A Day at Dave's...

[hamerhead]

We're at an AirBnb about 30 miles south of La Crosse (home of Dave's first guitar emporium), so a visit is mandatory. My wife is with me this time, but she is aware of why we're there - to swap the Rainsong for something better suited to my hands. Although it's not a done deal, they have a suitable replacement (more on that later).

We browsed the main floor but nothing says 'buy me', so we head upstairs to Dave's own stash. It's my 3rd time but her first, and for a non-guitarist she was surprisingly into it. We made a long slow lap around and were starting lap #2 when Tim (yep!) the website photographer strikes up a conversation. Little did we know that that conversation would lead to about a 2 hour guided HANDS-ON tour of Dave's personal gear. That's right - one after another guitars were being pulled down and put in my hands.

At first I resisted but my wife chimes in, "When will you ever get another chance?" and with that Les Pauls from '54 thru '60, Strats from '54 thru '64, and Teles from '52 thru I forget were plucked from their perches and placed in my now-sweaty mitts, each with their own tale. Not sure if I was more in awe of holding them or more fascinated with their history. What a trip! The Explorer/Vee/Moderne backstory, the wall of Gretschs, the Gibson Switchmaster, more stuff hidden in the back - and the five Hamers in the corner, including a checkerboard '81 Special and Keef's Belushi Standard (which had an even better story of how it came to Dave).

The '54 Tele found caseless in a farmhouse attic and tossed into a dumpster by a clueless renovator, only to be saved by said renovator's brother, had to be my favorite. That guitar was as weathered as you'd expect, and flat out gorgeous.

My wife was right - it was an experience I'll never get again, and won't forget for as long as I live. This here doesn't begin to scratch the surface.

Holy hell what a day.

[a.bandini]

Very cool.  

My wife was impressed viewing it online, so it must have been especially fun in person.  

 

 

[RobB]

No photos? Dude. 

[hamerhead]

As we're walking out I say to Diane, "We didn't get any pictures!" I was so jaw-dropped at what just happened that it never even crossed my mind. In my defense though, I took about a thousand the first time I was there.

An interesting bit of Hamer history that I never knew: Dave had 25 Sustain Block Artists (in '59 burst) made to commemorate his first 25 years in business. I don't recall ever seeing or hearing of such an animal. This is according to Tim the Photographer, who apparently has a long history with Dave and the shop. Anybody here familiar with those?

[velorush]

1 hour ago, hamerhead said:

As we're walking out I say to Diane, "We didn't get any pictures!"

Good for you! I am amazed at how comfortable we've become with foregoing life in the interest of documenting it. How much are we missing solely in the interest of saving some visual record no one will likely ever care about or revisit?

This entire concept first occurred to me when in 2014 I took my daughter to see Rush (Clockwork Angels tour). Most of the place was watching the entire concert through their phones. Have you watched any of the fan footage of any concert on YouTube? Is that really worth foregoing the experience? Any experience? 

So good for you! Congratulations - you experienced life! 

[Spinaltap]

Sounds like a great time 

[hamerhead]

After doing a little searching, Tim the Photographer may have been mistaken. PRS and Fender did anniversary runs, but I'm not finding any Hamers. Big liar.

[duncans]

5 hours ago, hamerhead said:

 

An interesting bit of Hamer history that I never knew: Dave had 25 Sustain Block Artists (in '59 burst) made to commemorate his first 25 years in business. I don't recall ever seeing or hearing of such an animal. This is according to Tim the Photographer, who apparently has a long history with Dave and the shop. Anybody here familiar with those?

Was he confused with the Triple Threat Studio? 30 for Dvaes, 30 for Willcuts, 30 for Wildwood(??).

 

Such a cool store. I need to get back over that way again.

[DaveH]

9 hours ago, hamerhead said:

As we're walking out I say to Diane, "We didn't get any pictures!"  

And you call yourself an enchanter... 😤 😂

[cmatthes]

On 5/19/2026 at 7:46 AM, hamerhead said:

As we're walking out I say to Diane, "We didn't get any pictures!" I was so jaw-dropped at what just happened that it never even crossed my mind. In my defense though, I took about a thousand the first time I was there.

An interesting bit of Hamer history that I never knew: Dave had 25 Sustain Block Artists (in '59 burst) made to commemorate his first 25 years in business. I don't recall ever seeing or hearing of such an animal. This is according to Tim the Photographer, who apparently has a long history with Dave and the shop. Anybody here familiar with those?

That would have been in 2007 (New Hartford), and I’m pretty sure we would have heard about that many Sustainblocks going out into the wild… 🤔

[hamerhead]

From my first trip:

I got to fondle those two. They are both featherweights, have the necks you dream of, and are the same color. Yep. The left one is faded, the right one is not.

The top row starts at '54 and goes to '60.

The sunburst '58 was near-LP heavy, the rest (that I handled) were feathers. The white '58 had a neck shape that was very '50s LP-ish.

[hamerhead]

The real early ones are behind me in this picture.....

...and on the far end in this one. I think they went back to 1950 (not '52 like I said earlier). There were a couple 'NoCasters' in there.

 

 

 

[hamerhead]

The Switchmasters are in the top row, far end (before the door). 3 pickups, volume and tone for each (6 knobs!), 4-way switch (neck/middle/bridge/all).

And the Hamers. Apparently a guy walks into a guitar show in Chicago with the Keef Standard without much info just how he got it...That 3rd Sunburst has the perfect color burst. Stunning in person.

 

 

[hamerhead]

Miscellaneous other stuff:

 

[hamerhead]

[hamerhead]

[Spinaltap]

Those pics make me wish I had more in my checkbook currently ..

[DarkHammer]

WOW!!! I am speechless, so many vintage guitars in one place!

Are these guitars part of Dave's personal collection? or are they for sale in the store?

[Steve Haynie]

Did you get the story on the checkerboard Special?  

[hamerhead]

Your checkbook would need to live in a much different neighborhood than mine - one of guitars I was handed was over $600,000 USD.

They are all just a part of Dave's personal stash, all just out there (upstairs from the sales floor) for anyone to wander through, no ropes or glass cases. There is also every old Fender amp you could think of (not too many Marshalls), all in amazing condition. Dave was there but we didn't get to talk to him this time. 

The '81 Checkerboard Special used to be one of Rick's. He and Dave apparently go way back. It looked brand new.

The top row of guitars is up there fairly high off the floor. Tim the Photographer reaches way up and one-hands the oldest Tele on the wall and hands it to me. The look on my face must have been a good one because he says, "What??", like it was nothing. Just another day at the office for him, I guess. Scared me to death. 

[hamerhead]

This LP was an odd one, and I didn't get the story - the split vee headstock, the Strat-type switch and the biggest neck of any guitar I'd ever touched.