Howdy and Question on Monaco Elite

[berussell]

Hi there,

This is my first post on the Hamer Forum. Glad to be aboard so to speak, but haven't bought my first Hamer yet.

Locally there is a "royal blue finish" Monaco Elite at Elderly Instruments http://elderly.com/vintage/items/30U-18657.htm

- Is this in fact a Monaco Elite? Cannot find another example of a blue one by searches.

- Clearly it's been on the site a while and no comments here (I looked first :^) Is there a reason for no interest.

- I picked it up, it is nice and light, I did like the tone. I put it back since I don't walk around with $1550+tax in my pants.

Thanks for any insights, amd appreciate being on this site with some Hamer fans.

- B

[MCChris]

Welcome! Big fan of Elderly Instruments; it and the place in Frandor (can't recall the name) were the local shops to where I went to college in East Lansing.

It is an Elite. Says so right on the truss rod cover, although someone could have changed it. Not in this case, though.

It's priced a tad over market value, but it's on consignment, so that's on the owner. It's also blue, which isn't an extremely popular color. It's also a single-cut Hamer, and therefore a bit of an oddity, so guitarists aren't clamoring for them.

[ghamerinfrance]

A warm welcome first and good luck in your search for a pant with 1500 USD within equipped

Fortunately, it rarely happens especially on visit within a music outlet.

Good luck on your quest..Gilles

PS If you have a brand for pants equipped, I am in for the information

[hamerhead]

Welcome.

That's indigo (and my favorite Hamer color). The price is a little high, but a Les Paul that good is twice the money.

Make an offer. What's the worse that could happen?

[Montelovesco]

Welcome to the club! It will take you to places - and states of mind - you never heard or even dreamed of... :-)

I love my Elite, but I like the indigo color, too. About the price: Guess the others are right. A bit high (for the States). Make an offer. I do not know were the HFC approved limit is, but I would say 1.300 and lower is good...

[berussell]

Thanks for the warm welcome! Gilles, if I end up with two pair of $1500 pants I'll mail you the second one. As for the "what's the worst that could happen", I forgot to mention I'm married. I still may get up there and make an offer. It keeps calling my name lol.

[bcsride]

I think $1500 is pretty fair. Blue is rare and I suppose you could make Elderly set it up like you like it.

[hamerhead]

....As for the "what's the worst that could happen", I forgot to mention I'm married......

The trick is to keep the door revolving so fast she loses track.

[bubs_42]

....As for the "what's the worst that could happen", I forgot to mention I'm married......

The trick is to keep the door revolving so fast she loses track.

Buy Greasable Bearings for that door, I had my door get stuck open one time. It's like putting two rabbits in a room together, next thing you know your a rabbit farmer!

[dhuber]

3 years ago I bid pretty close to $1400 for a Mint Blue Elite just like that one. Once I placed my bid I was only a few dollars below the only other bid and not the regular $25 dollar difference. One more bid and it would have been mine. I backed down. Blue is a great color IMO. I was watching another mint Tobacco Burst Elite on Ebay 2 weeks ago. I think it was BIN for $1500. It disappeared from eBay and my watch list. I wonder who ended up with it. That was a beauty too. I have no idea what Hamer's are actually worth. I can tell you that's the real deal but his information is wrong. It's a 24 3/4 scale guitar not 25 1/2. If that thing is a solid body it's going to be close to 10 lbs too. If I had money in my pocket and was looking for an Elite I'd go as high as $1400 on it. That's just me. Too bad he did not cut out the middle guy and list it hear. I think it would disappear quickly at $1400.

I just noticed a 10% discount code on the page. I don't know if that's for consignment deals but that would knock it down to $1400.

[berussell]

Yep,I got excited about the 10% discount option but alas not on consignment items. I do like its color, everyone has their own taste I guess. (Buddy was drooling over his PRS Blue Crab Smoke Burst or some such - not my favorite) If nothing else this gives me a good reason to drive up to Elderly again

Now what to trade? Anyone enjoy a classic hollowbody Kay electric from the 60's?

Thanks for all the views!

- B

[Ting Ho Dung]

....As for the "what's the worst that could happen", I forgot to mention I'm married......

The trick is to keep the door revolving so fast she loses track.

Works around here like that.

Welcome. And, awesome guitar. It's a buyers market so make him an offer. Monels rule.

[stratacus]

There's a nice one on Rochester CL for $1400. No affiliation.

[memphis]

I think that blue Monaco is just killer! Everyone needs one blue guitar!!

[atquinn]

I think that blue Monaco is just killer! Everyone needs one blue guitar!!

Word:

And, MCC, you're thinking of Marshall Music in Frandor. When I was a kid I took piano lessons and guitar lessons there (for a year before I switched over to Eldery). Don't know if it's still there?

-

Austin

[berussell]

Marshall Music is still around, I visit the Allen Park shop once in a while. I don't know if the Lansing store is still there. Googling "Frandor" and "guitar" brings up GC. But there is a hit for Marshall on Saginaw st.

I will say that in Lansing, I'm drawn directly to Elderly. It's the one thing I can find by using The Force rather than The GPS.

- B

P.S. Nice pic shot, atquinn

[berussell]

So imagine this... I find my pants with the $1500, head up to Elderly today to buy an Indigo Hamer Monaco Elite. Apparently, it sold via email by this morning. (I arrived at 5pm local time). All right - which of you seabiscuits pulled the trigger before I did?! I'm frustrated of course. But I did find those fancy pants. Gilles - I'm sorry but have only found one pair so far :^).

- B

I guess the cloud's silver lining is this: I still have hunting money. Should I keep searching for another Monaco Elite, or...?

[ghamerinfrance]

Do not worry too much, there will be other Monaco Elite around, I am sure...and you may envisage Artist Custom as well ( for more or less the same price and quality).

I think Willcut does still have some Monaco Elite as well (even if I even do not know in the US where Willcut is based...)

Good luck, as the play, the quest for the instrument and the joy to find it is as pleasant as the play itself. No ?

[bcsride]

So imagine this... I find my pants with the $1500, head up to Elderly today to buy an Indigo Hamer Monaco Elite. Apparently, it sold via email by this morning. (I arrived at 5pm local time). All right - which of you seabiscuits pulled the trigger before I did?! I'm frustrated of course. But I did find those fancy pants. Gilles - I'm sorry but have only found one pair so far :^).

- B

I guess the cloud's silver lining is this: I still have hunting money. Should I keep searching for another Monaco Elite, or...?

Monaco Elites, Artist Customs, and Studio Customs show up for less than $1500 - but you won't see a blue Monaco Elite for a long time.

[berussell]

Do not worry too much, there will be other Monaco Elite around, I am sure...and you may envisage Artist Custom as well ( for more or less the same price and quality).

I think Willcut does still have some Monaco Elite as well (even if I even do not know in the US where Willcut is based...)

Good luck, as the play, the quest for the instrument and the joy to find it is as pleasant as the play itself. No ?

Yes, the hunt was enjoyable. But it's a bit like almost asking out that girl in high school. Just as you work up your nerve, someone else is there first. And then you are sure she was the one for you lol. (I'll get over it I'm sure).

So imagine this... I find my pants with the $1500, head up to Elderly today to buy an Indigo Hamer Monaco Elite. Apparently, it sold via email by this morning. (I arrived at 5pm local time). All right - which of you seabiscuits pulled the trigger before I did?! I'm frustrated of course. But I did find those fancy pants. Gilles - I'm sorry but have only found one pair so far :^).

- B

I guess the cloud's silver lining is this: I still have hunting money. Should I keep searching for another Monaco Elite, or...?

Monaco Elites, Artist Customs, and Studio Customs show up for less than $1500 - but you won't see a blue Monaco Elite for a long time.

...now you tell me! Thanks for your good comments even so . It does help to think of other similar styles. I particularly liked its sound (yeah), but overall lightness and good looks.

- B

Now - Hope everyone has a good Father's Day.

[KofSeattle]

Oh boy, as much as I hate to admit it, I think I am the culprit here. I was scouring the internet for an Artist on Friday night and came across a Blue Hamer Monaco in a google search while looking for the Artist if my dreams. Didn't even know that blue ones existed. I figured it was just another old out of date web page but it had a "buy" button so I gave it a go. Apparently, I bought the guitar you were looking at. Looks like I owe you a cold one and an apology amigo. Sorry to have bought out from under another HFC member, I didn't know. I saw this post and thought "oh, S**T". Sorry man. It was not intentional.

[berussell]

No real apology necessary. I'm bummed, but if we could all put a "hold" on the items we want, it would just stop up the works. Take good care of it, and let me know if you ever need to send it to a new home! It looks to be a good one that you're getting.

- B

[bcsride]

I think $1500 is pretty fair. Blue is rare and I suppose you could make Elderly set it up like you like it.

Do not worry too much, there will be other Monaco Elite around, I am sure...and you may envisage Artist Custom as well ( for more or less the same price and quality).

I think Willcut does still have some Monaco Elite as well (even if I even do not know in the US where Willcut is based...)

Good luck, as the play, the quest for the instrument and the joy to find it is as pleasant as the play itself. No ?

Yes, the hunt was enjoyable. But it's a bit like almost asking out that girl in high school. Just as you work up your nerve, someone else is there first. And then you are sure she was the one for you lol. (I'll get over it I'm sure).

So imagine this... I find my pants with the $1500, head up to Elderly today to buy an Indigo Hamer Monaco Elite. Apparently, it sold via email by this morning. (I arrived at 5pm local time). All right - which of you seabiscuits pulled the trigger before I did?! I'm frustrated of course. But I did find those fancy pants. Gilles - I'm sorry but have only found one pair so far :^).

- B

I guess the cloud's silver lining is this: I still have hunting money. Should I keep searching for another Monaco Elite, or...?

Monaco Elites, Artist Customs, and Studio Customs show up for less than $1500 - but you won't see a blue Monaco Elite for a long time.

...now you tell me! Thanks for your good comments even so . It does help to think of other similar styles. I particularly liked its sound (yeah), but overall lightness and good looks.

- B

Now - Hope everyone has a good Father's Day.

I did mention that blue was rare.

But glad it stayed in the HFC.

Enjoy.

[berussell]

bcsride, yeah you did mention it was a rare color. I'm wallowing here, help me out lol. Good indeed that it stays in the HFC family. Didn't mean to deny you, just wishing, right.

- B

[bcsride]

bcsride, yeah you did mention it was a rare color. I'm wallowing here, help me out lol. Good indeed that it stays in the HFC family. Didn't mean to deny you, just wishing, right.

- B

Don’t want to add to your anguish. Hang in there. If you’d take a blue Studio, those show up every now and then. I’ve never played a Monaco Elite, so I can’t comment on how different or similar they are to a Studio in feel or tone. I did own a Monaco III. Fantastic guitar. Completely different then a Monaco Elite or Studio though.

[Montelovesco]

Oh boy, as much as I hate to admit it, I think I am the culprit here. I was scouring the internet for an Artist on Friday night and came across a Blue Hamer Monaco in a google search while looking for the Artist if my dreams. Didn't even know that blue ones existed. I figured it was just another old out of date web page but it had a "buy" button so I gave it a go. Apparently, I bought the guitar you were looking at. Looks like I owe you a cold one and an apology amigo. Sorry to have bought out from under another HFC member, I didn't know. I saw this post and thought "oh, S**T". Sorry man. It was not intentional.

Style, man. Respect for that post.