HSB0531

We HAVE to give Paul an HFC Party!

I haven't thought about Howie Hubberman in a long time. He was a partner or a salesman who ended up a partner or ended up an owner somehow at Six String Sales. The first owner was a guy named Dan. Dan ended up as a major player at Fender I think. Dan was the first from Six String to contact me and they were an early dealer. He was a real nice guy and wonderful to work with. Howie took over and I don't think the store lasted too long after that. Years later I ran into Howie in Los Angeles, he was helping out Tom Petersson when Tom was putting together a band with Mimi Betinis of Pezband during the brief time he left Cheap Trick. I think Howie had a tiny closet of a store near Guitar Center. He also claimed to have something to do with Gun's and Roses but I could be wrong about that. Three early dealer's were Pastore Music in New Jersey, Grayson's in Manhattan and Grayson's on Long Island (which were managed by the guy that later took over Kramer guitar, Dennis) and King James Music. I have an early dealer listing sheet somewhere that when I come across it I can post. That bass could be an early instrument that Peter Breggar imported to Holland. Thanks for posting the bass photo. Is there any damage to the back of the peg head on that bass? Paul Hamer It's funny that you mention the T-bird bass because that was the inspiration for the peg head and the over all feel. The nite that I completed the first guitar I got my first order from Martin Turner of Wishbone Ash for an explorer style bass. Martin played a T-bird bass, as did Tom Petersson who may have gotten his first or second or both early T-Bird basses from me. That first bass instrument had two original early T-bird bass pickups in it as did several of the other early basses including a green sunburst that Tom Petersson ordered Can you imagine a green sunburst anything in 1975? . I even discovered that some of the early T-bird pickup bobbins were cream colored like the late '50's Les Paul's Paul... Thanks for the info. No, no damage to the back of the peghead. Just the normal 30+ years of checking, dings, etc. I LOVE the way you guys did the early big pegheads, sort of overkill in a '60s TBird vibe. The double Jazz PUPs with the Gibson EB-3 pup/bridge was also very cool. Besides gigging regularly up in Rochester area, I was the all-nite DJ at the big underground FM radios station back then, WCMF. And yeah....Six String Sales only lasted a few years under Hubberman. I remember my stolen gear showing up in his front window one day and after I confronted him...he said come back in an hour and give him time to call the guy who sold it to him. When I went back an hour later it was all gone and he acted like he hadn't a clue what I was talking about. I called the cops. Geez. He's a character. I ran across him bidding against me on a Hamer on EBAY about 10 years ago. The "hhubberman" in his email was a dead giveaway. He worked with a number of the big L.A. "hair bands" of the 80s as a guitar tech, etc. and had what I think was sort of a used music gear/pawn shop near Guitar Center in Hollywood. One of the HFC members was his partner there. Small music world, no? Everyone eventually resurfaces. BTW...I bought my first bass cab at Grayson's on LI (and my first bass amp head...a used SUNN 200S at nearby Sam Ash in Hempstead down in the basement) when I was in HS. ***Any chance you recognize that refinned mystery Hamer bass/6string doubleneck above from 1981 with "TK" on the headstock, that no one at the factory had a record of? -mc2 I think you're talking about Gracin's in Hempstead LI. I remember going there often. They had ads describing Gracin's Music Zoo, where all the salesmen had nicknames of zoo animals. They always had a killer guitar/bass department. Pop Gracin was the owner, and Dan Vitalo, who went by the nickname of "Snake" was in guitars. Also, there was King James Music in Bayside (then later - Bellrose?) and Brooklyn. Richie Carnese was a guitar salesman there, who convinced me to buy #0531. He was always passionate about Sunbursts. Jim

3 rosewood 3 maple 3 ebony Prefer Ebony, then maple. I like the look of rosewood, but I don't like the feel of it and it seems to add a warmer if not duller sound.

I always love seeing this one!

#0531 w/ Red Calzone flight case - Bought new from King James Music, Brooklyn NY in 1981. Thank you Paul Hamer, for everything you've done for all of us who truly love the quality, sound, & performance of Hamer guitars & basses. And a warm welcome aboard, to the forum that bares your name.

Ummm, I'd guess that would be highly unlikely! As in, when pigs fly? I'm in, let's do it!

Count me in for one that says Standard

Nice entrance. Welcome aboard!

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll It's all my brain & body need Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll It very good indeed

A very Happy Twin Birthday to Chris & Steve Matthes!

Happy Birthday!!

With 3 bids and 4 days left @ $4,100.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-Hamer-Standard-Ex...=item3a57365866

Greg's right. We don't really know anything except for what Lostart said, that Fender let him go. KMC is/was his direct employer not FMIC. We don't know why/who/what about the chain of events. So until I know the whole story, I'm not making any more comments about anyone or any company. I deleted anything negative towards FMIC here and on myspace, and I'd like to apologize to them. I don't know any facts at this point in time, so I can't comment any further. Jim

Who said that? Any source? yes the source is me No, we don't mean the starter of this sad news thread. We mean your source for this info.

Wow is right! Maybe me, Veatch, & Moozak got in just under the gun. I usually check this for any other info: http://www.facebook.com/guitardesigner#

It's the only guitar company that I would buy from today without playing first. The only other was Leo Fenders MusicMan.

Bass Timeline: 1973 Fender Precision 1977 MusicMan Stingray: 1980 Fender Precision Bass Special: 1981 Hamer Standard Bass #0531: 1983 Fender Walnut Elite II Precision: 1983 Fender 1957 Vintage Re-issue Precision: 1987 Fender 1962 Vintage Re-issue Precision: 2009 Ibanez SR: 2010 Hamer Standard Bass12-String:

I think it depends on how many options, which ones, & which base model you're starting with. But if you mean what is my idea of a justifiable price to pay for one, I think I paid a very fair price for what I got. Everyone is going to have a different opinion on this one. Oh, and Veatch, you have the Rock guitar equivalent of a John D'Angelico New Yorker.

Happy Birthday Kiz. Now have some of SpecialK's cake....Mmm!

I've always heard and liked that sound and never new it was a B-bender. Thanks, cool video

I'd refin in the original yellow. But that's just my preference.

Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith

Mark E. Peterson (Jazz upright & Fodera fretless player)

+1 on Mars Cowling Kenny Aaronson

Like it! Reminds me of my Shelby valve cover.