crunchee

That photo of that empty shop floor really hits home. My very best to the artisans who worked there.

Blows my mind that Ovation is gone as well. I mean we knew the end would come sometime for Hamer, but to loose all those brands in one swipe of a pen or one phone call is pretty devastating. ^This.^ I've heard nothing but good things about the New Hartford Guilds. It doesn't hurt that the Hamer crew worked on them as well, IIRC. And, didn't Ren Ferguson (ex-Gibson Montana) get in on that, too? As far as Ovation goes, I guess it was only a matter of time, considering how many Ovations have been built overseas in recent years, before the bean counters decided to make it all imports. I really like my early to mid-80's USA acoustic (non-electric) Balladeers, I've had them for years, and they aren't going anywhere soon.

This sucks. And blows. If I'm getting this right, they're just shutting it down? No pending sale, repurposing or anything similar?

+1! I'm looking forward to hearing about the next guitar that comes from your talented hands, Hamer or not!

Done!

+1. I think the seller would be lucky to get $1200 for it. It's nice, but a little TOO orangey for my taste, it's like looking at a Halloween-sized bag of Sweet Tarts.

WOW! Quality work, indeed! Is the Hamer logo that's pictured, on a NEW guitar? I didn't know the old logos with the old style 'U.S.A.' still existed!

He didn't try to 'sling' his guitar, did he? Maybe it's on video somewhere.

A LP body is roughly 17 1/2" long by 13" wide. According to the Hamer website, a Monaco Elite is 16.85", a Monaco SuperPro is 17.6", I'm guessing that's body length as it doesn't specifically say, and the measurement is too big for width. It does give 5/8" as the maple top thickness for both, but no other body dimensions that I can find...and I can't tell if they're wider than a Hamer Special or Studio, or a LP for that matter. Perhaps someone here on the board can measure the body on one model or the other, or both if they're lucky enough to have them? TIA again!

Just curious, did anybody here ever try to spec or order one of these from Hamer? I've been playing a Gibson Les Paul Studio lately, and the one thing it has over my old double-cutaway Hamers, is that the neck doesn't 'flex' nearly as badly and throw off tuning, because the LP has a neck to body joint at the 16th fret, instead of higher up the neck as double-cutaway Hamers do. Monacos ALSO have a neck to body joint at the 16th fret...but the bodies are chambered/semi-hollow, and (maybe?) they're a fair amount larger in size than a Special/Studio or a LP, too (edited to add: I'm not sure, I've never owned or played one, but that's been my impression, correct me if I'm wrong). A solid-body Monaco in it's 'regular' body size would likely be too heavy (?); but downsized, they might be just the ticket. Anybody ever ask? Or, does anybody know if one was ever in the works but killed off? If it sounds a lot like a LP, that's actually kind of the point. TIA!

Wow, very cool indeed, looks sharp, Disturber! Feynman is a fine man, as always!

Might as well add a couple more to the deathless list of quotes:

...especially when it's for a "girl"

The only downside that I'd think of on the Sunburst would be the neck dimensions, and there would probably be variations, too...but even that is up somewhat to individual taste. I've had a few 1980 Specials, and I thought the necks on those were a bit narrow and definitely thinner than a 'vintage carve' neck, but I don't know if the same would apply for a Sunburst of the same year/era.

SUBMITTED? Really? Sounds like unpaid work to me, especially when looking for a 'under $300 used' guitar for a four-post newbie. We're good at volunteering suggestions around here at the HFC, though. Especially when the magic word 'please' is used in requesting them.

Or better yet, make the Miller guitar, minus the Miller logo, no advertising...those red logo'd Miller guitars had a flamed maple veneer top, too, so include that. Hey, they're Peter Green approved! IxNay on the later style MGD body shape, though.

Do you still have any of those guitars in the photo?

Happy Birthday! Hope it's been a great one!

I wonder if the seller's got a Jaguar? I can see they've already got a Cougar.

Amp...I'm too lazy to fiddle with pedals to get a sound.

Yeah, but trying to copy Ace on the album cover didn't do my playing technique any favors.

Date on the magazine says June 2007...just about the time the economy started tanking. Coincidence? One thing's for sure, you don't have to be rich to think like that; but boy, does it help.

+1! Anybody here see this article in Premier Guitar? I think Feynman and a few others here at the HFC have mentioned this before, about how much 'classical' instruments (including, but not only, guitars) can cost in comparison to electric guitarists' gear: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/20364-spoiled-guitarists-that-guitar-costs-emhowem-much?page=1

This is why I don't shop for, or pick up, or play, nice yet expensive stuff. I always end up wanting to take it home.

Oops, just reread the original post, you've already got a flight to the US but need a connection? Doh! The only company in the US that comes to mind, as far as a fairly large 'budget' carrier goes, is Southwest, but I dunno if that's do-able.