becoming familiar with Hamer

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gmaslin

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Hello everyone. I recently played an SFX and liked it very much but was told they were not the best or most versatile Hamer so naturally, I became curious and ended up here. So. let's start with a feature set:

1. tapered/slim neck heel for easing high fret play and headstocks that don't angle strings to the nut.

2. great sound versatility that is coherent and familiar (ie: I hate most fat strats and prefer serial wired singles)

3. I prefer single coils but have played some very convincing split humbuckers so will not rule them out with a split circuit

4. I would like a generally high standard of build quality with action as low as I want it and comfortable, well seated edges

Now that I've described what I want, what should I be looking at?

 
You could fit a Hamer Mirage I with traditional single coils of your choice and have a Fender scale, mahogany/koa, set-neck with a sculpted heel.

Hamer_Mirage_front_body-1.jpg


Mirage_NJ.jpg


 
Veteren HFCer

That's lovely! Does it have a serial/parallel circuit option on the mini toggle or the usual Telemode (bridge/neck)?

Outer Circle

I couldn't find a pic of the neck heel from the back so if you can confirm that it's tapered, those would fit the criteria too with push/pull pots for options.

 
Pics and wirings are variable the guitar is a stable. So when the wood smokes for you, the rest should be easy to set up for your taste.

 
gmaslin said:
Hello everyone. I recently played an SFX and liked it very much but was told they were not the best or most versatile Hamer so naturally, I became curious and ended up here. So. let's start with a feature set:

1. tapered/slim neck heel for easing high fret play and headstocks that don't angle strings to the nut.

2. great sound versatility that is coherent and familiar (ie: I hate most fat strats and prefer serial wired singles)

3. I prefer single coils but have played some very convincing split humbuckers so will not rule them out with a split circuit

4. I would like a generally high standard of build quality with action as low as I want it and comfortable, well seated edges

Now that I've described what I want, what should I be looking at?
Click to expand...
Please note that the SFX you are clearly taken with is from the most economical line of the import range, if you buy anything USA made, it'll take your breath away /emoticons/default_ohmy.png

 
VeterenHFCer

Okay, I've never been a USA made snob. It would be shameful arrogance to presume the world has no luthiers equal to our own and we know many overseas factories have tools as good as ours so let's put together a short list in several categories:

Category A - Under $300 used, solid wood, tapered/slim heel, dual humbuckers with split circuit, (BH, BH/NH, NH, BR, BR/NF, BF/NR, NF)

Category B - Under $300 used, solid wood, tapered/slim heel, S/S/S with serial/parallel wiring

I'll stop here for now and study what's submitted.

 
Sorry. No arrogance at all here.

The USA made Hamers are simply light years better, all around. It's not snobbery, the woods are far superior, the guys doing the building are world class luthiers, not assembly line workers...it's a HUGE difference.

 
VeterenHFCer

Nice pictures but no names and do they fit the criteria above? I've heard the same opinion about domestic vs. import Fenders and it's exaggerated by my standards. I am more discriminating about functionality and tonal variety than appearance or snob appeal. For years my favorite guitar was a Korean plywood Stratocaster so don't be afraid to suggest anything on the fear that I will ridicule it.

 
As much as I like Hamers, I DO have a particular fondness for certain non-USA guitars. For better or worse, they start well over ten times that $300 bar.

All else aside, DO make an effort to try at least one Hamer USA.......They ARE great AND a value priced proposition.

 
gmaslin said:
VeterenHFCer

Okay, I've never been a USA made snob. It would be shameful arrogance to presume the world has no luthiers equal to our own and we know many overseas factories have tools as good as ours so let's put together a short list in several categories:

Category A - Under $300 used, solid wood, tapered/slim heel, dual humbuckers with split circuit, (BH, BH/NH, NH, BR, BR/NF, BF/NR, NF)

Category B - Under $300 used, solid wood, tapered/slim heel, S/S/S with serial/parallel wiring

I'll stop here for now and study what's submitted.
Click to expand...
SUBMITTED? Really? /emoticons/default_huh.png Sounds like unpaid work to me, especially when looking for a 'under $300 used' guitar for a four-post newbie. We're good at volunteering suggestions around here at the HFC, though. Especially when the magic word 'please' is used in requesting them.

 
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Jeez crunchee, maybe Engrish isn't his native language. Maybe he speaks TGP. Or LPF. Gotta cut the new guy some slack.

New guy - good luck finding all you want under $300. If you do, let us know! The Stellar 3 might be close, but nowhere near a USA Hamer.

(FYI - if you look just above and slightly to the left of 'Veteran HFCer' or 'Outer Circle', you'll find our actual screen names)

 
crunchee, django49, The Shark, cmatthes. Jem, gorch and cynic

None on my requests were meant as demands and I apologize if they appeared that way. I am clearly uninformed about the Hamer line and thought asking for suggestions of specific models within a price range that fit a feature set would have been a natural practice for those more familiar with them than myself. If the required attitude here is supplication then that is unfortunate for me because I don't do that well. So help if you want to but don't expect me to lick your balls.

 
You're not a real social butterfly, are you? You want help from the most knowledgeable Hamer people on the planet who are also some of the friendliest you'll find anywhere, but you're really coming off as a bit of a.....unfriendly person.

Lighten up. We'll help if you let us. Ball licking is optional.

 
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veatch

Thank you for emphasizing the one salty comment out of a paragraph of sense. I guess you missed the apology.

hamerhead

Try to not to conjecture anything about my social life. I assure you I can be quite charming but for some reason my introduction to this forum became negative. I will attempt to start over:

Hey guys, my name is Gina and I'm in NYC. I am a retired stripper (den mother) and I play guitar. I've dated rock stars and celebrities and I'm probably too smart for my own good but there are things I don't know anything about and that is why I'm here. I recently played a Hamer SFX with split coils that had an awesome tone gamut and so became interested in the brand. I have listed some features above that I like to have on my guitars for anyone that might be interested in helping me choose a guitar from the Hamer line. A Hamer Stellar was suggested above and that would seem a good place to start because it has a tapered/slim neck heel. What makes a Stellar better than a Slammer SP-1? It was also suggested that import Hamers or Slammers are far inferior to the US made models. Is this inferiority due to fitting, setup and workmanship or parts selection?

 
Hey Gina! Nice to have you here!

USA Hamers vs import Hamers is sorta like Volkswagen vs Rolls Royce: same sport, different league. If you ever have a chance to play a USA Hamer, you'll instantly see and feel the difference.

Generally speaking, the earliest imports are considered the best of the imports and say 'Slammer Series' under the Hamer logo. The Stellar model is among the second wave of imports (plain Hamer logo, nothing else), and are decent quality. The 'Slammers' are more recent and generally considered the worst of the bunch. Hamer has the most baffling naming system ever, so if you're at all confused you're right at home.

That's just a quick, broad overview. You came to the right place for answers. The search function might help you out, too.

 
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