diablo175

Understood and already assumed as much. Had NO intentions of getting my specs to be considered as options in the Ultimate run. It's still major-league excitement on this end. I've been walking around with a boner all morning. Or I was until I read the no boomerangs clarification. <droop>

Yeah, I've already gotten "the look" from the wife by the mere mentioning of Mike's start up. Her next response was, "You're not thinking of getting another custom are you?" Not so much a question, as a directive. You'd BETTER not be getting another custom!" Ah well, she and I have plenty of years to resolve my lapse in judgment and find forgiveness. I sense a 25.5" scale Ultimate (Standard) will be ordered soon.

WOW! Both are drop dead gorgeous! Congrats. I am envious!

Yup. If you had paid any lower, someone would've had to call the police to report a theft. Excellent deal and sweet rawk machine. My fave Diablo came in at around the $400 mark, though it was not nearly as nice as yours and had the passive SD p'ups replaced with EMGs. I've since put SD Blackouts in and and added a toggle switch (shocker, I know) and it's my go-to guit when I'm practicing new tunes, techniques or just jamming along with iTunes. You just can't beat it for the money.

Hopefully, Chris' is after my Vector.

HBD Stike! Hope it's a good one!

Just in case the message wasn't clear...

My band is playing on June 21st at the Amvet in Ephrata and I'd like to invite any HFC-ers in the region to stop on out and watch some Hamers get abused. Actually, we have always gotten a good reaction at the Amvet and the vibe is great, which in turn spurs us on to leave it all on the stage. The food is pretty good and the beer is cold and cheap. If you're interested, let me know by Friday the 20th so I can get you on the guest list. Amvet is a private org./club and as such, requires all non-member guests to be registered at the door before entrance. First round is on me!

Conquering Dystopia- Tethys Have to be in the right mood to listen to this style of music anymore but I was impressed with Jeff Loomis' playing. Also appreciated the shift from balls-out technical shred to some subtler, moody stuff.

No doubt. But love or hate these two (I've noted a bit of dislike for Vai on here) Vai and Satch IMO wield pinch harmonics as well as any of those already mentioned. Both have seamlessly incorporated them into their playing as an effective, expressive tool and not just a gimmick, or a crutch as in the case of Zakk.

Cannot believe no one's posted this guy: Or this guy:

Haven't ... yet. (knock on wood...)

UH OH. Dude, that sucks! Looks like they tried to repair it with a small chainsaw...

+1 I've got a custom Jackson been waiting on for 2 + years due in June and my Vector should be wrapped up by Stike around the same time. and yet...

Drive thru that county every time I go to Myrtle Beach SC and/or Z-Hills FL. The next time I drive thru there on the way to either of those places, I'll stop by to see coolfeel- I owe him a couple of rounds of some good bourbon.

+1 on both accounts.

I share your sentiment, Disturber. However, it's been pointed out that FMIC isn't wholly to blame. Sure, it's easy to pin this mess entirely on them because they had to make the calls and issue the pink slips but IIRC, Hamer was a wounded and/or dying enterprise before FMIC took over. It's just beyond unfortunate that such mismanagement or questionable decision making results in the termination of the skilled luthiers and craftsmen working there. Who loses for this? Certainly the guys at New Hartford whose livelihoods and lives have been thrown into a giant chipper and the rest of us who will no longer be able to acquire their artistry under the Hamer name.

Serial makes a good point- the name on the head stock is irrelevant. It is/was the craftsmanship and magic you guys infused those guitars with. Wishing you guys all the best and hope to see your work again soon!

LOL. Shredmeister said it.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz.

Ah HA! The plot thickens...

Wouldn't that take away from the sonic properties of the FM? I'm no cork sniffer but my experience with FM's vs.Hog is that there is a discernible difference in the tones.

Oh hell, then mod away! FM Cali's are more common and your idea sounds f-ing cool! Will want to see that when it gets done!!!

Cynic, normally I tell you to ignore Nathan but in this case, I agree - that O'Conner finish is unique. Not too many of them, either I'm guessing,

I can definitely imagine how the PATB's would sound brighter than OBL's especially for pop,country and rock stuff. I'm reasonably sure that the gain-drenched settings I was using the OBL's with gave them a little more punch than usual. Still, the OBL's kinda fell flat for solo's. When I sold the IriCali LE, I went to my Godzilla Cali with EMG 81/SA-1's for the heavier stuff. The EMG's were perfect for the heavy crunch but had some serious punch for solos as well.