serial

NICE!!!

Just sold mine a few weeks back-great guitars!

Sweet-thanks!! That's a great looking Virt and I'm one of the minority who digs Kahlers, so even doubly good.

I had the same thought!

Great idea!!

Have had several questions about how/when I got this one. One thing that I think makes this one even cooler is the fact that I got whole history of the guitar from the time it was originally purchased. Original owner was the road manager for the 1976 Winter Brothers Summer Tour and they were in the NYC area for a show. During the day, they hit, what else? Music shops. On a run into Pastore Music in NJ, this guitar is hanging out of reach of the unwashed masses on the wall (because it was probably as much as a few new Les Pauls cost). When you are touring with a guitar legend, people put things in your hands, so the guy plays the Hamer, digs it and buys it. #0017 then proceeds to accompany the tour, spending a lot of time in the case. In November, 1978, he decided he wanted bigger frets on the guitar, so he had a tech put in larger ones (date and signature is inscribed on the underside of the control cavity cover). A string tree was installed then too, but later removed so a screw hole remains-the only real blemish on this beauty. Original owner gets back after some time on the road and no band anymore, he goes back to school. I don't recall if he was going back to college or med school, or both, but after that, he understandably didn't get to play it much. Fast-forward to early 1997. I had recently become an HFC member and since no one had the internet, we didn't mind that pages loaded so slowly because there could be days without another soul showing up to post (likely because there was no boobies thread). I had bookmarked a regional Craigslist-type Classifieds that had a musical instruments section and I was on a serious Hamer Standard hunt. FINALLY an ad shows up (I literally bookmarked every guitar classified page on the Internet) for a Hamer Standard, so I call right away-a day too late. A NYC/NJ guitar player (also a columnist for several guitar mags and fairly well-known in regional guitar circles) had scooped me. The good doctor chatted with me for a decent amount of time telling me all about the guitar and how it came to be his, etc. at the end of the chat, I joked that if the guy ever decided that he wanted his money back, he should call me. About two months later, I got a call out of the blue. I had finally scored an old '78 Standard, but had the bug big time. The guy who bought #0017 was starting a magazine and was looking to raise some cash. I was happy to oblige, although I did have to sell off my beloved '75 Ibanez Destroyer to come up with the cash. The buyer very generously drove the guitar to my in-laws' home in NJ and I picked it up at the Shore (don't recall if it was Labor Day or Memorial Day... I've enjoyed having it ever since. This one is a stupid rare under-the-bed, no back worming beauty from the very earliest days of Hamer. This is one of the Monty basement guitars (before John McHugh came on board) and even before they had settled on the distinct double cream bridge and zebra neck pickup combination. Not for any other purpose, but that I think it's a cool story that hopefully some HFCers will enjoy.

Wow!

I'd be interested in adding the serial number to the Hamer Registry-I don't believe I have that one!

Wow!

Well, the guitar I had my sights set on is no longer available, so I'm more flexible on a deal now that the trade part isn't as limited.

Bass plates were different in the 90s on some models. Longer and thinner.

A little porn... http://smg.photobucket.com/user/serial/slideshow/0017

What logic drives one person has no relation whatsoever on what another person, using their own opinions or beliefs and having not the slightest inkling as to what motivates the former, might think. I might very well get more enjoyment from a new Porsche than a vintage Ferrari. Why is that for anyone else to question? And I would never use FedEx!

Well that takes me out. Too far to walk. Talking to a few people and nobody has to walk. Most of the people most interested are out of the USA, so walking would be, well, impractical.

The covered neck pickup was likely there for a while since Greco kept that detail when it copied #0000 in 1978.

I know of two 1pickup LPs for sale (on TGP by an HFC member actually) in the $2500 range. Wasn't looking for a koa BCR necessarily-I know the market on those!!

The price is not $10,500 though. It's cash plus a guitar... ;P The biggest thing I'm wrestling with is shipping this one. It would certainly be better all around (and a LOT cheaper) to avoid shipping if possible, although I'm certainly able to ship.

Appreciated, but not necessary!

I don't think for a second that there was ever a thought of misleading of any sort. Anyone who knows Elduave knows he's a class-A straight shooter (and a fantastic player)!

#0017, actually!

LOTS of interest on this one. I'm committed to responding to everyone over the next few days. Weather here is kinda crap this weekend, but will try to get as many shots as I can. Sale will not be rushed, mostly because I'm slammed at work and at home at the moment, but just because you haven't heard doesn't mean I'm going to get in touch with you!

There was a promo picture of CT about 1975ish at Rick's Pick's exhibit of Robin holding that guitar. I might even have taken a photo of that but I would have to look on Sunday for that. Doesn't mean it was Robin's they may have just grabbed it for the shot. What's with the pissing all over the guitars story all of a sudden?!? Not pissing. Rick and Paul Hamer both told me that that was the guitar Rick ordered for himself, but it took forever to deliver so they gave Rick #0000 as a loaner. The story differs from that point on, depending on who you ask. Rick told me that they gave him #0000 because they felt bad for the delay, but Paul said 'he just never gave it back'. When #0004 was finished, Rick still wanted that one too. I've never heard the Zander story before this or that it was attributed to Jol. There has been, based upon my observations while researching, a lot of 'variations' to stories, so I suppose anything is possible, although I can't see Robin slinging a Standard-it'd be huge on him! Just remember-until 2004, no one outside of Hamer knew about Monty or Holmes.As for the Robin angle-remember that Robin often played Rick's guitars. The white Tele so prominent in the Budokan LP pics is Rick's and the two Pete Comita SNL basses are Rick's. So even if Rick 'owned it', the intent could well have been that Robin would play it.

I get that a lot!

Feeling a bit loopy, so we'll see how this goes before I come to my senses... Standard #0017 from 1976. VERY early example of four digit art. All original according to the original owner who filled me in on the details when I bought it from the guy he sold it to two months earlier (who had to sell it to start a magazine). All original except for the frets, which were done in 1978 (it's inscribed in the control cavity). The original owner wanted larger frets. This thing is CLEAN. No checking or anything. One small hole in the headstock from a string tree removed years ago. Original hardshell case with 1976 Winter Brothers Tour tag on the handle and Pastore Music sticker. Had a few inquiries about this one of late, and figured this would be the one they'd bury me with, but then another part of me thought 'maybe?'. Will be taking a lot more photos and posting over the next few days, but wanted to get a flavor for what interest there might be in this one. Not sure how to price it, so I'll toss out $10.5k plus one of a few guitars in partial trade (vintage USA Mockingbird or Bich w/ adjustment to price according to the guitar; 77-81 sunburst (not cherry sb!) LP, Custom Shop single pickup LP...I don't know-hit me with ideas!). This is less than some of the offers I've received in the past, actually. Yes, this is the cover girl from "the Book" and is featured in there several times. The cleanest old Standard I've ever seen and I've seen quite a few.

I'm not sure that the Robin angle on Rick's natural Standard is remotely factual, but it's interesting nonetheless!