Is this a real USA four digit?

[maxpat]

Hello Hamer fans. I have been "lurking" on this site for many years! I am a big fan of Hamers and other quality hand made things....

Anyway, I purchased this on eBay and then by the next morning asked for a cancel. This link is to a completed listing, he didn't repost it after I informed him that no four digit serial started with a "9".... But I wondered if it could be a mistake at the factory or perhaps the last digit was missing/faded???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-Hamer-Sunburst-Trans-Cherry-Finish-Vintage-Guitar-/291515707488?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43dfb0b060

[Andrew]

It's a Sunburst so should have a five digit serial number eg: 9 1150, inked not stamped.

It looks like the back is a refin and probably top too; the number is plain wrong.

Well done for avoiding!

[BTMN]

I also would speculate that it has been refinished and the serial number stamped in with a missing number. Perhaps Serial Steve has early Sunburst numbers and 9 1150 is a more correct number. Looks like that seller sells good gear and a lot of it. I'm thinking it is a trade in and he has not researched Hamer deep enough to know that is not any way near original. Then again he might know and as MCChris says, "Ebay Sucks!"

[DaveL]

It could be the seller removed one digit in photoshop ( in order not to disclose the full #) some people do it, (I for one, get a little nervous

when the only thing they ask is the serial #) That said, they should have put "serial # partially obscured" or something like that.

That said, and I don't want to preach, That's a pretty expensive item. more questions should be asked ahead of time.

and for me, "frets have plenty of life" is not good enough for me on a 36 yo guitar. The seller has good photo skills,

I would have wanted pics of that area

[crunchee]

I'd avoid ANYthing where an original serial number counts for authenticity, if the size of the impressed numbers in a single line don't match each other.

[maxpat]

The seller seems to handle a lot of high end gear with good feedback; he also responded quickly to my concerns and told me to have someone check it out after receiving it, that he had a good return policy (I only need pay for return shipping). So he seems like a good guy.

But I also found a good article online with photos comparing the kidney tuners, and it shows the new "orient" made kidney tuners with that greenish spacer near the tuning peg, instead of silver and black...

It was freshly listed late at night and I kind of jumped quicker than normal, as I am looking for a nice '70's sunburst for an investment....

Thanks everyone for weighing in on this.

[maxpat]

I dont know how to edit yet, but here is a link to a very good page showing the differences in grover tuners, like the ones found on early Sunbursts....

http://www.doctorvintage.com/tuners/grover_diffs.html

[JohnnyB]

This guy has a broader presence than just an ebay storefront. He also has a facebook page and a reverb page. It caught my attention because the location given on eBay is Ft. Thomas, KY, a nice neighborhood I used to live in just across the river from Cincinnati, OH. He has a lot of desirable guitars in what appears to be excellent condition. Ironically, the Sunburst with aftermarket knobs and a pickup swap is not as impressive. He has a koa Mirage II on Reverb. Also, big archtops that always grab my attention, such as a Howard Roberts and an Byrdland with incredible figured back.