Hamer Californian Elite vs Deluxe vs Maple Elite aka tonewood comparison

[dand2305]

Hello everybody. I did post this video on Facebook hamer page, but forgot to post it here.
I compared three hamers Californian with mahagony body, deluxe with alder, and another Cali with maple body. all the guitars are almost same weight same fresh strings, but unfortunately I didn't have identical pickups. Anyway I hope you find that video interesting. cheers 

 

 

[jettster]

Interesting. Oddly enough my least favorite was the alder body but that could have been due to the EMG's. It's usually the opposite for me as I have two Suhr's with the same pickups and prefer the Alder body over the Mahogany. Cool video!

[HSB0531]

I liked all three depending on the setttings, but I liked the Alder body the least.

It could have been the EMG’s which I have never liked for guitar or bass.

I thought the Mahogany body had the best single note sustain and the maple, the best power chord.

Even acoustically they are loud, and you hear the differences in the different woods.

Just goes to show the quality of the build and the better wood chosen by Hamer really makes a difference.

Its a great demo and very useful for anyone wondering which one they’d prefer.

Thanks dand2305

Jim

[Montelovesco]

Great video, thanks! And the winner is...

Maple. To me its maple. All the way... 

[cmatthes]

Very nicely done!

[devrock]

Nice job. Although, not having the same pickups really makes the comparison moot for me. 

[DBraz]

You need to try a Custom set neck.  In my opinion the best sounding (practical) iteration of all Cali’s.

[diablo175]

12 minutes ago, DBraz said:

You need to try a Custom set neck.  In my opinion the best sounding (practical) iteration of all Cali’s.

I'd be inclined to agree

That being said, I love how some of my bolt on's sound and in particular, the PATB-1 in Gatorbyte's former case plug, tumblin' boomers (the Liberace) Cali, the Gravelin Mongoose MK2 in my modded Swirly Cali LE and a SD Pegasus in my Godzilla Cali sound absolutely f-ing killer to my ears.

Generally, my vote goes with anything mahogany, specifically, all 'hog and set neck, if you can get it. The HEL Interceptor (Willy G) is a classic example: solid 'hog and set neck, in which the SD TB-5 Custom sounds huge, full and booming. SD Customs in my bolt-on Cali's sounded too trebl-y and little weak in the mids.

[dand2305]

On 3/26/2018 at 8:21 PM, DBraz said:

You need to try a Custom set neck.  In my opinion the best sounding (practical) iteration of all Cali’s.

oh Im looking for set neck badly

[DBraz]

17 minutes ago, dand2305 said:

oh Im looking for set neck badly

They aren’t easy to find sadly.  I wish there were more of them out there.  Every now and again they pop up but they are more expensive than a good FM body Cali.