Okay, Gents — thoughts on Daytonas?

[draelyc]

So since things didn’t work out with the Centaura I recently bought and returned, I’m struggling a bit.  Got all psyched for a new Hamer and then … 🤷🏻‍♀️😭

So of course I’m spending way too much time on Reverb for good sense of good health.  And there are a whole bunch of Daytonas up for sale, which strikes me as odd because when I’ve looked for one before they were really tough to find.

Whats the verdict?  A worthy add to a Hamer collection, or stick to the better known models?

[RobB]

Daytonas are nice guitars. I don’t like the Wilkie tremolo. Wilkinson makes a high-quality, vintage Strat trem that is made of good metals and finely machined.

If you don’t own a Strat, a Daytona is a nice upgrade on a proven formula. Downside (and it is a small downside) is the neck pocket precludes swapping out pickguards unless you can find used Hamer ones or custom orders. 

Edited June 21, 2025 by RobB

[draelyc]

36 minutes ago, RobB said:

Daytonas are nice guitars. I don’t like the Wilkie tremolo. Wilkinson makes a high-quality, vintage Strat trem that is made of good metals and finely machined.

If you don’t own a Strat, a Daytona is a nice upgrade on a proven formula. Downside (and it is a small downside) is the neck pocket precludes swapping out pickguards unless you can find used Hamer ones or custom orders. 

Interesting — thanks!

I think the Daytona has the same Wilkinson trem as my Mirage I, which I always kinda liked … though to be fair, my only other trem experience is either with my Ibanez’s Edge, or with cheap Strat style knockoffs which only came close to holding tuning when locked ALL the way down, lol!

[Dave Scepter]

3 hours ago, RobB said:

Downside (and it is a small downside) is the neck pocket precludes swapping out pickguards unless you can find used Hamer ones or custom orders. 

HAMER T-51, T-62, & DAYTONA PICKGUARDS - Pickguard Planet https://share.google/RInLzT8hO5Yohhwd8

[Travis]

Never had a Daytona. So take what I say with a grain for salt. 

Gary Hoey played them and he’s a fantastic player. If that matters to you….

my understanding is that the bridge is the same Wilky as the Mirages. The MannMade vintage trem is a direct replacement and I’ve put them in my Mirage I and II with great results. Haven’t swapped it into my Mirage Maple top yet. 

I had a T51 (tele style) sot opinion is: if you want a Strat that looks classic but pays modern, definitely consider a Daytona. 

[mirrorimij]

Well made guitars

If you are a vintage Fender guy the fretboard radius is going to feel weird. 

[hamerhead]

The Daytona is a cut above a Strat the same way Hamer set-necks are a cut above Gibsons - everything is just better. 

I've been lucky enough to own 4 over the years ( 1 of which is my only true  'the one that got away' story) and they've all been really well done. Check the weight - some are heavy, but it doesn't change the quality of the build. 

If you prefer the flatter fretboard of a Hamer (vs Fender's 7.25" or 9"), definitely get one. It was great to finally find a Strat that played right. 

 

[BTMN]

Only owned one real Strat, a 1975 but that was 1979 and only had it about 6 months. Never a fan and never wanted another. Then I lucked into a Daytona about 15 years ago. Love my Daytona. It is just a solid guitar. 
 

[Saul Goodman]

Daytona is not a Strat. Stick with a Strat if that's what you like. Also the neck pocket is 1/8" deeper so you can't swap necks with standard Strat necks. Not that you'd want to. But I did and I found out. If you don't want a Strat, try a Melancon. Much better necks than the Daytona. But, as with the Daytona, you can't swap out standard Strat necks on a Melancon. Not that you'd want to. Because it's a Melancon. 

[BTMN]

Liked the Daytona neck so much I put one with this 1979-80 Mighty Mite body. 
 

[cmatthes]

I'm a big Daytona fan.  @mirrorimijsold me one he had lying around and it reawakened my love for Strats...but it's better than any Strat I've owned.  I think I've had 4 of them and am down to one now, but I did put together this out of the wreckage of two '96 Daytonas and a super light Musikraft Korina body:

 

[hamerican gigolo]

I had a blue Daytona 2 decades ago. Couldn't bond with it. Too modern, for lack of a better term. Much prefer a more vintage S-style.

[Dutchman]

Daytona's are awesome! I recently sold mine but I still have a pickguard!

 

 

[kizanski]

On 6/22/2025 at 3:49 PM, Saul Goodman said:

Not that you'd want to. Because it's a Melancon. 

Funny. My third favorite Strat over the years was a Daytona. SFG with a rosewood board.
As you said, a Daytona is not a Strat, but it certainly played the part, albeit in a more modern way.

 

My second favorite was a Melancon. Just a beautiful stick of butter with an outrageous top.

 

But my favorite Strat was a Strat.  1959 vintage.
All original, aside from the paint.
This was my Holy Grail.

 

 

I made the same mistake not once, not twice, but three times.  I sold them all.

[specialk]

3 hours ago, kizanski said:

I made the same mistake not once, not twice, but three times.  I sold them all.

There's gotta be a song in there somewhere.

[kizanski]

59 minutes ago, specialk said:

There's gotta be a song in there somewhere.

I’d write it, but, you know…