Hamer cavity covers...always metal?

[singlehum]

Just curious if all USA Hamers *always* had metal cavity covers, including the trem cavity cover on models with trems. I've seen a couple that have a metal electronics cavity cover and a PLASTIC trem cover (which didn';t have any extra/misaligned holes - leading me to think it could be original).

[crunchee]

I once had a mid-80's Hamer USA Blitz with a 'sustain block' trem, the back trem route cover was multi-ply (I think black-white-black but not 100% sure) plastic, while the control cavity was the usual aluminum. I've seen other Hamers from the mid-80's (mainly Blitzes) that had the same type of plastic trem route cover, but I can't speak for the later, more 'refined' shredder type Hamers.

[Jem]

I think the trem covers changed from plastic to metal around 85 / 86.

[Andrew]

The earliest Hamers (until late 78) had a hard plastic (can't remember the name) cavity covers thereafter anodised metal. The first trem covers were b/w two ply like the scratchplate on a Prototype and bevelled the same way, then single ply (black) when Floyds became big. Then they sarted recessing them in 85, still plastic gradually moving on to black anodised metal in 86. Plastic trem covers do turn up on guitars until the end of the eighties as they used up their stock.

[rj2858]

With all due respect to "the Buddleja Garden", the plastic (phenolic) cavity covers were around a lot longer than late '78.

My '80 Sunburst came with a phenolic cover, as did both of my '79 Standards.

Oddly, when I took the '80 into Jol, when the factory was still on University, for a couple of paint touch-ups around 1982, I noticed when I got it home that he replaced the cover with a new aluminum one.

[Andrew]

Thanks for reminding me that it's called phenolic.

But your Special and Standards are exceptions, they must have had some old spares lying around. EVERY 79 onwards Sunburst, Special, 8-string bass and Standard I have seen has a metal cover, including a Sunburst from January 79 and a late 78.

Did your Standards have the earlier oval cavity plate, which would be phenolic? I can't remember what number they went up to (less than#0200, possibly?).

[serial]

My #0096 is the last Standard with the "hotdog" cavity control cover. #0097 is a Vee and #0098 has the triangular cover.

My 79 Sunburst had the anodized aluminum plate, my 77 and 78 had plastic as did my pre 1980 Standards. I did have a 79 or two with the aluminum plates. I guess it was somewhat hit or miss in 79.

[Andrew]

My #0096 is the last Standard with the "hotdog" cavity control cover. #0097 is a Vee and #0098 has the triangular cover.

My 79 Sunburst had the anodized aluminum plate, my 77 and 78 had plastic as did my pre 1980 Standards. I did have a 79 or two with the aluminum plates. I guess it was somewhat hit or miss in 79.

Thanks Serial! I have seen at least three 79 Standards with metal back-plates. It is the usual story, they got to the bottom of the box and just used up the old phenolic ones as the metal ones ran out. Same happened with the trem. covers around 87.