hamer xt

[whiskeyzulu]

The best Hamers are the USA, by a large margin. But surprisingly good are the Hamer Korean imports (identified as those with just "Hamer" on the headstock). The next best are generally the Hamer Slammer series (Hamer in big letters, "slammer series" in smaller); they are also made in Korea, as I understand it. Then the 3rd best is the Chinese XT series...some individual guitars may be better than the Korean-made, some significantly worse. Then next would be the Indonesian, which would be considered excellent-quality entry models, and lowest would be the Slammer by Hamer guitars...which would be considered good-quality entry models.

I was under the impression that the Hamer Slammer Series produced circa '90- '96 and available through the move to Connecticut are generally considered the best of the Korean imports and the plain Hamer headstock, which were produced at the end of the Korean run circa '96 - '98 at the transition to Indonesian made Slammer by Hamer imports, are considered next best.

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

The best Hamers are the USA, by a large margin. But surprisingly good are the Hamer Korean imports (identified as those with just "Hamer" on the headstock). The next best are generally the Hamer Slammer series (Hamer in big letters, "slammer series" in smaller); they are also made in Korea, as I understand it. Then the 3rd best is the Chinese XT series...some individual guitars may be better than the Korean-made, some significantly worse. Then next would be the Indonesian, which would be considered excellent-quality entry models, and lowest would be the Slammer by Hamer guitars...which would be considered good-quality entry models.

I was under the impression that the Hamer Slammer Series produced circa '90- '96 and available through the move to Connecticut are generally considered the best of the Korean imports and the plain Hamer headstock, which were produced at the end of the Korean run circa '96 - '98 at the transition to Indonesian made Slammer by Hamer imports, are considered next best.

You may well be right. I could be speaking from ignorance. I thought the plain Hamer headstock came first, and then the Slammer series...but I had no idea about years made. I was guessing from the logic that Hamer (no "USA") transitioned to Hamer Slammer Series which transitioned to Slammer by Hamer.

I have a Hamer Slammer Series Cali, and a plain Hamer Stellar 1. I do know the Stellar was round '00 or '01, so your timeline makes sense. Both guitars are awesome, though. And both have "Duncan Design" pickups.

I have a plain Hamer headstocked import Cali (with boomers!) coming in soon, I can A/B it with the Slammer Series and see if I notice a difference.

[smokeydusky]

Chinese XT SATF.

...

The shape, weight, feel of the Studio and SATF are almost identical. I've looked at the carved top, and the angles and so forth all seem the same. The neck feels the same. The tuners and pickups and bridge and knobs are in similar enough configuration as to make almost no difference.

,,,

Thanks for all this great info.

So the SATF has the "vintage carve" neck as well?

Also, are the frets "wide oval" like the studio?