andyr Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 I’ve read a post in the biggest German musician board which is unbelievable and I don’t know if it makes me laugh or if I should be only completely amazed. To tell the story in brief words:A guy wrote that a friend of him had found in a cellar (?!) a guitar with a "Hamer USA" label printed on the headstock. Due to the fact that none of both have ever heard about this guitar company, the friend gave him this guitar as a gift (obviously thinking that the guitar hasn’t much value). That seems to be the reason why this guy asked the musician board if anybody have ever heard about Hamer and if this guitar HAS ANY VALUE AT ALL. It seems to be that he was determined to throw it away if not. Life is so unjust - I never had such a friend who would give me a Hamer as a present.After some postings it turned out that this guitar is a HAMER Californian Elite (with boomers) made in USA in 1990. What is more the guitar is - as confirmed by the guy - in an excellent shape. After he was informed about what he has really got (for nothing!!!) this guy complained that the guitar is getting out of tune very easily and he asks if the old stings (which might be at least ten years old) could be the reason for this. Unbelievable, what an idiot!!!I don’t asked for the age of this guy but I guess he is at the most 20 years old - very likely a schoolboy.I don’t know what the situation in the States is but here in Germany for younger guitar players Hamer is obviously completely unknown.One reason for this might be that none of their guitar heroes is actually playing Hamer. In connection with this the question popped up if Metallica has ever played Hamer. Not for me but for these younger guys it would dramatically change everything if James Hetfield or Kirk Hammett had ever used Hamer guitars. Of course ridiculous but the full truth. Can anyone of you clarify this?I hope that you don`t think - after reading this post - that all German guitar players are idiots who cannot distinguish between good and bad guitars (besides the fact that their English is awful).
belgian Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 We need more idiot Germans to give their Hamers for free !!!!And there are a lot of them ( US Hamers, I mean) in Germany.A lot of them were imported in the 90's - Hamer even did special runs for the German market. I guess Serail knows what particular models.I got my Black Duotone from Germany for 600 Euro's.
belgian Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 I found this by accident, a Slovakian painting of a Hamer Artist. It ain't no Mona Lisa, but it has some sex appeal to me...
andyr Posted July 9, 2005 Author Posted July 9, 2005 And there are a lot of them ( US Hamers, I mean) in Germany.A lot of them were imported in the 90's - Hamer even did special runs for the German market. I guess Serail knows what particular models.There might be a lot of Us Hamers in Germany but it is hard to find them. It took me a long time before I´ve got my US-Chaparral via ebay.Maybe the formerly active players have stored them in the cellar, forgot them (hard to believe but possible) and now the Hamer guitars are found by their children and they do not know what they are holding in their hands (just a theory to explain the unbelievable). The previous owner of my Chap - for instance - had made such a strange adjustment of the FR-tremolo that it was nearly impossible to play the guitar first. He obviously hadn´t used it for at least 10 years. Good for me: The guitar is 16 years old and looks like as it is brand new.
mc2 Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 Well...I know that the blue marble SS and the pink SS prototype in the pic below BOTH came from Germany...maybe found in the same German's basement???
Hamer95USA Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 Hey AndyR, One reason for this might be that none of their guitar heroes is actually playing Hamer. In connection with this the question popped up if Metallica has ever played Hamer. Not for me but for these younger guys it would dramatically change everything if James Hetfield or Kirk Hammett had ever used Hamer guitars. Of course ridiculous but the full truth. Can anyone of you clarify this? I believe that Wolf Hoffman of Accept is still playing his Hamer USA Californian onstage. He's a famous guitar hero in Germany. Everyone knows he plays a white Gibson Flying V and a white Hamer Californian. Hopefully those kids will get a clue. Guitar George
andyr Posted July 9, 2005 Author Posted July 9, 2005 I believe that Wolf Hoffman of Accept is still playing his Hamer USA Californian onstage. He's a famous guitar hero in Germany. Everyone knows he plays a white Gibson Flying V and a white Hamer Californian. I´m sorry to say but Wolf Hoffmann is no longer very well-known in Germany, despite the fact that he is German! During the last couple of years there is very strong interest in Metal of musicians (and music interested people in general) here in Germany. My impression is that this interest is stronger than ever. But most of these people (and not only the teens but also people up to an age of approx. 35) are interested in a more modern style of Heavy Rock / Metal. 80ties Metal / Hard Rock is nowadays pretty "uncool". To be honest, although I love these Hamer shredder guitars of the 80ties, I never liked 80ties Metal very much. I´m much more close with music from e.g. TOOL, Deftones, Faith No More, Qeens Qeens Of The Stone Age and - for some extent - Korn (by the way: I will see Korn at the end of August for the first time live here in Cologne).I don´t want to rule out that there will be a revival of 80ties Metal sometime. Maybe then Wolff Hoffmann is getting famous again. But that will take its time.
Jeroen Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 Music scenes suck here in Europe, but thats cause I am an 80's child too!!!I love Judas Priest, White Snake, White Lion, Europe, Queensryche etc etc.Most radio stations suck, because they are playing 20 songs in a week 20 times a day.I have the feeling that they are more forcing you to listen to the music of today for the $$ instead of looking out for kewl bands with great music ( and not a sampled song from the 80's with always the same beat) There are singer/songwriters out there, but they don't get a change.Well, I guess that was also in the 80's, but I am more into 60's - 80's musicJeroen
Scottcrud Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 I don't belive Hetfield or Hammet ever played Hamers.
Jeroen Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 worse players don't have to play Hamers !!! LMFAO hahahahahahahahaJeroen
SirDouglas Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 In my HORRIBLE stint in germany the last 4 years i found 1 store in Heidleerg that had 1 Hamer on the wall it was a 91 Eclipse... with NO CASE.... and the bastards STILL wanted 1300 Euros for it.... The store is called Sessions.... only 1 intelligent person works there the rest are American haters... phuk em ... they didnt get 1 euro cent from me with thst shit ass attitude... you can see by my pics and bio HOW many guitars i have... i spend money... they pissed me off so bad i never went back.... but as for finding ANY USA Hamers... thats it and i traveled Germany... nothing... guess i didnt cxheck out or find the holes in hte wall since Germany doesnt seem to have anything resembling zoning laws... Sir Douglas Randy
belgian Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 worse players don't have to play Hamers !!! LMFAO hahahahahahahahaJeroen I am for sure the worst player of all my friends, but I have the best guitars around. So they are keeping coming by, so I get free guitarlessons and I can steal all their tricks.. Woohaa
Jeroen Posted July 9, 2005 Posted July 9, 2005 Hey Conrad, that makes a crowed, cause I can't play too.... but have some fancy Hamers and a Guild guitar heheheheJeroen
Jem Posted July 10, 2005 Posted July 10, 2005 I'm not saying Germany is awash with Hamer's but i've pulled two FBII's, a solid maple Cali Elite and another Cali Elite out of there and i know Andrew and Martin have both pulled 80's stuff out of Germany as well. As far as younger people not being aware of Hamer i've played nothing but since '84 and i could probably count the amount of people who knew anything about Hamer on one hand...well a few more than that but not many.Jem
morningstar Posted July 10, 2005 Posted July 10, 2005 Count your blessings at the obscurity. If average guy Apex Doob ever figures out the real truth about quality these things will be beyond most of our reaches. It's already happening. When I first joined up here a Special on eBay was a paltry $350 or so, now most non-wrecked ones are twice that (it seems to me), or more.The same goes for ESP (real ones, not that Ltd so-so stuff).morningstar
Steve Haynie Posted July 10, 2005 Posted July 10, 2005 Most radio stations suck, because they are playing 20 songs in a week 20 times a day.I have the feeling that they are more forcing you to listen to the music of today for the $$ instead of looking out for kewl bands with great music ( and not a sampled song from the 80's with always the same beat) There are singer/songwriters out there, but they don't get a chance.Jeroen You just described most of the radio stations in the USA. Maybe there is a worldwide conspiracy to provide crappy radio!?!
Jeroen Posted July 10, 2005 Posted July 10, 2005 Most radio stations Jeroen You just described most of the radio stations in the USA. Maybe there is a worldwide conspiracy to provide crappy radio!?! I thought radio stations in the US were changing a bit in the right direction....but if not, it seems to be a global thing then indeed.Jeroen
Brownsound Posted July 10, 2005 Posted July 10, 2005 Hey AndyR, One reason for this might be that none of their guitar heroes is actually playing Hamer. In connection with this the question popped up if Metallica has ever played Hamer. Not for me but for these younger guys it would dramatically change everything if James Hetfield or Kirk Hammett had ever used Hamer guitars. Of course ridiculous but the full truth. Can anyone of you clarify this? I believe that Wolf Hoffman of Accept is still playing his Hamer USA Californian onstage. He's a famous guitar hero in Germany. Everyone knows he plays a white Gibson Flying V and a white Hamer Californian. Hopefully those kids will get a clue. Guitar George God I love Wolfs style, Accept is one of my all time faves.Im still totally blown away by tht fact that everybody is not wanting and lusting for a Hamer USA. They are by a large margin, the most guitar you can get for the money. I will always be a Hamer fan.
kraut Posted July 11, 2005 Posted July 11, 2005 First of all let me say HELLO! to all you beautiful hamer-folks. As you see on my nickname,my native language is not english. so please be clement and correct my nonsens. I’m stilllearning...Hey andyr, not all Hamers here in Germany are in the cellar! I got a Cruise Bass Ser. 5 42.278, a T-51 Ser. 5 42.385, and a Daytona Ser. 5 42.927. As you see theyare brother (or sisters). The Cruise and the T-51 I bought in Germany (but not at the same time), the Daytona I caught this year on ebay USA. These Hamers are played every day, they all are great!And now I will try to show you a picture. It is the second time ever I wrote in a forum.Hope everything get wright.kraut........sorry! Stupid dude I am. Can't find a way to show you my Hamers.....
Hamer95USA Posted July 11, 2005 Posted July 11, 2005 And now I will try to show you a picture. It is the second time ever I wrote in a forum.Hope everything get wright.kraut........sorry! Stupid dude I am. Can't find a way to show you my Hamers..... Hey kraut, We're glad you made it here. I didn't know that there were many Hamer guitar fans in Germany. I was an internet messageboard newbie a few months ago myself. The guys here were kind enough to show me how to post photos of your guitars on this or any messageboard. Try Photobucket's website. Here is the link:http://photobucket.com/ Just register on the website, create your user name & password and load your digital photos on their website. It's very cool. Let us know if you need help with Photobucket. I'm sure the guys here would love to see your Hamer USA guitars!! Guitar George
Disturber Posted July 11, 2005 Posted July 11, 2005 I don't mind the fact that Hamer are unknown in Germany. There are a lot of cool Hamer´s out there in Krautrock country. I scored a 4 digit Standard in Germany this spring. Thank god for the German ignorance or I would not have won this beauty at such a stellar price disturber
kraut Posted July 11, 2005 Posted July 11, 2005 Guitar George,thank you for that warm welcome and your help.Here they are:http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/botzgatz/Hamers.jpgUnfortunately the photo doesn't show the beautiful ash body of the daytona.Maybe next will be better!!!kraut
BTMN Posted July 11, 2005 Posted July 11, 2005 Nice Threesome! I enjoy my T51 and Daytonas a ton Welcome to our new German fans!!
mc2 Posted July 11, 2005 Posted July 11, 2005 I've been to Germany about a dozen times, either to play or to cover/speak at the Frankfurt Music Fair (the bigger NAMM-type show held there.) In my experience, most all the German music folk have been really great peoople. They seem to have a haven for rock acts that may have otherwise starved to death if not for gigging there...bands like Status Quo, Peter Green, Mungo Jerry, Bon Jovi (during their slump years) and others I thought stopped playing eons ago. Although, I MUST say, I am STILL bewildered by the giant David Hasselhoff billboards in Germany. Occasionally, I have also found staff at German music stores to be short with Americans, likely because they think Americans are only tire-kicking because why would they pay so much more for gear in Germany instead of buying it back in the States?I've found that even the more famous German musicians seem to be a lot more down-to-earth than their American counterparts. Also, the five-day Frankfurt Music Fair, unlike NAMM, opens it's doors up on the weekend two days to the public to let them in to check out all the new gear!! Tens of thousands of people come from all over Europe to see new music products and actually pay a decent amount to get in! I've always found that to be an amazing site. The Fairgrounds is ultra modern and the size of Oz and you can barely move on the weekend because so many people turn out because of music gear. Hamer usually is there but with a smaller presence than at winter NAMM...and there are usually around three times the number of guitar manufacturers at the Frankfurt show compared to winter NAMM.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.