killerteddybear Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Guys,It breaks my heart to do this, because I'd like to pick it up myself, but I can't justify the cash right now.Hamer USA Special, wine red, P90's, serial number 541445, hanging in the Used section of the La Mesa California Guitar Center (619-668-8400), labeled as a Studio. I know the difference (even bassists can be trained!) and I confirmed it with Rocktuna while I had it in my hands. GC is asking $549; I didn't inquire about a case.It's not a small neck, probably a medium; I have big hands and it worked well for me. Finish is in pretty good shape. I didn't see any checking or Hameritis but to be honest I didn't look that hard. There is a little worming on the back and some scratches, but it looked amazing clean for what I assume is an old instrument. I saw corrosion on the pickguard screws and on the pickup poles, and the tuning key chrome was kinda rough (Schallers on this model? that's what they were).Okay, those are the negatives. But my general impression was that it was in damned fine condition (officially I'd tag it as Very Good). All the controls worked smoothly, everything was solid. It sounded great (to the low limits of my playing skill), definitely a rock guitar tone; screamed like a feral cat when I hit it hard. It made me want to play aggressively!I don't think I'll sleep well tonight. I may give in tomorrow and scoop it.Anyway, I figured I'd let the brethren know about this one. If anyone can verify what it is by the serial number I'd appreciate if you'd post the details here.
specialk Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Sounds like a 1995 Hamer USA. I have a 95 FM Special with that perfect medium neck. Love it! A Special in decent shape for $549 sounds like a good buy. Does it come with a case? Trans Red, I think it is. A P-90 Special. Very nice!
BubbaVO Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Go for it! It sounds like a pretty good deal.
grahams98 Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Congrats! I really want a P90 Special but the economy has kick my tail this year.
BubbaVO Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 How about a tone report when you get a chance?
killerteddybear Posted October 22, 2009 Author Posted October 22, 2009 Okay,This is my first experience with all mahogany and P90's. My other guitars are permutations of rosewood/maple/alder/ash, single coils and G&L MFD pups. Oh yeah, and a recently acquired Epiphone Les Paul.The Special is... special. All my other instruments have an airy quality about them; the Special has a ragged quality (maybe a midrange honk like a P-bass?) even at low volumes, and gets outright aggressive when the volume pots are dimed.I'm delighted with the pickups and controls. Everything has a wide range; the tone pot will take you from bassy woof on the neck pup to nails-on-a-blackboard on the bridge pup (think dirty Tele). And as a bonus, the middle position on the pickup switch actually sounds like a true blend of the two pickup voices, without the midrange scoop that you normally find. Finally, there's considerably more output from the P90's than any of my other guitars.Short story - I really like it! It's a great addition to my collection of tone critters.
David B Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 Okay,This is my first experience with all mahogany and P90's. My other guitars are permutations of rosewood/maple/alder/ash, single coils and G&L MFD pups. Oh yeah, and a recently acquired Epiphone Les Paul.The Special is... special. All my other instruments have an airy quality about them; the Special has a ragged quality (maybe a midrange honk like a P-bass?) even at low volumes, and gets outright aggressive when the volume pots are dimed.I'm delighted with the pickups and controls. Everything has a wide range; the tone pot will take you from bassy woof on the neck pup to nails-on-a-blackboard on the bridge pup (think dirty Tele). And as a bonus, the middle position on the pickup switch actually sounds like a true blend of the two pickup voices, without the midrange scoop that you normally find. Finally, there's considerably more output from the P90's than any of my other guitars.Short story - I really like it! It's a great addition to my collection of tone critters.I love those P-90 Specials. They are monsters! I've had around 10. The finish is called Cherry.
GaryT Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 I like it ........................................I been looking for one with a sustain block/P-90s do drop som Lollars in.
killerteddybear Posted October 22, 2009 Author Posted October 22, 2009 Poor Quality Porn. Moderators, you may want to move this to the HFC Messageboard, it's not really a For Sale/PIF/PSA notice anymore... GC thought it was a Studio... Some corrosion on the metal bits if you look closely: No significant damage on the back (a little worming you can't see):
Jim Browne Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 Congrats! Nice Special.Interesting pickguard, too. I've seen at least one later Special that had a factory (I think) pickguard, ala the Special K. I wonder if yours is aftermarket. I have the snottiest green "TV Yellow" Special, and I've always felt that it looked kinda naked without a 'guard.
BTMN Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 OOOH!!! Nice guitar but that guard would HAVE to go as the ergonomics flow counter to the guitar's to me. Looks like an old hollowbody or Gretsch style pickguard. Love some P90 tones here and especially non flametopped guitars like the Special. Love my TV Yellow '92. Enjoy that bad boy. I like 7.5, 7.5, and 8 for control settings with the toggle to the Bridge. IIRC, those are Duncan 2N and 3B P90s if you wanna check Duncan's site for specs.
killerteddybear Posted October 23, 2009 Author Posted October 23, 2009 Tone Report Update:Today I ran the Special through a Vibro Champ. For the previous report I used a Carvin Vintage 16 in 5 watt mode. The Carvin uses EL84's, the VChamp uses a 6V6 power tube. Tonally they're very different animals.I was able to get some nice 'clean' tones using this amp (by turning down the volume pots and using light strumming), but the Special still had that underlying yowl lurking underneath. Dime the volumes and strum a little hard and the guitar nicely overdrives the VChamp (the only other guitar that gets close to that is my ASAT Tribute with MFD pups). The tone pot and pickup switch still do their wonders. I noticed the tone pot on 3 or 4 delivers what I consider full treble; going beyond that takes you into shrill treble (but not unbearable or obnoxious), which I consider one of the neat characteristics of these pups.I'm happy as a clam with this guitar. Everyone should get their hands on one at some time.
burningyen Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Very nice! The P-90 Special is a true rock workhorse, no flash, all business. I agree that the pickguard is a little odd. I would replace it with either a Special-style or a Junior-style pickguard, although the Junior-style would leave at least one of the screwholes exposed: Here's my Special, which is sorta what yours would look like with a Junior-style guard: Oh, and as for that yowl you're talking about, don't be afraid to use the volume knobs on your guitar! It will do wonders for your clean tone. You can also play with the polepiece heights.
kanegon Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 You can get Hamer pickguards from Chandler. They say they're the OEM. It took over a month, but it fits perfectly and proportions is everything here. I know purists frown upon modding, but hey, it's not like a 59 Les Paul or anything. Admit it, it looks cool! Never mind that it protects. I might even get one for my Duotone.
killerteddybear Posted October 23, 2009 Author Posted October 23, 2009 Oh, and as for that yowl you're talking about, don't be afraid to use the volume knobs on your guitar! It will do wonders for your clean tone. You can also play with the polepiece heights.I did use the volume knobs, it was essential to get any kind of clean tone. Even so, compared to a Tele or Strat, this guitar still has some teenage angst lurking in it.I'm not complaining; I like the fact that the yowl is there.
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