Why only three knobs...

[Guest Michael]

... on a Hamer? I'm sure there's a good reason, but it always seemed more logical to me to have separate volume and tone knobs for each pickup. Just idle curiosity, but as well thought out and executed Hamers are, I can't figure the advantage of the three knob layout. Do tell.

[bamboohead]

Well....my "81" Vector, 2 volume, one tone. Works great. Set the tone at 9.5. WTF are model are u talkin' bout? My bro has only a volume knob. Don't tone c** from the tip o you finger?

[Guest Michael]

Uhh... Put down the bong, Junior. Does anyone have a sensible response to my question?

[tomteriffic]

The control setup is actually taken from the original Explorers and Vees. Compared to, say, a Lester, there's a lot shorter signal path, individual pickup levels can still be preset and overall tone controlled, but with a lot less control interaction than you get with the typical LP setup, although there are some alternate wiring schemes that reduce this.

On Hamers, I find myself, as often as not, leaving the switch in the middle and getting my tones from the volume knob. And the tone knob is usually set-and-forget anyway. The two volume knobs are a lot more conveniently placed, at least for me.

[BLuesBuster]

Only 3 knobs, but they go to 11

[Thundernotes]

I agree with what Tom said above. Personally, I could live with nothing but a 3-way switch and be happy.

[Travis]

I agree with what Tom said above. Personally, I could live with nothing but a 3-way switch and be happy.

Oh yeah, I could live with a 2-way toggle switch. Beat that!!!

[kizanski]

As an experiment I wired up my white Standard with master volume and two tone controls and I much prefer that setup.

[Lockbody]

Much like intonation, multiple vol/tone knobs are for pussies :angry:

[Devnor]

As an experiment I wired up my white Standard with master volume and two tone controls and I much prefer that setup.

+1 except for the tone control only affects the neck pup

[serial]

One knob.

[Feynman]

Unlike most of you lesser forum members, I am a real tone connoisseur. I have three tone, no volume.

[Steve Haynie]

I ordered a Special with two tone controls. They are on a dual concentric pot so there was no need to drill a fourth hole.

[bubs_42]

As an experiment I wired up my white Standard with master volume and two tone controls and I much prefer that setup.

Hum.. :angry: Interesting, I may try that one. Although If you play in the middle it's cool to be able to blend the pickups. :angry:

[bamboohead]

BTW... my bong goes to 11 and has no tone control. (cough,cough,cough)

[Guest Michael]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the info. If I understand the thinking correctly, any tone/volume control interferes with the signal, therefore the fewer the better, yes? Makes sense, although I would personally prefer the setup that offers the most options. A lot of guys on the Tele board swear that an Esquire produces a purer tone than a Telecaster because the neck pickup exerts a magnetic pull that interferes with the string vibration. I'm not that savvy, but I guess there's a principle of physics that explains it. As I said, I'm not that smart. BTW bamboohead, thanks for getting the joke; so many people on other boards are sooo sensitive :angry: !

[Eric Weston]

I blend the pickups all the time so I prefer two separate volumes, I like to set & forget the master tone at whatever sounds best for the stage (or room) acoustics. The stock set-up is fine with me.

regarding pure signal path- if an Esquire is better than a Tele, then a Strat must REAALLY SUCK tone with three pickups.....right? :angry:

I'll take a good player with average gear over a mediocre player with "the best" any day :angry:

There comes a time to put down the cork and pick up a guitar.....

[Brooks]

regarding pure signal path- if an Esquire is better than a Tele, then a Strat must REAALLY SUCK tone with three pickups.....right? :angry:

I'll take a good player with average gear over a mediocre player with "the best" any day :angry:

There comes a time to put down the cork and pick up a guitar.....

here, here! all hail brother eric, he speaketh the truth.

all i need is 2 pups, a 3 way toggle, and a volume;

i typically never use a guitars tone controls,

i think coil split humbuckers sound like she-ite,

and phase switches don't phase me (ha!).

i don't usually even need a 2nd volume ,unless

1) there's 2 outputs (duotone, synth pup);

2) i want to do the stuttering ace frehley toggle trick;

"COLD GIN!!!" DAHHHHH-dah-dah-dah-da-da-da-daaaaa......

[Matt Mattson]

Tone Control?

[atquinn]

Tone Control?

Now there's something we agree on :angry:!

-Austin

[Guest Michael]

I didn't realize the tone control was an instrument of the devil! I love this; thanks!

[beach bob]

2) i want to do the stuttering ace frehley toggle trick;

"COLD GIN!!!" DAHHHHH-dah-dah-dah-da-da-da-daaaaa......

Second that.

When a college bud was first showing me his Hamer Sunburst back in 1977,

that's one of the very first tricks he showed me. Matter of fact he showed me all sorts

of flashy things to do with a loud guitar. Dude could play.

[serial]

2) i want to do the stuttering ace frehley toggle trick;

"COLD GIN!!!" DAHHHHH-dah-dah-dah-da-da-da-daaaaa......

I $hit you not (ask Kiz), but this is a major consideration for me when looking at a guitar or grabbing one to play. :angry:

Just got in a new LP and you bet that's the first thing I'll do when I crank it up. I'm simple like that.

[cmatthes]

2) i want to do the stuttering ace frehley toggle trick;

"COLD GIN!!!" DAHHHHH-dah-dah-dah-da-da-da-daaaaa......

I $hit you not (ask Kiz), but this is a major consideration for me when looking at a guitar or grabbing one to play. :angry:

Just got in a new LP and you bet that's the first thing I'll do when I crank it up. I'm simple like that.

I'll third that - but also, I like to be able to throw the switch into the rolled off Rhythm pickup mode and kill the sound. Playing way more bass out than guitar over the last few years, but I always did that.

[Willie G. Moseley]

"Control it at the amplifier."---Merle Travis, ca. 1958. He was referencing his preference for as few knobs as possible on a guitar (if he was to custom-order it).