SteveE9C6 Posted September 29, 2005 Posted September 29, 2005 I currently don't have any Hamer Imports except my echotone. My first Hamer was a very nice flamed Sunburst Korean Hamer. The quality was very good. I sold it and have now started a nice Hamer collection. I like the Standard..... a lot. I keep seeing really nice looking import versions of these for sale. I'm thinking about getting one and installing different pups... What differences exist in the wood? I mean, if I replace the hardware/pots with nice quality stuff what will the end result be? I'm not a country of origin snob. I just can't swing the cost of a new Standard.
tomteriffic Posted September 29, 2005 Posted September 29, 2005 Steve, I had both a USA and Korean Eclipse for a while, so a head-to-head comparison was realistic. In particular, I think the Korean-made stuff is an excellent bang for the buck. The woods and electronics aren't up to the USA snuff, but a good set of pickups and CTS pots would fix a lot of that. On something like a Standard, I wouldn't expect the binding and inlay work to be quite as immaculate and the inlays would probably be of inferior materials and have a bit of filler around the edges. On the Eclipse that was a non-issue.The Korean neck was just a smidge wider (I mean JUST a smidge), and the shape of the back of the neck was a bit different. Nothing radical, just different. Where you might find Schaller, Wilkinson or Grover hardware on the USA model, on the Korean one you found Gotoh or Ping.I believe Gene (BTMN) did an import to USA electronics (and maybe hardware) conversion on a Standard Custom and pronounced it a rawkin' axe. Hopefully he'll chime in here.
billhart22 Posted September 29, 2005 Posted September 29, 2005 Shop diligently........you can get an American...just take some time and you will find one for less or a little more than an import..Ask the guys on here what you are after....they might be able to help.Bill
Ethan Posted September 29, 2005 Posted September 29, 2005 I've been kicking around this idea myself, but for an Epiphone Les Paul Custom, not only because I can't swing a Gibson, but if I could I would feel kind of bad beating the shit out of a $3000 guitar. I guess that's what they're for though eh!
RobB Posted September 29, 2005 Posted September 29, 2005 You can probably parts-hunt on eBay:Duncan, Dimarzio, Gibson p/u's: $30-40 ea. appx.RSGuitarworks Explorer/FlyingV electronics kit: $36.95 http://www.rsguitarworks.net/catalog/produ...&products_id=97Tuners: $20 and upBridge/tailpiece: $50 and up...The slippery slope is putting the time, effort and money to upgrade a guitar which is marketed as a cost-effective alternative to a USA model. If you like to tinker and got your import Hamer dirt cheap, then by all means, go for it.Caveat, though: I love to mod/"upgrade" my guitars, love to put my "stink" on 'em, so don't put too much creedence on my advice. I'm an enabler, babe!
SteveE9C6 Posted September 30, 2005 Author Posted September 30, 2005 I enjoy the tinkering so that's not a problem. I played my Echotone for about an hour last night. It is bone stock at the moment. With the HSC, I have a bit over $300 into it. I'm really amazed at just how nice it is. I just finished putting new pups and all gold hardware on my 25th Ann Artist. She turned out really nice.I think before I do anything else I will do a total upgrade to the Echotone. Working on a non control cavity guitar will be a challenge.btw, thanks for the link. neat site.
BadgerDave Posted September 30, 2005 Posted September 30, 2005 Working on a non control cavity guitar will be a challenge. Oh, yeah. Nothing like the exhilaration of knowing that one twitch of the soldering iron will permanently disfigure your prized Hamer. Makes you feel more alive!
Jimbilly Posted September 30, 2005 Posted September 30, 2005 The import Standard might be the one model that it makes sense to upgrade, you can find USA Centauras for the same as import prices, but when was the last time you saw a USA Standard for less than about $700? there's an import standard near me at a pawn shop for $159, keep the original pickups in case you decide to get rid of it, it'd be hard too lose too much on that.
bigjel Posted September 30, 2005 Posted September 30, 2005 I have done exactly what you talk about. I have an import Standard that looks great. However, the original pickups were pretty shocking and I have replaced them with a SD Jeff Beck and a SD 59. It now sounds pretty damn good. I haven't changed any of the other hardware. I thought about it and decided, hey - why bother - this isn't bad! And this is one of the "dodgy" Chinese ones rather than a Korean!I have USAs, although not a Standard, and certainly play them more than the import, but I have always thought there is too much snobbery about where a guitar comes from. If its good, its good!!
Submariner85 Posted September 30, 2005 Posted September 30, 2005 I love my Korean Standard, it definitely has a whole different feel. I think I will upgrade the pickups soon. Bad lighting in the picture, it's actually alot lighter colored.
morningstar Posted September 30, 2005 Posted September 30, 2005 Buy Used USA.If you have to, some of the MIK Standards from 1999 or thereabouts (I think) are pretty damn nice. It seems to me the headstock looked a little skinnier than some of the more recent ones. For a while ther is seemed as if every more recent MIK standard I saw had a fretboard lift near the nut. It was right after that when Guitarget stopped stocking them.My .02.morningstar
David B Posted September 30, 2005 Posted September 30, 2005 I ugraded an import Scarab with pickups, tuners, bridge & tailpiece. Also added tophat knobs. I had most of this stuff lying around the house. The guitar played & sounded great. The only reason I sold it was the ugly headstock on the import version. It was fun converting the guitar. They are not USA quality, but they are so inexpesive that they are usually worth the money.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.