What is Hameritus?

[hardheartedbill]

My 04 custom order had it from the get go. Also white specs under clear coat, very disappointing

[Stike]

If the finish uses a catalyst, it's possible that the material wasn't properly sweated (a period to let the catalyst activate the finish), and it had the effect of separating in the fold of the joint.

I've used the same catalyzed clear they use (used?) and the tech sheets never instructed an incubation time.

Since they were using a catalyzed product (92ish and beyond) for the sealer my guess is that there is not a chemical bond (and if the sealer isn't sanded well enough there won't be a good mechanical bond either) between the sealer coats and the color coats and when the neck joint area expands/contracts (or gets the Schenker whammy treatment) it causes a delamination between the two.

[django49]

I have done a good deal of woodworking. I have not used the same kind of finishes, but I certainly have had similar results. Usually it is a bit of glue that gets into the pores of the wood and prevents the finishes from soaking in. Very hard to sand enough to eliminate it. It does not affect the strength of the joint, but it looks sloppy. As often as not, carelessness (at least on my "creations").

Other things than glue, such as a solvent or similarly based product can do it too. I would rather not have it, but I am not bothered where it counts, in the feel and sound. I have not had experience with it spreading or flaking.

[aknapp]

...hameritis is a cosmetic issue ONLY. My hamers all play so good they could be pea soup green for all I care. I'd still play them.

I have now have one that is pea soup green (OK, it is TV Yellow, or used to be...), and I now know why this continues to be said.

Look for a NGD shortly...

[Armitage]

It still amazes me that people think Hameritis on an instrument of that price, prestige and quality is OK.

I had Hamer refinish guitars, they weren't very happy about it, but neither was I.

[django49]

It still amazes me that people think Hameritis on an instrument of that price, prestige and quality is OK.

I had Hamer refinish guitars, they weren't very happy about it, but neither was I.

Good point. If it was a new guitar or custom order, I would want it fixed. Every one I had (with it) was bought used and the condition was factored into the price. An acceptable tradeoff (for me, at least).

[zenmindbeginner]

They had something wrong with their finish formula... the glue is an easy scapegoat. Yellow, white and hide glue would have never had a chemical reaction to a finish.

When you are working with catalyzed lacquers... it is much easier to get the formula a little off than it would be if using straight nitro or straight poly.

[tbonesullivan]

It still amazes me that people think Hameritis on an instrument of that price, prestige and quality is OK.

I had Hamer refinish guitars, they weren't very happy about it, but neither was I.

Depends on how long after purchase the problem came up. Finish problems have always been an issue with many companies, and sometimes finish issues don't crop up for 5 years. Wood changes over time.

Within a year, that's definitely a warranty issue. anything over 2 years... can't really do anything about. I've had some poeple with other makes of guitars who had finish lifting on the edge of the fingerboard, mostly becuase they put lemon oil on their board EVERY string change, and it lifted the finish.

In brass instruments, there's a similar finish issue known as "acid bleed" which is when over years/decades the flux from solder joints slowly works it's way out from the joint under the lacquer, and causes discoloration and lacquer loss. There really is NO way to get all the flux residue out, even if you ultrasonically clean the horn after it is soldered/brazed. Some brass instruments never get it, some get it in spades, particularly around the bell flare. Usual time limit is one year from date of purchase, as playing the horn accelerates the process. This is the same for the "standard horn builders who sell trombones for $2K, up to the boutique guys that get 5-8K for a horn.

[burningyen]

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/50047-what-is-hameritus/?p=573215

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/60813-was-hameritis-ever-cured/?p=649817

Best I can understand, the wood moves, the 4108 clear coat doesn't move with it and has a poor bond with the color coat (and presumably with rosewood).

[T-51Fred]

I think Hameritus was a lesser known Roman god who invented pulled pork. Perhaps this is Hameritis?

[LucSulla]

. Heritage guitars had to stop using all-black body binding, because for some reason the finish would crack all along the edge of it about 2 months after the guitar was done.

Uh oh...

[ajay315]

My PRS has Hameritis, and still hangs with the Hamers in ever respect.

I'm down to 3 electrics. The PRS & my 2 Hamers. And they all have the same quirks. Go figure.

[Caddie]

When you're up there in front 1000 people at the annual Cornhusker Harvest Fest, and 200 drunks are yelling "FREEBIRD" do you really think they're gonna notice your embarrassing flareup of hameritis and shut off the power to the stage? If you're concerned about how it looks put some cream on it, at least hydrocortisone-10, but a huge bandaid over it and wear a turtle neck. No turtle neck on the guitar.

If anyone asks about the bandaid tell 'em its covering a hickey from last night's post gig party in Fargo. Keep wearing the bandaid at all times, it will become part of your legend.

Now THAT is hameritis baby

Cheers!

caddie

ps- Legendary pro golfer Lee Trevino was frequently asked about the bandaid that was always on his foreman. Trevino would always brush off the question with a wise crack like "Chi Chi Rodriguez bit me last night" or "I missed the ashtray this morning". After he retired he was asked about it again by some interviewer or writer. Lee took off the bandaid, there was one hell of a tan line. And there was a woman's name tattooed on his forearm. "That is the name of my first wife. All of my wives since then have objected to the tattoo so I started covering it up. The bandaid became kind of an ID tag. I could hear people in the gallery whispering is that Lee Trevino or just someone from the grounds crew. That's Lee, see the bandaid." Its also the Certified Mark of Authenticity on my new bobblehead doll.

[pablo]

I've heard the term a few times recently, but no idea what it means......do tell?

I was like you

[Michael_B]

I thought "Hameritis" is when you're struck by the bug to just keeping buying more. Like that Strat Daytona.

[Andrew]

Hameritus (pronounced Haymer-rit-us) - when you no longer own a Hamer but are allowed to keep and use the honorary title of HFC Member.

[Hbom]

I caught Hameritis in 2011 after answering an ad on CL about a semi-hollow guitar that needed some TLC. It was a funny looking pea-green thing with most of it's parts missing. But the case was in OK shape. If I had just kept my fingers out of that case I think I would have been alright. But once I picked up that piece of wood, it was on me! I have been afflicted ever since and my doctor says there is no known cure, but that buying 1 or 2 used Hamers a year helps to keep the itching under control.