velorush

Glad this thread got resurrected. I had no toy to post last run through. My much-posted player-condition '80, the day I got the BCR case: Since the photo I have put the pickups back in the way I received it (zebra to bridge) as it seems to sound better that way. It remains one of the best sounding solid body guitars I have ever played. If it had a bigger neck and a rounder 10" or 12" fretboard radius I'd probably sell every other guitar I own. If anyone has another pair of these Hamer/DiMarzios at a reasonable price, PM me - they might fix a Gibson problem I have... Edited to correct the photo link.

I will remember this. Oh yes, I will remember this. Some day a Sunburst will be mine and I too will type: Thanks for resurrecting this thread. I hadn't seen it before. Great photos and great addition, Mitch!

Didn't mean to hijack your thread, but thought it interesting that I was doing the same thing, what, 300 or 400 miles away? Really GASSING for a 'burst, but it is going to have to wait until probably next year. Yours are gorgeous. My ('80) Special is definitely a player-grade guitar. I love every wart.-Jeff

Odd, I was on the same tangent yesterday morning (good sun through the window). No 'burst, and not quite as old. I have this photo in my mind and I've tried to stage it a couple of times but haven't gotten there yet. This is where I am so far: This was the first time I've really gotten very deep into the manual settings on our digital camera. I used to do pretty good with a 35mm slr. This camera has some pretty versatile capabilities, it is just going to take me a while to figure out where its capabilities end and those of my software begin (I usually have a gap between the two, which is where this photo ended up). The cool thing about digital is that 1. I can manipulate the image further with software and 2. I don't have to develop the picture to see what I need to change. I'll keep trying - there is a picture to be had here somewhere.

That was my thought. I'm certainly no authority on all the different models, but when I saw ash I figured either Daytona or T-51.

I had a Norlin SG back in the mid-80's, a '73 - the ones where the fretboard came to the neck pickup instead of having that little extension (like this Standard, only with a Bigsby). It was NOT a great or really even good sounding guitar, so much so that I have never once GASSED for an SG since. A friend at the same time had a late 60's SG with T-Tops and it absolutely killed. I love those all-business plain tops.

Sorry for the threadjack, but it's good to hear you talk about the lil killer that way. I have one ready to go into the strat body that I purchased recently. sorry to continue to hijack but it's the 11k model and it sounds amazing, I've had every Duncan small bucker and this things sounds as good or better Just one more threadjack... In my opinion, one of the best and simplest mods to help the Strat bridge pickup is to move the rear tone control from the middle pickup to the bridge pickup. Takes seconds (after wrestling the pickguard out of it, of course), costs nothing and makes a world of difference. I also really like the Fralin baseplate, $10 (though Jason Lollar says he can't tell any difference). The tone control removes the icepick sound and the baseplate helps that and seems to add meat in the mid and lower frequencies.

I kid! I kid! Relicing is not the thing for me, but for my friends who do own Fender Custom Shop relics, they like how they feel. To get back to my analogy, anyone who remembers jeans before stonewashing remembers you went to the store and bought 501s - stiff as a board - and couldn't wait until you'd worn and washed them a dozen or so times so that they would soften up and feel like yours. I can certainly see the benefits of buying a new guitar that feels nice and broken in. Personally, I like shiny paint that makes me cry when it inevitably gets a scratch or a ding.

+100 I blame the whole thing on a guy who lives about 30 minutes away from me: Jerry Gurien - the inventor of stonewashed jeans. It was a slippery slope from, "hey, for a few extra bucks I can have someone make my brand new jeans look like I have lived a rough life in the hood or on the farm while I am actually just a yuppie who never gets his hands dirty" to "hey, for a few thousand extra bucks I can have someone beat the crap out of my new guitar [or leather jacket or furniture, etc.] to make it look like I have played decades of actual gigs outside of my house" [ducks and runs... far! And FAST!]

In Safari the menu just kind of lays at the lower left side of the index page and none of it works. I have to use IE to get the menu and links to work.

How do they sound together? I always wonder about sets like the Gregwinds (and the Rio BBQ/Gen Texas being discussed in another thread) if the difference in output makes for any problems in the middle position.

+1 That one should come with a warning label. Black bridge pup and Strat knobs original on the b/w graphic Specials?

Modern Upgrade Kit Been eyeing the 2-volume, 2-tone version for my Gibson...

It appears that this ad has run its course without a buyer. It dawned on me this morning that by posting this in the way that I did, someone may have hesitated buying gwayne's guitar. Apologies to gwayne. I have edited this post to promote gwayne's fabulous studio (someone buy it!). The Phantom goes back under the bed, so to speak, until things are better on the macro level and perhaps demand returns. Thanks, everyone, for the many words of encouragement, especially the PM's.

Actually, musicalhealer gets $1,111 AND and end to all those blasted questions!

Not a Hamer, but I like it: '97 Am Std Roadhouse Strat with a few Calaham enhancements

Okay, I've measured the neck and I have to admit, I'm surprised. The Phantom is 1.625" wide at the nut and 2.057" wide at the 12th fret. It is 0.881" deep at the first fret and 0.901" deep at the 12th fret. The thing that surprised me is that my AmStd Strat is about the same: 1.6875" at the nut (factory spec) and measured 2.064 at the 12th fret. Likewise, the Strat is 0.802" deep at the 1st fret and 0.886" deep at the 12th fret. I'd never have guessed they are so close because they play really differently. I think the primary difference is the Hamer's flatter fretboard. The shape of the necks between those measurements is different, too. The strat is the left half of a C (like every other Strat) whereas the Hamer seems to be more of an oval (more meat at the shoulders). I've also had a question about fretwire. I couldn't for the life of me get a measurement that I was comfortable being quoted on (long night last night posting here, long day staring at a computer screen at work, I'm over 40, you get the picture) but it appears to be the same fretwire as in the '80 Special. Just when I was about to give up and ask you guys, I found this thread that indicates that it is very close to Dunlop 6105: Hamer Fret Wire Discussion. This place is just the best.

Yes, 3X3. I thought the earlier post I referenced had a headstock shot. IIRC the six-in-lines didn't start until 1984. Man, does it look yellow in that photo! Isn't nearly so yellowed in person. I've been remodeling our house for over a year now. The backdrop is nothing more than an old sheet I was using as a drop cloth that day. It is green and I guess it skewed the color to yellow. I think the bevel in this picture is a better representation of the color in-person (well, except for the touch up paint ). Guess the 3X3 to me is kind of like vent windows on a first-gen Camaro: some folks prefer them without, but you know if you see vents it's unmistakably a first year car.

If you are asking if the paint is still there: (Sorry about the out-of-focus photo - about the only thing you can tell is that it is still painted!) If you're more interested in the shape as another just PM'd me, I am at work right now, so anything I say will have to be of a more subjective nature, but I plan to get out the dial caliper when I get home and provide some hard measurements. I'd say the neck is about the width of an American Strat, but not as deep (just noticeably so, fretboard to back). That being said, it is nowhere near what I would call shredder thin. It will be interesting to actually measure and test the accuracy of my memory. Also, last night someone mentioned the case. I have only one photo of the case in my Photobucket account. I certainly can provide more if anyone is interested.

I thinks it's this brother here: http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=31847 Thanks. He and I had a conversation a couple of days ago. He's set on six on a side and that's cool.

Yes, the case is original (I don't think the Phantom would fit in much else, and I certainly can't find anything around my house that fits in the Phantom case). The latches all work (they just don't shine). The Hamer logo is faded, but still there and the tolex doesn't have any major issues (plenty of small nicks and such here and there but no tears). I can try to get some photos up tomorrow if anyone would like to see (but right now my wife is trying to sleep as I am pounding out these words). Got to run. Work is in six and a half hours and I still have paint brushes to clean before bed.

Also, the CONUS reference wasn't a refusal to ship internationally. I'll just pay shipping in the continental US. I'd be more than glad to entertain offers from beyond and we can try to work something out on shipping and international PayPal fees. One other detail up front: I will not lie about the guitar's value on the customs form.

Well, here's your backup (though with 3X3 headstock) Really, I love this thing too, I just haven't had it as long as the others (except for the new-to-me Special, but we've developed a very quick bond) so it doesn't bear as much sentimental value. My decision to try this was based on: If they were hanging in a store (this Phantom and gwayne's Studio) with a price difference equal to the boot I anticipate having to add, I believe I would choose the Studio.

I hate to sacrifice this, but: For Sale, my 1983 Ice Pearl Phantom A5 (S/N 3 7991) with OHSC. The only reason I am selling is to hopefully [partially] fund the purchase of Gwayne's Aztec Gold Studio. Lots of bumps and bruises, but a real player with minimal fret ware. I posted about this guitar early after I joined the HFC. I was at the time struggling with whether or not to sell it (it doesn't get played that often): October 26, 2008 post After all the discussion, I guess I kind of grew to appreciate it more and decided to keep it. That being said, when I was trying to figure out what I could sell to fund the Studio, I kept coming back to the Phantom as being the one guitar that would be the easiest to sell but that I would miss the least, especially knowing that it would remain in HFC hands. The earlier post has lots of photos including the control cavity, but let me know if anyone needs something specifically not covered. Realize also that in the earlier post I was trying to show the worst spots in the finish. I think $750, I pay shipping (UPS Ground, insured, CONUS) and I take the PayPal hit, gets me out with what I have in it and is a fair price.

duh: Edited to add: Serial, sorry to keep posting your guitar, but I still haven't gotten over it...