jwhitcomb3

Here's a shot of the mini-humbucker: Here's a shot with an overlaid Firebird ring: I'll need to find a couple pickup springs and figure out how to solder nuts onto the pickup bracket, but this should work. -Jonathan

Cool! I'll give this a try and post back with results! Thanks, Jonathan

Can Gibson Les Paul Deluxe style mini-humbuckers be mounted in firebird style pickup rings? Thanks, Jonathan

Thanks! This puts some cool looking guitars on my radar! -Jonathan

Something about my playing style has me hammering my forearm against the top rear edge of an electric guitar. After years of bruised forearms, I've finally unloaded all my electric guitars that don't have some sort of forearm bevel (well, almost...30th LTD still for sale). As a result, I'm back to all solid body guitars. I do miss the light weight and lively attack response of a chambered or semi-hollow electric. Does anyone know of guitar builders offering a chambered or semi-hollow guitar with a forearm contour? Is that something Hamer could do? Thanks, Jonathan

I highly doubt it, but maybe it's possible that folks like Jol and the Guitar Aficionado crew have conducted extensive market research and determined that one can indeed tap into a lucrative customer base by being an arrogant, abject prick. You know he was taking a swipe at Hamer with that remark since I'm sure he sees that they are now building the classic guitars he refused to. I perceive the Jol quote as a swipe at some (most?) of the HFC community. That's some pretty heady shit to put out there. Particularly from a guy pretending to spray a Telecaster. -Jonathan

Guess I'll have to wait for the import line.

That is HUGE. As you noted, not everyone was in the position to build up a cushion to ride out the hard times, but those who were able to rather than max out their spending power during the good times are currently in better shape. Now if the gov't could learn that lesson... Selling off a bunch of my junk on ebay helped me through the lean times as well. I'm currently selling off my study aids.

Actually, you're still not getting it. You never do, really. See if you can get this straight: you have NO idea what it takes to run a business, online, brick-and-mortar or otherwise. I understand. You don't disagree with what I have to say, it just upsets you that I'm saying it. -Jonathan

No, but don't expect your unsubstantiated bluster about how to succeed in the business world to go unchallenged. And again, nowhere have I contended that adapting to changing business environments is not universal. I really hope you're better at twisting words in a courtroom or at a deposition than you are on the forum. So, let me get this straight. Even though I changed my career in the face of changing business environments, and you agree adapting to changing business environments is universal, somehow my comments on a business adapting to changing business environments is "unsubstantiated bluster?" Got it. Other than getting excited that I'm the one who commented, you haven't actually disagreed with any of my comments. Perhaps you're taking this too personally? -Jonathan

I love it when somebody on an internet message board pops off complaining that somebody else is popping off on an internet message board. This is the forum. Perhaps you feel better qualified to opine here than others? My hat goes off to the small retailers, who certainly have their share of challenges. All businesses do. Despite your contentions, the realities of adapting to survive changing business situations are universal. Businesses who are surprised that consumers seek the lowest prices will have a tough row to hoe. Those that can add value services will have a fighting chance. The retailers represented on this board appear to be working hard to do just that. -Jonathan

Irrelevant. It's all about understanding your assets, your risks, and your opportunities. And then doing something about it. A little luck helps too. Sometimes standing pat in the face of change works. Sometimes not. Internet commerce isn't going away. Businesses can choose to leverage it or try to compete with it. I wouldn't put my money on trying to compete with it.

And those that can't do or have never done often make statements such as these. That's right. I didn't just adapt my career in the face of changing business conditions!

I suppose any time someone responds to a post with a story they must be taking it personally. Business conditions have always changed. Those that can adapt survive. -Jonathan

I said that I turn to ebay due to limited retail options where I live. I can buy all the Peavey and Squire stuff I need right downtown. Has there ever been a time when businesses didn't have to adapt to changes in lifestyle and technology? It seems there are ways for the brick-and-mortar businesses to leverage their expertise with the new technologies. How about a service that receives instruments purchased on ebay, inspects them, cleans them, and sets them up for customers? A network of independent dealers that can rotate and exchange stock and cross-order? An instrument exchange network?

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Living in a very small city in a small state, there are lots of items that I could neither buy nor sell locally. Batteries for 10 year old synths. Parts for an out of production vacuum. I've had one bad ebay transaction out of hundreds, which is a better percentage than I've had with brick and morter retailers. I think it comes down to common sense. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If the seller is a new ebayer, I factor that into my bidding. If the ad copy is snarky, or if the seller doesn't answer questions, I don't bid. I generally buy within the USA.

Interesting how nylon and steel string guitars were lumped together. I doubt most classical or flamenco guitarists would identify themselves as playing "acoustic guitar." -Jonathan

Let's try King Solomon's solution: each contribute 997.50 and then we'll cut it in half!

Back up with a $1995 BIN.

The auction was ended early. WTF?

Yep. And the reserve isn't even met. -Jonathan

Scary news! I hope you are as comfortable as possible and can get some rest! Good luck getting back up and around. -Jonathan

Who said "only"? Hamer's existence is unlikely to be affected by anything I have done or will do. Your analysis can be turned on its head: if Hamer was more successful marketing its instruments, there wouldn't be absurdly low priced used Hamers available. My love for Hamer guitars has little to nothing to do with their marketing strategy. It has everything to do with their attention to detail, their skills as designers and craftsment, and their love of making great guitars. -Jonathan

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