Question about Hamer's tailpiece placement

[Kurt L]

While discussing Hamers on another forum, a guitarist from Finland asked a question that I don't have an answer for. Can you guys help out? (Of course you can - you guys know LOTS more than I do.)

Im experimenting a bit with custom made thin-line guitars and would like to know the difference between the red thinline and the natural one. I know the red one (Newport Pro, really orange but looks red in the pic he saw) has two f-holes but what really interests me is the location of the stop tailpease. On the red one its far away from the bridge while on the others (Artist Custom, Vanguard) its very close. I have been planning a tunomatic type bridge on my next prject but I need to deside how to place the parts.

Anyone know why the tailpiece is farther away from the bridge on the Newports?

Knowing Hamer, they didn't do it without a reason.

[hardheartedbill]

I THINK it's too allow for the fully hollow contruction, also that is where you mount the bigsby so maybe it's just a coomon feature of the build and thats where the tailpiece has to go ( to allow for the hollow construction, it a circle! )

[Tonebutcher]

I think that's right. The Newport is truly hollow forward of the stop tail.