Boston Newport Pro/Custom owners?

[tone_loco]

I'm interested in getting a Newport Pro (maybe a Custom) but I really need to play one (or more) before I can seriously consider plunking down the bucks...

So, does anyone knows of one in a music store around Boston MA?

Or if not is there anyone around Boston who could let me play yours for a minute? I'd really appreciate a chance to get one in my hands. Thanks!

[tafkathundernotes]

Another New Englander - Welcome.

I would guess there's somebody around who could help you. If I had one, I would.

[jwhitcomb3]

You might try here:

Performance Music Center in Woburn

Last time I visited (a couple of years ago) they had four USA Hamers in stock.

-Jonathan

[tone_loco]

Thanks, I tried them! Unfortunately all they had was a Newport with a bigsby.

Do most people just buy these things by mail or what? Its not like you run accross them at GC...

Thanks again.

[adferreira]

Depends on how far you want to travel.

http://www.friendsmusic.com/ is in Westport MA. Dave is a good guy and his place has a nice atmosphere.

http://www.ricksmusic.com/ is a recent Hamer dealer. The Swansea MA. shop is good, have not been to the others though.

[killerteddybear]

GC in San Marcos California has a USA Mirage for sale used. I think they're asking $1100... Whatever it had for pickups, it was the shrillest istrument I've ever played.

[tone_loco]

Well, I guess that saves me a trip to CA.

[Jorge]

hey tone loco, I wondered whether or not to get a Newport for years, not anymore, I can´t wait!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...MEAFB%3AIT&rd=1

[straightblues]

Thanks, I tried them! Unfortunately all they had was a Newport with a bigsby.

Do most people just buy these things by mail or what? Its not like you run accross them at GC...

Thanks again.

What didn't you like about the Newport with the Bigsby? Did it have Phat Cat pickups? I have played both and can maybe help describe the differences if there is something you didn't like about the instrument you have already played.

Yes, in many parts of the country, you have to order them by mail.

[ceeb]

I'm about 1.5 hours from Boston, in southeast CT. About 5 minutes from the casinos. If'n yer in the neighborhood, you're welcome to spend some quality time playing mine.

[silentman]

Ditto. I'm in Milford, MA. If you ever want to drop in and play a pile of Hamers (sorry - no newports here) let me know.

[DaveL]

Isn't there a good store in Stoughton?? forget what

it's called but they had a nice selection last time I

was there.

[tone_loco]

hey tone loco, I wondered whether or not to get a Newport for years, not anymore, I can´t wait!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...MEAFB%3AIT&rd=1

Nice!

And a nice Price too! Congrats!

I'm not totally opposed to getting one on EBay/wherever but I just want to actually play one for a bit first, to make sure a Newport's not completely wrong for me.

Anyhow, ENJOY!

[tone_loco]

Thanks, I tried them!  Unfortunately all they had was a Newport with a bigsby. 

Do most people just buy these things by mail or what? Its not like you run accross them at GC...

Thanks again.

What didn't you like about the Newport with the Bigsby? Did it have Phat Cat pickups? I have played both and can maybe help describe the differences if there is something you didn't like about the instrument you have already played.

Yes, in many parts of the country, you have to order them by mail.

I haven't tried a Newport (non-pro or otherwise). I'm not a whammy bar kinda guy though so I don't see any point in getting that extra pound of metal on a guitar that I want to be as light as possible.

Also I'm used to the feel of neck binding and it looks like the regular Newports don't have that. Its not a huge thing and if you're a fender player its probably more comfortable without.

As far as the sound of the p90's, I'm not sure. I'd really need to hear one. Basically thats whats holding me back, not playing or hearing one. Talking about sound is one thing, but hearing and feeling the guitar make the sound is something else!

I guess you love the sounds you're getting from that Newport though, and I was glad to read your comments about the lack of feedback.

[tone_loco]

I'm about 1.5 hours from Boston, in southeast CT. About 5 minutes from the casinos. If'n yer in the neighborhood, you're welcome to spend some quality time playing mine.

Thats kind of a haul but if I can't find anything closer I may have to take you up on that!

Thanks for the offer, I appreciate it.

(How do you like yours BTW? Is it a spruce top or what?)

[BadgerDave]

Tone,

Many of us have owned Hamers for decades and have a pretty good idea of what the various models are going to sound and feel like. That makes it much easier to buy one sight unseen or place a custom order. Hamers are extremely consistant and you aren't going to find the discrepencies in fit, finish and feel that you get with some other company's guitars.

That doesn't make it any easier for someone new to Hamer to take the plunge, but this might. Here's a nice looking used Newport listed on eBay for a good price. If it doesn't work for you, you could easily flip it without taking a financial hit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...ssPageName=WDVW

BTW, all Newports have fingerboard binding.

[ceeb]

(How do you like yours BTW?  Is it a spruce top or what?)

I love it. It's my favorite guitar, for the past couple of years. It covers a lot of sonic ground. It sounds great through my Fender HotRod, or the ValveTech. I like the simple controls too.

It has a spruce top.

[ceeb]

PS.

There's a place near me that's had one in stock for a while now. It's a spruce top with a natural finish.

Alpha Audio in Mystic, CT. They may be willing to move on the price.

[Mike_C]

tone_loco all newports have body neck and headstock binding. I own a Newport with a bigsby and have played a Newport pro. just on feel not pickup differences or anything else just feel they felt like twins. my point is you should be able to get a feel for a Newport pro from playing a newport. Good luck in your serach.

[tone_loco]

Tone,

Many of us have owned Hamers for decades and have a pretty good idea of what the various models are going to sound and feel like. That makes it much easier to buy one sight unseen or place a custom order. Hamers are extremely consistant and you aren't going to find the discrepencies in fit, finish and feel that you get with some other company's guitars.

That doesn't make it any easier for someone new to Hamer to take the plunge, but this might. Here's a nice looking used Newport listed on eBay for a good price. If it doesn't work for you, you could easily flip it without taking a financial hit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...ssPageName=WDVW

BTW, all Newports have fingerboard binding.

Well not that I'm a real Hamer guy, but I did have a mid 80's Hamer TLE a couple years back. I guess that was one of thier early ventures into fenderish territory. I wasn't knocked out by the neck, it seemed poorly designed because it was much wider than needed given the size of the sustain block and the spacing of the saddles... not to mention the dive bombing. I realize tele style bodies are prone to that but I think my less than great experience with that sight unseen Hamer purchase is making me hang back a little.

As far as that guitar on ebay... Jorge further up the thread just got one that looks the same to me for about $600 less, and with my luck when I tried to turn it around I'd lose $700! Something about me and ebay just doesn't work... nobody even bid on that TLE when I decided to let it go.

Anyhow, I know what you're saying but I'm still working on getting my hands on one first. Thanks for the encouragement though

BTW, thanks for the note about the binding. I had to have the TLE's frets trimmed where they stuck out along the edges due to drying or whatever shrinks the boards and I still never got used feeling those bumps... For some reason the pictures on the website gave me the impression that the bigsby ones didn't have any. Maybe they have dark binding? Another reason to try before I buy - I make these assumptions and don't even know that I am!!

If I can't get my hands on a Newport maybe I'll just check out something with similar necks to at least get a feel for whether I'm a vintage or modern carve type of guy. Hmmm... Maybe I obsess on necks but to me thats where the pedal meets the metal - you can toy with other stuff but a great neck is a wonderful thing!

[JohnnyB]

BTW, thanks for the note about the binding. I had to have the TLE's frets trimmed where they stuck out along the edges due to drying or whatever shrinks the boards and I still never got used feeling those bumps...

For some reason the pictures on the website gave me the impression that the bigsby ones didn't have any. Maybe they have dark binding? Another reason to try before I buy - I make these assumptions and don't even know that I am!! 

What you experienced with the TLE was not Hamer's fault. It's called "fret sprout" and it happens when a guitar hangs in neglect at a guitar store for a long period of time. The fretboard dries out and shrinks, exposing the ends of the frets. Much of the problem can be fixed by oiling the board rather than trimming the frets. Trust me, the guitar didn't leave the Hamer factory that way -- a retailer didn't take care of it properly or make any attempt to sell it.

Concerning fretboard radius, a TLE is not going to feel like a Tele, because TLEs were set up for Floyds, which demand a 12-14" fretboard radius (as opposed to 7-1/2" for vintage Tele) and different string spacing. Even if yours had a sustain block, the fretboard and string spacing was laid out for the Floyd which was in the majority of TLEs.

ALL Newports come with ivoroid binding unless you order differently, maybe the natural ones get tortoise. Either way, the binding is always there and quite visible.

I suspect you got the impression of a non-bound neck from the enlarged pic of the standard Newport at the Hamer Guitars website. The background is pale yellow and camouflages the binding, but if you look down where the neck meets the body, you'll see that even that one is bound.

And one more thing about that binding -- it is exquisite. It's one of the few made today where the binding is applied OVER the fret ends, making it totally smooth. Guitar Player's review of the Newport said that it had the best binding job they'd ever seen on any electric at any price. Can't get much better than that.

[tone_loco]

What you experienced with the TLE was not Hamer's fault. It's called "fret sprout" and it happens when a guitar hangs in neglect at a guitar store for a long period of time. The fretboard dries out and shrinks, exposing the ends of the frets. Much of the problem can be fixed by oiling the board rather than trimming the frets. Trust me, the guitar didn't leave the Hamer factory that way -- a retailer didn't take care of it properly or make any attempt to sell it.

Concerning fretboard radius, a TLE is not going to feel like a Tele, because TLEs were set up for Floyds, which demand a 12-14" fretboard radius (as opposed to 7-1/2" for vintage Tele) and different string spacing. Even if yours had a sustain block, the fretboard and string spacing was laid out for the Floyd which was in the majority of TLEs.

And one more thing about that binding -- it is exquisite. It's one of the few made today where the binding is applied OVER the fret ends, making it totally smooth. Guitar Player's review of the Newport said that it had the best binding job they'd ever seen on any electric at any price. Can't get much better than that.

Sorry I didn't mean to imply that the TLE left Hamer w/lousy frets! I bought it from a guy who had a couple of them and this one was probably sitting under the bed for a while. Anyhow I really just meant that even after having the problem fixed I didn't/don't care for the feel of unbound necks. Some do, I don't... which makes that Guitar Player quote sound good to me!

And thanks for clearing up the mystery about the extra width of the TLE neck, I figured there must be an explanation.

[JohnnyB]

Sorry I didn't mean to imply that the TLE left Hamer w/lousy frets!  I bought it from a guy who had a couple of them and this one was probably sitting under the bed for a while.  Anyhow I really just meant that even after having the problem fixed I didn't/don't  care for the feel of unbound necks. Some do, I don't... which makes that Guitar Player quote sound good to me!

And thanks for clearing up the mystery about the extra width of the TLE neck, I figured there must be an explanation.

I may have taken it wrong. Two of the best unbound necks out there are Hamer and G&L, and because of the low brand name recognition, they sometimes hang in stores too long and get fret sprout. I play back and forth between my bound Newport and unbound Anniversary and never notice the difference because Hamer finishes the fret ends so nicely. OTOH I can see why you wanna stick with bound necks after that experience.

From that GP Review:

"... The thick spruce top is beautifully hand-carved, and the wide, ivoroid binding is flawless -- the best I've seen on an electric at any price. ...The binding over the frets' ends looks classy, and it makes for an extra-smooth feel as you run your hand along the edge. The synthetic nut is perfectly shaped and fitted. ... "

Italics are GP's, not mine.

Read the whole review at GP review of Newport and other thinlines.

Notice that only the Newport garnered a 5-pick rating for all categories and was an Editor's Pick. The Gibson was also an Editor's Pick in this comparison, but I played both guitars back-to-back in the store before buying the Newport. To me, there was no comparison in build & materials quality, fit 'n' finish, or playability, let alone expressiveness and dynamic and tonal range.