kjq69 231 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 Let me first start off by saying thank you for all the kind words about my guitar I posted about “Hamer’s Influence on my Guitar Building”……….I thought I would share a short story on how it all started!!! To make a long story short, in 2000 I found myself taking a job after being self-employed for 16 years. I was a field guy, but I ended up behind a desk as an estimator / project manager.....I HATED IT!!!.....at that time I had a nice collection of guitars. I had 8 beautiful Hamers. Several Gibsons, a Strat and a BlackYamaha SGB 2000. I had done a couple of "One Offs",……one was a Chambered Korina Artist with a Bound Fret Board, P90’s and a wrap tail……Someone on the board here has it J…..and I was able to get Kim on the phone and asked him about doing a 25th LE in Salmon Blush.......He did it for me. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THAT GUITAR…someone on this board his it J………. I asked Kim about doing a Robben Ford Model......Black Limba, F hole, Seth Lovers...........Kim responded with, If Mr Ford is interested in a guitar, he should contact us. That response was resonating in the back of my mind from that day forward...... Sitting behind a desk was not working for me. I had always loved working with wood so I said to myself that I should build a guitar. I spent hours looking at my Hamers and Gibsons......McNaught was just arriving on the scene, so was Ron Thorn for that matter. I made 3 full size drawings. A guitar based off a Yamaha SG 2000, A Single Cut and a Double Cut with an "F" hole. This was great, but I still needed some direction on how to proceed. One day I just picked up the phone and called Taku Sakashta, (amazing luthier building a guitar for Robben Ford....My Hero!!)......he picked up the phone. We talked for 30 minutes or so. Told him about my drawings, my Hamer one offs and how I wanted to start building. He graciously said, grab your drawings and your Hamer and come up.....I was floored!!!!......I had the pleasure of spending a little more than a half day with this amazing kind soul. He went through how you need to be "Organized".....Templates are so important. Make them, store them and have them ready when you need them!!!!........what a day......As i was leaving, he gave me a little drawing of a neck angle. He said as long as all of them have this neck angle, they will all be players no matter what wood you use......... I came home, Bought Melvin Hiscock's book on "Making an Electric Guitar" and I was off running........... I wish I still had that piece of paper that Taku shared with me. He was such a sweet soul. A tragedy that he was killed by a “Drug Addict” out on parole…….I did have the pleasure of hanging with him at Yoshi’s one night. Robben actually played and desired my #3 (that’s a whole other story in its self, I let my Ego get in the way)………. Anyway, I would like to post some pics of my builds. Any objections?....... 21 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gtrdaddy 10,099 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 (edited) Post away! Thanks for sharing, that’s a great story! Edited January 30 by gtrdaddy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jakeboy 6,864 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 (edited) Thanks for the personal touch, @kjq69. I’m in for the rest of the story and the pics! Edited January 30 by Jakeboy 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ua D 911 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 (edited) Only that your not uploading pictures fast enough 😆 seriously, we’ve all seen enough pictures of hamers....well maybe not but something new is morethan welcome. Edited January 30 by Ua D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kjq69 231 Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 Well thank you....... So like I said, In the back of my mind was Kim's response about "If Mr Ford wants a guitar, he should call me"...........So my #3 was all about finding my style and "Robben's" energy channeling my build. Black Limba, Striped MAcassar Binding, Board and Cover Plates, Taku Sakashta "Vintage Tribute PU's", Green Abalone Thumb Nails, Net and Buttons 15 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travis 4,719 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 51 minutes ago, kjq69 said: Well thank you....... So like I said, In the back of my mind was Kim's response about "If Mr Ford wants a guitar, he should call me"...........So my #3 was all about finding my style and "Robben's" energy channeling my build. Black Limba, Striped MAcassar Binding, Board and Cover Plates, Taku Sakashta "Vintage Tribute PU's", Green Abalone Thumb Nails, Net and Buttons Looks amazing! Very well done, sir! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scottcald 3,276 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 Wow, those look great, thanks for sharing. Questions: How many do you have under your belt now? Picture Gallery? Specs? And BTW, as important, a good looking headstock! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kizanski 15,872 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 Love this! 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
killerteddybear 7,819 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 Great story! Taku sounds like a class act. That black limba guitar - holy shit! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kjq69 231 Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 3 minutes ago, scottcald said: Wow, those look great, thanks for sharing. Questions: How many do you have under your belt now? Picture Gallery? Specs? And BTW, as important, a good looking headstock! Thanks you.........I have built 25 to date........I have a drawer full of "Head Stock" designs.........The first 6 were all "Set neck".....Then I built a TV Yellow Mahogany Tele....Sold it to a camera man in Hollywood. Just heard it burned up in one of the fires we had here in California :(.....Ihad a website 6-7 years ago and just life got too busy with "Life"......I takes so much time. I do the finishing and that is the most difficult when you a re a perfectionist.........I stripped a guitar 3 times once....."Sick in the Head" :-0 This is #24.......all mahogany DOg Hair, P90's, Jason Schroder Bridge ......... 12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
specialk 4,129 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 For Gawd's sake, man, don't stop now! 😁 3 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrjamiam 2,996 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 47 minutes ago, scottcald said: And BTW, as important, a good looking headstock! Hear hear! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
0054 2,975 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 48 minutes ago, kizanski said: Love this! Me Too! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kjq69 231 Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 36 minutes ago, killerteddybear said: Great story! Taku sounds like a class act. That black limba guitar - holy shit! Ok, I have to run out and wont be back till later.....but here is #25.......I gave it to my son for his 25th Birthday..........Absolutely BItch'n Ride!!!!!.......all mahogany, TV White, Harmonic Design Dog Ear............enjoy 11 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travis 4,719 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 26 minutes ago, kjq69 said: Ok, I have to run out and wont be back till later.....but here is #25.......I gave it to my son for his 25th Birthday..........Absolutely BItch'n Ride!!!!!.......all mahogany, TV White, Harmonic Design Dog Ear............enjoy LOVE it!, my favorite so far. Love the contrast between the clear on the neck and the finish on the body. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Biz Prof 5,228 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 Holy shit. That TV white Junior....Dang, man. I love it. 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gtrdaddy 10,099 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 5 hours ago, kjq69 said: Well thank you....... So like I said, In the back of my mind was Kim's response about "If Mr Ford wants a guitar, he should call me"...........So my #3 was all about finding my style and "Robben's" energy channeling my build. Black Limba, Striped MAcassar Binding, Board and Cover Plates, Taku Sakashta "Vintage Tribute PU's", Green Abalone Thumb Nails, Net and Buttons Just beautiful work! The wood choices you make are stellar! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mathman 2,813 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Beautiful work! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brddg 134 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Very impressive! You have great talent. Just never know who’s lurking on the forum here. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scottcald 3,276 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 8 hours ago, kjq69 said: but here is #25.......I gave it to my son for his 25th Birthday So you just hand these out for birthdays? I got one in May.....😉 2 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutchman 2,517 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 So overwhelmingly impressed!!! Beautiful guitars!! Now for the rest of the story! Who has his one off Hamer's here at the HFC??? Pictures please!!! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drew816 445 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 The more guitar porn, the better! These things look great, fantastic work. I love many of your choices along the way. Keep up the great work, and share more, we need it! 😉 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
duncans 291 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Very nice, beautiful, outstanding(reaches for Rogets') to find more words!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kjq69 231 Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 2 hours ago, Dutchman said: So overwhelmingly impressed!!! Beautiful guitars!! Now for the rest of the story! Who has his one off Hamer's here at the HFC??? Pictures please!!! Yea, who has them???............ 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
burningyen 1,833 Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Beautiful stuff! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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