HNKHD (Happy New Korina Hamer Day!)

[Jim85IROC]

I know there's not a ton of love for the imported Hamers here, but I happen to be a big fan of them, especially the rebooted stuff from 2017-on.  Every one that I've had my hands on has been surprisingly good.  So, when I saw the ad for this with Bare Knuckle pickups, I pounced.

 

Upon further examination, it turns out that the whole guitar was upgraded.  Bare Knuckle pickups, CTS pots, some buugee tone cap, Wilkinson bridge and locking Gotoh tuners.  

It also appears to be a 1 piece body! 

I checked it over and it's definitely not a veneer as the grain patterns continue along the sides. I checked the bottom and sure enough, it's all one continuous piece of wood!

The only drawbacks that I've found so far is that the pickups aren't the Mississippi Queens that the ad stated, but the War Pig models.  These are the hottest pickups that I've ever measured! 15k in the neck and 21k in the bridge!  Shockingly, they don't sound nearly as bad as I expected. They're more full range with way less mid honk than I expected, but they're still not my cup of tea.  The only other downside is that the tuners are installed all crooked.

But, since I got the guitar for less than just the upgrades are worth, I'm pleased as punch!  I'll probably swap in the Guitar Madness P90 set that I have in my Schecter Tempest, sell these Bare Knuckles, and then play the crap out of it!

[Jim85IROC]

Correction: upon closer examination I can see a faint glue seam in the center bottom of the body and a slight (very slight) mismatch in the end-grain pattern on the bottom of the guitar.  That said, this is about the best matched 2 piece top I think I've ever seen.

[hamerhead]

That is the only 're-boot' Hamer I've ever seen. Looks nice. Not that it matters, but where are they making those?

[Jim85IROC]

41 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

That is the only 're-boot' Hamer I've ever seen. Looks nice. Not that it matters, but where are they making those?

Indonesia. This is my 2nd one. I've also got a Monaco that I picked up a few years ago that's similarly good.  That guitar rings like a bell and is similarly well made.  Both of them blow the Korean Hamers that I've had out of the water.

The veneer on this one is spectacular. It moves like crazy in person

 

Check out how nice the rosewood board is

 

[veatch]

...and no nibs!

[BubbaVO]

All that matters is you like them.  Enjoy.

[Jim85IROC]

3 hours ago, BubbaVO said:

All that matters is you like them.  Enjoy.

I do, very much so. The Monaco has stayed while a few of my US models have come and gone.  We'll see if the Korina one fares as well, but early indications are good.

[Brooks]

Hells yeah, that's killer, esp. w/ the upgrades! I can't do a Jr, I need a neck pup.