G&L: The Hamer of the Fender world

[killertone]

As a Hamer and a G&L dealer I always knew the quality of construction of these guitars exceeded their respective rival companies (Hamer and Gibson, G&L and Fender). And as an owner of an instrument from each company and a retailer I also know that the resell for both is terrible. When do you guys think that people will finally see that companies like Hamer and G&L are making higher quality guitars for equal or lesser prices? Gibson's and Fender's marketing plans, not to mention their illustrious history, may preclude this from ever happening. Takes anyone....???

[kurtsstuff]

I think the mindset is this....Gibson and Fender are the "real deal" and have the name recognition and I think that is just wrong. There are so many company's making a much better instrument at very competitive pricing but...Gibson and Fender were basically doing it first and I think for the uninitiated they don't know any better than those two "names"???

[SteveE9C6]

When do you guys think that people will finally see that companies like Hamer and G&L are making higher quality guitars for equal or lesser prices?

I don't think that will happen. Regardless of the quality, many musicians are like lemmings. They will happily march over the abyss clutching their Gibsons and Fenders. I know... I own them

I am not hung up on names though. I've got a fairly eclectic collection.

Here is a brand name list of guitars I've purchased or traded for:

Aria Pro II

Harmony

Silvertone

Epiphone

Washburn

Samick

Rickenbacker

Hofner

Electra

Ibanez

Guild

Peavey

Yamaha

Kay

Supro

Hamer

Fender

Gibson

G&L

PRS

Alvarez

Martin

Rose

Pedal Steels:

MSA

Carter

Emmons

ZB

Shobud

Zum

Dekley

Mullin

Remington

I am very partial to my Hamers though...

[Steve Haynie]

I think the mindset is this....Gibson and Fender are the "real deal" and have the name recognition and I think that is just wrong. There are so many company's making a much better instrument at very competitive pricing but...Gibson and Fender were basically doing it first and I think for the uninitiated they don't know any better than those two "names"???

Kurt nailed it. When I worked in a music store there were plenty of people who really liked the Hamer and Music Man guitars, but they were afraid to stray away from the traditional names. It has to do with image above all else. What these people fail to see is that the names are owned by different people than those who built the good reputations.

[straightblues]

Well in the Los Angeles area I haven't found a Hamer dealer that has more than one Hamer USA in stock. Same goes for G&L. I live about 15 miles from the G&L factory but I don't know of one store that carries their products. Until this changes, the resale will always suck. And this is Los Angeles, arguably one of the music centers of the world.

I do agree, the first time I played a G&L I was really pissed because it was twice as good as my $1,000 American Fender Deluxe Strat.

[MCChris]

Chalk it up to the indelible images of Berry, Holly, Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Young, et al playing Gibsons and Fenders.

[BLuesBuster]

Well in the Los Angeles area I haven't found a Hamer dealer that has more than one Hamer USA in stock. Same goes for G&L.

Hey straightblues, you may want to try Truetone Music in Santa Monica (on Sta Monica Blvd between Lincoln and 6th) - they're usually better than most others as far as stocking G&L's (the last time they had 4 or 5 on the wall). Not many Hamers though.

[JohnnyB]

Well in the Los Angeles area I haven't found a Hamer dealer that has more than one Hamer USA in stock.  Same goes for G&L.  I live about 15 miles from the G&L factory but I don't know of one store that carries their products.

Straightblues, if you don't mind a little drive down to Carlsbad, you'll probably find all the G&Ls you can handle at Buffalo Brothers.

They're evidently just a few blocks from G&L's warehouse. They're very involved with G&L, and had the lion's share of the G&L 20th Anniversary limited edition ASATs. I also got a RWRP ASAT Classic neck pickup from them at a reasonable price before G&L made any of their pickups available as aftermarket.

[Guest pirateflynn]

Well in the Los Angeles area I haven't found a ...........

The last time I was in The Amp Shop (located in Sherman Oaks) they had a handful of G&Ls, no Hamer's though.

[sirDaniel]

Actually, I've been AS impressed with the Ernie Ball Music Man instruments I've come across. USA of course.

[Guest pirateflynn]

I see the obvious comparisons, but honestly I think of Hamer independantly of Gibson.