1977 Hamer Sunburst Prototype

[Jazzerman]

I have finally decided to put her up for sale. This is one special guitar. One of the first four Hamer Sunbursts. It has been discussed at this forum several times over the years and at this moment there is very little doubt that my Hamer is one of the 4 unserialled Hamer Sunburst Prototypes that were first presented at the 1977 NAMM show. Paul Hamer even chimed in to tell how it ended up in the Netherlands, where I live. Rick Nielsen owns the other known unserialled prototype of the Sunburst. The location of the 2 others is unknown.

Let me quote. 

“Four prototype Sunbursts were displayed at the '77 Summer NAMM convention in Chicago. (These guitars have no serial numbers, are a bit thinner than production models, and have bakelite/phenolic backplates instead of the later stamped aluminum.” http://www.edroman.com/guitars/hamer/Hamer%20Models/Sunburst.htm

Specs: no serial number,  Crown inlays in fingerboard,  lightly thinner body than later production models, pot codes april 1977, unbound neck end,  early headstock type,  bakelite/phenolic back plate.

Next to Rick Nielsen’s prototype, a more unique Hamer Sunburst can hardly be found on the planet. You think 4 digit is rare? This is a NO digit pre production Hamer Sunburst! Andrew Large has used some detail shots of my guitar on his Sunburst page at: http://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/sunbur1.htm

Except for the stripped and lightly resprayed (with transparent finish) neck – a former owner preferred the feel of mahogany rather than the original finish - she is all original and in excellent condition. She still sounds and plays great.  I have recorded several video clips with her. But … she is too valuable to take out. She’s a museum piece and should go to a collection. 

Price is set at 10k euro.

Regards,

Dick (Jazzerman)

[kizanski]

Gotta post a price, friendo.

[cmatthes]

Per Forum rules, you must post a selling price, or the thread will be deleted.

Thanks!

 

[unfun75]

This isn't an April Fool's Day joke? Dang, that thing is awesome!

[Grandturk]

good luck with the sale.  I disagree that it should be in a museum. I believe guitars were meant to be played.

[ARM OF HAMER]

                                        This guitar.................wonderful! I can not imagine how anyone who is a Hamer fan would not want to own it. As far as the money goes its Dick's guitar and he can ask what ever he wants. I know Hamer does not have the big history[ And value] that Gibson and Fender guitars have but when you look at the totals of their production compared to the very small numbers of  Hamer's made and made better than many of those guitars..............you just wonder why they are not more valued.This is the one of the 4 original prototypes.................  that set into motion production for all the others to follow.................how much cooler could a guitar be? I'd love to own it but at my age and the value placed for the sale its just not going to happen. My favorite Hamer model.  Best of luck with the sale Dick.

[Camstone]

With this guitar's provenance, it would be cool to see it go to Jol or Paul. 

Or perhaps to an early endorser like Nielsen or Barre.

[ARM OF HAMER]

                                                           Martin would be my choice!  He made some great music with the Hamer "Sunburst"

[Jazzerman]

Rick Nielsen already has the other prototype.

 

[ARM OF HAMER]

                                        I have a question regarding these "Prototype" Hamer Sunbursts that were made for NAMM.According to this info  "John Montgomery, the man behind the construction of Hamer's instruments up to that date, built a single prototype of the Sunburst that could be copied by Holmes. The first four prototype Sunbursts were built by Holmes and finished by Hamer in time to be shown at the June 1977 NAMM show; these prototypes carried no serial number." So as "Monty" built the "1st" prototype and then sent it off to Tom Holmes to be copied.................... is the 1st one he made [Monty] one of the four "Prototypes"?............... be interesting to know then which one of the 4 Sunbursts Tom Holmes made IS the 1st one?....................any experts want to speculate or are there facts known regarding this...................or have I got some info incorrect?

[Jazzerman]

Price is in euros guys. 

[hamer_sunburst]

where is the guitar located? I think 10K EUR is a steal for what this is...............

[Jazzerman]

You should not say such things to me Hamer  I full well start realising that this is a steal. What would Rick Nielsen ask for his prototype? 25k? 50k? The sky is the limit for such guitars. Maybe an auction for rare guitars works better.

Dick

[Jazzerman]

Let me tell you an anecdote. I heard this from a vintage dealer. There is this 1960 Les Paul for sale over here for 225k euro from another vintage dealer. 225K!!!!!! Story goes the dealer bought it from an old guy that had to go to a nursing home. He gave him 5k and a run of the mill guitar. Hope it is not true but somehow I think it is.

Dick

[hamer_sunburst]

just keep it, this can only appreciate in value.... my 2ct.

[HamerHamburg]

Nice guitar !!!

Shimmed bridge ? Looks like the screws are all halfway down the inside of the saddles, which look set up extremely high ?

Cheers, Todde

 

[Jazzerman]

Bump. Still for sale though fortunately some very interested Hamer fans. Here's some more detail pics I took today. You can clearly see the bridge, unbound neck end, early logo, absence of serial number, crown inlays, bakelite back plate and thinner body of the 1977 Hamer Sunburst prototype.  She's probably very close to Rick Nielsen's guitar. Fow what I can see anyway. Are there no detail pics of his? 

 

 

 

[gerry]

some years ago i was interested in this sunburst. i tried very hard to find out if it is really one of the prototypes and i spoke with several experts and discussed details but we never came to the conclusion that it is one of the prototypes. did this status change in the meantime?

gerry

 

[mc2]

Hi Gerry.....Nice to see you are still alive.

 

[ARM OF HAMER]

                                                                                        The guitar has aged beautifully..............love the patina! So VERY cool.

[gerry]

hi jon

yes very much alive  hahaha

:-)

[gorch]

Pics show that the setup wasn't finally sorted out. The Sustain Block obviously needs a bigger chim.

Great guitar! Great piece of Hamer history! 

Good luck with the sale!

[Jazzerman]

On 23-4-2016 at 10:57 PM, gerry said:

some years ago i was interested in this sunburst. i tried very hard to find out if it is really one of the prototypes and i spoke with several experts and discussed details but we never came to the conclusion that it is one of the prototypes. did this status change in the meantime?

gerry

 

Direct evidence? No. But there is lots of circumstantial evidence that indicates that this is one of the 4 prototypes yes. For starters, it has all the specs that belong to the 4 prototypes. And then there's a story in which even Paul Hamer chimed in to explain how this guitar could have ended up in the Netherlands after the NAMM show in 1977. It all fits. 

What direct evidence does Rick Nielsen have that his is one of those 4? Anybody? Did they give to him at the NAMM show?

Regards,

Dick

[gtone]

If anyone had any evidence to the contrary that this is anything but what Jazzerman believes it to be, now would be a good time to present your case or reasons for your doubts.  So sayeth Captain Obvious here... 

[Jazzerman]

Bump. Come on guys. This is probably the rarest Hamer Sunburst currently available on the planet! Even better, probably the rarest of all Hamers available currently. 

Since I am a jazz guitarist I would consider a vintage Gibson archtop (pre 1964) as a partial trade-in. Maybe one of you guys have something lying around in the attic. Think Gibson ES 175, Gibson ES 330, Gibson ES 350, Gibson Tal Farlow, Gibson Barney Kessel etc. 

Regards,

Dick