straightblues Posted March 16, 2005 Posted March 16, 2005 Just bought a 2002 Newport with Phat Cats. I have had an import Echotone for several years and love it to death. Thought I should try out a Hamer USA. Is there anything I should know? Any setup tricks, etc.
Gabe Posted March 16, 2005 Posted March 16, 2005 Welcome to the club. As we all only know about USA Hamer guitars we want to hear from you what the difference qualitywise and soundwise is between the Import Echotone and the real deal Newport. I hope there is a difference..... Gabe
Guest galejt Posted March 16, 2005 Posted March 16, 2005 Just bought a 2002 Newport with Phat Cats. Is there anything I should know? Well... In addition to being a Gentleman and a scholar, you are now one of the fortunate few. Welcome. What color and pics please.
straightblues Posted March 16, 2005 Author Posted March 16, 2005 It is natural. I don't have it yet. It will be here on Monday. Can't wait.My Korean made Echotone is very nice. I have it totally mod'ed out. I put Jason Lollar P90 dogear pickups in it with CTS pots, it has a bone nut, Grover Imperial tuners, a Nashville bridge light weight alluminum tail piece, and Q Parts knobs. If the Newport sounds and plays as good or better, and I expect that it will, I will be a very happy man. With all of the mods, I have about $550 in the Echotone. It is a great guitar in its current state.The Hamer Imports are very nice guitars and they can be had very cheap. Don't overlook them. I came very close to buying a import Standard the day before I scored the Newport.
hamerhead Posted March 17, 2005 Posted March 17, 2005 I have a Echotone, too, and love it.But the difference between USA and MIK Hamers is night and day. If you love the MIKs, your new Newport will replace your Viagra.Oh BTW - Welcome!
DavidE Posted March 17, 2005 Posted March 17, 2005 Did you get the one off Ebay from the pawn shop? It won't be minty fresh, but it sure looked cool!
straightblues Posted March 17, 2005 Author Posted March 17, 2005 Did you get the one off Ebay from the pawn shop? It won't be minty fresh, but it sure looked cool! Yeah I did get the one off Ebay from the Pawn Shop. I have wanted a Newport for some time and put in a bid that was low and got it. I am only paying $801 total including shipping. I figure I can easily get my money back if I don't like. Yes it looks like it will need to get cleaned up and it is missing a truss rod cover. The previous own also installed Sperzel locking tuners. I have a set of Grover Imperial Rotomatic (like the orginals) already to go if the Sperzels aren't working well. I sent an email to Hamer to get a replacement truss rod cover today. I can't wait to get it.
DavidE Posted March 17, 2005 Posted March 17, 2005 The Sperzel's should help with string changes. Bigsbys can be a bitch to restring. I put Grover locking tuners on mine and I'd be happier with Sperzels. The originals aren't Grover Imperials, but regular grovers with art deco style knobs.I hope you like it as much as I like my orange sparkle one!
straightblues Posted March 17, 2005 Author Posted March 17, 2005 The Sperzel's should help with string changes. Bigsbys can be a bitch to restring. I put Grover locking tuners on mine and I'd be happier with Sperzels. The originals aren't Grover Imperials, but regular grovers with art deco style knobs.I hope you like it as much as I like my orange sparkle one! This is my first Bigsby guitar. I have been playing for more than 20 years. I have heard stories and now I am about to learn first hand. Any tips?Also, I have the right Grovers tuners I know they aren't the standard Grover Imperials they are the Grover Super Rotomatics with Imperial art deco knobs. They are the same ones I have on my Echotone.
jwhitcomb3 Posted March 17, 2005 Posted March 17, 2005 I was actively watching that auction. It shot up more tha $100 in the last minute!Cool guitar! I love my Newport. I played it for about an hour last night. There are so many cool sounds you can get out of it and it plays like a dream. If I ever had to thin out my Hamer collection I think it would be the last to go.-Jonathan
JES1680 Posted March 17, 2005 Posted March 17, 2005 I pre bend the strings over needle nose pliers to string the Bigsby, otherwise they tend to slip off the posts. If you've ever had to restring a Floyd, the Bigsby will a piece of cake.
burningyen Posted March 18, 2005 Posted March 18, 2005 I agree with pre-bending the ball ends to make stringing the tailpiece easier, but you don't really need pliers for that. I do it by hand, and it works just fine.If you encounter tuning problems with the Bigsby, lubricate the nut slots and think about getting graphite bridge saddles.
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