Lefty Hamer Standards - how many?

[Lefty Adams]

Hi - does anyone know how many approx. Hamer Standards in left handed variety were made/sold? And what year (approx.) did they stop making the Standard?

thanks

[Andrew]

I have seen a few four-digit ones from the 70-80s. Guessing at about 2-5%, maybe 20 guitars in total. Serial may have the exact number.

Technically the Standard 2nd generation ran from 1994 to last Christmas. Again numbers will be small for lefties, max. of 5% of the total, probably much less. But the 2nd generation were made in higher numbers and styles, many custom orders at New Hartford too, so guessing at a figure is too hard but they are out there.

[Lefty Adams]

Ahh right, so tell me, any differences in build quality between the 1st gen and the more recent ones? And what models did they do in either? Or was it always just the 'Hamer Standard? thanks

[Andrew]

The first generation (we call them four-digits as there number are 0XXX) were Hamer's flagship model from day one (74) to about 84) and were fully hand-made to a very high spec.. For many reasons there is a mystique built up around them and so are very sought after.

The later ones started at Arlington Heights and continued to be made at New Hartford. Various models in korina and mahogany as well as the original flame-topped version, later ones are even chambered to reduce weight (and increased resonance, but that's debatable).

If you are asking about Korean-built Hamer Slammers or Chinese XTs then I can't help but these are much inferior grade of instrument.

Look at the website below and follow links about the Standard and various catalogues.

[marcnorth]

Ahh right, so tell me, any differences in build quality between the 1st gen and the more recent ones? And what models did they do in either? Or was it always just the 'Hamer Standard? thanks

You can have some of your questions answered by going to this site:

http://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/guitar.htm

There's a lot of cool info and pics, it's well worth a vistit or 2

edit to add:

Andrew beat me to it, go check it out.

[Lefty Adams]

thank you gents!