Hamer Standard Made in Korea

[BigDaddyDRP]

Hey all,

Looking for some help.

I am looking into a Hamer Standard and came across a Korean made one for $425 w/Hard Case (Pictured below) and was wondering if this is a good price for this guitar. The serial # is 8081494 but I have not been able to find any info regarding Korean Serial Numbers.

Thanks for your help.

Dom

[BTMN]

IIRC, those are the Korean Duncan Distortion model Duncan Designed pickups. Back the tone off a hair, 1-2 spots, and you will get some growl.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

If they are Duncan Designed HB-103's, they are Korean made copies (with SD's permission) of Super Distortion (SH6) pickups. I thought I'd mentioned this before...

[albacore]

How can you tell what model the Duncan Designed pups are?

Matt

[gorch]

How can you tell what model the Duncan Designed pups are?

Matt

Go here: http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/duncan-designed/all/

[Toadroller]

Do you have any recommendation on vendors and prices for the '57 Classics. Also, would you suggest swapping out both PUP's or maybe just the bridge PUP.

I did both PUPs.

I only used '57 Classics because I got a fair deal from an HFC'r. You can probably find used ones on EVILBAY.

Another fellow HFC'r used GFS (GuitarFetish) A2's and was satisfied with the results - significantly cheaper, if cost is a factor. This was my original plan, but I couldn't pass up on the '57's.

I did swapped the originals for the GFS Alnico 2s. Definitely tamed the brightness of the maple and brought a lot of character into it. Plus it was a fun project. Mine looks like the exact same run. It was my first Hamer anything, and look at me now, four years later.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

How can you tell what model the Duncan Designed pups are?

Matt

They should have a sticker or an imprint on the underside...

[gorch]

Those are good pickups. My son runs them in his black creme Monaco XT.

[Crimsontider]

I wanted to do an experiment with tones in these MIK Standards to find what I liked best. I tested all my stock MIK Standards before any pickup swaps to make sure they all sounded the same so I could accurately compare them after the pickup swaps. They all sounded very similar. All of them had Duncan Designed 103's in the bridge, except one came with a Duncan Designed 102 in the bridge. Some I bought already modded, but I figured they must have sounded the same (pre-mod) because all my stock ones did.

So far, beside the stock pickups I have had the following Bridge Pickups in my MIK Standards:

Seymour Duncan SH-4 "JB"

Seymour Duncan SH-6 "Duncan Distortion"

Seymour Duncan SH-12 "Screamin Demon"

Dimarzio DP-155 "Tone Zone"

Dimarzio Super Distortion 3

I BY FAR prefer the SH-6.

I do not like the '57 Classics at all....you may love them. I never had them in a MIK Standard, but I have had them in several different Les Pauls. Depends on what tones you are trying to get. We all have different tastes and playing styles.

I rarely use the Neck Pickup.

I have a USA Standard that just sounded "meh" to me. I was kinda dissapointed with the sound and thought about selling it. But changed pickups to see if that would help. I put an SH-6 in the Bridge and a Pearly Gates in the Neck. It was one of those OH-MY-GOD! moments. This thing is a MONSTER. My search is over! It's my #1.

Great read on the different pickup's

This thread is a little old but I stumbled upon it in a google search. I agree that the SH-6's are perfect pup's for many of the good MIK imports, they seem to liven them up and get the best out of them. Many come with the Duncan Design HB-103's which many know are modeled after the SH-6. I upgraded one to SH-4(TB-4), and while it has a better clearer tone, it took away some of the personality of the guitar, it had a unique growl. So I agree that anyone wanting to upgrade an import with a HB-103 should consider the SH-6.

Anyone know the wood type of this import Special this thread is about? Mahogany or Maple?