In this post I will try to do my best to give you a “head to head” comparison between the Hamer Talladega and the Hamer T-51.
These two guitars although very different they are both inspired by the Fender Telecaster. For all that I have read, the T-51 was more of a marketing model (with the Daytona) while the Talladega was the “real” take of Hamer about the “Telecaster theme”.
First a little disclaimer...I (obviously, because I can't) don't pretend to make a “show up” with the sound clips but to give you a clear “hint” about how these guitars could sound .
I won't bother you with specs details nor give you an history lesson,... so let's go:
The guitars:
1994 Hamer T-51, all stock with maple neck and a three piece body (although fantasticaly joined)
2007 Hamer Talladega, all stock
Both guitars are strung with Gibson Brite Wires 10's and with a similar action setup.
The setup:
In this first test I will use a Line6 GuitarPort + Sonoma Riffworks T4. The files are recorded in stereo with the Talladega in the left channel and the T-51 in the right channel. This way you can hear both or any of them separated.
I am using a slightly modified version of the "Modern Jazz" preset (Match Chief emulation) for these three riffs.
In my hands, the Talladega feels a tad lighter and a bit more "confortable" (playing sit). Its neck seems to be a bit wider and less "rounded"... on the ther hand it doesn't have that "raw" feel that the T-51 has (as most Teles).
The pickups in the Talladega have sensible more output than the T-51, I had to play with the "gain" and "master" to match the drive and volume for the samples. This pickups a really that special, a "mix" between a single and a humbucker. While playing I really felt that the chambered body really made a difference in this guitar, giving it a more "whole" sound in all the pickups selections and somehow balancing the higher output of the pickups.
The T-51 sounded first a bit "muddied" because of the much lower output, but after re-setting the amp, it revealed its own voice. A bit more "snappier" (maybe the maple fretboard also helps) but for me a bit "thinner" as well (not a bad thing for a "Tele" sound).
Hearing these samples, the Talladega gives a better and more complex tone in the clean settings, but in the "Blues" one, the T-51 begins to shows its "raw" side.... and for me (always totally subjective and personal opinion) it sounded better.
... END of the first part ....
... Next part.... more samples.... and a different "analog" setup... (if I am able to manage it)
Please, I would love to hear comments about the "format" I am using for this review.... would you prefer more details? less talk and more samples? put each guitar in a different sample?... not liking it at all?... It really takes a lot of time and I would like to know if it is worth the effort.
First sample is a "Jazzy" one, clean sound, neck pickup only
2 and 3 are more "rock" type, bridge pickup only
4 is a "mild crunch" type (Cars anyone?), bridge pickup only
In the last two (5 and 6) I was changing through the different pickup positions beginning from the down most selection (bridge).
Personal impressions and conclusion
This time I recorded the samples separately, I didn't try to "clone" each other, but just give them a similar feel. Again the output of the Talladega's pickups were way higher than the T-51's. I had to lower a lot the gain and, even then, the Talladega drove the Tubeman harder.
For the clean and heavy distorted sounds, the Talladega (for me) is the clear winner, but on the lower distortion settings I do really like the T-51's voice. That makes me wonder if the choice of pickups for the T-51 were the right ones. On the other hand, the DD's on the Talladega are a perfect match for this guitar.
I know I am comparing a 1K guitar with a 3K one, but I really think it shows up. These other samples have really only served to reinforce my first opinion.... the T-51 is a good guitar but the Talladega is really GREAT and a craftsman's work of art.
Just as a "side-note", both the Guitar Port and Tubeman and fantastic recording tools. The Guitar Port is very much easier and "cleaner" (just one cable!) and you have an incredible collection of sounds and effects just a click away (Pod X3 quality), while the Tubeman gives you that "extra" with its tube sounds that seems to be so elusive to simulators.
Thank you for all your feedback, I will try to do a new review soon.
Question
guitaround
Head to Head: Talledega vs T-51
Hi all,
In this post I will try to do my best to give you a “head to head” comparison between the Hamer Talladega and the Hamer T-51.
These two guitars although very different they are both inspired by the Fender Telecaster. For all that I have read, the T-51 was more of a marketing model (with the Daytona) while the Talladega was the “real” take of Hamer about the “Telecaster theme”.
First a little disclaimer...I (obviously, because I can't) don't pretend to make a “show up” with the sound clips but to give you a clear “hint” about how these guitars could sound .
I won't bother you with specs details nor give you an history lesson,... so let's go:
The guitars:
1994 Hamer T-51, all stock with maple neck and a three piece body (although fantasticaly joined)
2007 Hamer Talladega, all stock
Both guitars are strung with Gibson Brite Wires 10's and with a similar action setup.
The setup:
In this first test I will use a Line6 GuitarPort + Sonoma Riffworks T4. The files are recorded in stereo with the Talladega in the left channel and the T-51 in the right channel. This way you can hear both or any of them separated.
I am using a slightly modified version of the "Modern Jazz" preset (Match Chief emulation) for these three riffs.
The samples
"Clean" riff , neck pickup Clean.mp3
"Funky" riff, both pickups Funk.mp3
"Blues" riff, bridge pickup Blues.mp3
Totally personal impressions
In my hands, the Talladega feels a tad lighter and a bit more "confortable" (playing sit). Its neck seems to be a bit wider and less "rounded"... on the ther hand it doesn't have that "raw" feel that the T-51 has (as most Teles).
The pickups in the Talladega have sensible more output than the T-51, I had to play with the "gain" and "master" to match the drive and volume for the samples. This pickups a really that special, a "mix" between a single and a humbucker. While playing I really felt that the chambered body really made a difference in this guitar, giving it a more "whole" sound in all the pickups selections and somehow balancing the higher output of the pickups.
The T-51 sounded first a bit "muddied" because of the much lower output, but after re-setting the amp, it revealed its own voice. A bit more "snappier" (maybe the maple fretboard also helps) but for me a bit "thinner" as well (not a bad thing for a "Tele" sound).
Hearing these samples, the Talladega gives a better and more complex tone in the clean settings, but in the "Blues" one, the T-51 begins to shows its "raw" side.... and for me (always totally subjective and personal opinion) it sounded better.
... END of the first part ....
... Next part.... more samples.... and a different "analog" setup... (if I am able to manage it)
Please, I would love to hear comments about the "format" I am using for this review.... would you prefer more details? less talk and more samples? put each guitar in a different sample?... not liking it at all?... It really takes a lot of time and I would like to know if it is worth the effort.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART 2
Hi again, time for the second part of this "head to head"
New setup ("analog")
H&K Tubeman II --> Behringer Xenix802 --> Alesis Microverb II --> Iriver MP3 recorder
New samples
Six new samples, this time only one guitar in each one:
T-51
T51-1.MP3
T51-2.MP3
T51-3.MP3
T51-4.MP3
T51-5.MP3
T51-6.MP3
Talladega
Tellly-1.MP3
Tellly-2.MP3
Tellly-3.MP3
Tellly-4.MP3
Tellly-5.MP3
Tellly-6.MP3
First sample is a "Jazzy" one, clean sound, neck pickup only
2 and 3 are more "rock" type, bridge pickup only
4 is a "mild crunch" type (Cars anyone?), bridge pickup only
In the last two (5 and 6) I was changing through the different pickup positions beginning from the down most selection (bridge).
Personal impressions and conclusion
This time I recorded the samples separately, I didn't try to "clone" each other, but just give them a similar feel. Again the output of the Talladega's pickups were way higher than the T-51's. I had to lower a lot the gain and, even then, the Talladega drove the Tubeman harder.
For the clean and heavy distorted sounds, the Talladega (for me) is the clear winner, but on the lower distortion settings I do really like the T-51's voice. That makes me wonder if the choice of pickups for the T-51 were the right ones. On the other hand, the DD's on the Talladega are a perfect match for this guitar.
I know I am comparing a 1K guitar with a 3K one, but I really think it shows up. These other samples have really only served to reinforce my first opinion.... the T-51 is a good guitar but the Talladega is really GREAT and a craftsman's work of art.
Just as a "side-note", both the Guitar Port and Tubeman and fantastic recording tools. The Guitar Port is very much easier and "cleaner" (just one cable!) and you have an incredible collection of sounds and effects just a click away (Pod X3 quality), while the Tubeman gives you that "extra" with its tube sounds that seems to be so elusive to simulators.
Thank you for all your feedback, I will try to do a new review soon.
Regards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART 3
As I told you.... now the same six samples with a Fender Telecaster
1997 Fender American Telecaster (stock)
Fender Telecaster
Tele-1.MP3
Tele-2.MP3
Tele-3.MP3
Tele-4.MP3
Tele-5.MP3
Tele-6.MP3
What do you think? How similar are these samples to the T-51's? For me they have been quite a surprise!
Regards
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