NHD - Goldtop p90

[Jim85IROC]

I just accidentally bought another Hamer 😄

I went onto Reverb to look for some kidney bean tuning buttons for my Greeny and happened to see a nice looking Hamer p90 goldtop just like mine.  I clicked on it to see why this clown thought his Chinese Hamer was so expensive only to quickly realize it was a 3 minute old listing for a very well priced US model.  Sold!  Should be here Tuesday. 

Looks fantastic overall aside from the chip right at the bottom of the gold top.  

[Feynman]

Nice score!  Timing is everything.

[RobB]

My favorite version/color of the Studio Custom. Good grab. 

[HSB0531]

5 hours ago, Jim85IROC said:

I just accidentally bought another Hamer 😄

I went onto Reverb to look for some kidney bean tuning buttons for my Greeny and happened to see a nice looking Hamer p90 goldtop just like mine.  I clicked on it to see why this clown thought his Chinese Hamer was so expensive only to quickly realize it was a 3 minute old listing for a very well priced US model.  Sold!  Should be here Tuesday. 

Looks fantastic overall aside from the chip right at the bottom of the gold top.  

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Posted 5 hours ago

I just accidentally bought another Hamer 😄.........LIAR!

[HSB0531]

5 hours ago, Jim85IROC said:

I just accidentally bought another Hamer 😄

I went onto Reverb to look for some kidney bean tuning buttons for my Greeny and happened to see a nice looking Hamer p90 goldtop just like mine.  I clicked on it to see why this clown thought his Chinese Hamer was so expensive only to quickly realize it was a 3 minute old listing for a very well priced US model.  Sold!  Should be here Tuesday. 

Looks fantastic overall aside from the chip right at the bottom of the gold top.  

Nice Snag!

[Kerry Marchman]

Sweet! Great score. Timing was just right!

[geoff_hartwell]

Dope! Good for you!

[JohnZ]

Just perfect. I love it. 

[HSB0531]

Once again, another Hamer comes home.

[Jim85IROC]

the ironic thing is that one of my favorite Hamers is my imported version of this same guitar.  One of my favorite things about it is the fat neck.  I doubt that this US model will be anywhere near as big, but I'm still looking forward to comparing the two.  Here's the import that I have:

 

[HSB0531]

When it comes in you have to put them side by side and show us.

[bry4321]

Congratulations that's a beauty! Look forward to your update.

[Jim85IROC]

It was supposed to be here today, but it just got to Fedex late this afternoon.  It's only shipping from about 50 miles away, so hopefully it'll be here tomorrow. 

[Jim85IROC]

Guitar is here!  It's got a couple minor issues, but overall I'm quite happy.

First, the bad:

The tone pot is an on/off switch at about 3 on the knob.  It's the factory pot, so it must just be worn.

The output jack feels sloppy. There's a lot of play in the plug and I have to hold it in a certain spot for it to work.

Lastly, and most minimal, I noticed that the neck has a ton of relief, but I can take care of that when I give it a setup.

It also has that chip at the bottom, but I knew that, so it doesn't count.

 

On the plus side, the guitar is otherwise fantastic. The neck feels similar to the neck on my Studio Custom; not as thick as I prefer, but still nice. Definitely thicker than on my Special.  Weight seems quite reasonable, I'd say mid 8lb range. Frets seem to show no wear. Plugged in, it seems to have a nice full range sound, not lacking bass like my Artist was.  I'm anxious to get my Lollars into it so I can determine whether it will replace my Special or not.

It's interesting to hang it next to my import.  I didn't expect the color to be so different. The US model has a much more subdued gold hue. The import has a thicker neck (which I prefer). The top carves are noticably different, especially at the horns.  Speaking of which, the horn shape is different too.

Frets and board look nice.

I opened up the cavity to see if the tone pot was original (it is) and got a couple surprises. Anybody recognize the signature?

Whoever it was was a happy fella!

 

[Steve Haynie]

Fred Schilke?  Whodat? 

[Cboss]

That is really nice, congrats! Gold is elegant and beautiful 

Tuxedo!❤

[Cboss]

2 minutes ago, Steve Haynie said:

Fred Schilke?  Whodat? 

"Rick's" real name 🤣

[Jim85IROC]

19 minutes ago, Cboss said:

 

Tuxedo!❤

His name is Gibson.  I had to take that picture because it was very similar to a picture I took a few years ago with our OG tuxedo, Ozzy.  Sadly we said goodbye to him a couole years ago.

 

[crunchee]

Congrats on the snag!  IIRC, the Switchcraft 'barrel' type jacks that USA Hamers have, do get worn out and eventually need replacing.  They usually cost around $10-15 bucks or so each, here in the US.

[Cboss]

12 hours ago, Jim85IROC said:

His name is Gibson.  I had to take that picture because it was very similar to a picture I took a few years ago with our OG tuxedo, Ozzy.  Sadly we said goodbye to him a couole years ago.

 

So sweet, tuxedos are the best.. I had one for 20 years that loved my playing and would always hang around the guitars like that

I see you have a humbucker studio custom, any noticeable differences with the experience compared to the P90 Studio custom?

[burningyen]

16 hours ago, Steve Haynie said:

Fred Schilke?  Whodat? 

There was a Fred Schilke in South Windsor, CT, about 45 mins from New Hartford. Now deceased.

[Jim85IROC]

Guitar is here.  It's got a couple issues, but overall I'm very happy with it.

2 hours ago, burningyen said:

There was a Fred Schilke in South Windsor, CT, about 45 mins from New Hartford. Now deceased.

I assume he was one of the builders in New Hartford?

[scottcald]

Looks cool.  Nice score!

[Jim85IROC]

11 hours ago, Cboss said:

So sweet, tuxedos are the best.. I had one for 20 years that loved my playing and would always hang around the guitars like that

I see you have a humbucker studio custom, any noticeable differences with the experience compared to the P90 Studio custom?

I haven't played the new one for more than a couple minutes, and not at all since I tightened the truss rod and set the action, but in the couple minutes that I played it, it felt very similar to the Studio Custom.  Similar neck profile, similar weight.  The goldtop is surprisingly bright unplugged (like... plinky bright. No lows at all) but seems to be very much full range plugged in.  The import goldtop has a wonderful creamy, full tone unplugged.

[Cboss]

I have a 96 Studio Custom that I recently changed the nut on, from the stock Hamer plastic one to a graphtech, pt-6143-00 is the one that fits hamers: it requires a little bit of filing to get the action ideal, but the difference in complexity of tone and great sound is massive, just FYI