polara Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I've had a few Hamers pass through my hands but not nearly as many as the typical board member. HHBs "Flameburst," a '90 Centaura, an '86 Blitz bass, a '94 Duotone, and a 2000 B12L.Now I have Mobby's custom-ordered 3-hole Duotone 12-string with the orange finish and nice inlaid logo and I hafta say...What is UP at the Hamer factory? They've all been well-made, but the 2000 B12L I thought was kicking it up a notch in terms of fretwork, smooth finish, and overall well-built mojo. Until I got the Duotone, which was made last spring.Dang. This thing, after two weeks of playing, impresses me more each time I pick it up. Not a hint of Hameritis. Ends of the frets are NICE. The inside rims of the round sound holes are finished. The wood INSIDE the hollow part of the guitar is smooth and nice. The lacquer is buttah-smoove from the tail straplock, to the neck, up over the side of the (perfectlymade) rosewood fretboard, and over the nut to the headstock. The neck... well, I don't even think about it. The shape is so comfy, and not even a hint of irregularity. The neck is set up doggone close to straight, with hardly any relief, yet there's no fret buzz and it actually intonates correctly with the rosewood-and-bone tailpiece/bridge.This confirms a couple of things. Duotones are wonderful, and I swear they're making 'em better than ever. Do the rest of y'all think that maybe these are Hamer's best years we're in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobereeno Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 1992 was a peak year - the pinnacle of the shred models. My collection seems to be centered around 91-92 in terms of serial numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disturber Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Hell I don't know. Guess the 1979´s and the ones they´ve been building in the last few years are the golden age. But most of 'em are fantastatic Muslim face says "Gimme any Hamer from any era and I'll play the shit out of it, mutha!" disturber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthes Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I've owned my share of early Hamers from the 70s-80s, but I really like the stuff they're putting out now in terms of overall quality and workmanship. Not saying it's better or worse from any era, but for me the recent stuff is the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caddie Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Unanswerable question. There may be some models here & there that may not be everyone's favorite. But the quality of materials, workmanship & components seems to have always been high no matter what the Hamer USA model. I'm not a shredder, but the Cali & Chap & others look very cool even to an old coot like me. The "copies" like the T-51 & Daytona & their variations all take the orig designs to new levels. I'm drawn to some of the "oddballs" like the Eclipse & Mirage for their unique & useable blend of features. And my favs are the "hollows", Artist, Duotone, Newport, Monaco III. But I haven't seen a dud yet in terms of quality & workmanship. I suppose some will say that "hameritis" seems to be chronic and incurable with certain periods that are worse than others. Some have even called it an unmistakable sign of an authentic Hamer. ;-) But that's the only chink in the armor that I can think of. Has there ever been a "bad stretch" in quality & workmanship for Hamer products? Noonan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentman Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I agree Caddie. I think that Hamer has only gotten better at what they do over the years, but as you said, nothing strikes me as a bad era for hamer. That is: "avoid these years/models". I've had many hamers of all types and never had a clunker. The only model I had an "issue" with recently was an 81 special with a neck so small I swear you could hold it up to the light and see through it. Other than that it sounded/played great. But that's personal preference not a defect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCR Greg Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I no longer have my pile of early Sunbursts.The stuff they are doing for me now KILLS anything that I have seen. Early 4 digits are killer guitars, but they are turning out some of the best damn guitars a person could ask for NOW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthes Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Caddie/Lou - agreed. In my opinion, the Hameritis-era ('94-'97 or so) was still top notch stuff, but that unbelievably minor recurring flaw was the only issue (it is a NON-issue for me, personally).Those guys up in New Hartford should be proud - they are the BEST out there right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pirateflynn Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I love my old Hamers ('79 Sunburst and '80 Special). They have a special place not only for the build quality and design but also because that era means a lot to me. Jr. High, playing guitar, discovering new music around every corner. I have a '01 Newport Pro that is unbelievably good and someday maybe I'll do a custom order but for me there really is something about those old original Hamers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtsstuff Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Although the guitars they build now are stellar! they kind of tossed out us big haired spandex wearin still livin in the 80's refusin to grow up saps that still like to do the "shred" thing....I wished they still built cali's but.....not to be.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherfreak2 Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I'm going to have to say Now as well, Newports and Monaco's are the end all in guitars but I have had some wonderful older models pass through my hands, Nothing holds a candle to the quality and attention to detail that is rollin' out now! buy 'em all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZR Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I prefert the 80-90's shredder guitars the best for me, but the quality is probably at its highest point right now. My 89 Chap has some Hameritis on the fretboard edges and little white specks in parts of the finish (what is that?). Even my 1994 Daytona has more orange-peel texture on it than I think it should have. The newest Hamers seem practically flawless. They've really raised the bar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamerHokie Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Has there ever been a "bad stretch" in quality & workmanship for Hamer products? Skinny Necks On Set Neck Models was a bad period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuclear Wessel Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Tonally, I'm impressed by old and new Hamers equally. As far as things like durability and appearance of the finish and the level of craftsmanship, the more recent Hamers I own are neater, cleaner, tighter, more perfect than ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuclear Wessel Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Skinny Necks On Set Neck Models was a bad period. Absolutely! I totally agree. If you see one, especially if it's emerald transparent, or like that quilt topped vintage orange Sunburst that got sold on E-Bay a few months ago, let me know. I'll take it off your hands. It's a dirty job... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooks Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Skinny Necks On Set Neck Models was a bad period. please sell me your skinny necked duotones or newports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamerHokie Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Skinny Necks On Set Neck Models was a bad period. Absolutely! I totally agree. If you see one, especially if it's emerald transparent, or like that quilt topped vintage orange Sunburst that got sold on E-Bay a few months ago, let me know. I'll take it off your hands. It's a dirty job... I've had, and gotten rid, of three. One of them was a flame-top orange Sunburst. After three of them I learned that it was endemic to the whole period so now I avoid them entirely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 For some reason I've had a ton of Hamers from 1982, but it can't get much better than what they're doing now. Today's Standard Custom is almost perfect. It just needs that extra long headstock back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTMN Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Every one of those responses has strong merit. Tough poll to answer. I went with The Early Years answer cause I love my 2 Standards a lot. My '97 is a much stronger built guitar but the old sweeties and my '81 Special are great to be able to play. Da got MOJO Bro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamer95USA Posted May 26, 2005 Share Posted May 26, 2005 Hey hamerfreaks, After building up the majority of my guitar collection with Hamer USA guitars, I really like my early '90s shredder guitars ( Chapparal Elite 90 & Diablo II). I use those now as my workhorses and they kick ass onstage. That being said I also enjoy my '95 Studio & '97 T-51 guitars for the variety of tones, feel, and being more towards the "modern vintage" direction. I wouldn't mind acquiring a 12 string Eclipse or an Artist either. Guitar George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin-uk Posted May 30, 2005 Share Posted May 30, 2005 Hell I don't know.Guess the 1979´s and the ones they´ve been building in the last few years are the golden age. But most of 'em are fantastatic Muslim face says "Gimme any Hamer from any era and I'll play the shit out of it, mutha!" disturber I have to agree with disturber that there's alway's been the high quality standard's of build,well there's not been a bad year,not on any of mine! martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobsessed Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 I believe most of them need to get a few years old ....then the tone blooms.... Hamers usually have it earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCChris Posted September 29, 2005 Share Posted September 29, 2005 I've owned Hamers from every decade and I'm down to one, a '95 Studio. So that's my favorite era, with the current crop (2000-present) a close second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardheartedbill Posted September 29, 2005 Share Posted September 29, 2005 Class of '96! the art- like Mirage is my undispuded fav ( after trying , oh 20 others! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hellion Posted September 29, 2005 Share Posted September 29, 2005 Well, to a heavy metal fan the obvious answer is mid-late 80's. Phantoms, people! Think about Phantoms! Simple shape but sounds good! 70s were OK too, but nowadays, youck! It ain't worth saying, why did they stop making Phantoms I don't want to sound too harsh, they still make good stuff, but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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