PSA Cali USA.....No Affiliation

[Jon C]

This one came up on Ebay....begs the question:  Was the sustainer truly a factory item or added?  Switch location does not look ideal....splitter or otherwise.  Thought there would be a batter compartment as on Chaps with Sustainiacs.  Any insights.  Couldn't attach photo.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126214727500?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

 

[Cboss]

There is no sustainiac on this, both those pickups are stock Duncan parallel axis.. some dickhead drilled holes in a gorgeous guitar and added those switches, the rest of it is stock

Note to the defacer, you can get all that switching with a super switch and or a push pull

[kurtsstuff]

I "think" the trem spring cover is plastic??

[Hbom]

34 minutes ago, Cboss said:

There is no sustainiac on this, both those pickups are stock Duncan parallel axis.. some dickhead drilled holes in a gorgeous guitar and added those switches, the rest of it is stock

Note to the defacer, you can get all that switching with a super switch and or a push pull

Not sure super switch was available in 1990. But you could get anything you wanted at the Hamer shop.

Agree about the sustainiac.

[Dave Scepter]

 

32 minutes ago, Hbom said:

Not sure super switch was available in 1990. 

Came here just to say the same thing 

[Jon C]

1 hour ago, Cboss said:

There is no sustainiac on this, both those pickups are stock Duncan parallel axis.. some dickhead drilled holes in a gorgeous guitar and added those switches, the rest of it is stock

Note to the defacer, you can get all that switching with a super switch and or a push pull

I don't think the neck PA pu is original.  My Hamers from that era had unbranded PA pickups.  Wonder what surprises the electronics cavity holds.

[diablo175]

If the mini toggles were indeed for a sustainer system, the installer royally fucked up- Sustainiac clearly notes on it's website that slanted pickup cavities and/or positioned less than 3 inches from the bridge p'up will not work for a sustainer system. 🙄

[JustKid]

6 hours ago, Jon C said:

This one came up on Ebay....begs the question:  Was the sustainer truly a factory item or added?  Switch location does not look ideal....splitter or otherwise.  Thought there would be a batter compartment as on Chaps with Sustainiacs.  Any insights.  Couldn't attach photo.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126214727500?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

 

Was gonna put a posting here.
This would be mine. Regarding sustainer, as I stated in the description, that's what previous owner told me. May be somebody ordered it and later in the process asked the dealer to add sustainer, may be he was a dickhead and just added it. At this point it's unknown, just like scalloped fingerboard on a Cali...factory or not...go figure, I personally never seen one, and I've seen pretty much all of them, and I actually had Calis with sustainer before, unfortunately back then there was no cameras in our phones . So all we do , just pass the story of the guitar from previous owner. I've had if for around 20 years and only recently decided to actually get the sustainer. And, btw,  not all of them run on 2 batteries, so sometimes there's no need to have an additional compartment.

5 hours ago, kurtsstuff said:

I "think" the trem spring cover is plastic??

Oops. My bad, really forgot to mention, but there will be no problem to swap it for metal, as I still have quite a few Calis.

4 hours ago, Jon C said:

I don't think the neck PA pu is original.  My Hamers from that era had unbranded PA pickups.  Wonder what surprises the electronics cavity holds.

If we consider that there was sustainer, how can it be original? So, YES, it's not original. Did Hamer install PA, be they branded or un-branded, of course they did. So the neck pickup was installed instead of transducer, which automatically means that it's NOT original. Surprises in the cavity? Well.. there's volume pot, two toggles and 3pos switch. Not sure which part could be surprising

 

 

4 hours ago, diablo175 said:

If the mini toggles were indeed for a sustainer system, the installer royally fucked up- Sustainiac clearly notes on it's website that slanted pickup cavities and/or positioned less than 3 inches from the bridge p'up will not work for a sustainer system. 🙄

I think we already had this argument, as I mentioned before, I had quite a few guitars with sustainers, including Cali, most of them factory, some with aftermarket, and can with absolute certainty report that it works just fine. So may be some things on the websites need some fresh look. In one famous book it advised that pole pieces on LP ( those slots for screwdriver) should be under 45 degree - that I think what royal fuck up would be if one would follow it :))

Any other questions - do not hesitate to ask. For members here the discounted price would be $3500. 

[JustKid]

One of the best looking maples to my taste. 

 

 

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

I don't think the switches fuck anything up.

it's still a Cali.

It's still solid flamed maple body.

Those pickups probably sound awesome.

 

Ok, sure, for that price you want "unmolested."  But they aren't making 30 year old Calis any more.  They don't come on the market often, this is the price. If you don't like the price, don't buy it.  If you like, well, here's the price.  If the price is unacceptable, go ahead and buy one of the other flamed maple Hamer USA Calis that are available right now.

 

What?  There are no other choices?  

 

Exactly.

 

Don't buy this one, then you have to accept the risk they might just get more expensive in the future.  Or maybe you'll get lucky and someone wants to unload one for much cheaper...but can you be sure you'll be the first to see it and grab it?

[diablo175]

18 hours ago, JustKid said:

 

I think we already had this argument, as I mentioned before, I had quite a few guitars with sustainers, including Cali, most of them factory, some with aftermarket, and can with absolute certainty report that it works just fine. So may be some things on the websites need some fresh look. In one famous book it advised that pole pieces on LP ( those slots for screwdriver) should be under 45 degree - that I think what royal fuck up would be if one would follow it :))

Any other questions - do not hesitate to ask. For members here the discounted price would be $3500. 

Not meant to argue. Merely passing along the info I've been told by numerous techs, builders and read on Sustainiac's site.

 

[JustKid]

7 hours ago, diablo175 said:

Not meant to argue. Merely passing along the info I've been told by numerous techs, builders and read on Sustainiac's site.

 

Interesting info, but I always prefer personal experience

 "3 inches MINIMUM" ...hm...Jackson Phil Collen PC1 , loving it ( not mine on the pic, I have Natural), 24 frets, distance to next pickup ...I'd say way under 3in, more like <2in, and this next pu, although not bridge, is quite powerful stacked humb with full humb right next to it and all under 3in probably, that's a lot of magnetic field :)). And works like a charm. But then again, they say "we need 3in minimum", may be it's just "them", and others could safely use PC1 without any interference 

 

[diablo175]

7 hours ago, JustKid said:

Interesting info, but I always prefer personal experience

 "3 inches MINIMUM" ...hm...Jackson Phil Collen PC1 , loving it ( not mine on the pic, I have Natural), 24 frets, distance to next pickup ...I'd say way under 3in, more like <2in, and this next pu, although not bridge, is quite powerful stacked humb with full humb right next to it and all under 3in probably, that's a lot of magnetic field :)). And works like a charm. But then again, they say "we need 3in minimum", may be it's just "them", and others could safely use PC1 without any interference 

 

If it works for you (and Phil), then good on ya.

I have no doubt that exceptions occur and that the Sustainiac works (to some degree) in settings that are outside of the manufacturer's recommendations. But for my money, the subjectivity of working like a charm and the language of their recommendations, presumably based on a multitude of experience, and which cites (with specificity) the issues you could run into, make for more compelling insight and guidance.

If I had to make decision based on anecdotal experience or the recommendations of the guy who designed and oversees production of it, I'd have to defer to the latter. YMMV. 

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Pickups are obvs stock (PATB bridge and the single coil neck equivalent). That has not had a sustainiac as they don't work unless mounted correctly. Those swiches really spoil (and devalue) it for me...

[Jon C]

When I got my first black Cali, I really wanted the neck pickup (PA-Single) to be less bright; but of course, no tone control on them.  So I installed a tone pot, drilling a hole next to the volume control.  Thought nothing of it at the time....Did not know that 30years later Hamers would be the next "collectable" rage. 

Later, I bought another Cali (Salmon/Flame) with same issue.   This time, I installed a tone pot inside the control cavity that only worked on the neck pickup.  No holes, no screws, no glue.  I backed off the treble to my liking, replaced the plate back and got the warmth I was hoping for.  I can remove it with very minimal evidence it was there....probably invisible to everyone except you HFC guys.   

But NOW, I have the  ultimate fix for too  much treble..... years of playing loud rock and roll.  To my ears, all my guitars now have a warm, muted tone....and hissing noises.  I think its called tinnitus.

The posts above are interesting and expected.  This is the Hamer Fan Club and "Fan" is short for fanatic.  So, this is the place to jump into the fire and get your voice heard....and expect other opinions to be direct.  Fan clubs have very passionate members....Try getting on a Corvette club sight and tell them about the Monster Whale Tail Spoiler you riveted to your stock 1967 Sting Ray!  It will be brutal.....or "direct", if you will.

 

[Jon C]

Ya know.....For those having an issue with the mini switches: 

One could plug the forward mini switch hole, drill out the hole closest to the selector switch, and install a tone control.  Looks like there is enough room and it would be a useful mod.  (I never had much use for splitting pickups).   There are drill bits that are designed to make "plugs".  A piece of flame maple from Ganahl Lumber, a little stain and clear coat, the plug would blend in.

If I did not already have the same flame Cali, I would consider this.....but with a lower price offer. 

Beautiful guitar.  Ya know you want it....it is calling your name.  😁