Hamer Phantom finish question

[ChemtoolerB-12]

Hello,  I am a new member, so please let me know if this post is in the wrong location.

 

I picked up this Phantom at a local pawn shop a while back.  I got it fairly cheap due to the finish problems, but I just wanted to check to see if the gang here had any idea what happened to the finish. It looks like orange peel to me, but may be it was refinished.  I was not sure the best way to upload pictures, so I put them in a pdf to fit the size limit.

 

Phantom pics.pdf

[kizanski]

Welcome. 
Check the FAQ on how to post pictures. 
In general, though, you’ll never see orange peel on a stock Hamer finish.  

[ChemtoolerB-12]

[ChemtoolerB-12]

[kizanski]

Safe to say that is not the original paint.  

[ChemtoolerB-12]

Thanks, I was not sure, because it is the same in the pick-up and control cavities.  Also, I did think the headstock would match if it was a re-finish.  PS I am not Mark Howell. That appears to be a sticker

[cmatthes]

Looks legit.  Is the serial number still visible?

 

 

[Dave Scepter]

7 hours ago, ChemtoolerB-12 said:

Cool custom layout 👍

[Jimbilly]

I agreed with Kiz about it not looking original, but the other bits you mentioned, maybe the paint got damaged?  Weird. 

- Love the crowns on this one!  My '84 Proto ii has some weirdness on the paint, but not as much 'peel' as yours: who knows what that poor thing has been through.

 A Fender mexi trem bar fits the Kahler iirc. 

[ChemtoolerB-12]

It has both Kahler bars. The regular one and the smaller palm style.

Serial number is visible. It looks like it might have been burnt on the end of the head-stock. I thought it was tape residue but is does not come off. 

[ChemtoolerB-12]

[HSB0531]

I'm guessing they didn't use enough hardener in the lacquer, and the paint never fully hardened, causing the case fuzz to imprint itself on the finish?

[Ham Rex]

Mark Howell appears to be an accomplished musician. 

I wouldn't remove his name.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Howell

[ChemtoolerB-12]

Thank you for the info Ham Rex. 

Hey, is your location of Fort Mysery on the west coast of Florida? We might be neighbors.

[velorush]

On 4/6/2024 at 9:14 PM, HSB0531 said:

I'm guessing they didn't use enough hardener in the lacquer, and the paint never fully hardened, causing the case fuzz to imprint itself on the finish?

Yep, I'd say you got yourself a warranty claim right there. 

Oh wait...

Edited April 9 by velorush

[HSB0531]

It's ok.

It looks Righteously Relic'd

At 43, it looks correct

 

[topekatj]

Let’s ask Mark! (The email address below is posted at the bottom of the article linked here: https://studioseeds.com/howell/ )

CONTACT
Mark Howell, Ph.D.
[email protected]

 

 

[Ham Rex]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:09 PM, ChemtoolerB-12 said:

Thank you for the info Ham Rex. 

Hey, is your location of Fort Mysery on the west coast of Florida? We might be neighbors.

Yes! Fort Mysery, Fort Lonesome, Fort Snowturd.

[Ham Rex]

On 4/11/2024 at 1:34 AM, topekatj said:

Let’s ask Mark! (The email address below is posted at the bottom of the article linked here: https://studioseeds.com/howell/ )

CONTACT
Mark Howell, Ph.D.
[email protected]

 

 

Anyone follow up?

[ChemtoolerB-12]

I will send him an email with a couple of photos.

[Cboss]

On 4/5/2024 at 9:05 PM, ChemtoolerB-12 said:

Very cool and unique! ❤

I have the same finish clean up process on any older Hamer I get; lightly wet sand with 1600 wet/dry, lightly wet sand with 2000 wet/dry, hand or lightly machine compound with 3m perfectit finishing compound, wax with 3m synthetic auto wax.  The results are always incredible..perhaps try a test patch and see what is revealed 

[ChemtoolerB-12]

Thank your for the tip. I will test that out in a small section.

[ChemtoolerB-12]

I heard back from the Mark Howell referenced above:

"That's wild. No I never owned, or even played a Hamer. I do; however, have an Ibanez that looks very similar. Neither it nor my Les Paul have my name printed on the headstock."

 

So, there must be another guitar playing Mark Howell out there.