tell an ignorant player if this is feasable

[jujisque]

I have found a SATF purple burst that I think I can get for really cheap at a local store. I am wondering how feasable it would be to rip out most of the hardware and replace with good electronics, tuners, etc. to try and get it to sound like a decent U.S.A. studio (understanding that there will always be differences).

I would also appreciate any reviews of the SATF without mods if anyone can.

[elduave]

Go for it. Like you said, it'll be different, lots, but what the hell? You might want replace the nut as well. Decent guitars for the price...

[Jeroen]

+1

I played one back in 1996. Comparing that one with the Special FM I bought was easy, but still it was a great guitar though!!! start with the pickups..replace them for Duncans or Rio's and get fun with it!!

Jeroen

[straightblues]

I did that to my Echotone. It made a great improvement. However, just know, that even if you do that, it will not sound as good as a Hamer USA. I just recently got a Newport and am blown away by its sound.

So, make sure you keep track of how much you are spending on your mods. I have about $550 invested in my Echotone and for that kind of money, I could have bought a few models of Hamer USA on the used market. I see Hamer USA Specials on eby in the $400 - $600 range almost every week. They will sound and play much better than the guitar you are considering.

[bach]

Straightblues, I did the same thing...Bought a used Echotone, took it to a tech for a new nut, pickups, and set-up. It sounds great. It's just not as interesting as my USA Hamers. It's been in its case for about two months now. Whereas my Newport was played last night and my Monaco Elite is on my knee right now.

While they're not bad and I think they're better than many of the foreign alternatives, I'm sticking with USA Hamers.

[straightblues]

Whereas my Newport was played last night and my Monaco Elite is on my knee right now.

Will you please compare the Monaco and the Newport. I love my Newport and I am trying to find another Hamer USA to compliment it. Do they sound the same or different? Do they feel the same? ect.

[bach]

Whereas my Newport was played last night and my Monaco Elite is on my knee right now.

Will you please compare the Monaco and the Newport. I love my Newport and I am trying to find another Hamer USA to compliment it. Do they sound the same or different? Do they feel the same? ect.

Entirely different. Let me describe my particular guitars...My Newport is a Pro, but I changed to Phat Cats; I'm not into Bigsbys, but I really like the Phat Cats with that guitar. My Monaco Elite was a custom order. It's chambered and it's the only one with a sustain block bridge. I also recently switched the pickups to Rios.

Tone: The Newport covers a lot of ground, as I'm sure you already know. I like it for everything from strumming country chords to classic rock solos. The Elite on the other hand is definitely geared more for rock. It growls. Kills a LP that I sold a few years ago, but it's in the same ballpark. Well, the same sport anyway, different league IMO.

Feel: More similar than the tones, but different nonetheless. First of all, the fretwork is Hamer USA and therefore awesome. My neck carves are slightly different - the Elite's is a hair rounder which makes it feel narrower to me, tho it isn't. The Newport is completely hollow and therefore a lighter body, tho the chambered Elite isn't heavy (especially compared to that LP that I mentioned earlier which was a brick). The most major difference is the single cutaway on the Monaco with the shelf. Definitely play one before you buy. I've read that some players are bothered by the shelf. I'm not bothered actually, but switching from the Newport to the Monaco, there is a difference. I believe the shelf is there due to the huge dovetail. I think BCR Greg once posted pictures of the joint compared to a LP. Maybe he could post those pictures again??? You there, Greg?

Bottom line, I'm not someone with 3 Strats or 3 LPs. When I buy a guitar, I like to cover different ground. I'm very attached to both the Newport and the Monaco. I don't want to be without either one.