velorush

Dude! Where's the Wonderbar? I remember playing a white [Wonderbar-equipped] one just like that... a loooooooooooooong time ago! Ithad a red logo and all black hardware. Hung in a friend's store for ages.

Buckers - ebony or rosewood Singles - maple

My only hesitation in suggesting the Prototype body style (my absolute favorite Hamer) was that I had no idea the tooling was in place. If you wanted a no-binding dot-neck absolutely-Hamer-original body style, the Prototype is the obvious choice. Well... Greg and others in the know, are we barking up the expensive tree here? Opinions from the wiser among us?

With Hamer, every time it gets said, "oh, that doesn't exist" or some such, someone pulls out something like this jaw dropper. Five years ago? I gleefully stand corrected! So, basically, it becomes a Phantom II with the BCR P-90 neck mod. But gee, in that case wouldn't it make more sense to buy a Phantom II, ship it to Greg, have the mod done and hang on to at least a thousand bucks, probably more?

If we're just daydreaming, cool. OTOH, if we're being serious: I doubt anyone is more Pro-Prototype than me, but the reality of the situation is that Hamer hasn't been tooled up to produce the Prototype for years. That leads to the following equation: (Prototype Tooling) / 20 units = $∞ +/- $10

I think you're looking for the Fender Fan Club...

Watched the first one: how many packs (cartons?) of Camel No-Filters do you have to smoke to be able to sing like that?! OTOH, thought the synchronized hair spinning was spot on! Confused about the dude on the throne squeezing that dark substance between the fingers in his fist (poo?). Music was cool though.

Prefer BCR burst myself...

How cool! Ace was a lot of why I (like most everybody my age) picked up the guitar in the first place. Chap, I'm in the same boat. The BCR web site is dangerous territory!

I think that's my favorite graphic I've seen so far! The first time I saw Lady Gaga (I think it was when I was dragged in to the living room to see her on American Idol (not a fan of AI)). I took one look and said, "Dale Bozzio wannabe." Showed my Lady Gaga fan-daughter some DB footage on YouTube afterward. The, shall we say, 'intentional resemblance' was evident, even to her.

Simple (or so it would seem): somebody to play music with. * a bass (yes, I'm back on this again and still trying to figure out which one) * a Hamer with a neck I like * a Telecaster or a better copy * a good Les Paul or good copy * some sort of recording interface (as a quasi-substitute for the first item) * an amp that sounds like my Fender but weighs as little as my Mesa (Subway Blues) Not necessarily to own, but I'd like to try a Fender Custom Shop Strat and A/B it with my Strat to see if there is really a difference.

His was a trade offer. Unfortunately I'm looking to cash out and downsize, so keep that bank account available! I was absolutely serious on both points. I did go for the PM button but he beat me to it. That gave me some time to actually THINK. I am doing my best right now to save for an Eleven Rack. I have the cash for the unit, but I want to do it right (rack case, power conditioner) so I lack a bit. The Bad Apple Strat would be an excellent platform for lots of things I want to do, but I've got to keep my eye on the prize. The HFC FS board is a dangerous place.

E-mail sent!! Guitar George My bank account thanks you George! I was just going for the PM button... love the orange, and the BAS is something I've wanted to try for a really long time.

I highly recommend the back catalog, but be aware that most of the early stuff got "improved" when it went to CD - bunch of electronic junk added to "enhance" the music (trying to make them sound like Eliminator). They are slowly releasing remastered CDs that don't have added electronic enhancements. So far I am aware of Tres Hombres and Fandango having been remastered back to original spec. I'm pretty sure Deguello never got messed with.

Gibson site says $3,894 (reasonable considering what they're asking for a new Les Paul these days). Wonder what it would cost without the logo? Also disappointed it isn't the trans red I associate with SH (not that I'd necessarily be in the market...) Just re-read your response, GT. Yes, 60% of MSRP would put you right in the neighborhood of some really nice "pre-owned" Historics (sans 'foot').

Never had a Jackson, but this was my number one starting around 1986. I bought it new and loaded the EMGs (SA/SA/85) with the mid boost in place of the tone control. Had the Floyd been non-floating (or if something like a tremol-no had been invented), I'd probably still have the guitar (sorry about the plastic camera photo quality - how was I to know Algore would invent the Internet and I'd be posting these online twenty years later?) The compound radius neck was spectacular - got me thinking I'd like to try one of the new So Cals...

Wow, I was feeling out of place until I cast my vote. I am currently Hamerless, having dropped (figuratively speaking, of course) my last Hamer in the mail last week. I have owned two, both of which I have posted about here ad nauseum, both of which were incredible guitars in quality and tone (pardon me, TONE). In both cases, however, I just couldn't get along with the necks. I was hesitant to continue posting here because I thought it might be somewhat hypocritical of me, being Hamerless, but the poll results show I'm not alone. I'd have no hesitation purchasing another Hamer, I've just got to find one with a neck I can get along with. Anyway, I started lurking here to find out about Hamer Phantoms. I joined and started posting here when I bought one. That led me to possibly the best sounding solid body guitar I've ever played (and that is on its way to Canada as I type), the '80 Special. I've remained here because of the general attitude and comradarie that I have found nowhere else on the 'net. This is a great place, a great bunch of guys and gals and I hope that I can continue to contribute a little something here and there.

Quoting myself from the 'Chase A Guitar For Years' thread: I've been begging to buy back a guitar I sold to a buddy twenty years ago - late '60's ES-355, mono, non-Varitone - refinished, yes, and all the gold hardware swapped out for nickel, but nothing sings like that guitar! Thing is, he no longer plays and it just sits under his bed. He won't sell it because, even though he no longer plays it, if he sells it he feels he no longer will be a "Guitar Player." I've offered to trade him something just so he'd have something under the bed, but nothing doing.

Great work Feynman! Jeff R: you guys sound fantastic! Well worth the effort to post!

12Mb!? What were you guys covering? 2112?

Don't forget changing out the transistors to germanium. All those other mods are useless without the germainums! Yep, looks like he swapped out the indicator needle for the Calaham CNC'd one, too. Very nice tuner! Edited to add [in all seriousness]: I liked that cut so much I listened to all six you had posted there. Very nice work. Any more posted anywhere?

Part of the agreement for the custom color included a gag order on the upcharge - but yes, given sufficient 'incentive' it can be done.

The initial Lifestyle article seemed to infer a "Jimi Hendrix" brand in the making, as illustrated in the beginner pack photo, but I'm with you, the photos from inside the plant look like higher grade WIP materials.

Couple of points: just my $0.02: 1. finding fault with Gibson here is like finding fault with anyone who capitalizes on a potential profit making opportunity. If the Hendrix estate came to me with an offer to capitalize on Hendrix' legacy, you better believe I'd come up with something - Hendrix' legacy (from a pure marketing standpoint) is an absolute cash cow waiting only to be milked. Now, putting the emotional attachment back into Hendrix' legacy, what a misstep for the Estate: asking anyone but Fender to put out this guitar is a shame. Of course, we don't know if Fender was approached and declined, but, again, given the potential, I can't help but assume the Estate chose Gibson only on the basis of what was in it for them rather than historical accuracy. That is a shame and I believe will result to their detriment rather than their benefit ((Fender lower per-piece return + huge volume) > (Gibson higher per-piece return + low volume)) - my opinion. 2. a disconnect between Gibson's management and its market seems rather evident given the line of recent missteps. The fact that such marketing flops as the Roboguitar and this odd duck have been brought all the way (well, nearly all the way in the most recent case) to market makes it seem like they are holed up in a room and the committee is believing their own BS rather than performing basic and necessary due diligence in the market. To me Gibson has an advantage on other companies Gibson just doesn't seem to get. I can take any guitar any where and no one makes a comment, but when I pull out my Gibson non-guitar playing people take notice. Everyone knows the mark and, whether accurate or not, the non-guitar playing public (especially those over the age of say, 50) holds it in high regard. Marketing missteps and the perception of QC problems (whether valid or not) in the regular production lines can and will erode this very quickly. Whereas the prior generation believed in the Gibson name, folks my age and younger have a hard time pulling the trigger on non-CS Gibsons without playing them first (a problem many other companies just don't have). And, whether you like or appreciate Juszkiewicz and his team or not, from the standpoint of corporate turnaround (i.e., return to shareholders) this Gibson thing has worked out marvelously. If I were to get his ear and if he cared to listen, I'd recommend he stop with trying to develop the newest goofy guitar and get back to basics. Use the other brands (and he has a ton of them now) to develop robots, zoot suits, etc., and concentrate on making the best Les Paul, SG, Firebird, etc. in the market. Milk the legacy. Expanding the legacy is watering it down. Again, just my $0.02. YMMV, IMHO, etc., etc.