Hamer Slammer Series Show and Tell

[humfree]

Expurgated version:

Bought two Korean Hamer Slammer Series over the course of two months, both are great guitars and I like them very much. Here they are.. please post your Korean Hamer Slammer Series guitars and basses for discussion. Thanks!

Full version:

When I became aware Hamer had introduced the Slammer Series I was in the middle of building a guitar collection. At the time I owned a Diablo, Chapparral Custom, Special, Sunburst Archtop Custom, had just purchased my Korina Standard and although I didn't know it at the time, was about to buy a Korina 'V'. I distinctly remember the store owner speaking fondly of the Slammers and trying to get me to pick one up. Well, my nose was pretty high in the air at that time, so I politely passed. Hearing all the talk 'round these parts about the Koreans, I slowly became convinced of their value.

Twenty years later, a collection is no longer practical and became a little selfish for me. For different reasons, all of them very good ones, I parted with everything except my Sunburst. I do like tones, so I have a couple of humbucking guitars, a P90 Melody Maker, A Strat, a bass, and I'm pretty happy.

Then, I find a Hamer 'Slammer Series' Eclipse on Craig's that is priced too low to print. I tried to talk a buddy into grabbing it, but he had just instituted a 'no more black guitars' policy (he already has three). I'm paycheck to paycheck right now and I'm twenty five dollars short and the price is way too low to low ball. So, what does a self-respecting Hamer addict do? He takes twenty dollars from grocery money, cobbles together the other five from coat pockets, and goes for the prize. Well, I was not disappointed.

Being a little cautious, I remained skeptical and told myself to evaluate the guitar as a neutral. This lasted all of thirty seconds. The very moment the neck hit my palm I felt like I was home. Without checking the frets, relief, or condition, I started playing and made my decision on the fourth note. Neck reminded me of my Mirage I, but it vibrated more - like good Hamers do - very similar profile, if not the same. The voice unplugged was brash and loud. It played like a wet dream, yet, it's a shape only a mother could love.. hehehe..

So, I get it home and while the bridge sounded pretty darn good, the neck was a bit muddy. I pulled the pups out of curiousity and was shocked to see 'Kent Armstrong' - model 'MFBV-2'. When I measured the resistance I was again surprised - bridge 6.2K, neck 6.1K - same pups. So, in order to balance the pups in the middle position, the neck had to be flush with the body and a light year away from the strings, while the bridge sits on a throne, high against the strings. I still have my Mirage pups, so I dropped a Vintage Rail into the neck slot, got a good balance closer to the strings, and a really cool middle position tone. The Vintage Rail sounds better in this guitar than it ever did in my Mirage.

The Armstrong mini is actually a pretty nice little pup. I like low output and the feeling you get when it seems as though your milking tone from a pup that has it, but isn't sure it wants to give it up.. not the best analogy, but it has great snap, some nice boink on the lower strings, and with a blindfold, you may very well find yourself enamoured. The Vintage Rail has the Strat vowel sounds, but the tiny mahogany body gives great bass and mids - and the pup itself is a little bright.. makes for a nice balance and the two get along nicely.

So, I figure I may as well look up the pup on the Google machine, and here it is:

http://www.wdmusic.com/MFBV_2CR.html

$68.95 EACH

I don't know where Hamer sourced their mahogany for the Asian line, but I got a real nice piece. My '61 Melody Maker sounds VERY similar. I've played more than a few Asian mahogany guitars and while I'm guessing they are truthful about materials, they do not sound like the mahogony I grew up with - the Slammer Series do!

About a month later, Craig's barfed up another for me.. this one about a mile away.. a Sunburst Flattop in excellent condition. When I go to play this one, the same thing happens. The neck felt a little shallower than the Eclipse, but still seemed in the medium range. Notes are huge and round, tone is deep and rich, action is about medium. I paid a mere ten dollars more for this one - again too low to print.

[humfree]

This one comes home with an aftermarket pup in the bridge which turns out to be a JBJ - Maricela Juarez wound. Sounds fantastic! Feels and barks like a Les paul, and the JB is sweet as can be - almost tinkling above the 12th fret on the unwound strings and outrageous boink in the lower register. Again, the mahogany body is real. What a monster guitar. Poor man's Les Paul in the house.

I had initial trouble keeping both guitars in tune, but after the second string change, they both began behaving. It's almost as though neither had been played for years and they were just now waking up. Tuners will be replaced eventually, but for now, I'm making do.

Again, I'm a little late to the party, but I'm 2 for 2. I've played 2 random Slammer Series and they were both great, great guitars. Now, I want to play more.

I'd really like to see some member Koreans. Any stories or comparisons are welcome.

I would very much like to limit the show and tell to this version of Slammer Series, or Korean Hamers only. If that sounds bitchy - it's not my intention. It seems the forum is missing it's Asian love, so I'd be happy to see another thread on the XT line, or even the Slammers.

What fun!

[Carl.B]

I have a eclipse just like your's and got it for stupid cheap. Mine is 95% stripped down and I will be making a few more changes it will be converted to a single P-90 pickup. I may change my mind on that. Of all the "Slammer Series" guitars the eclipse is my favorite the neck is a joy to play. I know it is not the quality of Hamer usa but for the price of a used beginner Squire I will take the Hamer Slammer series any day.

Congrat's on the new guitars!

Carl B

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

The Korean SLAMMER SERIES are among the best of the Hamer imports! I've had 2 (a Cali and a Diablo)...

[BTMN]

Back in 2001 I went on a lil musical holiday that included lunch with several Columbus, Ohio HFC members including if I remember correctly Paults, Guitar Daddy, Cary, Custom53, and a suprise appearance by none other than Kim Keller who had read about us coordinating that here on the HFC. On the way there I did a lil pawnshopping just to check things out and came across my first Hamer import I had seen in person. I strummed it and was immediately interested. Talked myself down as it was a lil over a $100 IIRC. I had many more days and cool things planned for this trip including Aerosmith that next night outdoors in Indianapolis.

Anywho went to lunch but told the gents about my G.A.S. and got a good ribbing about not snapping it up. Damn enablers! So after lunch C53 and I went back to see Lil Red Dawg again. When we went in I had already figured out what I could offer and I played Cool for a minute or two but I offered the guy $75 cash trying not to act to crazy about it. It did after all have a few miles on it.

As you may guess by the fact it has a name I did buy it.

I have it still. The Duncan design JB bridge and 59er neck pickups are decent enough and are still in it too. Custom 53 told me as soon as he saw it he knew he would buy it if I didn't.

Friend of mine in Arizona has it's Trans Amber cousin I bought later for $125. Had to let him have that as he loved it so much. Of course, the deal is everytime I go to Phoenix I have a guitar to play.

[Never2Late]

For my travel guitar, I took the board's advice into consideration regarding a guitar that would handle humidity changes without much truss-rod tweaking. Something bulletproof, excellent tone, great craftsmanship and hardware, bolt neck, fixed bridge, cheap price. Seems I was looking for a Telecaster and I didn't even know it. Found a barely-used, first-gen Slammer Tele on ebay for $200. Its all here - strong gain from the pups, excellent neck, VERY solid construction, dense woods, stable....bulletproof. Its been pretty humid here in Taiwan - hotel climate control is just as bad as I thought it would-be, and the guitar holds tune and no fret-buzz in conditions that would have given my Diablo or Studio fits. I couldn't be happier with it, and its made me re-think getting a USA TLE or T-51 when I get home.

On a side-note, Air carriers have been sticklers for mandatory check-in of guitars. They don't care, and never will, about your guitar. I guess they figure, if you're a "special" guitarist, you'd have your own Gulfstream or you'd spring for a separate ticket for it. Those overhead bins will not hold a guitar, not that you'd want to try with the way people shove their crap into them (and how-much). China Air and Delta made me check mine - I was real nervous about that. Took the advice of another HFC poster and bought a top-of-the-line MONO gig-bag with the shoulder straps and the neck immobilizer setup. I had to slap-on a few of those airline "Fragile" stickers and send it down the chute with all the other luggage. I was pretty sure I would get a fancy bag of splinters in Taipei - NOPE. Bag was obviously roughed-up, but the contents were just as safe as when I took-off from Boston Logan.

[Tres Aardvarks]

Took the advice of another HFC poster and bought a top-of-the-line MONO gig-bag with the shoulder straps and the neck immobilizer setup. I had to slap-on a few of those airline "Fragile" stickers and send it down the chute with all the other luggage. I was pretty sure I would get a fancy bag of splinters in Taipei - NOPE. Bag was obviously roughed-up, but the contents were just as safe as when I took-off from Boston Logan.

Glad it worked out for you. I've watched the luggage guys load and unload mine when I had to gate check it, and they usually just strap it to their backs and carry it up, handing it over nicely. So far so good!!

[gorch]

In total we have three guitars from the outer production lines of each period, a Slammer Series bass sparkling red , a MIK Standard cherry burst, and an XT Monaco in black. All are great guitars on the industrial level. Worth every cent we'd paid for them.

Pics later...

[zorrow]

Used to have a white Centaura Slammer Series. I made the mistake of selling it. Would really love to get it back, or a similar one. This is a picture of it:

Great player, dependable shredder. Really miss her.

[humfree]

A yeller Korean Centaura? NICE!

Had no idea such a thing existed.. sort of my reasoning behind dropping this thread. I only have two catalogs from the era and the color selection was pretty narrow. Knowing of all the customs from USA shop, I thought there might be some oddballs coming out of Korea as well.. and, I don't think I have ever seen a Korean Tele outside of the catalog. I thought there even may be a checkered flattop out there somewhere. I don't know of a better value.. for the price of used Squier.. or less than an OCD!

My '97 catalog shows a list price for a Korean Eclipse at $724.50 - the receipt for my first USA Hamer - a first year Special was $650 + $100 for the case + tax. Crazy 5 years for Hamer, eh?

I'm a bit perplexed about the lack of pics offered up so far.. I'm starting to wonder if there are more cork soakers here than meets the eye After years of soaking my cork in USAs, I'm am willing in my latter years to explore some previously stigmatized models.

I'd like to offer this thread up as a safe place for those afflicted with cork soaking to come out of the proverbial closet and show your Korean love. You will not be judged. It's okay to have a 30th Anniversary Redwood and still play your Slammer Series.

I may be projecting.. but now I know which guitar to take to China

Let's see some run of the mills! I won't beg..

[Brooks]

my 1st hamer was a slammer series back in the 90's, i bought it as a gig backup for my LP studio, which i sold soon after...

[Toadroller]

Zorrow,

I just might be able to help you out.

[BTMN]

That's Cool looking.

[mrjamiam]

Let's see some run of the mills! I won't beg..

I'll play. The black one was $50 in a Baltimore music shop. I thought, "That's not a $50 guitar, even with the finish issue", did some research, and wound up in the HFC.

Pulled them both out for the photo after not touching them for months and months - I have USA Hamers now, after all. Both still in tune, even after several seasons have changed. Both nicely resonant, too. I was hanging onto them in case a nephew showed ANY INTEREST AT ALL in music, which doesn't seem to be happening, but maybe I should put them back in the rotation for my own damn self.