Hamer News?

[atquinn]

...Maybe Jol would start building guitars that I want instead of what he wants.

Fixed!

-Austin

[JohnnyB]

Now all the Fender electric hollowbodies, semihollows, and archtops are gone (except for what comes out of Hamer). Their electric guitar line is now Strat, Tele, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, and Mustang.

If we're including "what comes out of Hamer" we should also include Gretsch, which means "Fender" electric hollowbodies are alive and well, yes?

Correct you are, sir. Gretsch always had a bigger market impact on electric hollowbodies than Guild. Fender has to pick its battles; I suspect there is a lot more demand for Gretsch electric hollowbodies than for the Guild Starfires and Manhattans. My local vintage dealer (who deals in a lot of '50s and '60s Gretsches) said the Fender-made Gretsch guitars are the best, unit-to-unit, he's ever seen.

[jisham]

"Anyway, it looks like Fender has had to cut back, cut losses, and play strengths in the current economy. But to their credit, they seem to be doing their best to keep their acquisitions alive to see better times down the road. "

If Hamer did the same, we'd have Boomers, Flat top Sunbursts with crowns, and sustain blocks, Standards with correct headstocks, pickups other than Duncans, and finishes other than 59 bursts.

Possibly even a shredder or 2.

Maybe Jol would start building guitars that we want instead of what he wants.

I get the feeling Jol pays zero attention to things like that. I agree that Jol builds what he wants. We will see if that strategy keeps Hamer alive in the long run.

[bubs_42]

Hamer is making A+ guitars right now and I for one am glad that that has not changed. They have moved forward, evolved, and have surpassed themselves in Quality. I've owned and played the guitars from the 70's to the 2000's and they are making awsome guitars as we type away. If you don't like the new ones, man you are in luck because the old ones can be had cheap. If you want a Flat Top Studio Custom with a Sustainblock order one. They will build it, that is not a far fetched request.

[cmatthes]

At the Setzer show the other night, Gretsch had a Wall of the Setzer models (Hot Rods, BS Sigs, Black Phoenix, etc.), a few GDEC amps and headphones, as well as 2 laptops for people to place orders for various Gretsch guitars. The ones I played blew away any vintage Gretsch I've ever owned, and most of the ones I've played over the last 3 decades.

The funny thing is that some people were ponying up LIST price for the same guitars they could get for $1,500+ cheaper off the wall at the GC 3 miles down Rockville Pike.

[Thundersteel]

And Tacoma is still around.

According to the Tacoma Guitar Forum, the Tacoma factory closed in early 2009. As far as their website goes, those pics haven't changed all year!

This is from a post over there:

I sent an e-mail to Jason Padgitt of Fender stating this:

"Is there any plans to restart the Tacoma line of guitars? I have recently found this brand and have scooped up what I could find left of "new" wing series instruments. I am very impressed with their sound and have shown my Thunderchief to musicians that could not believe the volume and tone that it puts out. I feel that it would be a real shame just to kill the brand.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. I know that a while ago that you told a reporter that the Tacoma name would live on" and I hope that is still true.

His response is as follows:

Hi Jeff –

While there are no immediate plans to resume production at the moment, the brand does still exist and future production is certainly a possibility. I appreciate your comments about the quality of the products and will pass those onto the folks responsible for development of the Tacoma products.

With best regards,

Jason Padgitt

[HSB0531]

Hamer is making A+ guitars right now and I for one am glad that that has not changed. They have moved forward, evolved, and have surpassed themselves in Quality. I've owned and played the guitars from the 70's to the 2000's and they are making awsome guitars as we type away.

And that's why I can't wait for my new custom order.

I can then compare it to #0531.

[alantig]

The USA Guild's are now produced in the same facility that houses Hamer USA.

I didn't know that. Still, to me, a Guild isn't a "real" Guild unless it was made in Westerly, RI.

That's kinda like saying it's not a "real" Gibson unless it was made in Kalamazoo, or a "real" Fender unless it was made in Fullerton, or a "real" Hamer unless it was made in Arlington Heights...or Wilmette.

That's like saying the only real Catwoman is Julie Newmar...or Lee Merriweather...or Eartha Kitt.

Alan

[Citrus]

Hamer is making A+ guitars right now and I for one am glad that that has not changed. They have moved forward, evolved, and have surpassed themselves in Quality. I've owned and played the guitars from the 70's to the 2000's and they are making awsome guitars as we type away. If you don't like the new ones, man you are in luck because the old ones can be had cheap. If you want a Flat Top Studio Custom with a Sustainblock order one. They will build it, that is not a far fetched request.

Never questioned or complained about quality - or I wouldn't own 6 Hamers from 96-2008

I wouldn't buy a designer suit for a great price if it didn't fit well.

I wouldn't have a custom suit made if the tailor wouldn't do what I wanted from the lapels down to the stitching.

If my tailor were only to make suits he likes ( no matter how good the cloth or the construction ) he would probably have a store full of 59 burst suits in stock that he is trying to sell at half price

Just saying, I vote with my wallet, as we all should.

Would love a new Hamer suit, but I have a suit that has Robin on the label. Not any lesser of a suit, just a different suit made to my specs.

[GaryT]

Supply and Demand of the masses is whats keeping whats on the walls consistant. Kids still say...........Fender Stratocaster, just a fact of life.

Its pretty fortunate that you could buy whatever your heart desires still. You want Boomers? Why can't you have them? If you want a Thunderchief? Friend of mine just sold his for $800. Why can't you have it? Guild? On Ebay as we speak from Westerly RI RARE Emerald Green 69 Strafire V MINT for $2700.?

Honestly I rarely think about electrics from the 50's and 60's. I never regret not keeping them. I'm very happy with what I play today. I do often think back and exaggerate the quality of the pick-ups from then. I get caught up in that to this day.

My current GAS is for a set of TV Jones Supertrons, and to just play an original set of Humbuckers out of a late 60's Guild. I really don't want the Guild. I dig my Newport way to much. My current pet peave is thinking I missed the boat buying 335s instead of Guilds back in the day. I got into a conversation about humbuckers and a couple players I've spoke with insist the Guilds were hotter and clearer than the original PAFs. I remember them having less output with no midrange and a decent clean tone? If what they say is True? I may have look around for a set because it sounds like exactly what I like.

New guitars for me? I bought a CARVIN. On its way as we speak. I been thinking about the freaking things since 2000, and keep buying Hamers and Fenders. Will I like them? Were gonna find out real soon. I do like Trems on Strat style double cuts, I grew up playing them so a DC-127 was a easy choice for me. Especially with these appointments. But it seems to me that they are much more prevalent on the West Coast than here in New-England. Mind you the ones I've come across are not bad guitars. Just always someting I wouldn't play. Too 80's looking with pointed headstocks or something that just isn't me. This one caught my attention.

But I've played to many guitars to know that the quality of pick-ups out here NOW, are every bit as good if not better than the 50's and 60's.

As far as Jol? Seriously now, what could you possibly say about a guy who started Hamer from NOTHING. And took it into 2010? Pretty remarkable and the more you look at it the more remarkable it becomes. Mistakes.....Hindsight is always 20-20. I'm positive there are things all us would like to have a mulligan on? Unfortunatly while that applys to Golf its rarely applied in real life.

Some of the Hamers I've seriously liked and have been dropped? The Mirage II, Daytona and T-51 and T-62. Hey they could be had today for less than a MIM Strat? I especially liked Terry McInturffs designs and do till this day. I still have a Mirage II I dig. While I don't play a Daytona or T-51? I honestly prefer Fender to them. Simply because of the neck profiles. IMHO that was just a smart move to stay clear of the Fender designs. And the Mirage II? Well thats just a design that reminds me of other similar designs like PRS. I just like the Fender scale with a LP style DC. IMO if it had Inlays and Binding? Would have been much more successfull. Even just Natural Body Binding and Crown inalys would have made a hugh difference in the success of that guitar.

But hey it is what it is! Honestly I don't see Hamer going quietly into the night. Long as players have good sense they'll be playing Hamers.

Those that haven't picked one up yet? They will, And they'll tell others.

[JohnnyB]

The USA Guild's are now produced in the same facility that houses Hamer USA.

I didn't know that. Still, to me, a Guild isn't a "real" Guild unless it was made in Westerly, RI.

That's kinda like saying it's not a "real" Gibson unless it was made in Kalamazoo, or a "real" Fender unless it was made in Fullerton, or a "real" Hamer unless it was made in Arlington Heights...or Wilmette.

That's like saying the only real Catwoman is Julie Newmar...or Lee Merriweather...or Eartha Kitt.

Guild didn't start in Westerly, RI anyway. They were moved there 13 years after their start in NEW YORK CITY because they were bought and moved.

[BCR Greg]

As far as Jol? Seriously now, what could you possibly say about a guy who started Hamer from NOTHING. And took it into 2010? Pretty remarkable and the more you look at it the more remarkable it becomes. Mistakes.....Hindsight is always 20-20. I'm positive there are things all us would like to have a mulligan on? Unfortunatly while that applys to Golf its rarely applied in real life.

If that were true, the headstocks would say "Dantzig".

There was a guy named.....uh...oh,yeah.... Paul Hamer that started the company.

[gorch]

Stop dreaming guys. It's all about business and business is counted by numbers.

There are two labels that rule the guitar world, Fender and Gibson.

Gibson stands for Les Paul, SG and ES-335 (for hollow-bodies).

Fender is Strat and Tele.

Something special: Explorers and Vectors.

The rest of the world is copying what's created in the 50s and 60s. On top of all the Strat. The Strat is the synonym for an electric guitar. Nearly every silhouette of an electric guitar outlines a Strat.

That's nothing new, but Hamer does nothing different. It's a niche company earning salary for 10 people staff in the US workshop recently. The overall value of the Hamer label could be estimated by the serial numbers of the import line guitars. Those numbers rose to 7 digits as opposed to 5 for the USA line.

From a marketing perspective the US workshop works as a figurehead for the import line. It complements the general Fender model line in a diversification aspect as not everybody wants to buy a Fender or cannot afford an original. Another reason would be to mask monopoly.

With Hamer Fender puts another footstep into the Gibson dominated Humbucker market. No one may think the guitar market is a growth market. It's a cutthroat competition market. The next challange will arise from the software market with games like GuitarHero. That's a market none of the traditional manufacturers have a footstep in. As I said this before in another thread. GuitarHero already is a billion dollar market.

I wait for the first band becoming popular that created it's unique sound with something like GuitarHero-Designer and taking the software life on stage in stadiums around the world.

It all doesn't sound good for us nostalgists though. Let's go ahead dreaming. I can't wait to come home this evening picking up my lovely Hamer Standard or Tally or Newport. Hmm, I can't decide at the moment which one to select later on. That problem will keep me busy this afternoon.

[GaryT]

As far as Jol? Seriously now, what could you possibly say about a guy who started Hamer from NOTHING. And took it into 2010? Pretty remarkable and the more you look at it the more remarkable it becomes. Mistakes.....Hindsight is always 20-20. I'm positive there are things all us would like to have a mulligan on? Unfortunatly while that applys to Golf its rarely applied in real life.

If that were true, the headstocks would say "Dantzig".

There was a guy named.....uh...oh,yeah.... Paul Hamer that started the company.

True, but both were their from day one no? Both friends starting out on a small business adventure. I would see the choice of using Hamer on the headstock as 1 of 2 reasons. Logical on what sounds best or better, and maybe who actually ponied up the most cash. I'm not sure. If anyone actually know? I for one would be interested in hearing the story.

[HSB0531]

[quote:

I wait for the first band becoming popular that created it's unique sound with something like GuitarHero-Designer and taking the software life on stage in stadiums around the world.

That is my nightmare. That right above in the quote.

When traditional wooden guitars with magnetic pickups going through tube amps played by musicians, are supplanted by plastic guitar hero devices & computers "played" by wanabe's that actually believe they're the real deal.

Boy bands

Girl bands

Guitar hero

Rockband

[GaryT]

+1 lol

[cmatthes]

True, but both were their from day one no? Both friends starting out on a small business adventure. I would see the choice of using Hamer on the headstock as 1 of 2 reasons. Logical on what sounds best or better, and maybe who actually ponied up the most cash. I'm not sure. If anyone actually know? I for one would be interested in hearing the story.

That's pretty much it, Gary. The story I've heard (from both of the parties involved) was simply that "Hamer" worked/sounded better at the time. Paul and Jol were BOTH there and gave birth to the brand.

[serial]

Paul started Northern Prairie (which also did stuff like kayak trips and outfitting initially) with another partner before bringing Jol in at some point in 1973. Jol was more into the guitars than Paul's first partner and the whole repair thing was an offshoot of the guitar shop. Making guitars was an offshoot of the repair thing and not meant to be a business originally. Hamer didn't actually start as a company until later in 75-early 76.

People here who were there (like Hectorp!) can probably add details too-mine come from many discussions with Paul and others involved at the time.

The first Hamer (#0000) will have its 35th anniversary next week. December 7, 1974.

[gatorbyte007]

CHANGE IS GOOD!!!!!!! Guys there is going to be some really big changes to Guitar companies. some very big , behind closed door dealings. brands that are 100 times bigger than Hamer. But none of this will happen, to after the NAMM show. any talks before the winter show, that could hurt any future sales could ruin these companies, and send them into bankruptcy. I know alot of you like Hamer as is, But I think they need some new gameplan. If your labeled as a custom shop,be a custom shop!!! Give your customers what they want. I Hope this works out for everyone involved.

[cmatthes]

I think it will be a good thing.

Okay...who is going to be the first to pony up the brass balls bucks for a 2010 Californian?

[gatorbyte007]

PLEASE!!!!!! Not another californian discussion... Lets start Slow. Boomers!!!!!!!

[Jorge]

Hindsight is always 20-20.

Not hindsight at all. Jol has been reading this board for years, and knows exactly what his most loyal customers want. I am sure he has also received direct feedback from many of us here, and elsewhere.

Still, he has decided to go for what he likes, hoping that enough demand exists for that.

I have been very surprised to see that, until now, he has been actually successful doing that. I truly hope he continues succeeding, because that would be an amazing story and he deserves it, but I really doubt it.

[gorch]

I wait for the first band becoming popular that created it's unique sound with something like GuitarHero-Designer and taking the software life on stage in stadiums around the world.

That is my nightmare. That right above in the quote.

When traditional wooden guitars with magnetic pickups going through tube amps played by musicians, are supplanted by plastic guitar hero devices & computers "played" by wanabe's that actually believe they're the real deal.

...

It's not that far away. Watch the video in this thread. Port a Line6 into any Game Cube and you are there.

I'm just seeing Greg presenting nicely made truck style pics of the first custom ordered GuitarHero-Tiger-Tally to us in my mind.

[HSB0531]

I can see it now:

Concert canceled due to software virus.

Harddrive crash ruins Freebird solo.

Bootup delays Rock Festival.

[elduave]

I wouldn't buy a designer suit for a great price if it didn't fit well.

I wouldn't have a custom suit made if the tailor wouldn't do what I wanted from the lapels down to the stitching.

If my tailor were only to make suits he likes ( no matter how good the cloth or the construction ) he would probably have a store full of 59 burst suits in stock that he is trying to sell at half price

Just saying, I vote with my wallet, as we all should.

Would love a new Hamer suit, but I have a suit that has Robin on the label. Not any lesser of a suit, just a different suit made to my specs.

But, clothes don't make the man.

Stop dreaming guys...

...Let's go ahead dreaming.

Which one is it?