Hamer Californian Elite Deluxe (USA)

[Jon C]

Some time ago, I purchased a Cal Elite Deluxe.....Two boomers, the rest dots, EMG's.  It came with a "midrange" control instead of a tone control.  It is completely stock.  It is one of my favorites.

Since I bought it, I have never seen another for sale.  Cals are rarely up for sale, but the Deluxe is non-existent.  There are not even many pictures of one when I Google it.  It is shown in an old catalogue I have from the late 1980's.  Question:  Does anyone know how many were made?  Also, any info on the midrange control would be appreciated.  (A schematic would be awesome).  It seems to add a nice but subtle grind to the output.  Very cool guitar.  Anyway, thanks in advance.

[Bennyboy-UK]

Hello there,

This is a Calfornian Deluxe (no need for Elite designation), if you search on that you'll find a few more - although they are scarce and the deluxe varients I would say are the most difficult to find.

There were Californian, Centaura and Chaparral Deluxe models made.

Here are some other links to other Cali Deluxes

https://guitar-science.ru/store/guitars/hamer-californian-deluxe/

https://reverb.com/uk/item/12951696-hamer-californian-deluxe-custom-order-1994

Heres a tone test of three main Cali variants 

 

 

Here is one for sale today currently on reverb in Belgium.

https://reverb.com/uk/item/91156250-hamer-californian-usa-1991-natural-oil?bk=

You probably already know from the brochure that you have an EMG89 in the bridge position, and and SA in the neck position, pull pot on the volume to change the 89 mode to SC from full HB.

The second control is an EMG SPC control - which adds midrange and I find usefulk

My favourite guitar happens to be a Centaura Deluxe.

 

 

[bruce919]

 

this photo is from years ago. Picked it up a GC used for $450. It long gone. These had alder bodies and an added tone control, and most came with EMG pickups. 

 

Still have this one. 

Edited March 5 by bruce919

[Jon C]

Wow, thanks guys for the quick response and info.  Very much appreciated!

[velorush]

You likely know this, but the SPC ("Strat Presence Control") and the 89 in full humbucker mode get into some not-too-good distortion. I had an 85 in my HSS Charvel back in the 80's and called (of course, no email) EMG about the distortion I was experiencing. They told me the SPC was designed to give the "singles" a more humbucker sound by manipulating certain frequencies. They did not recommend engaging it with their humbuckers.

EMG Pickups / SPC / Electric Guitar Pickups, Bass Guitar Pickups, Acoustic Guitar Pickups 

I bought / installed the 85 just months before they came out with the 89. EMG were incredibly helpful in helping me use capacitors and resistors along with a modified five-way to produce a split sound in the 4 position. You didn't ask for all that, but I type it to point out they were absolutely incredible with support, especially given communication at the time was via toll long-distance phone calls and USPS. They mailed me schematics and followed up to get feedback on the results. Great people!

[django49]

WAY back when, Valley Arts made higher end custom guitars. (More or less the same time PRS was getting establiished).  For a time, Larry Carlton replaced his signature ES-335 with a Custom Pro. Pretty much a "Strat" with 3 EMG active pickups. Instead of the usual 2 tone pots, it had both an SPC and an EXG. A guitar buddy (Captain in the BH Police Dept) had one built to the same specs. The SPC did indeed let him go from "Strat" to Les Paul". Boost mids, cuts highs. The pot allows you to mix the two types of tones. Meanwhile, the EXG sorta does the opposite, cutting mids and boosting highs and lows. Like the SFC, you can roll in more or less of the effect. Either knob lets you change it up n the fly. Cut thru for a solo, fatten it up, etc. 

FWIW, LC sounded like LC regardless of what he played. (Dumble or otherwise). David Gilmour famously uses (used?) something similar.

I pondered doing the same, but ended up finding a modified Strat already set up the same way. Bought it from a studio musician at a very nice price. It makes for a very versatile guitar.

Originals are harder to find and likely further modified. Like this one. 

https://intl.ishibashi.co.jp/products/03-2800005138436?variant=48725939224828&country=JP&currency=JPY&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&https://intl.ishibashi.co.jp/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20621308253&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20621308253&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20624663245&gbraid=0AAAAADsxHVtUMZqTY9ZLzhBOc78lnkf1x&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8KTNBhD_ARIsAOvp6DJvVH9eQvDvBt-KRCX4NXuXd13lNqAO8YFzUEVbas7i4URbKFqTKNUaAixjEALw_wcB

Anyone so inclined can probably buy a new prewired pickguard that can be easily be swapped into your standard Strat. Look for a DG20 from such as Sweetwater.

But I will keep Blackie........Been a LONG time since I used the guitar/synth connection....

 

Edited March 5 by django49

[Jimbilly]

 I had a black one, I think it was black sparkle, I'm sure it was well under $400 from a pawn shop, probably 20 years ago.  I can't remember selling it, - maybe it's in my basement somewhere!  I remember seeing another one fs around that time I think, but I already had one. Both were the two boomers model.  I've only seen about 6 or 7 total Cali's in person, they were rare even when dealers carried them, only two fs new that I recall from the shops.  The 'one that got away': a local shop had a leopard print graphic cali with boomers for 1500+ ish, I remember seeing that one, but that was way out of my price range possibilities at that time. 

Edited March 6 by Jimbilly

[cmatthes]

They were only in the catalog for a couple of years.  I get what they were trying to do - it was the age of rack-mounted processors and all that garbage - but they didn’t sell all that well.

[Bennyboy-UK]

On 3/5/2026 at 5:32 PM, Jimbilly said:

 I had a black one, I think it was black sparkle, I'm sure it was well under $400 from a pawn shop, probably 20 years ago.  I can't remember selling it, - maybe it's in my basement somewhere!  I remember seeing another one fs around that time I think, but I already had one. Both were the two boomers model.  I've only seen about 6 or 7 total Cali's in person, they were rare even when dealers carried them, only two fs new that I recall from the shops.  The 'one that got away': a local shop had a leopard print graphic cali with boomers for 1500+ ish, I remember seeing that one, but that was way out of my price range possibilities at that time. 

If its in your basement.... I'd love to know!