4-Digit Basses: A Matter of Dots

[HSB0531]

Out of curiosity, I was wondering about when the 12th fret dot spacing was changed to the narrow spacing on the 4-digit basses.

I've read where they changed to the narrow spacing in 1980, but saw in the 1981-82 catalogs where the basses still had the wide spacing.

https://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/81pics.htm

https://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/1982a.htm

I ordered my Standard Bass (#0531) in 1980 and it was delivered in 1981.

It has the wide spaced 12th fret dots.

[chromium]

On 10/3/2021 at 1:47 PM, HSB0531 said:

Out of curiosity, I was wondering about when the 12th fret dot spacing was changed to the narrow spacing on the 4-digit basses.

I've read where they changed to the narrow spacing in 1980, but saw in the 1981-82 catalogs where the basses still had the wide spacing.

https://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/81pics.htm

https://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/1982a.htm

I ordered my Standard Bass (#0531) in 1980 and it was delivered in 1981.

It has the wide spaced 12th fret dots.

I have two '80s and two '81s (from best of my knowledge)

0352 (pictured below on left) is a B4S w/narrower spacing, compared to 0554 Standard on right with wide spacing.  Very subtle difference.

My other (assumed) '80 0408 B12S has the wide spacing.

[HSB0531]

Thanks for that info and the pics.

I'm wondering if they had left over wide dot fretboard's and mixed them in with the newer boards.

[cmatthes]

On 10/3/2021 at 4:47 PM, HSB0531 said:

Out of curiosity, I was wondering about when the 12th fret dot spacing was changed to the narrow spacing on the 4-digit basses.

I've read where they changed to the narrow spacing in 1980, but saw in the 1981-82 catalogs where the basses still had the wide spacing.

https://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/81pics.htm

https://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/1982a.htm

I ordered my Standard Bass (#0531) in 1980 and it was delivered in 1981.

It has the wide spaced 12th fret dots.

It’s entirely possible that when the catalog shots were taken, that was the available spacing - the photo session could have very easily taken place in late 1980 or very early ‘81.   
 

Even though Hamer did a lot of the design, layout and concept in-house for the catalogs and ads, that was so long before desktop publishing and computer graphic programs that the cost was still pretty high and things took a lot longer to get to the print/publish stage.   Now, you could actually put together a full blown catalog from home in a day or two…with your phone…for pennies.

[0054]

2 hours ago, cmatthes said:

It’s entirely possible that when the catalog shots were taken, that was the available spacing - the photo session could have very easily taken place in late 1980 or very early ‘81.   
 

Even though Hamer did a lot of the design, layout and concept in-house for the catalogs and ads, that was so long before desktop publishing and computer graphic programs that the cost was still pretty high and things took a lot longer to get to the print/publish stage.   Now, you could actually put together a full blown catalog from home in a day or two…with your phone…for pennies.

Being able to and having the knowledge to do it with excellence can be a wide chasm. I work through files each day that should not print, and not so long ago would not have been. I routinely have a large list of file issues sent out in emails, I kind of chuckle because when the list of all that is wrong is complete, I write "please let us know when this is approved to print".

I personally learned to set headlines of type by hand on reels of film, while being yelled at by designers loooking over my shoulder, questioning if I could get anything done right. Lol, it taught me these guys n gals were tough. They kept coming back. I am very familliar with characters and how they interact, almost uniquely so. 

 

Bleed resolution, panel folds, trim, margin, correcting photos, knowing what should be vector or raster, what process the job will be printed, even choice of paper. You can have programs to do it, but it is not just having the programs that gets it done right.

Logos, I have done some, they take a lot of work, I have spent months refining several of them. Why? To get it right you have to really think about it. Most logos suck for several reasons...no thought is the primary one

[HSB0531]

4 hours ago, cmatthes said:

It’s entirely possible that when the catalog shots were taken, that was the available spacing - the photo session could have very easily taken place in late 1980 or very early ‘81.   
 

Even though Hamer did a lot of the design, layout and concept in-house for the catalogs and ads, that was so long before desktop publishing and computer graphic programs that the cost was still pretty high and things took a lot longer to get to the print/publish stage.   Now, you could actually put together a full blown catalog from home in a day or two…with your phone…for pennies.

Yes that makes sense, especially since they were a small company and adding some 1980 and 1981 products in a single photoshoot is easier and cheaper to produce.

I remember how expensive it was to produce catalogs and CD's back in the 1990's.

Computers, monitors, photoshop, SCSI scanners, cameras, printing, photo CD's cost me a great deal of money.

Now it really is dirt cheap in comparison.

[HamerCustomEr]

On 10/5/2021 at 4:01 PM, chromium said:

Very subtle difference.

I'll say!  I never would have noticed if you had not pointed it out.