Can you tell me about this Mirage, please?

[Feynman]

I have a friend who has some interest in this guitar. I don't really know anything about the Mirage series of guitars.

Current asking price is $1100, which I suspect may be a little on the high side, but I will defer to your expertise.

Can you tell me (him) about these models, and which one this is? I couldn't tell a I from a II from a III, etc.

I'll be sending him a link to this thread, so if you have a moment, he'd appreciate the input.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/msg/888626805.html

Thanks.

-mitch

[atquinn]

Looks like a Mirage II Mapletop. 25.5" scale, mahogany, neck and body with maple top (I've only ever seen flamed maple tops, but I guess there could be quilted ones). 59' in the neck and JB in the bridge. Comes stock with a three-way switch, but you can put in a 5-way superswitch or megaswitch for all sorts of goodnes.

It might also be a Mirage II (those had figured Koa tops); I can't tell from the picture. Seems a bit expensive to me. Your friend should buy mine instead. Has an aftermarket Piezo bridge and Fillmores. I'd sell it for the price that guys asking There's also a beautiful Koa-topped one for $1100 on eBay.

-Austin

[veatch]

There's been a few blue maple-tops on the bay lately that couldn't get an opening bid at $800.

I'd say be patient and find a cheaper one...

[Craig S]

I have a Koa topped Mirage II that is all stock except for the bar... Mine's not mint but a good player. I'm just about done with tweaking it back to front line service... I would let it go in the $700 range with a Hamer hardshell case.

[Pieman]

$1100 seems high, unless the top is primo but you cannot tell from the photos. As said above, you can get a good one for $750-$800 if you can wait. In that price range, I have seen some nicer Hamers lately - Ted's amberburst went for $1100 and that Monaco III for $950. Plus some Newports and 25th Anniversaries for $900 or less. I have found that nice Hamers starting coming to market in November as Christmas draws near.

[Russ]

I got this one in August for under $900...

[Bloozguy]

I just got this last week for $950 w/OHSC.

I think $1100 is too high for that one on Craigslist.

[crunchee]

Mirages don't seem to get much love. I had one about 10 years ago, dual HB's and a Koa top, I didn't like it as it sounded a bit 'generic' to me (maybe it was the odd scale length), plus I hated the volute and the locking tuners. But that's just my opinion, perhaps I didn't have an amp that would've done it justice.

I don't care much for blue guitars, either. If they yellow with age, you might get this:

Blue + Yellow = Green. Remember your Primary and Secondary colors in Grade School?

[atquinn]

There's been a few blue maple-tops on the bay lately that couldn't get an opening bid at $800.

I'd say be patient and find a cheaper one...

Case in point...

http://cgi.ebay.com/HAMER-MIRAGE-II-w-hsc-...79162QQihZ001QQ

-Austin

[IPlayLoud]

You could find them at a decent price as the link shows above. But I'll tell you, IMO they are KILLER sounding electrics way ahead of their time that should NEVER have been discontinued by HAMER. I prefer ther Tone over my Gibson scale Artist Customs and Studios. And PRS? Please don't make me laugh. They can't hold water next to a Mirage.

Basically they are a very similair electric to a Custom 22-24 PRS. But they are not production line, they have better Tuners and pick-ups. PRS have a Rotary or tapped coils which is a basic upgrade on many Mirage's. Though should you find a GOOD sounding 59/JB set you won't bother with the coil-tap. The Mirage lack appointments in cosmedic appearence. Dots with No-Binding. THATS why many over look the guitar.

While for some insane reason we continue to hold fast to the idea that we should buy these for $700 all day long? Thats not gonna continue to be a reality. Simply put, in MINT cond you are not gonna touch them under $900 and that is still very inexpensive next to ANY OTHER similiar built electric? A hand built Carved Top FMT/KOA with all Top-Qualty pick-ups and hardware? Where else on EARTH are you gonna buy a Custom Shop USA built electric at that Price? Trust me, buy them while you could at under a $1000.

I prefer them in Original cond. be it Mint or played, long as they play correctly on the neck. But I've seen a few Re-Finished that look simply UNREAL. The mistake Hamer made with the Mirage is no binding/inlays. That just appeals to so many players. The FMT leave a nice Natural Binding when re-finshed. Personally I prefer unbound necks. The headstock angle of 9" is to some a set-back? But with Trem equipped electrics you really want as little angle as possible on the headstock. The idea is have the guitar return to pitch EVERY TIME. The more obstacles in the way the less likely this is to happen?

Bottom Line is something went wrong with Terry , Joel and the marketing of the Mirage with Hamer. These electrics went South with the T-51. T-62, Daytona and some very good other designs. Of course that was the choice to stop Bolt-Neck electrics. But the Mirage should NEVER have been discontinued IMO.

[crabby]

I have this Mirage and love it,, the Fender scale and set neck make for a great combo in my opinion. It's the second Mirage or what some call "Mirage I" that I've had and when I sold the first one (a natural finish) I regretted it at once. I've had two Mirage Maple Tops, (flame maple top with two humbuckers), loved the first Maple Top and again when I traded (GAS) it away I was sorry for it,, the guy I traded it to said he would let me know IF he ever wanted to get rid of it but didn't,,,,,,,,,,,,, so I traded for another Maple Top,,,, which ended up being too heavy so I let it go shortly before getting this one. This one is a KEEPER for sure.

Mirage or Mirage I as I've heard some call it:

Here's the one I have now.

Mirage Maple Top (Mirage II's where the same BUT with flame Koa tops instead of flame Maple tops) this is the first Maple Top that I had,(IF I could find it again I would have to try to get it), notice not only the pickups being two humbuckers instead of three single coil sized humbuckers BUT also check out the different neck joints used on the two models.

[IPlayLoud]

I'll tell you something else. Though a 25.5 fender scale. If you play a Mirage next to say a SG or a LP-DC you'll find your reach to the 1st position is actually easier on the Mirage. You'll get less fatigued in the hand/wrist with the Mirage and the longer scale than with a SG or DC-LP. About the same reach as a Les-Paul single-cut. So in effect the only issue the scale cause's is Tone. And IMHO the Tone is better on the 25.5 scale.

By the way the Blue Mirage II is Sold already.

The difference in the KOA Top as opposed to the Flame Maple Top? Koa produce's a more focused upper mid clarity and less very high end frequencies.

BTW the KOA is more protected now than ever. Big difference in a Lamenated Koa top on a Fender Strat or a Veneer. I'm not sure those actually even make a difference on the Tone? I think Tom Anderson still offers actual KOA Tops but don't quote me on it.

[Bloozguy]

By the way the Blue Mirage II is Sold already.

I think the blue one was listed on Ebay for $750 and ended with no bids. That would be a good grab at that price.

[Feynman]

Thanks again, everyone.