Hello Noobie here, Echotone or ?

[AXEnGEAR4J]

Hello,

I was referred over from people on the Marshall Amp forum while discussing Hamer Guitars.

I took this guitar in with a trade with some other music gear and have grown very fond of it however I don't come up with any alike guitars when trying for find information.

Is this an Echotone? also I have never seen any with the block inlays only dot and curious what anyone where might be able to tell me about it. It was made in Korea.

[Sugartune]

'tis an Echotone. Not too sure about any variations though.

[hamerhead]

Yep - Echotone. Looks like swapped-out pickups. Most had dots and a stoptail. Not sure about the designation, but I've seen them like yours with crowns and the trapeze, but they're more rare.

If I ever got rid of mine, I'd get one like yours. The MIK ones are a great bang-for-the-buck 335 copy.

[tomteriffic]

Yep - Echotone. Looks like swapped-out pickups. Most had dots and a stoptail. Not sure about the designation, but I've seen them like yours with crowns and the trapeze, but they're more rare.

If I ever got rid of mine, I'd get one like yours. The MIK ones are a great bang-for-the-buck 335 copy.

^^^ This right here.

[JohnnyB]

This model is bound and crowned, with gold hardware and a trapeze tail. Note that there are no stoptail plugs to indicate a post-sale mod.

If you Google around a bit, you'll find mention of an Echotone Custom, of which not many (by Korean mass-production standards) were made.

Here's another. Note that the seller mentions it originally had gold hardware and humbuckers.

[gorch]

The Korean line should be dated some time around 2000-2002, before they started the XT line.

[AXEnGEAR4J]

Yes, I did a search and found a few but very little and none alike. I'm starting even to question it those pups may even be original. Being I took it in on trade with other gear I never gave it much consideration until now and have started to become quite fond of it and nice to see it's somewhat desired and rare! Think it will be a keeper for awhile anyway. Thanks for all the help!

This model is bound and crowned, with gold hardware and a trapeze tail. Note that there are no stoptail plugs to indicate a post-sale mod.

If you Google around a bit, you'll find mention of an Echotone Custom, of which not many (by Korean mass-production standards) were made.

Here's another. Note that the seller mentions it originally had gold hardware and humbuckers.

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Let me be the first to give you an unfair lowball offer of $200 for it.

Also, if you like this guitar, a Hamer USA Improv should be next on your search list.

[BTMN]

JohnnyB is on the right track. There were two finishes at that level the Cherry with Gold hardware and Trans Amber with the Gold hardware. IIRC the came with and without the Trap.

Those might be the original Duncan Design pickups and next string change unscrew the pickup ring corner screws and check for a label under them. Then I can or others can tell you more. I LOVED The Trans Amber one I had but I am not a "335" kinda guy.

BTW, Welcome. Marshalls huh? Cool.

[Tres Aardvarks]

Are these really 25.5" scale? That seems odd! (Just going off the linked fs ad below).

[AXEnGEAR4J]

_{One thing is the neck is very narrow at the bottom and difficult for my big hands and fingers but love the tone of this guitar.}

[carfish7]

They are.

Are these really 25.5" scale? That seems odd! (Just going off the linked fs ad below).

[Mike Shaw]

I've got a MIK Echotone with a 24 3/4" neck.

[JohnnyB]

_{One thing is the neck is very narrow at the bottom and difficult for my big hands and fingers but love the tone of this guitar.}

I think you're referring to the narrow cutaway space. The Echotone has that vintage "Mickey Mouse ears" look because the measurements were taken from Kim Keller's vintage ES-347. Here is a 1958 ES-335 followed by a 1964. Note how "ears" were narrowed from the first example to the second. Most MIJ/MIK copies are of the second shape, but the Echotone copies the first version.