Hamer slammer series

[240fiend]

I have an old hamer slammer series guitar. Serial #110317. It has a made in Korea stamp on the back of the headstock. It has a grey/black heavy metallic finish. Hamer recessed trem, 1 humbucker, 2 single coils. It also has a little switch on it for the humbucker besides the normal pickup select switch. 24 frets. I've had this guitar for around 15 yrs and know nothing about it. Can anyone help?

[240fiend]

I'm working on uploading a pic of it...

[Jem]

Sounds like an early import Centaura - google images to confirm. The very first one's used US spec hardware, if your trem is actually marked Hamer it could confirm it's an early one. Serail numbers mean very little with far east lines.

[gorch]

The Slammer Series are great guitars. What do you need to know?

[Jem]

I'm working on uploading a pic of it...

That would help

[240fiend]

It is a centaura! I did google for pics and there are a few with the same setup. Greyish heavy metallic paint. Etc... What was the significance of the little "hot rod" switch (as I call it)? I'm kind of wanting to know if its worth holding on to... I've held on to it for 15 yrs so far and really rarely play it... But, when I do pick it up I'm always impressed.

Trem is marked Hamer also

[cmatthes]

The imports aren't really "collector" guitars, although the ones from the early MIK/Slammer series are among the best quality imports going. Those usually top out in the $300-$350 range, but could pull as high as $375+ if the planets are aligned just right.

Those are definitely better "keepers" and players rather than something to hold on to as an investment.

[zorrow]

Sell it to me!

[Toadroller]

It would look just like this:

The switch splits the coil in the humbucker.

[Jem]

Totally what i had in my head, is the trem stamped Hamer ?

[zorrow]

It would look just like this:

The switch splits the coil in the humbucker.

For some reason the Slammer Series headstocks induct my GAS. In fact, I think they are my preferred 6-in-line headstocks ever.

[Toadroller]

Trem on mine is stamped Hamer.

I've since cleaned her up and found the nut-lock and replaced the string-holding block in the saddle.

[zorrow]

^Isn't she perfect? If I ever get me a shredder, it will be a Slammer Series.

[gorch]

^Isn't she perfect? If I ever get me a shredder, it will be a Slammer Series.

Don't it be Hoyers now? Just thinking.

[240fiend]

That's it! It's even the same color as the one I have!

My trem is stamped Hamer also.

My trem is stamped Hamer also.

[coolfeel]

Hamer Stamped upside down?

Trem on mine is stamped Hamer.

I've since cleaned her up and found the nut-lock and replaced the string-holding block in the saddle.

[zorrow]

^Isn't she perfect? If I ever get me a shredder, it will be a Slammer Series.

Don't it be Hoyers now? Just thinking.

Hoyer ain't no shredder. And I also said if and ever.

[JohnnyB]

I'm kind of wanting to know if its worth holding on to... I've held on to it for 15 yrs so far and really rarely play it... But, when I do pick it up I'm always impressed.

The HAMER/Slammer Series MIKs from the mid-'90s are almost always worth holding on to--not because they're going to be worth a lot someday, but because their value as a musical instrument far exceeds their market value. Hamer really screwed the pooch on the branding; not long after this series had really made a mark on the import market, Hamer came out with the Slammer by Hamer series, unplayable junk made in the early days of Indonesian industrialization. It confused the market and ruined forever the market value of Hamer/Slammer Series, which are among the best budget guitars to ever come out of Korea.

So they're worth holding on to for the rare occasion when you might want a shredder or the ergonomics and flexibility of a "super start," or to pass on to kids, neighbors, grandkids, donate to a promising but impecunious guitarist or whatever, because you'd be hard put to get anything north of $200 out of it regardless of how good it is.

[zorrow]

Hamer Stamped upside down?

Trem on mine is stamped Hamer.

I've since cleaned her up and found the nut-lock and replaced the string-holding block in the saddle.

That's Satanist!

[Carl.B]

I'm kind of wanting to know if its worth holding on to... I've held on to it for 15 yrs so far and really rarely play it... But, when I do pick it up I'm always impressed.

The HAMER/Slammer Series MIKs from the mid-'90s are almost always worth holding on to--not because they're going to be worth a lot someday, but because their value as a musical instrument far exceeds their market value. Hamer really screwed the pooch on the branding; not long after this series had really made a mark on the import market, Hamer came out with the Slammer by Hamer series, unplayable junk made in the early days of Indonesian industrialization. It confused the market and ruined forever the market value of Hamer/Slammer Series, which are among the best budget guitars to ever come out of Korea.

So they're worth holding on to for the rare occasion when you might want a shredder or the ergonomics and flexibility of a "super start," or to pass on to kids, neighbors, grandkids, donate to a promising but impecunious guitarist or whatever, because you'd be hard put to get anything north of $200 out of it regardless of how good it is.

I totally agree with Johnny B. I have had 3 different MIK Slammer series guitars and all of them beat the crap out of anything coming out now that would cost $350 - $650. All of mine were had for under $180 they were better than any cheap squire, or epiphone out there. ,

[Toadroller]

Hamer Stamped upside down?

Trem on mine is stamped Hamer.

I've since cleaned her up and found the nut-lock and replaced the string-holding block in the saddle.

That's Satanist!

Guys, that's sideways.

[Toadroller]

I agree with JohnnyB; better than their market value.

I've got two Hamer Slammer Series in the house, this and a strat for my boy Henry, as well as Korean Standard, Stelalr 1, and had a Korean arch-top Studio which I sold here. Not a stinker in the bunch, and they served to graduate me into Hamer USAs.

I've also got a Chinese goldtop archtop P90 and it's nice too.

That said, I've got way too many guitars in my stable and will be selling a few of these off. The V-Strom fund is not growing quickly enough and I'd rather have a bike than too many guitars. Look to the For Sale board over the next few days.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

I'm kind of wanting to know if its worth holding on to... I've held on to it for 15 yrs so far and really rarely play it... But, when I do pick it up I'm always impressed.

The HAMER/Slammer Series MIKs from the mid-'90s are almost always worth holding on to--not because they're going to be worth a lot someday, but because their value as a musical instrument far exceeds their market value. Hamer really screwed the pooch on the branding; not long after this series had really made a mark on the import market, Hamer came out with the Slammer by Hamer series, unplayable junk made in the early days of Indonesian industrialization. It confused the market and ruined forever the market value of Hamer/Slammer Series, which are among the best budget guitars to ever come out of Korea.

So they're worth holding on to for the rare occasion when you might want a shredder or the ergonomics and flexibility of a "super start," or to pass on to kids, neighbors, grandkids, donate to a promising but impecunious guitarist or whatever, because you'd be hard put to get anything north of $200 out of it regardless of how good it is.

Don't ever sell it man! I had a Diablo Slammer (made at the Cort Factory around 1992 I believe) I paid £350 for it new in 96. After EMG upgrades + Gotoh Floyd (another £300) + a pink paint-job, I ended up selling it on eBay for £230 last year. It's worth much more as a keeper & deffo too good a guitar to sell for fk all

[LittleC72]

Hey, I'm just hooking up on this topic, because I have the same question as 240fiend; I have no clue about my Korean Hamer Slammer, and I'd like to know more;

Bought back in '96 or '97 for Fl. 300,--, serial number 4444416, and in the meantime has got new bridge saddles, new machine heads and a d-tuner.

Hope some-one can tell me a few things about it, because I love it, but I want to know more about it.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

From what I was able to gather a few years ago, Slammer Series guitars were made at the Cort Factory in Korea between 92/98. Cort are [were] a respected builder for many big name companies [ie: Ibanez/Epiphone/others] & have been since the early 70s. They are now side-stepped by many buyers as they sacked all their poverty-stricken loyal workers & moved production out of Korea (cheaper labour). I had a Cort guitar a few years back & as great as it was, I now boycott all Cort guitars...

I had a Cort made MIK Diablo built in 92 which I bought new. The above info is correct for the guitar I had...

Slammers may have also been built at other Korean Factories too for all I know...