gwayne

I hesitate to say "better', but I prefer this G&L to the rosewood board T-51 I had. This is a twin to MChops':

The quilt matches that color just perfectly. It literally looks like it's on fire. I know it must look killer in person.

My first custom order was placed in January and arrived in July 2007. I had wanted a maple-topped Newport Pro since selling my spruce-top. When I saw the 2007 catalog, I was done for. The cover guitar was a quilt-topped NP Pro in a new color, "Tortoise". This is almost the exact guitar but there are no bound f-holes and no Bigsby. Custom features are the color, quilt top, multi-ply body, neck and headstock binding, MOP Hamer inlay, gold hardware, and smaller neck carve. Final results: Outdoors:

"I played every (insert guitar here) in the store and this was by far the best".

NO way is that PRS excellent. Very Good at best - I would call it "good". How Elderly rates a guitar is irrelevant unless they're selling it. When I list a guitar on eBay I have a clear picture of every single dent, ding, scratch. The seller is way off base IMO.

I had a couple custom colors done that Hamer just nailed in the final product. Elduave was extremely patient with me through those! How does the process work? Does it delay the guitar? Or do they make the guitar while they work on the finish. I saw someone with a tortoise finish on this board that had a square board that hamer finished so he could see the finish...I really am thinking I am going to have to do a custom color, because I dont want any of the other stock finishes. (This is how it worked for me and my dealer) First you place the order with your dealer. On the order sheet, they request a color sample for the customer . Hamer sprays the sample and sends it to the dealer, who then sends it to you. You make the approval, send the wood back and they paint it. I assume the guitar is being built during this time, it just hasn't gone to the paint booth. Does it delay the process? Probably, but it's negligible. I mean if it's a totally custom piece, don't you want it 100% to your liking? Hamer delivered in spades on my order and have done so on more HFC'ers guitars to count. The paint on foodermon's Gator-burst Standard Custom is over-the-top in so many ways. As I recall, Hamer sent more than one sample and he picked the his favorite of the bunch. If this is incorrect, please set me straight, but I saw the samples as well as his original "concept swatch" at the Cajun Jam a couple years back. Here's a shot of the Tortoise sample. The finished product was exactly matched, I couldn't be happier.

Happy birthday to you both! I shall hoist a Shiner Blonde in your honor when I get home.

As a matter of fact he did - this is almost a twin to your Tortoise Newport, minus the Bigsby and bound f-hole.

Cool. Glad to see some nice Hamers down unda'.

Are you a dealer or did you win the lottery? That's a great collection!!

The AlNiCo Pro II works very well in the neck of a Studio. I had the Custom/Custom Custom mix in the Monaco Elite I had and it was a very nice factory set-up - 10X better than a '59/JB to these ears.

That will become the new ebay catch phrase. Something tells me this is not a good thing for Hamer lovers - I hope I'm wrong.

The upcharge for a "Newport"-thick body on an Artist or Studio was $150 as of Jan. 2007. This is MSRP and the actual upcharge is probably less - check with a dealer for confirmation. The Newport is the same thickness as a Les Paul. IMO a Studio with this thickness may get you closer, but to get those great LP tones, you need TWO Tone controls and TWO Volume controls - and that's something Hamer won't do (or they wouldn't the last time I asked). I had a Studio that sounded like a great Les Paul - until I got a Les Paul and I realized that while they are close, there's a lot of LP territory that a Studio just won't touch. Obviously YMMV. I'm personally happier with my maple Newport than I was with either the Artist or Studio and it only has one volume, one tone - go figure .

I just did. I really appreciate all the help you gave me. The HFC is the best place! Thanks to all and everyone here who I have had great dealings with, and great fun, over the years. Keep us updated.

Here's a partial post of his off the Gear Page from a couple months back: "I teach guitar and sell gear out of South FLA . We are Mesa BOogie dealers and these amps are our main sellers"

Stones "Sympathy For The Devil"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YA FUKKIN' MADMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many Samuel Adam's are being lifted in your honor.

Daaaaamn, that sunburst is killin' !

If it sounds half as good as it looks, I'd say it was worth the wait. 'course that's easy to say as I wasn't the one waitin'.

This is sad news. JB was from Augusta and continued to do a lot for the disadvantaged in the community. Before Thanksgiving he gave away turkeys and he gave out toys prior to Christmas. He's done this for years. The local gov't finally chose to honor him by changing the name of the civic center to James Brown Arena. I'm glad he lived long enough to see that. R.I.P. James

Thank you all so much for the kind words and prayers. My Dad passed before I could get back. I missed his passing by about 10 minutes. My mother, his wife of 53 years, was with him as was my sister. He did not suffer any in the end and for that I am grateful. While he was still awake, my final words to him were that I loved him and his to me were " I'm proud of you". I'll treasure that until I die. Thanks again guys. I'm off to be with my other family. Again, thank you all so much. Gary

To my HFC family (and you are) I just got a call that my Dad probably won't make it through the night. We've been at his side non-stop for the last couple of days and it looks like his long battle with emphysema is over. Please remember me and my family. I love you guys, Gary

Recent deals with HFC'ers include: Centaura HB from JeffR to me to Txisan (?sp) Diablo from ATQuinn to me BCR Jr from ToneJunkee to SirDaniel to ?can't remember? to JIsham to Cordroad to me

I've got a Crossroads set in my Les Paul Custom - they're awesome to say the least and Jim's customer service is second to none.

Congrats on a super cool guitar! It's kinda understated and over-the-top at the same time. Kudos to whoever spec'd that one out.