dirk

...actually there are a lot of HFC members who own at least one 1978 Hamer Sunburst. I assume that many of them are willing to provide the Data Base with pics and informations regarding their instruments. ...for an outsider like me it seems like it is quite difficult to maintain the Data Base properly... Regarding the number of posts and replies in this forum there is not much love for sunbursts from that era

There are much more out there. I have three sunbursts from 1978 and they are not in the Hamer Database...

Please write "kaputt" - with two t. Thanks a lot

...just a fast reply with some of my Hamers. Three 78 Sunbursts, from left to right, one 79 and one 81 plus two Specials on the ground.

Do you like to sell it? If so pm me.

I do remember that. Very nice color... Let's meet when I'm back in the Rheinland! Sure, send me a message when you're back

1980 Special, 0 2424 1981 Special, 1 3906, that was yours, Cornelius.

ex german air force here...does that count?

I got this one from Greg. Beside the fact that Greg is one of the nicest guys to deal with this Hamer is in sick clean condition and a real beauty. It has a very distinctive sound and is compared to my other sunbursts pretty lightweight. S/N is 8 0574. Another one i bought this year from John (peedenmark7). Beat to hell but has the best neck i ever played. It came with non original pickups. I managed to get an original DiMarzio/Hamer bridge pickup from 1978 (Thanks again Greg!). The Seymour Duncan in the neck position sounds amazing. S/N is 8 0292.

Talking about being PLAYED!!! Here's a 1978 Sunburst B&C. Sounds great, plays great but was badly abused.

One of my 1978 Sunbursts which was badly mistreated. Anyway the neck is to die for.

I'd like to hook up with Bernard and thank you all for your birthday wishes.

That's a great threat. Here are some of mine: The first one is a 1981, S/N 1 3006, B&C, looks brand new except for two small dings, white binding, OHSC, all original. I'm the second owner. This one belonged to a guitar teacher who bought it new in 1981 in Bozen, Italy. It has a nice flame and a dark unfaded colour. The second one is a special one. It's a 1979 with very unusual tuners. I'm certain that they are original to this guitar. Interesting serial number too as you can see in the picture (Conrad, yours is better, i know). It has a beautiful colour with a fantastic flame. All original except for the knobs and the bridge pickup which i had to replace with a period correct Hamer Dimarzio with braided wires. It sound as great as it looks and has a great neck. As far as i know this is one of the last one piece neck Hamer made. Maybe serial can confirm this. I bought this from our forum member Gabe last year in a gas station somewhere in the Netherlands. Here's another one from the 1978 i bought from Greg:

John, never saw a 1978 B&C Sunburst in near mint condition for a little more than 1399 USD recently. I agree in your opinion that Sunbursts will reach 4 digit clips. But i think that won't be in the near future. Dirk

Hi Gabe, sorry to see that this didn't work out well for you. I will keep my ears and eyes open for a nice Sunburst. The next one is for you. Please keep in mind that you will be the first to know if i ever will sell the honey coloured Sunburst. Dirk

That was a great report. Thanks for sharing. I saw Van Halen 1984 in Karlsruhe, Germany on one of their very last gigs with DLR and i must admit that it was disappointing. Very halfhearted behaviour especially from DLR. Anyway, i hope they will come to germany during their tour - like to see them again. Like anyone i love their first album. Many many memories...

There are quite a few of the older Hamers in Germany already. Germany was one of Hamer's largest markets. In no small part, as I understand it, to Peter Wolf, who is now with PRS. Do you know how much were shipped to europe between 1977 and 1981? No-that info isn't in the log books, but I have been told that Germany was Hamer's #2 market at the time for export. I wonder how many still exist without neck breaks and/or massive modifications.

There are quite a few of the older Hamers in Germany already. Germany was one of Hamer's largest markets. In no small part, as I understand it, to Peter Wolf, who is now with PRS. Do you know how much were shipped to europe between 1977 and 1981?

That one looks a lot like the one I sold to Dirk (and still regret selling). Nice guitar! Thanks for your kind words, Dirk. If you ever want to sell, please contact me first, I may even pay more for it! Gabe Hi Gabe, i promise. Dirk

I thought you European guys had all the old Hamers? Don't you also get them cheap from us because of our weak dollar? I sold a nice EBMM SS Axis to "Auge"in Austria a while back and that's what he told me. In my opinion it's a myth that we have all the old Hamers here in europe. I think here are maybe six or seven people with a decent collection of them. Please remember that it is pretty expensive to get a guitar to germany for example. If i buy a Hamer for 1000 USD i will have to pay approx. at least 120 USD for shipping, 200 USD for taxes and the paypal fees. The total price is 1350 USD. It's no bargain anymore.

I remember a Honey-colored 1979 Sunburst which was sold for much less than that amount last year. I still regret that. Can I buy it back from you for the same price??? Gabe Hi Gabe, well, i just fell in love with your guitar when i saw it the first time. Soon i learned that it is also one of the best sounding guitars i ever played. I always willingly recall the night when i bought that particular guitar from you at the gas station somewhere in the Netherlands. Nobody knows what will happen in the future but for now i can say that i will never ever sell this guitar. Anyway, glad to hear from you, Gabe :-)

1099 USD is a reasonable price for an all original 1979 Sunburst in good condition incl. OHSC. Just try to find one today. Especially in europe it seems to be nearly impossible to get your hands on a decent one. I remember a 1979 Sunburst which was sold for 1300 EUR on Ebay last year.

I have five Hamers from 1978 to 1981. They all sound different but they are all great. I also own (and owned) some of the finest vintage stuff you can imagine. But the keepers in my collection are my 79 Anniversary Strat which i bought in 1982 and a Strat made by Andy Schack which is approx. 24 years old. Both guitars are completely beaten but still in good playing shape. Both sound at least for me absolutely fantastic. I will never give them away. Andy Schack is a well known manufacturer for high end basses and my Strat is the first he ever made. I played countless gigs in the 80s and 90s with them. Even in times when i had to get rid of some instruments just like a 57 Strat or a one off PRS from 1992 i never thought of selling those particular guitars.