mofinco Posted September 8, 2005 Posted September 8, 2005 I just purchased my first 'old' Hamer since (stupidly) selling my two-digit serial number Standard back in 1984. I acquired a '79 Sunburst, sn 9 1245. It's actually an 'unburst' with a one-piece top. Did they all have one-piece tops back then?This guitar has been well-used, and needs some TLC... some of the Grovers are bound up pretty tightly, and the original DiMarzio pots are pretty shot. I already have some new current Hamer pots (yes, I'm hanging on to the originals), reusing the original tone cap. The neck pickup ring is shattered by one of the mounting screws, so I'll be replacing both rings (and hanging on to the originals...)Here are my questions: The pickups are the original DiMarzios, which I haven't pulled out to look at yet. Looking down into the pickup cavities, they don't look like DiMarzios I've had more recently - the mounting ears are rectangular instead of the triangular ears I'm used to.Question 1: What model DiMarzios are these?Question 2: Both are two conductors - a black and a white lead. They're still wired up OoP in the center position... which I don't like, personally. I like the OoP sound a lot, but only when I want it. I have 11 Les Pauls along with almost an equal number of other guitars, and in most of them, I've installed a push/pull pot to actuate the OoP sound, but still keep the ability to do 'normal' middle switch position tones. Here's the question (finally): On these particular DiMarzios, is the black lead or the white lead considered the normal 'hot' lead?I know that all I have to do is use the same lead as 'hot' on both pickups, but I'm curious, ya know?Thanks for any advice.
serial Posted September 8, 2005 Posted September 8, 2005 All of the tops on the old Hamer Sunbursts were one piece maple veneers. The bodies were one-piece Honduras mahogany. Standards had one-piece Hond. mahogany bodies (that's a big chunk of wood) and had two piece veneer tops.The Dimarzios used then were IIRC the rectangular ones (brass plate). Been a long time since I looked at that detail, but I'll check again to make sure I'm still sane.The pickup rings are readily available-I picked up a dozen sets a few years back of NOS Dimarzio cream ones, which is what Hamer used.
Disturber Posted September 8, 2005 Posted September 8, 2005 "but I'll check again to make sure I'm still sane" Serial, with a Hamer adiction like yours It'll be hard to get you diagnosed as "sane", disturber
serial Posted September 8, 2005 Posted September 8, 2005 I should speak in relative terms then! I sure as hell don't feel particularly "sane" this am. Of course, I'm operating on about three hours of sleep and I was so busy yesterday that I forgot to stop to get anything to eat, so other than the two beers I had backstage last night at about 11pm last night and the two Cokes I've had this am, I'm pretty much on empty. Mucho stuff flying around here today too. Could be a hell of a lot worse though.
BCR Greg Posted September 8, 2005 Posted September 8, 2005 He groped me in the car on the way home...
Disturber Posted September 8, 2005 Posted September 8, 2005 He groped me in the car on the way home... Don't brag about it! D
BCR Greg Posted September 8, 2005 Posted September 8, 2005 He groped me in the car on the way home... Don't brag about it! D Like YOU WOULDN'T!!!!!
mofinco Posted September 9, 2005 Author Posted September 9, 2005 You guys should take it to telephone... I guess my question isn't getting answered here any time soon...
cmatthes Posted September 9, 2005 Posted September 9, 2005 Mofinco:If it hasn't been answered somewhere already, the pickups were a custom wind for Hamer by Dimarzio at that point. The closest commercially available units would be DiMarzio PAFs, but they are not "exact" replacements. I'm sure somebody will chime in as to your question about the hot lead.Hope that helps (?)
BCR Greg Posted September 9, 2005 Posted September 9, 2005 Mofinco, the phone calls are worse.Look here for more pickup info
mofinco Posted September 9, 2005 Author Posted September 9, 2005 Mofinco:If it hasn't been answered somewhere already, the pickups were a custom wind for Hamer by Dimarzio at that point. The closest commercially available units would be DiMarzio PAFs, but they are not "exact" replacements. I'm sure somebody will chime in as to your question about the hot lead.Hope that helps (?) Thanks for the input - I knew the pickups were custom-made for Hamer, I just didn't know what they were modeled after. PAFs would have been my guess, and you've helped confirm that. Thanks again.
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