Hamers with a volute?

[Travis]

Of the several Hamers I’ve had over the years, ~15 or so, the only ones I remember having a volute are my Mirages. Some of you know that I love my Mirages and they’re one of my absolute favorite designs Hamer ever did. I understand it’s an unpopular opinion but they just fit me, both the 1 and 2.  I’ll put them up against any other guitar out there, especially with Josh’s pickups and the Mann trem installed…

But, I digress….

Were any other Hamers made with a volute in the neck?  I understand how they increase strength at the neck/headstock junction to reduce likelihood of breakage. And it seems that the debate on whether they affect tone may never be settled as it seems the numbers on either side of that fence are equal. 

If only the Mirages, then why?  Just a design experiment?  3 piece stressed neck strong enough and volute deemed unnecessary?  

Just thoughts on a lazy Friday morning whilst sipping’ my tea…

[diablo175]

Quasi-related but one of my appreciations for Hamer was their designs being sans volutes. Not a fan of volutes. At all.

[Dutchman]

I may be off course but with the 3pce grain reversed necks and also the reduced neck angle the volute was not necessary for strength in that area. Altho they will still break, a Hamer is much tougher than a Gibson w a volute. The way Hamer cured their necks was a big plus too!!  Now necks are cut at an angle and glued, Verses solid thru the headstock. It all makes a difference. 

On another note I've switched to Titebond lll for all neck repairs. That stuff is incredible!! I took a badly broken neck glued it with the Titebond and then tried to break the previously broken portion again. It broke in a different spot. WINNER!! 

[Hamerica]

Definitely Design.  

The Mirage was heavily inspired by then Hamer employee Terry McInturff.  It has his influence written all over it. You can review the entire  McInturff offering you pretty much get the idea. 

As Dutchman posted, the stress neck system, neck angle, along with other guitar building techniques utlized by The Hamer Design Team reduced the redundancy for  a volute.

Not to mention, Gibson also probably had an issue with Volutes in headstock trademark design protection.  

I personally like the Mirage I.  I find it to be a poor man's version of the Hamer Watson Model, love the blended heel.   With upgrades mentioned by the OP, make the Hamer Mirage I an under appreciated  fantastic guitar.

Hamerica  

 

 

[RobB]

1 hour ago, Hamerica said:

4 hours ago, Travis said:

And it seems that the debate on whether they affect tone may never be settled as it seems the numbers on either side of that fence are equal. 

This is actually a thing? Gawd, people are fuktards…

[diablo175]

46 minutes ago, RobB said:

This is actually a thing? Gawd, people are fuktards…

Imagine that- something you and I agree on

[specialk]

11 minutes ago, diablo175 said:

Imagine that- something you and I agree on

Gotta love the HFC!

[Travis]

1 hour ago, RobB said:

This is actually a thing? Gawd, people are fuktards…

[RobB]

Well, gosh, I hope I don’t get marginalized from the board when this shows up…

[cmatthes]

Plenty of volutes on various Hamer Basses…

[tweed]

2 hours ago, Travis said:

At first I thought he was gonna snort that !   Then again, I've done some pretty weird stuff in my day.

Anyway, I like my Mirage, volute and all.  Was also thinkin' of pickin' up a Daytona but with the Mirage, a Carvin Bolt, a Partscaster and another on a back burner with 'bucker size P90's , I keep thinkin', Nah, it's just another Strat style.  Besides, can always get some strat pickups to slap in there for a different flavor.

[mirrorimij]

Different headstock angle on Mirage vs regular Studio, Standard, etc neck.

I believe the truss rod access rout was one of the reasons the volute was added to Mirage.  It’s a pocket done with a straight router bit and removes more material than the way it’s done on a regular Hamer set neck 3x3 (round bore).  It’s more like the access rout on a Diablo style neck (F6 or RF6).

I think the combination of different angle and TR rout left it pretty compromised in that area without a volute.

Not sure if Terry still hangs here but if he reads this maybe he can chime in. 

[Travis]

14 minutes ago, mirrorimij said:

Different headstock angle on Mirage vs regular Studio, Standard, etc neck.

I believe the truss rod access rout was one of the reasons the volute was added to Mirage.  It’s a pocket done with a straight router bit and removes more material than the way it’s done on a regular Hamer set neck 3x3 (round bore).  It’s more like the access rout on a Diablo style neck (F6 or RF6).

I think the combination of different angle and TR rout left it pretty compromised in that area without a volute.

Not sure if Terry still hangs here but if he reads this maybe he can chime in. 

Ah, that makes total sense. Thank you for that insight!

Now I gotta go compare the headstock angle on my Mirages and Talladega…. 

[Ting Ho Dung]

Meanwhile heat a 2 count of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and caramelized - this should take 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin then cook for a further minute. Sprinkle on the flour and stir to ensure the flour doesn't burn then gradually add the chicken stock to make a volute.

[stobro]

In the double bass world, the volute is the scroll at the top of the headstock. The flair at the neck-headstock joint is the chicken butt.

 

[Ting Ho Dung]

4 hours ago, stobro said:

In the double bass world, the volute is the scroll at the top of the headstock. The flair at the neck-headstock joint is the chicken butt.

 

Chicken but = Pope's nose. 

[tweed]

12 hours ago, Ting Ho Dung said:

Meanwhile heat a 2 count of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and caramelized - this should take 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin then cook for a further minute. Sprinkle on the flour and stir to ensure the flour doesn't burn then gradually add the chicken stock to make a volute.

Sounds yummy, might try that ! 

[Ting Ho Dung]

12 hours ago, tweed said:

Sounds yummy, might try that ! 

Tyler's Ultimate Enchiladas.

 

[burningyen]

On 10/2/2021 at 8:48 AM, stobro said:

chicken butt.

On 10/2/2021 at 8:02 PM, tweed said:

Sounds yummy, might try that ! 

🤨

Skimmed the thread a little too quick.

[RobB]

On 10/1/2021 at 7:29 AM, Dutchman said:

Now necks are cut at an angle and glued, verses solid thru the headstock

Do you mean a scarf joint, like on USA Jacksons, Charvels and cheaper 80's hockey-stick guitars?

[Dave Scepter]

41 minutes ago, RobB said:

Do you mean a scarf joint, like on the cheaper 80's hockey-stick guitars?

Huh?..  I wouldn't consider USA Jackson, Charvels, and such cheaper guitars... quite a few high end guitar Mfr use scarf joints

[RobB]

9 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said:

Huh?..  I wouldn't consider USA Jackson, Charvels, and such cheaper guitars... quite a few high end guitars use scarf joints

Fixed my post. 

[Dutchman]

3 hours ago, RobB said:

Do you mean a scarf joint, like on USA Jacksons, Charvels and cheaper 80's hockey-stick guitars?

Yes! Exacltly! Scarf joints destined to fail!

[burningyen]

There’s nothing inherently wrong with a scarf joint. I’d rather have a scarf joint than a one-piece neck with a steep tiltback headstock, like on a Gibson for example.

[Dutchman]

Look's like I'm catching it on Skarf joint's. I have not owned a guitar with one. And being the old fart I am I recall many failures when this practice first started. Newer better glues have got to help! I believe in Titebond lll !! I think the process is all from the same piece of wood just flipped now?   

My preference would be to pass on a guitar with one yet tho. Just set in my old school way's !!