Was "Hameritis" ever cured?

[Thundersteel]

I was playing my 2008 Studio Custom yesterday, and while I was wiping it down after I was done, I noticed a couple areas by the neck joint where it seems the finish is beginning to lift off. I thought Hameritis wasn't present on the "newer" models? Since Hamer is no more, do I have any recourse? Should I be concerned?

[MCChris]

This is why I never wipe down my guitars.

[veatch]

I could be wrong, but i thought F'er was still honoring the warranties on the Hamer line.

[cynic]

Was this ever considered a warranty issue on a five year old instrument?

[Mr Fuzzy]

I solved the "problem" by not giving a shit.

In a world where people pay more for fake beat up guitars, I find the "problem" laughable at best.

But, everyone has their dragons to chase. So YMMV

Seriously, you want a guitar as an art piece to hang on the wall or to play?

The "issue" is not structural.

It is something you really should not be concerned of.
Though if i really bugs you a skilled hand, some superglue and a syringe can remedy it visually.

Why is it somone can buy a old piece of shit beat up "vintage" guitar and claim mojo and magic, based more on age than the realities of function. But on a new guitar one little visual flaw gets hairs running up peoples asses?

[cmatthes]

It's never been a warranty covered item, as I recall, but I could be recalling incorrectly.

It's typically a pretty simple fix - I've done it myself, even though it never bothered to begin with - but to Mr. Fuzzy's point, if somebody is spending $3k on a new guitar, I'd think they'd be well within their rights to bitch about something like that.

Buying a used guitar? Ah - just deal with it!

[gorch]

Easy fix. Sell it and buy it back. It's used then.

[Thundersteel]

The "issue" is not structural.

It is something you really should not be concerned of.

Thanks. I won't worry any more about it.

[Steve Haynie]

Hameritis is one of the ways we can authenticate an original Hamer finish. Think about it-- has anyone come up with a way to replicate Hameritis when creating a Hamer knock-off?

Where is that "serious" smiley?

[LucSulla]

It's typically a pretty simple fix - I've done it myself, even though it never bothered to begin with - but to Mr. Fuzzy's point, if somebody is spending $3k on a new guitar, I'd think they'd be well within their rights to bitch about something like that.

I agree with that. Just because some people pay for that worn look straight from the factory, that doesn't mean that we all like it. I personally can't stand it and would be pissed if I had bought a new Hamer and the finish started hazing and flecking off. Minor hameritis on a used guitar doesn't bother may one bit, but had I bought one new and it happened...

[HSB0531]

Hameritis is one of the ways we can authenticate an original Hamer finish. Think about it-- has anyone come up with a way to replicate Hameritis when creating a Hamer knock-off?

Where is that "serious" smiley?

Brilliant !!

[HSB0531]

It's typically a pretty simple fix - I've done it myself, even though it never bothered to begin with - but to Mr. Fuzzy's point, if somebody is spending $3k on a new guitar, I'd think they'd be well within their rights to bitch about something like that.

I agree with that. Just because some people pay for that worn look straight from the factory, that doesn't mean that we all like it. I personally can't stand it and would be pissed if I had bought a new Hamer and the finish started hazing and flecking off. Minor hameritis on a used guitar doesn't bother may one bit, but had I bought one new and it happened...

I agree with all of the above.

[hamerhead]

Hameritis is one of the ways we can authenticate an original Hamer finish. Think about it-- has anyone come up with a way to replicate Hameritis when creating a Hamer knock-off?

Where is that "serious" smiley?

I bet Ed Roman could've.

[JohnnyB]

I see two types of finish separation called "Hameritis." One occurs on Arlington-era instruments along the sides of the fretboard, where finish raises and flakes off the rosewood or ebony. Given the high oil content of these woods, his area should probably have masked off and unfinished and should probably be buffed off. End of problem.

The second kind occurs at the neck/body joint where the finish (or clear coat) lifts slightly. Has anybody seen this happen on single cut guitars? Isn't this what happens when unyielding polyester finish is applied to a neck joined to a double-cut body at the 21st fret? This wouldn't happen to a nitrocellulose finish which is softer and maintains some flexibility. It also may account for PRS's oversized neck heel. I consider it the nature of the beast. There is a fix for it if you want to have a luthier modify your guitar a little bit:

[gorch]

I see two types of finish separation called "Hameritis." One occurs on Arlington-era instruments along the sides of the fretboard, where finish raises and flakes off the rosewood or ebony. Given the high oil content of these woods, his area should probably have masked off and unfinished and should probably be buffed off. End of problem. The second kind occurs at the neck/body joint where the finish (or clear coat) lifts slightly. Has anybody seen this happen on single cut guitars? Isn't this what happens when unyielding polyester finish is applied to a neck joined to a double-cut body at the 21st fret? This wouldn't happen to a nitrocellulose finish which is softer and maintains some flexibility. It also may account for PRS's oversized neck heel. I consider it the nature of the beast. There is a fix for it if you want to have a luthier modify your guitar a little bit:

Never show this model to Rick Nielsen. He would attach a batch of pics to the the handle.

[HSB0531]

Hameritis is one of the ways we can authenticate an original Hamer finish. Think about it-- has anyone come up with a way to replicate Hameritis when creating a Hamer knock-off?

Where is that "serious" smiley?

I bet Ed Roman could've.

Yes!

He absolutely could have!!

[Mr Fuzzy]

It's never been a warranty covered item, as I recall, but I could be recalling incorrectly.

It's typically a pretty simple fix - I've done it myself, even though it never bothered to begin with - but to Mr. Fuzzy's point, if somebody is spending $3k on a new guitar, I'd think they'd be well within their rights to bitch about something like that.

Buying a used guitar? Ah - just deal with it!

I get that, but is a 2008, a 5 year old guitar really New?

Now if this appeared in 2008. Then bitch away.

But seriously 5 years? New?

I apparently live in an alternate reality.

[veatch]

Hameritis makes the guitar sound better. Repeat that enough, it will be true.

[cmatthes]

It's never been a warranty covered item, as I recall, but I could be recalling incorrectly.

It's typically a pretty simple fix - I've done it myself, even though it never bothered to begin with - but to Mr. Fuzzy's point, if somebody is spending $3k on a new guitar, I'd think they'd be well within their rights to bitch about something like that.

Buying a used guitar? Ah - just deal with it!

I get that, but is a 2008, a 5 year old guitar really New?

Now if this appeared in 2008. Then bitch away.

But seriously 5 years? New?

I apparently live in an alternate reality.

If you are the original purchaser, it is just NOW appearing, and the warranty period is sufficient, than why not? "New" has little to do with it if it is a potentially covered manufacturing flaw.

My point is, if you purchased a very expensive custom order v. a used/preowned guitar (where the warranty doesn't transfer), you'd have every right to be pissed - no matter whether you live in Mr. Fuzzy's alternative universe or not.

[Mr Fuzzy]

It's never been a warranty covered item, as I recall, but I could be recalling incorrectly.

It's typically a pretty simple fix - I've done it myself, even though it never bothered to begin with - but to Mr. Fuzzy's point, if somebody is spending $3k on a new guitar, I'd think they'd be well within their rights to bitch about something like that.

Buying a used guitar? Ah - just deal with it!

I get that, but is a 2008, a 5 year old guitar really New?

Now if this appeared in 2008. Then bitch away.

But seriously 5 years? New?

I apparently live in an alternate reality.

If you are the original purchaser, it is just NOW appearing, and the warranty period is sufficient, than why not? "New" has little to do with it if it is a potentially covered manufacturing flaw.

My point is, if you purchased a very expensive custom order v. a used/preowned guitar (where the warranty doesn't transfer), you'd have every right to be pissed - no matter whether you live in Mr. Fuzzy's alternative universe or not.

Yes, in my alternate reality I forget the world is filled with people who need to address insignificant flaws.

Cause they PAID motherfucker, thats right, I spent really fucking gooood money on a guitar that now has visual flaws that appeared 5 years after I bought it. So I am pisssssed. (even though it has nothing to do with sound and function)

This "issue" is aimed at a company that is no more, that supposedly, maybe, possibly, is covered by the new parent entity.

Ship your guitar off for months to find out.

I love to see how that works out.

Personally I think someone who has not dinged or scratched their guitar in 5 years and is worried about "Hameritis" is a bedroom poser. (could be an excellent player, but... get you ass out on a stage and ding your guitar!) Sorry, I am a dick, and a colossal asshole, a douchebag and crass MF as well. I freely admit that.

But really?

Most warranties cover function not cosmetic.

Complaining about this may be mentally justified, but in my reality persuing it as a warranty issue seems a bit futile.

BTW I own 11 Hamers. (2 custom) I have a few "New" ones I bought that now have "Hameritis" and I do not care. Why? Because I play them and have dinged some and scratched a few way before hameritis set in. Others have remained flawless because sometimes I am not a spazz.

But the reality we all live in is that Hamer is no more and warrenty issues are well... a waste of time, energy and emotion.

I guess the question is what do "you" own, or want to own? An art piece or a guitar? Hang on a wall or hang it on your shoulder.

This issue sounds like people who buy shoes from LL Bean and walk in them for 5 years and complain they wear out and want them replaced for free. Under Warranty.

Basically what I am saying is "lighten up Francis"... and play your guitar. If the sweet sounds don't cure the Hameritis, you are in the wrong game.

[Stike]

The second kind occurs at the neck/body joint where the finish (or clear coat) lifts slightly. Has anybody seen this happen on single cut guitars? Isn't this what happens when unyielding polyester finish is applied to a neck joined to a double-cut body at the 21st fret? This wouldn't happen to a nitrocellulose finish which is softer and maintains some flexibility.

Nitro. is actually fairly brittle unless it's that stuff Gibson has been using for a few years now. Hameritis is the color coat not adhering to and delaminating from the sealer coat. I'm sure the folks who were(are) there can correct any misinformation on my part as I'm going on answers to questions I had at the last open house. When they stopped using nitro. 92ish the sealer and top coat clear was a catalyzed urethane from Lawrence McFadden. LMF called it "Urethane Guitar Lacquer" (because of it's "Lacquer like drying times") and Jol refered to it as Urelac-the tech guy at LMF told me there's no lacquer in it. Early on they were still using nitro. for the colors and later PPG basecoat paint. The issue is that neither one chemically bonds with the sealer coats, they are just relying on the sanding scratches from when the sealer was leveled for a mechanical bond. Trouble is neither one is great as a first coat over a sanded substrate. With nitro. if there's a nitro. based sealer there's will be a chemical bond and in most basecoat/clearcoat systems some type of catalyzed primer(epoxy/urethane) that has a good "grip" is sprayed on the sanded substrate and the basecoat color and subsequent clears form a more cohesive film.

[sonic1974]

It's never been a warranty covered item, as I recall, but I could be recalling incorrectly.

It's typically a pretty simple fix - I've done it myself, even though it never bothered to begin with - but to Mr. Fuzzy's point, if somebody is spending $3k on a new guitar, I'd think they'd be well within their rights to bitch about something like that.

Buying a used guitar? Ah - just deal with it!

How did you fix it, what's the process? Thanks!

[ceeb]

Fix = inject some super glue in there with a syringe

[cmatthes]

It's never been a warranty covered item, as I recall, but I could be recalling incorrectly.

It's typically a pretty simple fix - I've done it myself, even though it never bothered to begin with - but to Mr. Fuzzy's point, if somebody is spending $3k on a new guitar, I'd think they'd be well within their rights to bitch about something like that.

Buying a used guitar? Ah - just deal with it!

I get that, but is a 2008, a 5 year old guitar really New?

Now if this appeared in 2008. Then bitch away.

But seriously 5 years? New?

I apparently live in an alternate reality.

If you are the original purchaser, it is just NOW appearing, and the warranty period is sufficient, than why not? "New" has little to do with it if it is a potentially covered manufacturing flaw.

My point is, if you purchased a very expensive custom order v. a used/preowned guitar (where the warranty doesn't transfer), you'd have every right to be pissed - no matter whether you live in Mr. Fuzzy's alternative universe or not.

Yes, in my alternate reality I forget the world is filled with people who need to address insignificant flaws.

Cause they PAID motherfucker, thats right, I spent really fucking gooood money on a guitar that now has visual flaws that appeared 5 years after I bought it. So I am pisssssed. (even though it has nothing to do with sound and function)

This "issue" is aimed at a company that is no more, that supposedly, maybe, possibly, is covered by the new parent entity.

Ship your guitar off for months to find out.

I love to see how that works out.

Personally I think someone who has not dinged or scratched their guitar in 5 years and is worried about "Hameritis" is a bedroom poser. (could be an excellent player, but... get you ass out on a stage and ding your guitar!) Sorry, I am a dick, and a colossal asshole, a douchebag and crass MF as well. I freely admit that.

But really?

Most warranties cover function not cosmetic.

Complaining about this may be mentally justified, but in my reality persuing it as a warranty issue seems a bit futile.

BTW I own 11 Hamers. (2 custom) I have a few "New" ones I bought that now have "Hameritis" and I do not care. Why? Because I play them and have dinged some and scratched a few way before hameritis set in. Others have remained flawless because sometimes I am not a spazz.

But the reality we all live in is that Hamer is no more and warrenty issues are well... a waste of time, energy and emotion.

I guess the question is what do "you" own, or want to own? An art piece or a guitar? Hang on a wall or hang it on your shoulder.

This issue sounds like people who buy shoes from LL Bean and walk in them for 5 years and complain they wear out and want them replaced for free. Under Warranty.

Basically what I am saying is "lighten up Francis"... and play your guitar. If the sweet sounds don't cure the Hameritis, you are in the wrong game.

Looks like reading comprehension isn't your strong suit...Francis!

[Caddie]

Hameritis is one of the ways we can authenticate an original Hamer finish. Think about it-- has anyone come up with a way to replicate Hameritis when creating a Hamer knock-off?

Where is that "serious" smiley?

Amen my brother. Its the Watermark, Birthmark if you will, of an Authentic, Gen-yew-ine, Made in the USA, HAMER! Its one of the ways we Hamerphiles can tell the diff between a Hamer USA and a Made in Korea (or Indonesia or Bangladesh or where ever) Hamer Slammer or Hamer XT.

caddie