1982 Hamer "Sunburst" finished in Black

[SEA_AB]

Greetings!  I had a question about the Hamer Sunburst guitars of the late 70's and early 80's. I have a 1982 Hamer Sunburst that was finished in black at the factory. See image below. My question is if anyone knows if they used the same flame tops beneath the black finished Sunbursts as they did for the actual (yellow/orange/red) sunbursts?  I've been toying with the idea of re-finishing, but wasn't sure what was beneath the black finish.  Also, my rear pickup is black, and I usually see Sunbursts having double cream pickups. Both my pickups say "Dimarzio" on the back though, and appear to be original as far as I can tell. I have seen double black pickups on some of the Specials of that era (the ones with black/white graphics), so know that they were around, but wasn't sure if others have seen double black rear pickups in a Sunburst?  Thanks!

[Steve Haynie]

It is your guitar...  If you remove the original finish it will not be as easy to sell if an emergency arises. 

The veneer underneath the black may not have the flame you want to see.  It could be very plain.  It is not worth the risk. 

[Travis]

Those old sunbursts are excellent guitars. I used to have 8 0111 years ago, a bit of a dark burst. But I always loved the look of solid black with binding. 
 

Do keep in mind that the flame maple on the Sunbursts was a very thin veneer and not a true slab top. So, there was no tonal effect from the maple. I’m not sure on the black ones, but they may not have even put a veneer on and it’s just solid mahogany underneath the finish...

[kizanski]

1 hour ago, Travis said:

Do keep in mind that the flame maple on the Sunbursts was a very thin veneer and not a true slab top.

@SEA_AB - Please note bolded text.
I've seen more than a couple of guys with the same idea you have ruin their top just from trying to sand off the finish.

[cmatthes]

It's honestly worth FAR more with a factory original black finish than a Sunburst finish.  I'm sure most people would be more than happy to trade you for that one.

[scottcald]

Did they all have the veneer even if they were getting painted black or other solid colors?   

[tomteriffic]

For what it's worth, that veneer is 1/64th inch thick.  You may not even be able to tell if you pull a pickup.

[cmatthes]

6 hours ago, scottcald said:

Did they all have the veneer even if they were getting painted black or other solid colors?   

Yes, in most, if not all cases.

[Steve Haynie]

Now that kizanski brought it up, I recall the top on my Sunburst as having been sanded through.  I had murkat put a new, thicker veneer on it. 

[kizanski]

15 minutes ago, Steve Haynie said:

Now that kizanski brought it up, I recall the top on my Sunburst as having been sanded through.  I had murkat put a new, thicker veneer on it. 

Yep. It doesn't take much.  

[it's me HHB]

6 hours ago, Steve Haynie said:

Now that kizanski brought it up, I recall the top on my Sunburst as having been sanded through.  I had murkat put a new, thicker veneer on it. 

Dude that was burnt through!

[Steve Haynie]

It had a hole in it.  I got it fixed.  Now that Sunburst is my favorite guitar right now. 

[it's me HHB]

16 hours ago, Steve Haynie said:

It had a hole in it.  I got it fixed.  Now that Sunburst is my favorite guitar right now. 

That thing has a storied history. It's recorded at Power Station and Kiva same as SRV among other things lol

[SEA_AB]

On 11/26/2020 at 12:21 PM, Travis said:

Those old sunbursts are excellent guitars. I used to have 8 0111 years ago, a bit of a dark burst. But I always loved the look of solid black with binding. 
 

Do keep in mind that the flame maple on the Sunbursts was a very thin veneer and not a true slab top. So, there was no tonal effect from the maple. I’m not sure on the black ones, but they may not have even put a veneer on and it’s just solid mahogany underneath the finish...

Thanks for the reply. I had thought there might be a maple cap like a Les Paul, but since it's just a veneer, I think it would be risky to try and refinish.