Duotone build history

[gorch]

A German ebay auction offers an early 90s MIK Duotone. I wanted to tell the auctioneer that this might be an Echtone as it is a MIK built guitar.

To my surprise, he came back with the information that early Duotones were built with an f-hole and later on were switched to 3-holes before eventually being switched back to f-holes again.

The Echotone has two f-holes of course. Hence, there was a wrong thought on my side anyway, but...

Can anyone lift me up to the true Duotone history?

[holLoWskull]

the USA Duotones from the 90's up until the factory move to Connecticut had 3 sound holes. After the move to Connecticut, the USA Duotone was replaced with the USA Duotone Custom. That had an arched top with a single F-hole (and had crown or victory inlays and a bound fretboard). Somewhere in between that time frame Hamer also sold a Korean made Duotone. It had a flat top with a single F-hole (with dot inlays and no fretboard binding). Without seeing a picture of the guitar I would guess the seller has a late 90's Korean made Duotone (or perhaps an Ecotone as you stated). A 6-digit stamped serial number on the back of the headstock (or lack thereof) will also be a good indicator if it's USA made or not.

[cmatthes]

Correct. There are no 3 hole imports, and no flat-topped F-hole USA Duotones.

[gorch]

The MIK scored 300 Euros ... to have this saved to the archives. It included updated acoustic electronics to the original USA version.

[mirrorimij]

IIRC, some of those early MIK ones had neck angle issues that resulted in higher than normal action. It was resolved soon enough but I wouldn't buy one sight unseen. I don't think they were terrible....just higher than one would expect from a Hamer.