Al Nicko Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Hi Everyone, I'm new to the world of Hamer guitars and have become entranced by the early 80s specials with the sustain-block bridges. Everyone seems to rave about the checkerboard headstock specials, are these generally the ones with the narrower saddles? The non-checkerboard models I've seen are all from 1980. Was the checkerboard logo a later addition? Is there any disadvantage to the non-checkerboard models? Do the wider saddles push the E-strings out beyond the pole-pieces on the bridge pickup? Are there problems with string volume? String spacing? Neck issues? Or is it just that the 1980 models are missing the all important checkerboard headstock logo that adds at least 25% extra mojo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamerhead Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Welcome new guy! I was gonna tell you how the checkerboard makes at least 50% difference in mojo and the narrow saddles play more like free-range butter than regular butter, but really it's not like that. There were at least 3 different versions of the sustain block saddles, none of which affected playability or sound (unless you're Eric Johnson maybe). Some may prefer one spacing over another. The non-checkerboard guitars are exactly the same as the checkerboard guitars, only minus the checkerboard. There. My bubble-bursting is complete. ETA: Specials RULE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Nicko Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 Thanks Hamerhead. The info is very much appreciated! It's funny, Hamers weren't on my radar at all but as soon as I clapped eyes on those early specials, they really put the hook in me. Btw once you've tried grass-fed, free range butter from cows that have bedtime stories read to them by Morgan Freeman ...well ... going back becomes an impossibility. Thanks again. A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamerhead Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 My first Hamer was an '81 Special with the checkerboard on the headstock. That was 1986 or '87 and I still have it. Things really went downhill when I signed up here with this bunch of enablers. Hamer Specials are hands down the biggest bargain in guitardom. You won't find a better USA-made, hand-built guitar for the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kizanski Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Also at the time, the only thing which determined which Specials got the checkerboard logo and which ones didn't was availability of the logos themselves. They'd run out, use the non-checkerboard logo, and then get more made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakeboy Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 I had a 1980 cboard Special that I sold to fund a Newport. That Special was the most resonant guitar I ever played. It rang like a damn bell. The neck was too small though. I am more of a Hamer Vintage carve fan....welcome to the HFC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana_V Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Oh come on, we all know the extra headstock density added by the checkerboard label is the key to the early-80s Special's distinctive tone and sustain! 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killerteddybear Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Welcome to the HFC! Can we assume you're not a ceramic kind of guy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cynic Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 My '80 Special had a clean headstock and was a fantastic guitar so there's probably some bias on my part, but the checkerboard thing always felt a little more fanboi goofy than I wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kizanski Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Just now, cynic said: My '80 Special had a clean headstock and was a fantastic guitar so there's probably some bias on my part, but the checkerboard thing always felt a little more fanboi goofy than I wanted. Username checks out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottcald Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Eric Johnson played one of each and could hear a slight difference with the preference given to the checkerboard with one Fender saddle on the B string. 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biz Prof Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 8 hours ago, Al Nicko said: Btw once you've tried grass-fed, free range butter from cows that have bedtime stories read to them by Morgan Freeman ...well ... going back becomes an impossibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew816 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 My '81 Non-Checkerboard Special has always been jealous of it's more sustaining/more rock/more glam/more 80's Checkerboard cousins... Sad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cynic Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 7 hours ago, kizanski said: Username checks out. Right? I've toyed with switching to Donor #9623 but something about cynic just works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kizanski Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 3 minutes ago, cynic said: Right? I've toyed with switching to Donor #9623 but something about cynic just works. Either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Nicko Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 19 hours ago, killerteddybear said: Welcome to the HFC! Can we assume you're not a ceramic kind of guy? Hey now, I wouldn't want to live in a world without ceramics. I mean I've got to drink my coffee out of something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Nicko Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 Thanks for the welcomes and the insights everybody! The Hamerfanclub is a truly wonderful ship that I'm glad to be aboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomteriffic Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 15 hours ago, Al Nicko said: Thanks for the welcomes and the insights everybody! The Hamerfanclub is a truly wonderful ship that I'm glad to be aboard. Well, if you're into the Ship of Fools thing.... 🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamerCustomEr Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 On 11/25/2020 at 7:03 AM, kizanski said: Also at the time, the only thing which determined which Specials got the checkerboard logo and which ones didn't was availability of the logos themselves. They'd run out, use the non-checkerboard logo, and then get more made. I didn't know that! Incredible. Thanks, Kizanski! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beezerboy Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 mmmmmmmmmmmm........ range free butter.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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