cmatthes

At the Setzer show the other night, Gretsch had a Wall of the Setzer models (Hot Rods, BS Sigs, Black Phoenix, etc.), a few GDEC amps and headphones, as well as 2 laptops for people to place orders for various Gretsch guitars. The ones I played blew away any vintage Gretsch I've ever owned, and most of the ones I've played over the last 3 decades. The funny thing is that some people were ponying up LIST price for the same guitars they could get for $1,500+ cheaper off the wall at the GC 3 miles down Rockville Pike.

My thought is that THIS is the best course. Nobody here knows what is really going down, and I've heard plenty of rumors from inside and outside too.

We'll probably see 4-digit Standard reissues when they can put a $10k price on them and have buyers. For now, the real deal is going for less than half that.

Non-Hamer: In 1994, Dave's Guitar Shop in Lacrosse had a 1982 Heritage Series Flying V in Candy Apple Red - all original and truly MINT w/OHSC. $995. Hamer: The first Electraglide at the Washington, DC (3Bees) Guitar Show in 1990 or '91. A dealer from WVA had it tagged at $650. I had just bought a beautiful Mary Kaye Strat and was low on cash, but the guy said he'd hold it for me until the next day. I pulled it out of the booth and snapped a couple of pics and then he put it back in the case. Came back the next morning and it had been sold to a Jpns dealer who just pointed at things and loaded them on pallets. An HFC'er "rescued" that from the Land of the Rising Sun a few years back in a commando mission, so it's back in the States. I've never gotten over that one! I know we're limited to just one, but I'll take the loophole and add a 4-digit, single-X2N Flametop Standard bass in Chuck Levin's used section back in '95. $300, and they'd deal on it. That one sold locally for less than the asking price, and I'm still waiting for it to show up on a local Craigslist or in the CityPaper...

The Superpro was the one Hamer guitar I really tried to hate. Once I played it, my perceptions totally changed. I'd think that based on what I've seen in recent sales, that should be a fairly even swap in a trade deal. Since the Newport came out a couple of years earlier, you may find a few more of them on the street, but I don't think there's much, if any, price differential on the used market.

Ed Roman HAS gotten in trouble with Hamer in the past for forgeries. He also got in trouble over using Hamer logos as I recall...

Tobe: Until he gets his act together, I'd recommend avoiding him at all costs. The guy sounds like a total flake. No excuses for that in ANY business model.

Have a great time - I'll catch 'em next week in Raleigh.

Welcome aboard the Fan Club!

Stonge has been more than generous in providing me with a few "Hotel Lenders" over the years when I was in the Hartford area for extended stays. I somehow managed to get white fingerprints deep under the finish of a black B-12s though... I have a Hamer bass that has been on extended loan to a bandmate for going on 3 years. He mentioned that he liked it once, and doesn't have a bass at home, so I told him to feel free to use it for recording, messing around or anything else he might need it for - I know he'll take good care of it and if he's having fun with it, even better! My son recently learned a lesson the other way about lending stuff out. He has a Vector that he loaned to one of his guitarists for an upcoming gig. The other kid has a really crappy guitar, and rather than spend 20 minutes of every practice waiting for him to get in tune, he let him use something better on a temporary basis. They rehearse at the drummer's house, so the guitar stays there. Last week, the Vector's toggle switch was "mysteriously" sheared off (knob and threaded part of switch). They looked all over for the part, but it wasn't there. Apparently, the drummer's older brother's band had played there a few days before, and one of their members f'd with my son's guitar and broke the switch. Of course, nobody knows anything about it (!!) , but he has learned a valuable lesson. He very firmly insisted that he didn't want to cause any band drama, but that there was responsibility to get the guitar repaired. He said he'd keep parents out of the picture if somebody just stepped up and took care of it. At practice over the weekend, a $20 and two $10s were (again, "mysteriously"!) slipped between the strings...

I live by Dan Savage's "Campsite Rule" when it comes to other people's guitars: Return them in as good or better shape than when you first borrowed them (paraphrased, but you get the idea).

I just saw that one for sale this week. It was him - or his twin...

Those were all approved mid-month by Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy...and Poe.

Don't you mean "Talladega UltraPro DOUBLENECK"??

What, the mod gig not payingyou enough?! Here's one compared to a few other "standard" guitars - a Tele, a Les Paul, a Newport and a Daytona/Strat:

It's just right! Here's a pic of one next to Turdus' Tele - they really aren't all that big in comparison.

I think this is your answer. He knows he paid less than the going rate for the amp, or at least "at a great price". He probably thought he'd make some money flipping it, so may not have ever had the intent to keep it. I'd say to have him return it, he eats return shipping, and once back in your possession and in the condition you sent it, you'll refund his money.

Is this an eBay / PayPal transaction?

How's the nut cut on the high E string? Could the slot be a bit too deep?

I've seen that on eBay twice before with different sellers. Maybe the sticker scares the owners too much...it is a scary-looking evil monster face and all.

Uh, Serial?

Actually, those are the rules from the Gear Page, but we don't allow faux auctions here, so posting a price is probably the best way to sell something here (or anywhere).

THOSE are cool!

One more for ya, Mark - use white or light colored rags/polish cloths. Leaving a red T-shirt draped over a stand where a white guitar rests will eventually get you a nice pink spot. Didn't happen to me, but I've seen the direct results of that and it didn't take long at all.

There was a thread recently on another board where a guy with a recent Les Paul and another one with a new PRS where pretty dramatic finish damage resulted from surgical tubing on a stand and a leather (PRS!) strap, respectively. They were both kinda ugly.