a deal on an ugly 80's Vector, so... I have to control myself or my wife will just kill me.

HEY! Jol Dantzig just called me. He was very cool and we talked for around 15 minutes. As you already predicted, I feel much better now after talking to him. Here are the reasons why they won't do that model anymore -- I am using my own words, but the essential information is here: As an artist (or a designer) Jol always felt that 80's Vector design was just "odd" or "wrong". It was actually a marketing decision. The marketing guy asked for Flying V's, and at the beginning they didn't have the budget to put the "normal" Flying V headstocks in the production line, so they decided “to place this neck on a V-shaped body", and the odd Vector came to life. Jol never was proud of that decision. In addition, those early Vectors didn't even break any ground -- always according to his words. He says the Vector KK was a nice little variation to the classic Flying V. He says the classic headstock has a shape paralleling the body lines, so it's very coherent from a design point of view. He thinks that even other brands such as Jackson and ESP did add something new to the V-shaped design by pushing the borders even more, but to him the early Vector is just an ugly and visually unbalanced guitar. There's nothing interesting in there from a design point of view, so to him building one at this point would be like making again the same mistake he made in the past. There’s also one marketing-related reason: he says there are "many" old Vectors out there you can find for a fraction of the price you would pay for a new one. So, they won't bring the old design back also because there's no point in building an expensive guitar you can "easily find for around 500 bucks" -- or for under 1000 bucks. All that said, it was a pleasure talking with the guy himself. At the end we asked each other not to take our thoughts personally -- he doesn't want to build an "odd Vector" anymore; while I was pissed off at the company for "not listening to its customers". I guess now I should swallow my own words and apologize, as it looks like Jol Dantzig does listen to his customers, doesn't he? -- edited to spell correctly Jol's surname.

Awesome! Thanks one zillion times! I'll just emailed the guy. Let's see if something comes out from this.

FYI, I just got the following reply from Hamer: (...) Sorry but it is not a model that we currently offer. If you would like Jol Dantzig to call you personally and explain the reasons to you please email me back with your phone number. (...) I'll think about it, but I'm not sure I want Jol Dantzig to call me. It looks anyway I couldn't share with you guys what he would have to say. In any case, I'll probably give up on the headstock shape -- even if I like them, old headstocks are still "ugly" after all. Well, seriously, pointy headstocks look killer too. Maybe I should think about a korina babe? I played once an Epiphone Korina V and the tone was really great! And also (and weirdly enough) the Korina Vector's pickguard doesn't look awkward to me -- in contrast to the pickguard on Johnny's white Vector. Should I then go back to my cavern and let my korina GAS to develop into something bigger and unstoppable? -- BTW, Montreallers, any Korina Vector around for me to try?

You're very right -- and the wait will be even more: 10 - 12 months, I guess?

Ok, I'll consider that variant then. Just PM'ed JohnnyThunders. I hope being able to conclude a deal with him.

Ran guitars are made in Poland and are really great. No wonder why Jeff Waters from Annihilator -- an ex-Hamer customer, BTW-- dares to endorse them. Ok, I understand a Ran guitar wouldn't be as cool as an American Hamer, but quality-wise I don't think they're way behind. Back now to early Hamer Vectors and their "ugly" headstocks: I do realize they don't want to make them anymore, so that's why I started this thread. Ok, I'll probably be contacting JohnnyThunders again, even if the pick-guard looks odd to me -- at the very end I can remove it if I don't get used to its look. But that's my problem: all the Vectors around don't fit 100% to my GAS. I'm discovering I'm picky as hell -- there's always something: BTMN's has one single volume control and one pickup, and it's a refinish; Johnny's has a pick-guard (I might reconsider this reason though); Dave's (the one I would really want) is priced at "one meellion dollars" (I could actually add two hundreds more to my last offer, but it looks it's a keeper to him anyway); I find John's Schenker pricey, given that I don't enjoy that finish too much; Mikel's could be interesting, but he's very slow in answering my messages; Malthe's got its neck broken right before I could conclude a deal with him... and well, Hamer won't build one to my specs! I think I have some good reasons to feel a bit frustrated. But thanks a lot for the advices about waiting. I'll wait a bit more, ok. If I think about it twice I realize it is not urgent. It's just that patience is not my main virtue.

It's not the 3x3 what they won't do. It's just the non-pointy headstock like in this picture :

Great idea!

Well, I guess then I better buy a sustain-block from Hamer and just turn to Ran Guitars to build me an 80's Vector-looking guitar. In any case, my quest for an 80's Vector is making me to realize that my main guitars shouldn't come from a company that wouldn't listen to my needs as a customer. I am one hair away to drop the Hamer brand forever -- if no one sells me an 80's Vector soon I won't obstinate much more, really. At the very end I just want a quality instrument built to my tastes. So, if Hamer can't build it, you bet someone else will. -- I am starting to understand why some artists have moved away from Hamer.

I am talking about the "ugly", non-pointy headstock they used in early 80’s Vectors. I used to hate that shape, but I recently got a Hamer Vector '84 and I have a theory about its sound (which I love!) and the shape of the headstock. And well, even if my theory is stupid, I like now that shape just because now those guitar looks more "muscled" and "mature" to my eyes -- call it a customer's caprice or whatever! So, I just wrote to Hamer Customer service about this. I'm glad there are other people on this boat, because if there's enough interest on that headstock shape then maybe they would bring it back -- it shouldn't be a problem to "implement", as that headstock shape is everywhere in their other models. Let's see what they have to say about it... By the way, is anyone here close enough to Hamer to ask them about this issue? I would like getting an intelligent/logical answer from them...

I wonder why they won't accept using the old headstock shape on my custom Vector. I was committed to place a custom order with Dave, but they won't use the old shape, period, "and we hope you'll understand"... Understand what? Sorry, but of course I don't! It shouldn't be a big deal for them building a guitar with the neck and the headstock of a Special and the body of a Vector. Why missing an order of several thousand bucks just because that headstock shape is out of question? I don't really see their point -- and I am after all the customer, so I must be right!

Click on the link below the picture above. There are more pictures there.

Yeah, that's very true. Just read the add in detail and I wouldn't have purchased such a thing. The buyer was completely out of his mind, IMHO. That's the simplest Vector ever! A really interesting piece of wire and wood... However, to be frank it doesn't turn me on from the first sight... Well, I don't dislike it either. It has its charm, but if the price is not extremely low I would prefer saving my bucks for the axe I really have in my mind. Anyway, please PM me -- one never knows!

I have all the right keywords on eBay to notify me if one ever pops up, but I should have missed that one because it was listed only for the United States -- and I live in Canada. In addition, "SELL ONLY IN THE US. (...) Paypal only. Paypal users must have confirmed address or I'll refuse payment." normally voids me from bidding, because you can ship my stuff to my friend in Vermont, US, but of course her address is not my confirmed PayPal address -- this could work only with sellers who are HFC members and know me well.

...and of course, Father's Day implies a BUMP to this.

Hey! Another bump to this thread -- still looking forward to conclude a deal with some of you! Edited to erase all the details I was talking about -- they actually are not interesting to anyone but me. BTW, Father's Day is around the corner. The best present I could offer to myself would be a good old 80's Hamer Vector. Nobody's able to help yet?

Bump! -- still hunting!

That would be very kind from you. Thanks a LOT in advance!

John, torture is illegal.

I decided to place a new add. Here it goes: I want to buy an early 80's Vector in good playing condition. I want a fixed sustain-block bridge and the ugly, non-pointy headstock. I prefer no binding and no motifs, but I am open to any model -- might even consider a Schenker! I like flame tops and bursts, but one single color or transparent finishes would also be great. Please, no tremolo system and no pickguard. The closer to the models shown HERE, the better. I live in Montreal, but if you are in the USA you can ship the guitar to my great friend in Vermont. Also, money is not an issue -- I got the cash and I am ready to pay, though I don't have "one meeeelion dollars", no. . I prefer PayPal and I will naturally eat cross-border fees -- I know it is my fault if I live in Canada, not yours. Please, PM me with your proposals if you've got something for me. Thanks a lot in advance to you all!

I own all the albums from the following artists: The Beatles: I grew up with them. To me they represent popular music at its peak. I just LOVE The Beatles. Queen: Pure genius! Musical, pompous, lyrical, harmonically rich, great songs, great vocals, great guitars, great everything! Rainbow: Always liked them more than Deep Purple. In addition, all the singers they have had are amazing. Alcatrazz: Be with Yngwie or Vai, or even without them, I like all what they did. Graham Bonnet is also a great singer. Acatrazz has just some few albums, so this collection was easy to complete -- I even own some bootlegs from them. Steve Vai: I've said this a zillion times: Zappa + Hendrix + Van Halen + Satch on a blender = Vai. Nice bundle pack then! King Diamond: Horror stories over the ultimate metal background. All the records tend to sound the same, I know, but I love the concept. Annihilator: Varied and tight and technical as hell, still thrash metal at its best. The four first albums are a must, but then I just had to have them all. Megadeth: I listen to Marty Friedman a lot. I actually got into Megadeth because I was already into Friedman. Then I got all the albums, including all those without Friedman. Fates Warning: Underrated progressive metal pioneers. Always liked them and always will. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I own almost all the albums from the following artists: Scorpions: Great melodic hard rock. I love their rockers, I love their ballads. Call me kistchy! Whitesnake: They went from great blues rock to great hair metal. Coverdale sings like no other, and he has always hired great guitar players. Ear candy to me! Blind Guardian: One of the few power metal bands I dig. Marty Friedman: One of my preferred guitar players. John Sykes: One of my preferred guitar players! Rush: Man, I am speechless! -------------------------------------------------------------------- Gosh! Thinking about it now: I own so many albums from so many bands! I guess some day I'll have to cut the fat out from those boxes...

I normally don't like custom paint jobs, but I do LOVE that one! Hey jerseydrew, can you please share some of their previous custom paints with us?

Brian May in "Play The Game". That was the first time I said "WOW, this guy has a voice of his own!". I guess I just had discovered the meaning of the word "tone". Years later I was listening to Tony MacAlpine's "Tears of Sahara", and then toward the end there was a slow solo played with another voice, kind of nasal and colorful at the same time. It took me some time to "discover" it was no other than George Lynch, who played two solos on that song. His tone is definitively amazing – not only his chops. And way before Zakk Wylde I discovered that thick LP tone by listening to Whitesnake's "Looking for love", which became my dream rhythm tone in just few minutes. And man, when John Sykes does his pinch harmonics and then makes them sing with his wide finger vibrato, you can talk about getting chills!