w302nv Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Hi,Here is a link to my Special. I bought it used about 10 years ago I am apparently the second owner, the first was in a local blues band (Rock Island, IL I believe).The serial is very weird, and the pots date to 1978..2 of them are out but the tone pot is still in place.The serial does not seem to match anything else I have seen....any ideas?Any way to contact Hamer and inquire about this specific guitar basedon the serial number?Thanks!
HSB0531 Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 I took a look at Serial Steve's database:http://www.hamerfanclub.com/serialnumber/index.php?page=5And from the numbers to the right, it looks like it would be a 1981.The first digit (for the year) looks like a double-stamped 0, for 1980.So it's definately a first version Special. Just not sure which year 1980 or '81.
princeofdarkness56 Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 I'm thinking 81 as it has the checkerboard on the head. It also has a double black pup in the bridge and they showed up on some 81 specials. Bet it sounds great.
specialk Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Very nice looking Special!Welcome and congrats.
zenmindbeginner Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 It was made somewhere in the last quarter of 1980. I am pretty sure that the checkerboard logo started around then. The pots are from 1978, but that's just the year that they made the batch of pots.It looks like someone might have noticed the pot dates and attempted to change the 0 to an 8.I'm thinking 81 as it has the checkerboard on the head. It also has a double black pup in the bridge and they showed up on some 81 specials. Bet it sounds great.Those pickups don't look original... the plastic that the bobbins were made of should have aged darker than the rings. I was under the impression that the pickups were all double creme and zebra up until the Hamer Slammer pickups were used from 1983-1988 (did I get the years right?)
w302nv Posted January 2, 2010 Author Posted January 2, 2010 It was made somewhere in the last quarter of 1980. I am pretty sure that the checkerboard logo started around then. The pots are from 1978, but that's just the year that they made the batch of pots.It looks like someone might have noticed the pot dates and attempted to change the 0 to an 8.I'm thinking 81 as it has the checkerboard on the head. It also has a double black pup in the bridge and they showed up on some 81 specials. Bet it sounds great.Those pickups don't look original... the plastic that the bobbins were made of should have aged darker than the rings. I was under the impression that the pickups were all double creme and zebra up until the Hamer Slammer pickups were used from 1983-1988 (did I get the years right?)I don't think anyone would have attempted to change the 0 to an 8...it is completely un-touched just very hard to make out the first digit.Double stamped is probably the best explanation...shoulda thought of that one. The pots kind of threw me though. The original DiMarzio PAF neck pickup is in my Les Paul, and the bridge was an old double white (cream) Duncan Distortion...now resides in the case. Once I have both correct pickups I will return it to the correct guitar. I am looking for a correct double cream bridge what should I be looking for? Ears, wire color, stamping etc.Thanks for the info!
zenmindbeginner Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 I don't think anyone would have attempted to change the 0 to an 8...it is completely un-touched just very hard to make out the first digit.Double stamped is probably the best explanation...shoulda thought of that one. The pots kind of threw me though. The serial numbers from that era seemed to look rather sloppy... maybe they meant cosine? lol! I am looking for a correct double cream bridge what should I be looking for? Ears, wire color, stamping etc. A Dimarzio PAF from the early eighties (6 slugs and 6 screws with DIMARZIO PICKUPS MADE IN U.S.A.). You will have to find one that has a pretty hefty resistance though... 8.3K would be ideal for the bridge. You will have to search high and low for a vintage double creme Dimarzio PAF with a high resistance... those go for at least $100 and you'll have to watch eBay like a hawk for weeks or beg a member here to sell one off. as far as feet go, you'll want to see triangular feet with around a 4mm hole. The stock wiring would be thick heavily shielded black two conductor stranded cable with a ground wire. If the pickup doesn't have the stock wiring, I wouldn't worry about it, any skilled electronics guy can rewire the pickup and it will sound just as good. If you get a pickup that has had the wiring replaced with a thinner two conductor cable without a ground, you can always just get some heat shrink tubing and improve the shielding yourself. I wish you all the luck in the world in finding a proper pickup!!
kenjones Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 I have two 1981 Specials and both of mine are in the 2000's.Have a look at the serial numbers for the years 1981-1983 on the database here.
zenmindbeginner Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 My 1981 Special's serial# is: 1 3340.Who the hell knows why they could have serial numbers in the 2000 range in 1981. They made more than 2000 guitars by that year for sure. I'm puzzled...
kenjones Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 My 1981 Special's serial# is: 1 3340.Who the hell knows why they could have serial numbers in the 2000 range in 1981. They made more than 2000 guitars by that year for sure. I'm puzzled...I'm not puzzled at all. Looking at the serial number registry on this site it appears that 1981 serial numbers run from the 2000's to the 5000's. While the first number is impossible to make out, the last four are completely legible. His serial number is probably "1 3013". The first digit is not only smeared, but the serial number is nowhere close to being centered, so whoever stamped the serial number was not very proficient.
zenmindbeginner Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 I'm not puzzled at all. Looking at the serial number registry on this site it appears that 1981 serial numbers run from the 2000's to the 5000's. While the first number is impossible to make out, the last four are completely legible. His serial number is probably "1 3013". The first digit is not only smeared, but the serial number is nowhere close to being centered, so whoever stamped the serial number was not very proficient. Well, now the plot thickens because the number is not a one... not even close. There is no way that someone from the Hamer factory attempted to stamp out a 1 and came out with an 8. I say that there is no way, but could it be possible that they made such a glaring error? I always thought that Hamer was pretty good about getting the details right?
w302nv Posted January 3, 2010 Author Posted January 3, 2010 I'm not puzzled at all. Looking at the serial number registry on this site it appears that 1981 serial numbers run from the 2000's to the 5000's. While the first number is impossible to make out, the last four are completely legible. His serial number is probably "1 3013". The first digit is not only smeared, but the serial number is nowhere close to being centered, so whoever stamped the serial number was not very proficient. Well, now the plot thickens because the number is not a one... not even close. There is no way that someone from the Hamer factory attempted to stamp out a 1 and came out with an 8. I say that there is no way, but could it be possible that they made such a glaring error? I always thought that Hamer was pretty good about getting the details right? The database also seemed weird to me too..that is why I was wondering about any records Hamer may have on these guitars....either way its probably pre-82...as someone suggested its probably a double stamped '0' serial number...but that is pure speculation...since there is no real way to tell, that is why I wondered about any records at Hamer. I collect amps too and as many of you guys know, the pots and transformers are an easy way to put a rough date on an amp...no luck with this guitar though....the pots all date 1978 Thanks guys!
JGale Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 Oh noes!!You have Weird Special Serial Number disease!!Send it to me before it infects your whole fambly!!
cmatthes Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 Is this kind of like the pickup you're looking for?
HSB0531 Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 Ok enough already. It's a sideways 0 under a vertical 0
w302nv Posted January 3, 2010 Author Posted January 3, 2010 Is this kind of like the pickup you're looking for? Looks like it...PayPal?
dirk Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 My 1981 Special's serial# is: 1 3340.Who the hell knows why they could have serial numbers in the 2000 range in 1981. They made more than 2000 guitars by that year for sure. I'm puzzled...I'm not puzzled at all. Looking at the serial number registry on this site it appears that 1981 serial numbers run from the 2000's to the 5000's. While the first number is impossible to make out, the last four are completely legible. His serial number is probably "1 3013". The first digit is not only smeared, but the serial number is nowhere close to being centered, so whoever stamped the serial number was not very proficient.I agree with Ken.My Sunburst is only seven numbers away and it is safe to say that this is from 1981.
mirrorimij Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 Is this kind of like the pickup you're looking for? Ummm....watcha got cooking there Chris? I see flame maple, korina and mahogany in addition to that pickup.
mc2 Posted January 18, 2010 Posted January 18, 2010 Hi,Here is a link to my Special. I bought it used about 10 years ago I am apparently the second owner, the first was in a local blues band (Rock Island, IL I believe).The serial is very weird, and the pots date to 1978..2 of them are out but the tone pot is still in place.The serial does not seem to match anything else I have seen....any ideas?Any way to contact Hamer and inquire about this specific guitar basedon the serial number?Thanks!It looks like the hand stamped the first digit and hit it way too hard. Maybe it didn't press in far enough the first time, so someone decided to restmp it by hand and went too heavy. Depending on the die used, it's possible there was a defect deep inside the metal of the "0" that was not evident unless it was stamped really deep?Or....did Hamer stamp the serial number righthand part with a press and then hand stamped the lefthand year? Or the guy fell asleep at the press and forgot to put the year number in the press and had to add it afterward?Either way...looks like a "too heavy" "stamped by hand" error on the first digit.
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w302nv
Hi,
Here is a link to my Special.
I bought it used about 10 years ago I am apparently the second owner, the first was in a local blues band (Rock Island, IL I believe).
The serial is very weird, and the pots date to 1978..2 of them are out but the tone pot is still in place.
The serial does not seem to match anything else I have seen....any ideas?
Any way to contact Hamer and inquire about this specific guitar based
on the serial number?
Thanks!
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