New Hamer Owner

[Barry]

Hello,Newbie here.As an owner of many fine guitars--I feel somewhat "deceived" at the description of the guitar i recently purchased. I was under the impression that these SATF Sunburst imports came with a flame Maple top---what i got was a flame maple veneer--about as thick as 3 pieces of newspaper!! The "clever" binding makes them appear as to have quite a substantial piece of flamed maple there--so thick as to the point i did some investigating and found out the truth. My question is--What is "in between" this paper thin cap to where it meets the mahogany? Is it actual Mahogany?? I should have known better--I own 3 Gibsons--2 Fenders--a new Carvin California Carved Top--and 2 Dean Hardtail Selects--which are imports as well--but have a rather large--"thick" maple top over honduran mahogany. I am not puttin Hamer down--as i know they make some of the best guitars money can buy--and it is also a good playin and sounding instrument--paid only 358 for it--but for 500 i could have bought another Dean with the "real" thing!! Also--what suggestion do any of you have for replacement tuners without having to drill?? Barry

[acb]

Dood, were you really 'deceived'? When you buy a mass-produced import which is a fraction of the cost of the real thing, you should expect to receive a fraction of the value in related parts, materials, assembly time, etc.. If the guitar plays well, then there is little problem. Look at the description from Music123com...

Patterned after the top-of-the-line Hamer USA Studio, this modestly priced Hamer embodies the word "value". It's body is prime Mahogany with a Flamed Maple top, Tune-O-Matic style bridge and two Hamer humbuckers make this guitar a classic.

[serial]

Who mentioned that it had a solid maple cap? The Hamer website has "flame maple veneered top" in the specs in two or three locations. All of the old Sunbursts and Standards that are very much sought after have flame maple veneers that are probably even thinner than these. Those sell for thousands of dollars today. Actually, you can scarcely buy good raw flame maple for half of what you paid for the whole guitar actually.

That being said, $348 is peanuts for a guitar-for that price new, I certainly wouldn't have expected top shelf components/materials for that price and would have expected a veneer top. If it plays well, sounds good, I wouldn't be overly concerned with the construction. The imports (I'm speaking strictly about the MIK Hamers) are of pretty high quality and the Sunbursts have appointments you can't get on other guitars anywhere near that price range.

I certainly dont' expect premium woods when buying anything imported, including the Deans, which are apparently good values. Of course, with the great prices of slightly used USA Hamers, I also would never consider a new import of any manufacturer.

FWIW, considering inflation over the years, I paid $149.00 for the crappiest, heavy, butcher block looking Hondo Strat copy 26 years ago when I bought my first guitar. $348 is a steal in those terms!

I would be concerned if it was specifically represented to you that this was a solid maple capped guitar though.

[anotherfreak2]

hey Barry,

Two questions:

1) did your local dealer say it was a carved maple cap, if so you were mislead, badly!

2) do you like the guitar, at that price it will be next to impossible to find a better guitar reguardless of brand.

I think you got a great deal on a good guitar. As for the tuners, your local dealer might have some great suggestions. There are a few that will line right up, some without any modification.

at any rate, congratulations on your new guitar, what color is it?

[Guest Mike Lee]

I think all mahogany guitars sound better than maple capped ones, so I would prefer a thin veneer over a thick cap. If it sounds good, it's good!

[BCR Greg]

Dean Hardtail Selects do not have Honduran mahogany. I guarantee it.

[Barry]

hey Barry,

Two questions:

1) did your local dealer say it was a carved maple cap, if so you were mislead, badly!

2) do you like the guitar, at that price it will be next to impossible to find a better guitar reguardless of brand.

I think you got a great deal on a good guitar. As for the tuners, your local dealer might have some great suggestions. There are a few that will line right up, some without any modification.

at any rate, congratulations on your new guitar, what color is it?

Yes my dealer did say that!! But i"m only out 350 bucks and it is a good guitar--at the time i was inquiring about--he said--its very comparable to the USA guitar that it mocks--Bull--ll-shoooot!! Oh well,ive spent money onmuch worse--the USA Hamer is mt next purchase--piece of art!!I really cant think of a guitar company making better axes now than Hamer--maybe Carvin--I jst got a made to order Cal. Carved Top--very nice!! My import Hamer is purple--nice looking guitar.just a bit weird my dealer would say that--not like i wouldnt find out!! Barry

[Barry]

Dood, were you really 'deceived'? When you buy a mass-produced import which is a fraction of the cost of the real thing, you should expect to receive a fraction of the value in related parts, materials, assembly time, etc.. If the guitar plays well, then there is little problem. Look at the description from Music123com...

Patterned after the top-of-the-line Hamer USA Studio, this modestly priced Hamer embodies the word "value". It's body is prime Mahogany with a Flamed Maple top, Tune-O-Matic style bridge and two Hamer humbuckers make this guitar a classic.

ACB---thats EXACTLY what i am sayin--it does say Flamed Maple Top--Should have said Flamed Maple veneer top---I shouda looked at the website--no big deal--Ive been spending ALOT more than 350 for guitars for yrs--been weedin out some latly--down to 10,but--there all keepers. Barry