Talladega Report

[ArnieZ]

Last Friday I took a ride to New Hartford to resolve a minor issue with one of my guitars. The visit had to be pre-arranged to make sure there would be enough time for a nice visit. I really only expected to detail what was wrong with guitar spend a few minutes and be on my way. I was most pleasantly surprised. Jol met me down in Kim's office and escorted me to the shop. Showed me, with great pride, some of the new details that are going into Hamer Guitars. All the new Custom models have ebony headstock overlays. Even the mahogany spline that covers the truss rod, has a small piece of ebony over it so that the headstock is 100% uniform. A small detail, but very cool. There's more but can't remeber as I write! The shop itself was loaded with custom orders, and they are busy!

Jol spoke quite a bit about the evolution of the Talladega. Inspired in large part by guitarist Greg V who primarily plays Teles and Les Pauls. The guitar is dimensionally identical to a Tele in every important aspect. Same body thickness, location of the upper and lower horns, even the location of the tone and volume controls. He showed me some of the pickups as well. The bridge pup has a metal baseplate ala Tele and the neck pickup has bar magnets like a p90 and slugs instead of screws. The bridge has rod magnets. There were several examples around, including a trans-black that was very cool!

I got to play one for a bit and all I can say is WOW. A very versatile guitar, guaranteed to cut in a live outing. The bridge with the tone control rolled back is very Tele. With the tone all the way open even a little brighter that a Tele but not strident. The neck pickup is very p 90 and the combo positions are very unique and tre cool. The neck has a very nice v profile that is about mid 90's in chunk. It is really very playable for both thinner and thicker neck lovers. The v gives enough girth for digging in and filling the hand but still doesn't have that real chunky feel that some don't like. I like big necks and felt quite comfy with this even though the overall profile was smaller than what I would normally prefer.

There were a couple of custom one offs that I would have loved to take pictures of but not to be!!

All and all I have to thank Hamer and esp Jol for his graciousness. I was treated like an important endoser, not the living room hack I am! I always leave knowing much more than when I came. Much thanks to Todd as well for fixing my guitar in what seemed like just a few minutes. Problem seems resolved!

ArnieZ

[DavidE]

See what happens when you're a good guy?

[MCChris]

even the location of the tone and volume controls

You sure about that?

[Guest pirateflynn]

I'm the only guy who doesn't like the Talladega. In all fairness, I have not heard one but I don't like the look or the tone concept.

[Travis]

Put in some hot humbuckers and I'm sure I would love a Talladega. I never got along with P90s so I'm sorry to say the stock Talladega is not for me. But I'm anxiously awaiting some of the custom one-offs that I'm sure will come out eventually.

[belgian]

I'm the only guy who doesn't like the Talladega. In all fairness, I have not heard one but I don't like the look or the tone concept.

Didn't liked the look either, I even didn't want to touch at first....

but now :

[Jack C]

I'm interested in the guitar and would love to play one. I'm just not sure the world needs a high-end, figured top, set neck Telecaster. A plain old Telecaster is awfully hard to beat.

[DavidE]

I'm just not sure the world needs a high-end, figured top, set neck Telecaster.

Tell that to Tom Anderson and many others!

[HamerHokie]

I'm the only guy who doesn't like the Talladega. In all fairness, I have not heard one but I don't like the look or the tone concept.

I like the concept but when people say the bridge Phat Cat sounds 'like a telecaster' no thanks.

[gwayne]

There were a couple of custom one offs that I would have loved to take pictures of but not to be!!

UMMMM...was one of them a quilt-top Newport Pro by any chance?

[tafkathundernotes]

Boomers and a "standard" headstock would make that guitar really nice!

[cmatthes]

I'm still very intrigued. I think it's going to turn some heads as well. If you'll recall, there was initially some lukewarm responses to the Monaco until more people really started to play/buy them.

I'd say reserve judgement until you have the opportunity to actually check one out. If it doesn't do it for you, fine - there's plenty of other options out there. So far, I really like the concept. The sooner they're out in the shops, the better.

Thanks for the cool teaser, Arnie! Trans black? Wow...

[ArnieZ]

even the location of the tone and volume controls

You sure about that?

In looking at the picture ...No but I think what was meant was same reach. Let's face it I'm not a reliable source...short term memory failing with increasing age

ArnieZ

[JohnnyB]

Didn't liked the look either, I even didn't want to touch at first....

but now :

The Tele shape is dorky. It's shape suggests its humble origin--a crude single-cutaway representation of a guitar body silhouette band-sawed out of a plank of wood.

But when you strap it on, it balances just right and makes the right part of the guitar hang right in front of you. And the body is massive enough for a lot of tone potential. It's one of the best shapes for getting out of the way so you can simply play. With a belly cut and beveled arm relief it's near perfect.

I used to be revolted at the Tele shape. Next thing I knew, I had three different G&L ASAT models. I still have one of 'em.

[ArnieZ]

There were a couple of custom one offs that I would have loved to take pictures of but not to be!!

UMMMM...was one of them a quilt-top Newport Pro by any chance?

Gwayne,

Sorry, but no I did not see a Newport.

ArnieZ

even the location of the tone and volume controls

You sure about that?

In looking at the picture ...No but I think what was meant was same reach. Let's face it I'm not a reliable source...short term memory failing with increasing age

ArnieZ

Well I've cleared the mind and reviewed what I was told. the info on the body dimensions is accurate. Re the control layout: It was designed so that a Tele player would adapt to it with minimal adjustment. They wanted the guitar to have a very similar and familiar feel.

ArnieZ

[serial]

I LOVE Teles, always have. I LOVE the way the Talledega looks and feels. I haven't tried it plugged in yet, but it's a great, comfortable guitar in every other respect. This is currently my favorite plank.

[teleman]

Serial ...very nice esquire. I love teles too. Hence the Teleman moniker.

I'm intriqued by the Talledaga and can't wait to try one out. Curious to see if it truly is a teleplayers Hamer.

[hamersandstrats]

It is a teleplayers Hamer-the neck is very fender. The bridge sounds tele-ish, it is biting, but warm at the same time. The neck pup has possibly the sweetest tone of any neck pup I've ever played.

[Guest cruster]

It is a teleplayers Hamer-the neck is very fender.

I'm pretty sure that when we were touring the factory Jol said the neck was built off the specs of an old Stratocaster of his. There was a sheet of paper on the workbench right outside the setup room door that said something like, "Jol's xx Stratocaster" then had two columns that I thought looked like fret number and then string height (or maybe neck thickness...can't remember what the dimensions were, just that they had " marks after them).

[ArnieZ]

Cruster is correct. the neck is largely baseed on Jol's vintage Strat.

ArnieZ

[Jeff R]

It took me 20 years of playing to really appreciate all aspects of a tele (feel, shape, tones, etc.). I used to foolishly think they were only for country/western players. Now I can't imagine "not" having one in the stable.

Considering the statement above, plus my love for set neck mahogany/maple guitars and my limited buying power (I'm still buried in the "one comes in, one has to go" camp), I'm honestly scared shitless to play a Talladega.

[Camstone]

All the new Custom models have ebony headstock overlays.

Arnie,

Am I understanding this correctly that all Custom ordered Hamers are going to have this ebony overlay on the headstock without it being an upcharge? I have a custom order in queue right now that was placed three or four weeks ago.

Thanks!

[Craig S]

There were two things I thought I hated when I started playing: Teles and Twin Reverbs. Years ago I took a Tele and cash on trade for an LP figuring I could flip the Tele for a profit...I owned that guitar for another 2 years and had/have numerous Teles ever since. I ended picking up a 68' Twin Reverb years ago cheap, It's been with me for about 15 years now.. The Talledaga looks very interesting to me...Teles and P90's, I've done similar things with Teles and Harmonic Design Super 90s.... Thanks for the report.

[ArnieZ]

All the new Custom models have ebony headstock overlays.

Arnie,

Am I understanding this correctly that all Custom ordered Hamers are going to have this ebony overlay on the headstock without it being an upcharge? I have a custom order in queue right now that was placed three or four weeks ago.

Thanks!

All Custom models ie Studio Custom, Artist Custom etc. If they are crowned and bound they're getting it, from what I understand no upcharge.

ArnieZ

[cmatthes]

And Arnie, to confirm something I had heard earlier along those lines, those same "CUSTOM" designated models will also come stock w/a bound headstock, correct?