Rick Nielsen 95 96 signature '59 Sunburst guitars

[Ham Rex]

Does anyone know how many Rick Nielsen signature re-issue '59 Sunburst Guitars were manufactured by Hamer? I think it was limited to 1995 and 1996.

Picture attached.

Thanks for your help and insight.

M

[crunchee]

I had one of these, I bought mine brand new from MusicLand KEY in Shibuya (Tokyo) in about 1998, when I was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Navy.  I don't know how many were made, I asked Kim Keller about it soon after I purchased it, but he wasn't sure at the time.  I believe CMatthes has a Hamer advertising flyer for this particular model guitar from Japan I.D.ing it as a 'for Japan only' Hamer model.  It also wasn't a 'reissue', Hamer was still making 'standard' Standard Customs at the time just like this one, without the RN signature logo...IIRC, mine wasn't any different from any other 'standard' Standard Custom of the time, other than the 'signature' on the headstock, and the placement of the Hamer logo (they had to put the Hamer logo on the end of the headstock to make it all fit, I suppose).  I brought mine back to the U.S., sold it a few years ago to a U.S. buyer, but I don't know of any other examples here in the U.S..  I dunno, maybe the photos you posted are of my old guitar?  Mine had subtle figure to the top, which wasn't very evident unless the lighting was favorable.

Rick Nielsen used a natural Korina Standard with the same 'signature' headstock logo (like the one in the photos you posted) for a series of CT concerts spotlighting the first four CT albums at The Metro in Chicago in 1998, it's seen being used on at least one song on the 'Music For Hangovers' concert video from those shows.

[Ham Rex]

1 hour ago, crunchee said:

I had one of these, I bought mine brand new from MusicLand KEY in Shibuya (Tokyo) in about 1998, when I was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Navy.  I don't know how many were made, I asked Kim Keller about it soon after I purchased it, but he wasn't sure at the time.  I believe CMatthes has a Hamer advertising flyer for this particular model guitar from Japan I.D.ing it as a 'for Japan only' Hamer model.  It also wasn't a 'reissue', Hamer was still making 'standard' Standard Customs at the time just like this one, without the RN signature logo...IIRC, mine wasn't any different from any other 'standard' Standard Custom of the time, other than the 'signature' on the headstock, and the placement of the Hamer logo (they had to put the Hamer logo on the end of the headstock to make it all fit, I suppose).  I brought mine back to the U.S., sold it a few years ago to a U.S. buyer, but I don't know of any other examples here in the U.S..  I dunno, maybe the photos you posted are of my old guitar?  Mine had subtle figure to the top, which wasn't very evident unless the lighting was favorable.

Rick Nielsen used a natural Korina Standard with the same 'signature' headstock logo (like the one in the photos you posted) for a series of CT concerts spotlighting the first four CT albums at The Metro in Chicago in 1998, it's seen being used on at least one song on the 'Music For Hangovers' concert video from those shows.

Thank you for your insight.

This one is NOS and I just received it from Japan.

The seller assured me I'd be happy but never mentioned it was NOS that was never used or Demo'ed.

It's a 1996.

Thanks again for helping understand.

M

[Ham Rex]

1 hour ago, crunchee said:

I had one of these, I bought mine brand new from MusicLand KEY in Shibuya (Tokyo) in about 1998, when I was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Navy.  I don't know how many were made, I asked Kim Keller about it soon after I purchased it, but he wasn't sure at the time.  I believe CMatthes has a Hamer advertising flyer for this particular model guitar from Japan I.D.ing it as a 'for Japan only' Hamer model.  It also wasn't a 'reissue', Hamer was still making 'standard' Standard Customs at the time just like this one, without the RN signature logo...IIRC, mine wasn't any different from any other 'standard' Standard Custom of the time, other than the 'signature' on the headstock, and the placement of the Hamer logo (they had to put the Hamer logo on the end of the headstock to make it all fit, I suppose).  I brought mine back to the U.S., sold it a few years ago to a U.S. buyer, but I don't know of any other examples here in the U.S..  I dunno, maybe the photos you posted are of my old guitar?  Mine had subtle figure to the top, which wasn't very evident unless the lighting was favorable.

Rick Nielsen used a natural Korina Standard with the same 'signature' headstock logo (like the one in the photos you posted) for a series of CT concerts spotlighting the first four CT albums at The Metro in Chicago in 1998, it's seen being used on at least one song on the 'Music For Hangovers' concert video from those shows.

Thank you for your service!!!

I should have included that in my original response. 

M

[crunchee]

Congrats on getting one of these guitars, they're great players and quite the conversation piece!  

[cmatthes]

From what I’ve been able to find out, likely a couple dozen were made.  
 

A pic I snapped of Rick with his Korina one...

[Ham Rex]

10 hours ago, cmatthes said:

From what I’ve been able to find out, likely a couple dozen were made.  
 

A pic I snapped of Rick with his Korina one...

Nice!!! Thanks!

[Ham Rex]

I found two year old listings for the same guitar.

SN 541280

https://reverb.com/item/34083717-1995-hamer-usa-rick-nielsen-signature-standard-custom-gstc-rn-59b-sunburst-59-explorer?show_sold=true

https://kcvintageguitars.com/products/rare-1995-hamer-usa-rick-nielsen-signature-standard-gstc-rn-59b-sunburst-59-explorer?variant=31815855669318

I reached out to Pete Flynn to see if he had any insight.

Thanks,

M

[cmatthes]

He will have no more insight than we will on those.  The Reverb seller got their information about those here, actually.

[cynic]

On 5/15/2021 at 8:22 PM, Ham Rex said:

I reached out to Pete Flynn to see if he had any insight.

 

[Ham Rex]

6 minutes ago, cynic said:

 

Probably Hundreds... I guess not.

[Ham Rex]

15 minutes ago, cmatthes said:

He will have no more insight than we will on those.  The Reverb seller got their information about those here, actually.

Thanks!!! You're right!

[Ham Rex]

I'm new here.

I don't know who is who and who knows what is what.

If I upset anyone it wasn't my intention to do so.

If I made myself look like a fool well that's par for the course.

[cmatthes]

Nobody here gets upset over that, really.

As far as looking like a fool, well, you've come to the right place!

[kizanski]

5 minutes ago, cmatthes said:

As far as looking like a fool, well, you've come to the right place!

Witness!