Any Hameritis in Connecticut?

[jwhitcomb3]

I have a '96 Archtop GT that is developing Hameritis around the neck joint. I think I remember reading here that Hamer licked this problem by the time they got to Connecticut. Wasn't that in 1996?

Does anyone know what the last Arlington Heights serial number was, and where the Connecticut serial numbers began? I'd be curious where my guitar was made.

Anybody noticed Hameritis on a Connecticut Hamer?

Thanks,

Jonathan

[silentman]

yes. I have an '03 with it and an '02 to a lesser extent.

[hardheartedbill]

I have Hameritis on a CT Hamer. I have white under the clearcoat of a CT Hamer

[AdmiralB]

The switch is hard to date (although it happened in '97), because there were instruments that were started in IL and finished in CT. I think it is likely that there are IL (started, anyway) with later SNs than some early all-CTs.

Regardless, they have not totally eliminated the issue. I've seen '00-'01s with it.

[serial]

The last Arlington Heights guitar was a korina Vector (#747993-002) with a completion date of 3/21/97. Quite a few instruments in mid-production were sent to CT for finishing. Yes, the Vector was not the 2d one in the run of 72 (in fact, #72 had been completed a few days before this one was logged in), but remember that the run of 72 was not done in sequential order like the Standards. IIRC, the reason for that was so that people who owned the limited edition Standards could get a matching numbered Vector if it was available.

Hameritis may still exist on occasion, but post-CT, it is far rarer in my experience. I have yet to see it on a single CT instrument and I've played, examined, fondled several hundred. Not the case on the pre-'97 ones, where I see it about 10-15% of the time on the ones I've seen.

[DavidE]

Hameritis may still exist on occasion, but post-CT, it is far rarer in my experience. I have yet to see it on a single CT instrument and I've played, examined, fondled several hundred. Not the case on the pre-'97 ones, where I see it about 10-15% of the time on the ones I've seen.

Really only 10-15% pre-97? Based on my personal experience I would think it was much more prevalent.

I'm really surprised it exists on any recent ones since it's been a known issue for a while. I can't say I've ever seen it on another brand

[AdmiralB]

I have yet to see it on a single CT instrument and I've played, examined, fondled several hundred.

But most of those have been fondled in a store, right? The problem doesn't show up immediately; they don't leave the factory with it. It's more rare on CT guitars because they're just now getting old enough to develop it.

[sw686blue]

What exactly is the cause of Hameritis? I'm a little surprised that Hamer has not yet nipped it in the bud.

[serial]

Many of the newer ones I've seen were either used or had been in a shop for a while. True, I see a lot of new ones as well.

As for the 10-15% number, that is only on the ones that I've personally seen, if the number is that high. The ones I have seen often have really dry looking fingerboards too (on the sides). I've wondered if it was a care/storage issue in those cases. I've only had one Hamer with that problem (and it was very minor)and I've owned between 80-90 over the years (my wife is thankful that I only have a fraction of those still around!).

[hardheartedbill]

it's not a care/storage issue, I'm seeing it get worse in front of my eyes, oh well

[bobbymack]

And what about the pizzamaker thumbprints under the clearcoat, were all of those from the same era? I had a few of those guitars too...

[Armitage]

A far as I'm concerned, it's a factory problem and should be warrenty.

[doody]

Out of my 5 Hamer's, 3 have hameritis to some extent. My 97 T-51 is has it the worst, several spots where the fretboard meets the neck. My 2 Hamer's without are my 93 T-62 and 87 chap. Interestingly, neither of these have rosewood boards. Maybe pau ferro and ebony are less vulnerable to this or maybe it's just a coincidence. I too have wondered how this well known problem has continued for so long.

[tomteriffic]

Most of mine have it to one degree or another. An exception is my '01 Newport. But my low-miles '98 Phantom Custom had it very badly. BCR Greg did a repair, but it's still visible if you know what you're looking for. It's lots better than it was, though.

[serial]

Hmmm-every one I've seen had rosewood boards too.

[cmatthes]

I only have it present on a '95 guitar and it came new like that. Doesn't bother me, but I can see how it would annoy some people.

I also don't think that's a warranty issue.

[Kurt L]

I LOVE HAMERITIS!

When I bought my '97 Artist Custom, the discoloration convinced me the neck had been reset. It also convinced the Guitar Center sales guy, who promptly dropped the price $350.

Since I had 30 days to return it, I took it to my favorite luthier who clued me in to what really happened. I told the GC guy, but he didn't care since it was the end of the month and he'd already gotten credit for the sale.

That's how I got a killer Artist Custom for $650. So I love Hameritis.

The experience also taught me how much wiggle room those guys really have on nice used gear, esp. when they really want to move the item.

[DavidE]

I only have it present on a '95 guitar and it came new like that. Doesn't bother me, but I can see how it would annoy some people.

I also don't think that's a warranty issue.

Really? I'd think it's a defect in workmanship or materials. Never see it on other brands and it's pretty prevalent on Hamers. I would think that someone who bought their Hamer new from an authorized dealer could have what Jol said was a very simple repair done at the company's expense under warranty.

Maybe Greg can chime in as to whether he's ever done the repair under warranty.

It doesn't really bother me as it's cosmetic. But if it happened on a $3,000 custom order...

[cmatthes]

If I recall correctly, this was posed on the Board a few versions ago. The word that I remember was that according to Hamer, this is not a covered warranty issue. It is cosmetic rather than structural, and is not a material defect. My memory has clouded a bit in my advancing years, but that's the way I heard it.

This was also not a member speculation issue - this was direct from an authorized representative or the company.

[DavidE]

If I recall correctly, this was posed on the Board a few versions ago. The word that I remember was that according to Hamer, this is not a covered warranty issue. It is cosmetic rather than structural, and is not a material defect. My memory has clouded a bit in my advancing years, but that's the way I heard it.

This was also not a member speculation issue - this was direct from an authorized representative or the company.

Cool. I haven't read the warranty, so I'm not sure what it covers. I guess materiality is in the eye of the beholder, eh?

[Hamer95USA]

Hey people,

My '95 Archtop Sunburst is exhibiting some "Hameritis" on the 20th and 21st fret (bass side) and both sides of the nut. What happens if it gets worse? Will the finish come off?

Guitar George

[doody]

yep it will start to chip off on wear areas. Mine has on my duotone and my T-51 and it is annoying. I'm tempted to put a felt wheel on my dremmel and buff through it and apply some clear coat and buff it out.

[Guest Mike Lee]

My '03 AK 3P90 Lefty has a bad case of Hameritis around the neck joint. It was like that when I got it, and I might get it fixed under warranty someday, but it's not a high priority. Actually it looks like glue seeped out of the neck joint and got finished over.

My '94 Special and (former) '94 Mirage I have it on the sides of the rosewood board, but I've never seen it on a bound fretboard.

Hameritis is simply separation of the finish from the wood. Hamer Urelac finishes appear to be a highly cross-linked polymer. If you ever peel some off, it's like mylar film, very flexible and hard to crack into separate pieces - it folds instead. So this makes it durable even when it isn't very thick. The side effect is that when the wood expands and contracts the finish separates instead of cracks like nitrocellulose would.

[holLoWskull]

The 3 nitro finished Hamers I own have never exhibited any Hameritis what so ever. On the contrary, most of my 92' and newer ones with a poly finish have it in some varying degree (usually just on the sides of the nut). The only ones that don't have any traces are my minty 94' T-51 that I picked up from pirateflynn and my 96' Daytona. The Daytona however suffers from the dreaded "Friday night pizza party" fingerprints in the finish. I'm surprised that defect isn't considered a warranty repair, since I'm almost positive that when I asked Kim Kellar what caused the "fingerprints", he said something to the effect that it was the grain filler they used back then getting heated up (I'm guessing direct sunlight is the only thing that could heat a finish up that much unless you're holding a blow torch next to your guitars??) and lifting out of the wood grain. I always thought it was a defect under the clear itself, but that would suggest it must push up the color coat as well?? Sounds like a defect in materials to me...but what do I know. That said, for the price I paid for most of my used Hamers, I can live with those minor cosmetic flaws and enjoy them for the fantastic tone and playability they offer. However, I too feel it would be unacceptable on a new $3K or more custom order and would be quite pissed.