Whats going on at Hamer?

[bruce919]

It seem Hamer has been keeping us in the dark recently. They have not updated there web site in some time. There are no new of these "limited run" guitars they are making. I have spent a great deal of time & money on Hamer guitars over the last 7 years & feel like I have been left out.

Like it or not the HFC & Hamer Museum have sold many guitars/basses for Hamer.

I think we deserve an update from time to time.

EDITED TO ADD:

I am not knocking there guitars in any way. They are the best guitars out there. There no compromise to quality is what keep me buying them. I would just like to know about these new "limited models", or even a new model that might be in the works.

[SteveC]

I think we deserve an update from time to time.

Bruce - I agree.

The last more-or-less formal communication from Hamer was the cancellation of the "annual" factory tour, ostensibly because there were too many "dealer-specific, custom" guitars they wanted to keep anone from seeing before the dealers got them. Wooooooooo! Secrets! Bullshit. Any guitars in progress in June (when the announcement was made) would certainly be out of production before the October tour. And, why not let Hamer's biggest fans see the cool new custom stuff they could order from dealers? I would think Hamer would WANT to do that!

There were obviously other reasons that Hamer didn't want to disclose. Internal issues, dealer issues, other issues we don't know about, who knows?....

Like many in this forum, I have purchased many Hamer guitars over the past 10 years. I really feel deceived and betrayed by this lack of candor / communication.

I used to purchase between 3 and 6 new Hamer guitars per year, every year. I now have not purchased a Hamer guitar (new or used) in over a year, and am not sure whether I will ever purchase another one. No knock against the guitars (they are tremendous). The fact is that there are a number of other very high-quality makers at or near Hamer's price points, who will communicate honestly, openly and freely with their customers and prospective customers. None of this "factory/dealer secrets" crap. (We'll tell dealer A that we won't make a certain guitar, then we'll go ahead and make it for dealer B. We'll charge one dealer a big upcharge for a certain feature, then we'll later make it a standard feature available to all dealers for no additional charge. Etc. The regulars here know exactly what I'm talking about, as the list of examples goes back at least to 1997.)

I believe Hamer may be sending us the message they intend to send us. It just hurts to hear it.

Rant over.

StevieC

[Nathan]

Oh, I don't know. I think we're we're sort of spoiled. I've been a member of this board since '01 and though I agree that there's been some inconsistancy and plenty of drama, I still get the willies when we start treating the factory as though it were some sort of personal garage project staffed with magic elves who are waiting by the Bat Phone for our next order/status report.

If those guys think they need to play it close to the vest or whatever, I'm just naive and trusting enough to assume it's for the best. Who can say what they've got going on? My next new guitar will almost certainly be a Hamer. My dealer can worry about getting updates from CT.

[hardheartedbill]

yep, message recieved loud and clear, I've got one for them too ( see my avatar )

[Dry]

I can't understand it either why wouldn't they want to show off their "Dealer Specific" custom orders. I think they needed an excuse and that was the best they came up with. I think there are just cutting expenses.

[silentman]

I think there is a reason why they did not invite us back. Whether we ever find out why, probably not. If I recall there was also supposed to be another Jol tour clinic things, which also has not come to light.

For most of us old-timers, it's not the factory tour so much as seeing folks behind screen names, and talking guitars, and playing tunes for a few days. They could have easily invited us down as ususal, kept us out of the "top secret" areas of the factory, let those choose wood for orders and just had a jam night per usual. Clearly a message is being sent or like previously said, it could be a budget issue.

I'd like to think my buying days are over as Hamer doesn't have anything in the current catalog that hits me in my GAS location. Especially since I was able to get a Watson out of them, which I was looking forward to thanking the guys personally for - Mike S, Frank (wood guy), etc... Those guys were excited about building that guitar. Here's hoping for next year...

[Guest teefus2]

I can't understand it either why wouldn't they want to show off their "Dealer Specific" custom orders. I think they needed an excuse and that was the best they came up with. I think there are just cutting expenses.

+1 on the expenses. stopping (essentially) production in a small scale shop can be very cost prohibitive. lunch on the house and most of the managers/directors are giving tours and speaches costs $$$ too.

[DaveL]

I'm thinking... Over the years Hamer has given me

at least $500 worth of free swag, including the nielsen

guitars of the stars which I think is worth maybe $100

and a COOL leather jacket which I won as a door

prize. I've also had about six free lunches and got to

pretty much walk around the factory and ask them

questions like "did you fix Micheal Schenker's flying V

because he smashed it while on a drunken bender???"

On the first HFC, I had one of the guys spend a half hour

w/me picking wood which they turned into a completed

guitar within 5 weeks and I paid about 40% off list...

what has gibson or Fender ever done for me??? never

mind that, what has Blockbuster Video or Verizon wireless

ever done for me??

I'm not going to bash them because they wanted to

take a year off...

[hardheartedbill]

the Ovation tour went w/o a hitch, hmmm? I have my theories and it's all punkass shit

[MCChris]

Oh, I don't know. I think we're we're sort of spoiled. I've been a member of this board since '01 and though I agree that there's been some inconsistancy and plenty of drama, I still get the willies when we start treating the factory as though it were some sort of personal garage project staffed with magic elves who are waiting by the Bat Phone for our next order/status report.

If those guys think they need to play it close to the vest or whatever, I'm just naive and trusting enough to assume it's for the best. Who can say what they've got going on? My next new guitar will almost certainly be a Hamer. My dealer can worry about getting updates from CT.

I totally agree. We represent a small (albeit very loyal) minority of not only the guitar buying public but the potential Hamer buying public. Sure they sell some custom orders to us, but how many of them actually appear on big stages and thus increase the brand's visibility? Plus, we do more horse trading of used Hamers around here which benefits their bottom line not a whit. My theory is that they're trying to expand their reach a little bit.

And based on the tone of some of the posts here already, can you blame 'em for not disrupting the factory for a day and buying lunch for the same bunch of dudes every year?

[hardheartedbill]

every single guitar on the "custom gallery" page can be directly traced to this message board, that is a fact that some can ignore or dispute, but it is fact

edited to add that I just looked at it for the first time in a while, they can claim the mini standard ( nice LOL ) and Matt Smiths guitar

[bruce919]

I don't care about the open house. If Hamer wants to skip it that fine, it's there party.

I would be nice about once a month or so to add an update to there web site or offer a few notes here on some cool stuff going thru the factory.

No we are not the BIG buying public but I bet this group is a nice %% of the sales each year.

[MCChris]

I would be nice about once a month or so to add an update to there web site or offer a few notes here on some cool stuff going thru the factory.

Unfortunately they've been notoriously bad at this for as long as I can remember. Their site now is LIGHT YEARS ahead of what it used to be, though.

[Rockola]

Well said, Nathan.

Guys, try not to sound like a jilted ex-boyfriend. Consider that they might they might be too damn busy..... slammed trying to fill product to rejected Gibs*n dealers. Sure, there is the expense/hassle factor but I just chalked it up to growing pains.

The eye candy on the webpage might be stale to the regulars but not to recently initiated. The word is out and every year Hamer is less and less under the radar.

regards,

S.

[sw686blue]

Last year was the first time that I had attended the Open House and I must say that I had such a great time. It was nice to meet other people from the forum, the people responsible for such high quality instruments and see some of the crazy guitars coming out of the factory.

I don't think that the expense that Hamer incurs because of this one day is that prohibitive. Not only are custom orders being placed that day, but many future sales are done because people get to see the magic behind these guitars.

I've been out of the guitar world for nearly 10 years. Since June 2004, I have purchased 5 Hamers. They are all used except for one. The way that I see it is, that, although I have not bought many new guitars, I have enabled others who wished to buy new by purchasing their old guitars. I think that I've done my part in a very small way.

I don't really know much of the dealer wars and so on, but I would really hope that Hamer opens their doors to us next year. It would be a shame not to be able to participate again.

[silentman]

I respect their decision, it's just a downer cuz I have it penciled in every year.

[DavidE]

Stevie: There could be some guitars slated for production in October that are not started yet that they don't want us spilling the beans about.

[DavidE]

Oh, I don't know.  I think we're we're sort of spoiled.  I've been a member of this board since '01 and though I agree that there's been some inconsistancy and plenty of drama, I still get the willies when we start treating the factory as though it were some sort of personal garage project staffed with magic elves who are waiting by the Bat Phone for our next order/status report.

If those guys think they need to play it close to the vest or whatever, I'm just naive and trusting enough to assume it's for the best.  Who can say what they've got going on?  My next new guitar will almost certainly be a Hamer.  My dealer can worry about getting updates from CT.

I totally agree. We represent a small (albeit very loyal) minority of not only the guitar buying public but the potential Hamer buying public. Sure they sell some custom orders to us, but how many of them actually appear on big stages and thus increase the brand's visibility? Plus, we do more horse trading of used Hamers around here which benefits their bottom line not a whit. My theory is that they're trying to expand their reach a little bit.

And based on the tone of some of the posts here already, can you blame 'em for not disrupting the factory for a day and buying lunch for the same bunch of dudes every year?

+1

[Turdus]

yep, message recieved loud and clear, I've got one for them too ( see my avatar )

Bill -- That suit is you, LOL!

Where's the Marshall?

[adferreira]

There's a message being sent all right.

I don't like it as it's places like the HFC that passed the Hamer name out and kept loyal while they were overshadowed by PRS, Gibson, etc.

They want to be that way, fine, but they won't be getting my cash unless they straighten out.

[MCChris]

There's a message being sent all right.

I don't like it as it's places like the HFC that passed the Hamer name out and kept loyal while they were overshadowed by PRS, Gibson, etc.

They want to be that way, fine, but they won't be getting my cash unless they straighten out.

You seem to be implying that internet message boards are what kept Hamer afloat for the past 10 years or so. I contend that such an implication is simply asinine and gives WAY too much credit to the HFC and places like it.

Hamer's own marketing/advertising efforts and the work of their dealers DWARF what we do here in terms of exposing the brand to the public.

[Guest Buck Dharma]

I guess I'll throw in my 2 cents. I think Hamer builds nice guitars. They used to be cheap and a bargain for the money now they are expensive. They also have an import line which probably makes more money. The reason I always liked them is that I can get a Studio custom for alot less money than a Les Paul. The new guitar prices don't reflect that anymore. I like the sound and feel of a Les Paul more so I would rather spend 2 grand on a Goldtop than a new Studio every day of the week. I don't mean any disrespect to anyone it is just my preference. The real issue is that other than this board not many people care or know about Hamer guitars. They should treat all of you loyal fans great because if it wasn't for me seeing people from the HFC play I would have never bought one. I used to go see Nightwolf play at a local place and I saw a few HFC reunion shows. The people who turned me on to Hamer aren't even on this board anymore Nightwolf and Alpep. That tells me something right there that something is not right when allot of the original HFC members are not here anymore.

[MCChris]

The real issue is that other than this board not many people care or know about Hamer guitars. They should treat all of you loyal fans great because if it wasn't for me seeing people from the HFC play I would have never bought one. I used to go see Nightwolf play at a local place and I saw a few HFC reunion shows. The people who turned me on to Hamer aren't even on this board anymore Nightwolf and Alpep. That tells me something right there that something is not right when allot of the original HFC members are not here anymore.

I disagree with what I feel is a very myopic and self-centered view of the situation.

[pesocaster]

Maybe if some of the people around here quit acting like infants and THINK before hitting the "Post" button it would reflect better to Hamer... Want to stir shit... go work for a sewer company..... Got an issue with someone... be a MAN and contact them directly...

I'm bummed there will be no open house this year... I had planned on going .. Still I don't blame them a bit for canceling this year... I think a little time to let things cool off after the bannings is a good idea... would you want a bunch of snot nosed bickering kids in your house? I wouldn't....

[BruceM]

The real issue is that other than this board not many people care or know about Hamer guitars. They should treat all of you loyal fans great because if it wasn't for me seeing people from the HFC play I would have never bought one. I used to go see Nightwolf play at a local place and I saw a few HFC reunion shows. The people who turned me on to Hamer aren't even on this board anymore Nightwolf and Alpep. That tells me something right there that something is not right when allot of the original HFC members are not here anymore.

I disagree with what I feel is a very myopic and self-centered view of the situation.

+1