85 Electraglide SMG

[Stevie C]

Howdy! I'm new to the board, and I don't currently own a Hamer, but after doing a search on a guitar I used to own, I found a link to this site, and lo and behold there she was.....a few pictures of the 85 Electraglide SMG w/P90 that I (regrettably) sold back in '90 or '91. Yes, I'm the original owner of "Glide #2" (Sam Moss r.i.p. got the 1st one, which I also owned for a short while).

Who's the current owner? Just wanted to check up on the ol' girl.

There's a pretty cool story of how that beauty came about.....

[DaveH]

There's a pretty cool story of how that beauty came about.....

Welcome to the board. As for who owns it now, I'll let them speak up.

Anyway, are you gonna share the story?

[Stevie C]

There's a pretty cool story of how that beauty came about.....

Welcome to the board. As for who owns it now, I'll let them speak up.

Anyway, are you gonna share the story?

Well, I used to work right across the street from Sam Moss Guitars, and I used to spend my lunch hours (2-3 times a week) goofing off in his shop. The first guitar I bought from him was a candy apple red Blitz, I believe it was an '03. Anyway, fast forward to late '84, and I was gigging with that guitar and a Les Paul that I wasn't too happy with, and I really wanted something that I could get good humbucker and single coil sounds in one guitar, with a stop tail piece, and I really didn't care for all the "superstrats" that were all the rage back then. Well, I walked in the shop one day, and there it was.....Glide # 1.

Well, one look's all it took. This one was just in and was Sam's personal guitar, so I picked it up , played it, and we discussed right away about the possibility of ordering one for myself. After about 2 days, I decided to do it, so Sam and I worked up the details, but I knew I needed a neck pickup, as Sam's didn't have one. I couldn't decide whether to go with a hum or a single, so Sam suggested trying a P-90. I had never owned a guitar with a P-90, but I knew that Sam wouldn't steer me wrong, so that was it! He called the order in to Hamer the next day, and later that day he called to let me know that it was ordered and that it might take 3-6 months before I would get it, so be patient.

Over the next few weeks, I kept up the lunchtime routine, never asking about the guitar, and Sam would never say anything about it.....he knew I was being very patient about it. So, about 1-1/2 months into the wait, I get a phone call at work, and it's none other than Paul Hamer! Sam told him I was being really cool about the wait, and suggested he give me a call. Paul told me that they were taking a little extra time to pick the right top for it, and that "if it's ok with you, we'd like to take it to the NAMM show." Of course I said yes! The next day Sam said, "hey, maybe Jeff Beck will play your guitar!"

Anyway, I got the guitar after only a 3 month wait, and it was well worth it. Sam was even a little jealous because it turned out even better than his! The "Glide" was perfect in every way, and was just about the only electric I gigged with for several years.

Sam eventually decided to sell his, so I bought it as a back-up, so I had 2 at one time. How cool is that? As far as I know, there were only 3 or 4 of them made at that time. I had it for only about 6 months, and sold it to a friend who REALLY wanted mine, but would settle for the Sam's.

Later, around '89-'90, I had pretty much stopped gigging, due to the demands of raising a family(no complaints) and a long work day, and I just wasn't playing as much as I wanted to, so I decided to sell most of my gear, including that guitar. STUPID! Oh well, you live and you learn! haha

[cmatthes]

My ideal Hamer - since '85! Sam always had some insane custom Hamers mixed in with all the Danelectros and Silvertones...and the occasional PRS. I also used to spend a lot of time in that little shop on Burke St. and I saw Sam's original "Electraglide" the week it came in - played it a lot, drooled on it even more, and finally had enough to buy a Ferarri Red '82 Special from him later that year. Never got over the 'Glides though (or the Dan Armstrong head Hamers he had). I saw it and took pics of it at a DC guitar show in 90 or '91, and when I went back the next day with cash, it had been sold to a Japanese buyer who loaded that and about 40 other guitars onto a pallet after hours.

It turned up a few years ago for sale in Japan, and a member here managed to bring her back to the States. My twin bro ("Serial") has your old P-90 guitar that I believe he bought from Sam.

I've tried to order one of those from Hamer for the last 6-7 years, but that's not something they currently want to do - I'll live with that, but keep trying! :angry:

Here are some other Sam Moss customs and the main Electraglides - at the bottom are recent pix as well as a more current version in Emerald Green:

[David B]

There's a pretty cool story of how that beauty came about.....

Welcome to the board. As for who owns it now, I'll let them speak up.

Anyway, are you gonna share the story?

Well, I used to work right across the street from Sam Moss Guitars, and I used to spend my lunch hours (2-3 times a week) goofing off in his shop. The first guitar I bought from him was a candy apple red Blitz, I believe it was an '03. Anyway, fast forward to late '84, and I was gigging with that guitar and a Les Paul that I wasn't too happy with, and I really wanted something that I could get good humbucker and single coil sounds in one guitar, with a stop tail piece, and I really didn't care for all the "superstrats" that were all the rage back then. Well, I walked in the shop one day, and there it was.....Glide # 1.

Well, one look's all it took. This one was just in and was Sam's personal guitar, so I picked it up , played it, and we discussed right away about the possibility of ordering one for myself. After about 2 days, I decided to do it, so Sam and I worked up the details, but I knew I needed a neck pickup, as Sam's didn't have one. I couldn't decide whether to go with a hum or a single, so Sam suggested trying a P-90. I had never owned a guitar with a P-90, but I knew that Sam wouldn't steer me wrong, so that was it! He called the order in to Hamer the next day, and later that day he called to let me know that it was ordered and that it might take 3-6 months before I would get it, so be patient.

Over the next few weeks, I kept up the lunchtime routine, never asking about the guitar, and Sam would never say anything about it.....he knew I was being very patient about it. So, about 1-1/2 months into the wait, I get a phone call at work, and it's none other than Paul Hamer! Sam told him I was being really cool about the wait, and suggested he give me a call. Paul told me that they were taking a little extra time to pick the right top for it, and that "if it's ok with you, we'd like to take it to the NAMM show." Of course I said yes! The next day Sam said, "hey, maybe Jeff Beck will play your guitar!"

Anyway, I got the guitar after only a 3 month wait, and it was well worth it. Sam was even a little jealous because it turned out even better than his! The "Glide" was perfect in every way, and was just about the only electric I gigged with for several years.

Sam eventually decided to sell his, so I bought it as a back-up, so I had 2 at one time. How cool is that? As far as I know, there were only 3 or 4 of them made at that time. I had it for only about 6 months, and sold it to a friend who REALLY wanted mine, but would settle for the Sam's.

Later, around '89-'90, I had pretty much stopped gigging, due to the demands of raising a family(no complaints) and a long work day, and I just wasn't playing as much as I wanted to, so I decided to sell most of my gear, including that guitar. STUPID! Oh well, you live and you learn! haha

I owned it after you did for around 10 years or so. It is a monster. There were only 2 Electraglides & the newer green one. Sam was always asking me - "Do you still have the Electraglide? This guy is always asking about it." I finally sold it back to him for what I bought it for & Serial bought it & was a happy, happy man. Sam was an awesome person. I live in NC too. I'm sure I must have seen you in the store.

[edgar_allan_poe]

OMG!! This guitar is absolutely bad assed!!!

[DaveH]

Wow, that IS a cool story! Cool history for sure.

Like cmatthes, I've tried in vain to have one of these built, Hamer just won't cooperate.

[peedenmark7]

theres nothing as pretty as a single hum sunburst.

too bad they wont do a flame top single hum..

[David B]

OMG!! This guitar is absolutely bad assed!!!

Sam Moss gave me that picture. Yes, that is as cool as it gets!

Wow, that IS a cool story! Cool history for sure.

Like cmatthes, I've tried in vain to have one of these built, Hamer just won't cooperate.

Sam was promised by Hamer they would not make anymore.

[Disturber]

I found this one (the same that is laying on the pavement in CMatthes post) in Finland three, four years ago. I don't have a clue how it ended up there. It's a 24 fret archtoped Sunburst monster with Dan Armstrong headstock. I just recently got it back from my guitar tech and the set up is just killer, it sounds amazing.

If you have any background info on this guitar from Sam Moss store please share! Did he call these ones electraglides as well?

To describe the tone of this one I'll quote Jol when he speaks about the earthen maple guitars "..a jangly pop-rock or R&B machine!"

[MCChris]

So was the second Electraglide the first Hamer ever to have a P90 in it?

[Guest pirateflynn]

So was the second Electraglide the first Hamer ever to have a P90 in it?

I don't think so. I just saw a picture of an all original early Sunburst with two P90s.

[David B]

Did he call these ones electraglides as well?

No, he had many different custom Hamers made. He just thought it would be cool to call those two Electraglides.

[kizanski]

So was the second Electraglide the first Hamer ever to have a P90 in it?

I don't think so. I just saw a picture of an all original early Sunburst with two P90s.

I'd like to see that. I've never heard of such an animal.

[cmatthes]

One of Sam's guitars was called the "Duoglide" - not sure if that was the single HB Dan Arm headstock or not. I've got some of Sam's old stocklists around somewhere I'm sure I could dig up that listed on one.

[JohnnyB]

he had many different custom Hamers made. He just thought it would be cool to call those two Electraglides.

Was there ever an Electraglide in Blue?

[cmatthes]

Only this one:

Actually, there were only two Electraglides, as mentioned above. They are both the carved top, Sustainblock models with Standard-style headstocks.

[sonic1974]

I found this one (the same that is laying on the pavement in CMatthes post) in Finland three, four years ago. I don't have a clue how it ended up there. It's a 24 fret archtoped Sunburst monster with Dan Armstrong headstock. I just recently got it back from my guitar tech and the set up is just killer, it sounds amazing.

If you have any background info on this guitar from Sam Moss store please share! Did he call these ones electraglides as well?

To describe the tone of this one I'll quote Jol when he speaks about the earthen maple guitars "..a jangly pop-rock or R&B machine!"

That is awesome! Love that headstock. BTW, a lot of people on the gear page whine about the normal Hamer headstock, I don't get it, I like that one too.

rob

[Disturber]

I found this one

That is awesome! Love that headstock. BTW, a lot of people on the gear page whine about the normal Hamer headstock, I don't get it, I like that one too.

rob

The normal Hamer headstock is an awsome simple rock n roll design. It just cool. I think those who don't like it are into Celine Dion or something.

[bubs_42]

So was the second Electraglide the first Hamer ever to have a P90 in it?

I don't think so. I just saw a picture of an all original early Sunburst with two P90s.

Well that's the one that I want!!!!! I thought about buying one of the ebay one's that are broken and having greg put P90's in it. HUM

[cmatthes]

I'm not sure if I'm thinking about the same guitar, but there is an earlier Sunburst w/P-90s and I think it has a slightly thicker body. I'll let the owner of that one chip in if he sees this post...

[Guest pirateflynn]

I'm not sure if I'm thinking about the same guitar, but there is an earlier Sunburst w/P-90s and I think it has a slightly thicker body. I'll let the owner of that one chip in if he sees this post...

Yep, that's the one. Quite a bit thicker, I think.

[kizanski]

I'm not sure if I'm thinking about the same guitar, but there is an earlier Sunburst w/P-90s and I think it has a slightly thicker body. I'll let the owner of that one chip in if he sees this post...

DMK, LI.

[cmatthes]

I'm not sure if I'm thinking about the same guitar, but there is an earlier Sunburst w/P-90s and I think it has a slightly thicker body. I'll let the owner of that one chip in if he sees this post...

DMK, LI.

Uh, well, it's a red one, has P-90s and I think it has a slightly thicker body. The owner (at least he owned it the last time I saw it) is a member here and may choose to speak on this. I'm not speaking for him because I haven't seen the guitar or a pic of it in many years.

[serial]

The one with the 2 P90s was earlier than my Electraglide or Sam's. I remember when the second EG came in to the shop (in 1985). Sam's EG had been hanging on the wall for a few months and the second one (with the P90) knocked me out, but it was sold (I suppose you were coming for it!). I tracked that one down for 17 years before circumstances finally worked out and Sam finally called me to tell me it was in his shop again (thanks DavidB!). Very cool to hear the backstory on it-that's awesome! Sam was my local dealer and I remember when he got PRS guitars in. As cool as they were (he was one of the first dealers in the USA to get them), the EG that I ended up with seemed far cooler to me.