Hi there, thought this great threat deserves a little bump on a Sunday morning...
I started playing in a band here in Germany in the late 70s and saved all my money for a Les Paul, that's what I always wanted, nothing else.
We went to Prosound Koblenz, one of the biggest shops at the time with hundreds of guitars.
I spent many hours and kept coming back to this Hamer no one ever heard of.
It played and sounded so well and was so exceptionally finished, there was no way to go for any of the Gibsons, as much as I wanted.
So finally Standard #0345 followed me home on June 28, 1980 for an expensive DM2400 (~$5000 US at the time) and I never regret it.
She's still with me, joined by a couple of other Hamers over the years, and will sure never leave me. A truly inspiring instrument.
(proud four digit owner in fabulous 80s outfit - where did all that hair go...?)
Paul, would be great to get some insights of the sales channels into Europe back then. Hamers were (and still are) quite rare over here in Germany.
Back then I was looking for Hamers all the time, but the one I bought was the only one I ever saw in shops.
Was there ever some successful distributorship here, or where these just ad hoc orders kind of thing?
Anyway, it's really a pleasure and honour to follow your side of these stories here. And thanks for some wonderful guitars... Jurgen