Possibly looking to sell - need idea of value

[proto84]

May be looking to sell my Hamer Prototype 2 (1984) - Metallic red colour with the white scratchplate - it's the prototype with the additional neck pickup - all original - I was told it belonged to Andy Summers of The Police when it was new (there's no proof of that though - but I like to believe it's true and I saw him playing an identical one on an old Police video - I can dream!!!).

It's in good condition but it seems like it was heavily gigged before i got it back in 1995 - heavy buckle rash......few dings on the edges of the body, back of the neck, and a lot of lacquer cracking. As it happens it looks great from the front. None of these cosmetic issues affect playability at all. It's a fantastic guitar but it gets no use. I sing in my band, and having two full time guitarists there's very few times we need a third guitarist. I'm probably overplaying the cosmetic issues by the way - it actually looks great.

Anyway, I have no idea how much to ask for it. I've been checking ebay for months and nothing similar has ever come up for sale.

How much should I ask approximately? To be honest if it's less than £650 i'll probably not bother, because I'd want to buy something decent to replace it for home use, and still have some cash left over. I'm in the UK by the way - that might affect price - hopefully for the better as Hamer guitars are pretty hard to find over here.

Any help appreciated

[Jem]

It'll be less than £650 unless it's got his name printed on the headstock or you get something from Andy in writing to say it was his and even then i think it'll struggle. TBH the last one i saw in the UK had a hard time to get past £400 (after initally listing it at somewhere near a grand) and in fact i have a nasty feeling that it didn't sell full stop.

Yes, they should be worth more but the reality is unfortunately somewhat different.

[proto84]

Hmmmmmmmm

Had an offer of £500 6 months ago that I thought was too low. Looks like I'll be hanging on to it then.

At least its made my mind up to keep it. Probably best in the long run anyway

[Jem]

£500 would be a very fair offer - much more than you'd get from this lot

[serial]

There are many guitars rumored to have belonged to Summers. Most of the ones he actually owned and sold were disposed of in the US. A couple are now or were owned by HFCers and I was able to verify that in the factory records that I have, but in many cases, his ownership doesn't add too much of a premium to tge guitars' values. I think Jem is right on. Over here, you'd be talking a $450-750 guitar-that color isn't the greatest for durability as far as Hamers go and unfortunately, they probably made more candy red guitars than just about anything else in 84/85!

Also agree with Jem that they are seriously undervalued-they are usually superb guitars.

[proto84]

There are many guitars rumored to have belonged to Summers. Most of the ones he actually owned and sold were disposed of in the US. A couple are now or were owned by HFCers and I was able to verify that in the factory records that I have, but in many cases, his ownership doesn't add too much of a premium to tge guitars' values. I think Jem is right on. Over here, you'd be talking a $450-750 guitar-that color isn't the greatest for durability as far as Hamers go and unfortunately, they probably made more candy red guitars than just about anything else in 84/85!

Also agree with Jem that they are seriously undervalued-they are usually superb guitars.

Yeah, it is the best guitar I've ever owned. I swapped it back in 95' for a Gibson Les Paul I'd bought brand new (melody maker) - That was the most disappointing guitar ever!

The guy offered me £100 plus this Hamer. At the time I'd never heard of Hamer but I took a chance. Best thing I ever did!

I reckon I'm not gonna consider selling. I'd probably just end up buying some shiny new guitar I'd hate after 6 months anyway

Thanks for the help

[hamerhead]

Yep - there's nothing like a shiny new guitar to make you realize how great your old guitar is!

[mathman]

I bought an 84 a few months ago from Matt in really clean condition for $650. Awesome Guitar.

I'm not an expert on prices but Matt had posted good deals before and this seemed a fair price for one in such good condition. It was really clean. I am GASing for a A5 phantom so I may sell this one day to get a phantom unless things look up in the finances and then I'll just add to the herd rather than replace.

Delivery day.