Hamerhack

2 Hamer USA 1 Gibson Marauder 1 Vintage Dano 1 Carvin Doubleneck 1 Hondo bass 1/3 Hamer. Both Hamers bought sight unseen. Perfect for someone like me, a guy who hasn't owned many guitars (the above is all I've ever owned). I'd certainly be no expert at sorting through a pile of other brands to find a "good" one. I know a Hamer's gonna be great, so it's an easy decision. If I get any other guitars, they'll almost certainly be Hamer USA.

Cool! Didn't you also get the TM60 from Feynman?

Done.

We're rehearsing for my second "gig" ever! It's only some guy's retirement party, but it's fun anyway! My first "gig" was some other guy's retirement party 3 years ago.

"I Feel Free": Cream "I Feel Fine": Beatles

For some reason or another, this thing spoke to me. I didn't need it, couldn't really justify it, but I had to have it! It just beckoned and I finally relented. There are loads of incredible guitars on the HFC every day, but for some reason this is the one I felt compelled to go for. I think the fact that outside of the HFC, nobody knows or cares how cool it is was part of the appeal. Kind of a sleeper. No fancy top, love 'em or hate 'em bullet holes, but the DuoTone is a unique Hamer design. The fact that it was part of a super special Greg-ordered CT flat top run is also super cool. I took it to a jam session the other day. Not one comment. I kinda like that! I know what it is, I don't care if anyone else does. Photo and guitar courtesy of BCR Greg. Is there one (maybe even logic defying) guitar you just had to have (or would like to?). (I only have a few guitars, so this was an easy pick for me.)

If you could be absolutely world class, top of the heap at only one instrument... (Assuming you aren't already!) What instrument would you pick? I guess I'd go with piano. (Which I can clunk out chords on, but that's about it).

Liked these riffs the first time I heard 'em... What riffs made an immediate impression on you?

As a living room lounge performer, I really don't need anything more than my Artist Custom. However, one of these days I might try something with a trem, which I've never had. What's on your list of gear you've never owned that you'd like to have some day?

Speaking of the piezo... how do you pronounce piezo?

What song is it?

Saw Donovan with my son a few years ago. Mesmerizing speaking voice. Who gets your vote?

Somehow, I missed this when it originally was posted! Thanks!

In the 1980's, I had a thing like that called a "Dyna-Bee" ("Spins like a dynamo, hums like a bee" was the slogan, I think). They are cool! They are addictive...a friend and I were driving to Florida from NY in my '71 Pinto. We drove in shifts, and whoever was passenger was supposed to keep that thing going the whole trip!

Artist Custom straight to Rivera Fandango. Living room "lounge performances" is all I do.

Spinal Tap's Debut 1979. Nigel's got an Iceman.

I made the pilgrimage to see Les Paul (he played at Fat Tuesdays at that time). Figure I should see Chuck Berry one of these days. Who do you consider a must-see performer before they head to The Great Gig In The Sky?

Remember when you'd put an LP on the turntable, play side one, then flip it over and play side two? It was a nuisance lifting the stylus to skip over filler tunes, so sometimes you'd just sit through the clunkers. (Then you started replacing your albums with cassettes or cd's... and maybe almost miss the pops and crackles that were on certain spots on your vinyl versions.) Some albums as originally released are good all the way through, and are worth playing from the first track to the last. Which are your favorites? (Non Greatest Hits). My vote: "Dark Side of the Moon"

My son started playing guitar so I gave him my Gibson Marauder. That left me with an excuse for getting a new guitar. Always thought I'd get an LP. Then I heard about the hit or miss quality. I don't know enough about guitars to feel comfortable sifting through a bunch at a store to select a Keeper. I need something that no matter which one you pick, it's a Keeper. Then I heard about Hamers from that Ed Roman guy's website years ago. That led to this place. So I knew I wanted a Hamer. Then my wife got me my Artist Custom! It's run of the mill, off the rack, but it's the greatest!

The Lads from Liverpool Cream James Patrick Page

Original Dano (freebie from a friend, sometime in the 1970's) 1977 Carvin DT650-B (bought new)

Since it's New Year's, and since 2008 should be officially declared a "do-over", how's about this... You can have one guitar from any HFC member. It's okay if multiple people covet the same axe, because it will magically manufactured by the good ol' Calvin & Hobbes Duplicator. My choice is the fabled Camstone Duotone, shown here in all it's BCR Greg Photo glory:

I had assumed that Elton was over-emphasizing his pop stuff but I've seen vids of him on Youtube from as late as 2007 doing "All The Young Girls Love Alice" and "Funeral For A Friend." He opened with "Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" and also did "All the Young Girls Love Alice".

I've seen the Beach Boys a few times with Carl Wilson, once at Jones Beach in NY. That was a blast! Beach balls bouncing all over, everybody in the place (except my can't-sing-a-note brother) standing and singing along with every song. We took the kids last year to see "The Beach Boys" with Mike Love & Bruce Johnston in a small indoor theater. Not as fun, but still pretty cool. Whoever the guitarist was played a red Monaco III!

As Elvis?