Hamer's best times?

[Bob P]

On a whole, I believe the stuff they are building now far exceeds the quality of the past. They might not turn out (or want to turn out) a shredder with a Floyd Rose or Tele ripoff with a B Bender, etc but EACH damn piece they make today is almost as perfect as natural wood can be. I firmly believe that as long as Frank U and Jol are there Hamer will be THE first class operation other production builders look up to. Granted, they only build stuff that fits in with their vision of Hamer but it IS their company.

BTW, I sold my older Hamers. Now holdin' a 1 piece Korina Standard, original Korina Vector, Cherry "BCR" Jr, Prototypes for the T51 and Daytona, and Newport. GAS is over- I have everything I could possible want or need and they are all A+.

Modern Vintage- oh Yeah!!!!

[cmatthes]

I couldn't be happier with things than I am now, so echo Bob's sentiment. Those guys are magicians.

Can't wait to actually get my hands on what will soon be my newest HAMER!

[sirDaniel]

got the last 25thLTD of the last century. This one will be passed on to one of my kids. What a beaut. Can't picture any era putting out a better one. MAYBE it's not your "style", but the quality is top-o-the-rock.

[robbie]

Come to Famous Volcanoes practice and you will see all Hamers and all made in 1996... T51, Duotone & Cruisebass...

I still think they are doing their best stuff right now though.

Man do I want a 12 string Duotone!! Its hurts to think about it.

[morningstar]

DAYTONA

T-51

T-62

[polara]

Hey Robbie, if yer up in Cleveland you can try out my 12-string Duotone! It is awfully nice...

[KeyOfZ]

The 3 month period in 1994 when they built my Natural Daytona....

For a "lower end" model this thing is still my #1

Built to last.

Beautiful tone.

Stays in tune. (even with liberal bar use)

Plays like a dream.

Looks scrumptious.

Intonation is near-perfect (yeah that's right I said it!)

It can go from Heavy to singing Blues with a flick of a switch.

[Matt Mattson]

They are putting out absolutely stunning work right now, in both visual and audio terms.

[Jorge]

Models: short scale shredders! Chaparral, TLE, maybe Steve Stevens.

[Punkavenger]

I've got a 82 Blitz, A 96 Daytona and a 2003 Special ... All topnotch!

Although I like the neck and the way the frets are finished on the Blitz the best and I get the perfect hardrock tone from the custom in the bridge

But then the Daytona is the sexiest, talk about perfect paint and belly cut! ... and I can get some really cool sounds outta it... it almost sounds like real guitar playing!

Of course the Special w/its flat top, those 3 black knobs lined up in a row, that classic shape and vintage carve neck and beautiful rosewood board

Oh, I give up!

[Sentinel]

Although I truly believe that it would be fantastic to own a 4-digit Standard...

...all I can say is that I've tried exactly 16 Hamer's (from the eighties onwards)

and my vote is on the newest stuff - not for mojo, but for their excellent feel and

craftmanship.

My '02 Elite and my '06 Newport Pro almost brings me tears of joy.

I don't really know why but they just do!

[atquinn]

I'd say the early/mid90's was when they were building the guitars that appeal the most to me in terms of features and nostalgic value, but in terms of quality, the stuff they're building now is awesome. For some reason, the early stuff doesn't really appeal to me (good for my wallet ).

[NickHolden]

I have a brand new Studio and it is a terrific guitar. Never played an early Hamer but I can't imagine them being much better.

[jginsj]

Anythng with a sustain block, baby!

With all this talk of modern Hamer quality, I'm thinking a sustain-block custom order is in order.

I wonder if they'd make me a quilt top TLE? I'm thinking no...

[zorrow]

Back to the original question:

I would say it all depends. They have been consistently good since the very beginning, and while I don't own (not yet ) a Hamer of the more recent times, I don't question their quality at all and very probably they are even better now than before.

BUT (and this "but" is a big one) other brands have badly beaten Hamer on the market as of today. Therefore I think their golden times are gone and probably were on the mighty Eighties -- if you talk about visibility and sales. Back then several big names played Hamer -- names that were right in the spotlight. Conversely, nowadays Hamer is almost an obscure guitar brand whose glory days are over. So, I voted the Eighties.

Now I just hope they will conquer back the market with the current raise of metal and shred. There's a good business opportunity there, I guess. Well, I don't see Hamer making anything about it (perhaps they consider it already a lost battle? ), but maybe there will be surprises to come -- who knows? All I can say is that youngster don't play Hamer anymore, and that is a true shame, given all the potential buyers that are emerging nowadays.

My two cents.

[DaveL]

I loved the modern vintage era. They were kickin it old school

except they were new and stayed in tune. They also had killer

list prices $999 for a special FM... $899 for a special P-90...

That said, they really started refining it each year and I think

the artist korinas etc sort of reflect that... They were also

able to differentiate themselves a little by the hollow/semi

hollow stuff...

[Gino]

Considering my 92 FM Special I'd say the early nineties with the return of the modern vintage philosophy, but from what I see on the web and on their DVD (I haven't touched any recent Hamer guitars as they are virually nonexistent over here in Germany!) what they bulid nowadays is absolutely top notch!

Now marketing - that's a whole different ball game! Look at G & L or Heritage - same story! In Germany, if you don't sell your gear through one of the 2 big wholesalers, you're lost. As it is, one does PRS, the other Gibson - go figure.

On the other hand, there's the second hand market, where I've seen lost brands gain ground. In the eighties, we were pushing Tokais like crazy and with the lawsuit it was gone. Then their s/h guitars were sought after (hava a look at fleebay) and slowly they are getting back to the marketplace with their new high quality made in Japan stuff. Might happen (over here) with Hamer as well. Remember 'my' four digit bass...

Gino

[peedenmark7]

I love my '77 -80 stuff..

but the quality today is night and day better...

if hamer could use the longer standard headstock today you wouldnt need/want/or even pay for a 4 digit.

[pesocaster]

Now...... I only wish I could have bought the Pesopro 20 years ago.... would have saved me thousands of dollars... ha ha ha

I'd have to say mid 90's 2nd... the Daytona and T-51F I have are incredible...

[black magic]

Mid to Late 80`s shred!! Short scale, little thicker necks and non-recesses Floyds and you could custom order anything to go with them. I wish they would bring it back. Jack.

[Mike_C]

1998 to present.

From my 25th ann that was one of the first six made to my 2005 custom ordered Quilt top Monaco Superpro.

Top notch great guitars. The only thing I can think of that was better was that the earlier era had a better selection of Figured Maple. Some of the tops that were put on Speical FM's and the studio line ie Artist Studio and the studio studio rival some of the Ultimate tops of the current era.

[Phantom Hawk]

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...

I'll have to agree. For me, Hamer nailed it with the Phantom. They look bad ass - they play bad ass - they sound bad ass ! I know Hamer has really found its niche and is very successful with what they build now, but I'd sell a kidney to have USA A5 Phantoms back in production.

PS. Not one of MY kidneys, mind you, but I'd find a willing homeless guy and sell his. "Hey, pal, I have this here bottle of hooch and all you have to do to get it is ........... "

[Sentinel]

With all this talk of modern Hamer quality, I'm thinking a sustain-block custom order is in order.

I wonder if they'd make me a quilt top TLE? I'm thinking no...

Your prayers has actually come true.

A new model for '07 called Talladega is right up your alley!! It's a maple top TLE-type guitar...

Look at the Hamer website guitar listing... A custom ordered top and you're home free!

(Sorry for bumping an old thread... found this post by chance and just HAD to reply! :-)

[MTM105]

1981 does it for me. I am a cheeseball. Very subjective here, It's the only one I've ever played, my 81 Special Opaque Red. That guitar put Hamer on the map, Andy Summers endorsing it. It is like owning a '57 LP or pre-CBS Stratocaster. An original Electro-Harmonix.

I also own 74 Tele Deluxe, 1987 Ibanez 540S and a Peavey Deuce (Skynyrd model).

I had an MXR Phaser script logo that I dumped on Ebay for 1/2 what it was worth with Buy It Now. I didn't really enjoy the sound too much (sorta cut tone), but its worth almost 2 bills now.

[cmatthes]

That is (was) my first Hamer. It has been modded quite a bit from when I traded it in on a Standard custom order in '91, but I loved that Ferrari Red finish on that guitar - I think I need a Mahogany Vector in that color...

That being said, I really dig the stuff they're doing now for the most part.