oloboy Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 Can anyone comment on the tonal differences of these two models?
django49 Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 Well, to start, the Artist is a partially chambered shorter scale guitar. Really more like a lighter weight solid body. The Monaco is hollow (more accurately, I guess, semi-hollow, as it has the block in the middle where the pickups are mounted). It has a bigger body and a longer scale. And (at least typically) has a Bigsby.At risk of a cliche, the Artist feels more Rock, the Monaco more Rockabilly. Both good, but different critters.
Disturber Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 The Monaco III is super articulate, it's long scale and has two tone chambers with F-holes. It also has a spruce top. It's a rock, blues machine like no other. But it also has a beautiful clean tone. It sounds BIG. Take a chord, KRAAAAAANNGG, rings forever. Note defenition to die for, (if you are in to that). The Artist P90 mahogany is a rawk machine. With a good set of P90s in it it will rival a good old vintage JR. It has a warmer tone, not the same articulate defenition as the MIII, but it sure kicks but. It feels very different to play, as it's short scale. Very comfortable, great access to the upper frets. They are cousins, but still two sides to a coin. The MIII is the elegant rocker, the mahogany Artist P90 is it's troublesome Little brother. You need both, and you know it. Seriously, the MIII is the finest guitar Hamer ever designed, totally unique. But the Artist is one of the finest work horses you can find. A great bang for the buck. edit: the MIII is not a rockabilly guitar. Want rockabilly? Go with the Newport with Phat Cats, that is Hamer's take on a great rockabilly sound.
guitaround Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 It has been said a lot .. the MIII is like a "strat on steroids", it really sounds BIG (and it is a bit "big and heavy" itself).My workhorse guitar is a wraptail Artist with P-rails and tripleshot mount rings.... you can play nearly everything with that guitar, but it never sounds "stratish" like the MII does.
oloboy Posted February 10, 2014 Author Posted February 10, 2014 Thanks for the feedback. I played a Reverend 3 p90 guitar at a store and was shocked how Strat it sounded. I've been long term gassing for a Strat and a p90 junior as well as a semi-hollow to round out my guitars (Tele and Studio Custom). Then I remembered the MIII. Three birds/one stone....kinda.
cynic Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 A very nice MIII should be available in the FS section any day now.
LordsoftheJungle Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 A very nice MIII should be available in the FS section any day now.Yikes, I did not need to see that,,, I've bought at least 4 MIIIs over the years only to let them go so I could buy something else. I'm sure I will buy another at some point.So, with regard to the Korina III, has anybody dropped some Lollars into the thing? I've always been a fan of the Lollar balance and chime but maybe the semi-hollowness and body wood of the KIII is begging for the rock-n-roll pups. I do have some noiseless Fralins and a TV Jones Classic+ soapbar bridge I might stick in there too....edit to add note for OP:The MIII is all that has been said and more, great guitar, depending on the music you play you might consider going with a set of Lollars which have more of a vintage thing going and sound nice for clean stuff...
anotherfreak Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 Has there ever been one with Crowns instead of vics?
django49 Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 Per above, Lollar P90s on the Monaco III do tend to "tame the beast" a bit. Still can rock, but I like the sounds (five good ones, IMO) a bit better.TV Jones might be cool, but I have 3 in the "Filtertron" (to the upper left).
oloboy Posted February 10, 2014 Author Posted February 10, 2014 Oh boy, asking questions is morphing into want! Seems most of the MIII are natural or red. Both look good but I have 2 electrics (both red), a jazz bass, acoustic and uke (all natural). I'd love to find a different color. Were many made outside of these two finishes?
LordsoftheJungle Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 Per above, Lollar P90s on the Monaco III do tend to "tame the beast" a bit. Still can rock, but I like the sounds (five good ones, IMO) a bit better. TV Jones might be cool, but I have 3 in the "Filtertron" (to the upper left). Oh sure, rub it in! When are you gonna sell that back to me anyways?
Feynman Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 A very nice MIII should be available in the FS section any day now.Wow! That one has some elegant and tasteful mods!I think it might look better with gold hardware though.
Feynman Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 But, but.....this one - OMG. What the heck is that? Ebony? Lollars? A guy would be a fool to let one like that go. The Harmonic Design VP90 are also a very fine set of pickups.
LordsoftheJungle Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 That's the best spec'd MIII ever IMO, only the King of Fools or a promiscuous guitar freak would let that go! The Harmonic Designs and Biltoft's Virtual Vintage are on my radar too. But, but.....this one - OMG. What the heck is that? Ebony? Lollars? A guy would be a fool to let one like that go. The Harmonic Design VP90 are also a very fine set of pickups.
Pieman Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 I think Elduave had a black - - really black - - one a few years ago. Anybody else recall that?How wide is the guitar body? There are no specs at the older Hamer Guitars website?
cmatthes Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 The Elduave one is one of my "Grail" guitars, should it ever turn up somewhere. I played it at a rehearsal one night and it just KILLED mine. I'll dig around for a gig pic or something somewhere. Edit - here: This is me coveting that M3:
Feynman Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 How wide is the guitar body? There are no specs at the older Hamer Guitars website?Roughly 13 and 3/4 inches.That's the best spec'd MIII ever IMO, only the King of Fools or a promiscuous guitar freak would let that go!I agree. I am really enjoying my new Baker B3 Fire with Lollars though. It's hard to find goldtops with P90s.
cmatthes Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 I agree. I am really enjoying my new Baker B3 Fire with Lollars though. It's hard to find goldtops with P90s.
django49 Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 Not 'zackly the same thing, but goldtops with P90s are a great combination......
django49 Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 Per above, Lollar P90s on the Monaco III do tend to "tame the beast" a bit. Still can rock, but I like the sounds (five good ones, IMO) a bit better. TV Jones might be cool, but I have 3 in the "Filtertron" (to the upper left). Oh sure, rub it in! When are you gonna sell that back to me anyways? No rush over here.....My usual mantra, I have at least 8-10 on the "out the door, eventually, list" before that one. But when the time comes, I know how to get a hold of you.
django49 Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 Echo on the way a 'burst fits that guitar.....But I am inclined to think the lighter color pickup covers work better, as per above pix. OTOH, with the tortoise binding.......Guess I'd better learn to live with it.
cmatthes Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 Here's MINE, in a color other than Red or Natural (I came THIS close to ordering it with crowns): Rocketeria special: Ebony board, 4 ply binding all around, bound F-holes, gold hardware, custom Cadillac Green finish. I think I drove 'em a little nuts trying to get the color right, but they did on the third try! I ran out of budget before the upcharge for crowns and Filtertrons...
polara Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 I agree. I am really enjoying my new Baker B3 Fire with Lollars though. It's hard to find goldtops with P90s. You do understand that I'm now jealous to a completely irrational degree. Geordie Walker of Killing Joke is an all-time favorite guitarist and that one has his ES 295 vibe down even though it's also totally different.
LordsoftheJungle Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 I agree. I am really enjoying my new Baker B3 Fire with Lollars though. It's hard to find goldtops with P90s.Ouch! If it wasn't for these fantastic pictures this would be the worst HFC thread ever!
anotherfreak Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 ...my left nut for one like this with Crowns
veatch Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 Green sparkle for the win....and i'm a big fan of jazzburst...
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oloboy
Can anyone comment on the tonal differences of these two models?
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