A three-way, volume, tone, finetune bridge and stop tailpiece rounded out the Stellar 1. The body is one piece of select British Honduras Mahogany, avilable with or without a twopiece "bookmatched" curly maple top. focused and a Transparent Black on figured Maple veneer results in a visually inspiring The main bass strings were tuned as on a normal bass guitar, with the two smaller strings tuned in unison at an octave above. This page is to help you identify the year of any Hamer. [7], Hamer Guitars on display at a music exhibition, 2008, "Fender closes Hamer. Untermeyer was initially interested in joining the enterprise as its international sales manager, but he had some money and was convinced to become a partner. Early Standards had Grover tuners, though these changed to Schallers in 79 or 80. Likewise contemporary Gibsons and Fenders. The beginnings of Hamer Guitars (pronounced Hay'-mer, not hammer) go back to those heady days of the early '70s, when Chicago was the breeding ground of soon-to-be-famous rock bands such as REO Speedwagon, Styx, and Cheap Trick. The Standard Bass was offered until 84. Reactions: modavis99, cmatthes, Guitarzandstuff and 4 others. The neck pickup changed, finally landing on a Hfner staple pickup. From 90 to around 96 Korean-made Hamers carried logos that read Hamer Slammer Series, with the Hamer block typeface, Hamer big, Slammer Series underneath. Springs attached inside the body in the back, as on Fender-style designs. Artist 25th Anniversary And these contacts would prove useful. There were two primary differences; first the Artist Archtop was a semi-hollowbody with a sound chamber and f-hole, and the second was in pickups, which were Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers. The Phantom came in two-tone sunburst, black, and TV blond finishes. The Vector was a Flying V copy with a glued-in neck, tapered Hamer three-and-three head, unbound 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, and dot inlays. Serial number 0001 went to Ted Turner in 75. Indio, CA. Free shipping. 97 Hamer began to shift its Korean imports from the Slammer Series into the Import Series, switching Slammer production to Indonesia. A similar Newport Pro model was also offered, identical except for a pair of Duncan Seth Lover humbuckers and a stop tailpiece. Recently, the CruiseBass began to offer an option 2-Tek bridge. Dantzig left Fender in 2010 to build instruments under the Jol Dantzig Guitar Design name. The fingerboard was unbound mahogany with dot inlays. Shoes Gary Klebe Standard, Sunbursts (2) Very soon the supply of Gibson pickups was gone. Noticeably absent were most of the Strat-style models such as the Californian, Diablo and Daytona, and the T-51 Tele, though some would soon reappear as Import models. The Blitz was a more basic take on the Explorer/Standard idea, again catering to the contemporary taste for guitars with less traditional styling. by Ronnie Dungan, "FMIC Suspends Hamer Production" on Premier Guitars website, Hamer Guitars History Interview with Jol Dantzig, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hamer_Guitars&oldid=1126369721, This page was last edited on 9 December 2022, at 00:19. Founded in New York by a Greek violin maker and luthier, the Epiphone name came from Epi Stathopoulo, the founder's son and company president. I would appreciate anyones comments or info about it,Thanks All,Tele. A mini-toggle bypassed the volume control for instant lead mode. The 22-fret fingerboard was bound rosewood with dots. The Standard lasted only through 97 and the move, when it became part of the Import series. It differed from Basses By 1930, and already known as a banjo maker, Epiphone was offering its Masterbilt guitars, and it went on to rival Gibson as the top jazz guitar maker of the era with its Emperor and other archtop models. The Daytona, Mirage and T-51 have either Wilkinson VSV vibratos or HT100 stoptails. Later Vectors switched to a triangular-shaped headstock similar to the Gibson style. The earliest examples have a pickguard, but by around 84 this was eliminated. Hall & Oates Daryl Hall Mandocello, Mandar As part of our commitment to improve design and quality of our instruments, Hamer Guitars reserves Paul was the salesman. switch orientation. 5 String Bass. Hamer never had guitars made in Japan. CruiseBass The 243/4 scale, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard was unbound with dots, joining the body at 21 for excellent access. A slightly downscale version of the Sunburst was originally released in 1980. Hamer Blitz 1983 Explorer Midnight Blue Electric Guitar $2,495.00 $75.00 shipping or Best Offer 24 watching body only Slammer Hamer Electric Guitar body only project $30.00 $18.50 shipping or Best Offer 16 watching Hamer Monaco Special K Electric Guitar with P-90 pickups. Also want to say its very nice with absolutely no fretware. Recent stoptail models are generally fitted with Schaller tune-o-matic bridges and tailpiece, including the Archtop, Special and Standard reissue. The Standard In 95, Hamer brought back a number of variations on the venerable CruiseBass, the original of which had run from 82 to 90. Hudson Falls, New York, 128**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The Vector Hamer made some great guitars with sometimes dubious choices in pickups and finishes. And now you know all about them. Cherry Burst on figured Maple veneer results in a visually inspiring instrument. Eagles Joe Walsh Sunburst Cheap Trick had also ordered at least one 10-string bass for Petersson (one octave string on the G and D, two octave strings on the A and E), and a custom 12-string guitar for Robin Zander. Hamer never had guitars made in Japan. In 97, Kaman/Ovation found itself with excess capacity in its New Hartford, Connecticut, factory and operating a second (Hamer) factory in suburban Chicago. The third new style introduced in 82 was the Blitz Guitar and Bass. Color options were Cherry Sunburst, Purpleburst and Blueburst. The primary difference between the new Phantom and the old Prototype was pickup selection. They felt they could make and sell a cheaper modern vintage guitar to these same people, and they wouldnt be afraid to take them on the road. We took so long to make his guitar that we just gave him Pauls to satisfy him.. Double expenses and not operating at full capacity at one plant that could easily absorb the other operation. [2], The company was incorporated in Illinois in 1976 by John Montgomery, Jol Dantzig, James Walker and Hamer. Mine is a black flame, found it used at Sam Ash. Otherwise, the mahogany neck and electronics were very similar, with the three-coil/single-coil combination. With the influx of cash, the company relocated to Palatine, Illinois, to a larger space with some new equipment. The Sex Pistols Steve Jones Sunburst It was also in 98 that Hamer shifted its Korean-made guitars from Slammers to Import Series and began applying the Slammer by Hamer brand to guitars made in Indonesia. Beginning in late 1987 serial numbers were again stamped into the wood. The Import Standard basically replaced the old USA Standard. Seller might even be ok with $250, but it's your call. Jun 16, 2012. Not resting on its laurels, yet two more new Hamer models debuted in 94 the Eclipse and the Mirage. Pickups were Seymour Duncan Custom and Pearly Gates humbuckers. Finishes included 59 Burst, Honey, Kool Blue, Red Transparent and Tobacco Sunburst. The Hamer Standard, the upscale Explorer copy that started it all back in 74, was discontinued in 85. Once Jol left they loosened up a bit but it was already too late. So our perspective has always been a little skewed. Beginning in 85 most were fitted with Hamer Slammers (by DiMarzio), which feature covers, not open coils. The top was carved, highly figured silky maple. The unbound two-octave fingerboard had pearl dot inlays. Newport I don't know the model or what year it was made but it played very well with excellent balance across the pickup positions. Finish was a brownish-red called Cognac. The Import Series, sometimes called the Hamer Guitar, was intended to be the companys mid-line offering. Petersson was playing a Hagstrom eight-string bass as the time. In 84, the Prototype listed for $799.90, the Prototype 12-string was $849.90, the Prototype II $999.90. The Blitz was outfitted with the two Hamer-spec DiMarzio humbuckers, now called Hamer Slammers. Figured Maple veneer and it features a smooth playing mahogany set-neck and an Ebony We didnt quite get it, explains company cofounder Jol Dantzig, discussing the birth of Hamer Guitars. Artist Ultimate They copied the Explorer shape but added the flamed maple top and binding of a Les Paul Standard. The Eclipse and Mirage Maple Top disappeared after 98. If you find The Ultimate Hamer USA Archive (@The Buddleja Garden) useful, interesting or In 97, the name changed again to just plain Artist. Soon they were selling vintage guitars to some of the biggest bands of the time, including Bad Company, Wishbone Ash, and many other big-name outfits. Hamer then began concentrating on a core of high-quality designs targeted at the high-end and collector market. You guys have sold me on it,I will contact seller tomorrow to see if he still has it. $100. All came with bolt-on maple necks, unbound rosewood fingerboards, dot inlays and chrome hardware. The body was Honduras mahogany with an optional unbound flamed-maple top. It soon became clear that the supply of vintage Gibson PAFs, even broken ones, would not be adequate to support new guitar production, so Hamer commissioned DiMarzio to produce humbuckers to its own specs. Until this point, Hamer guitars were essentially derivative, inspired by Gibson designs. The Mirage was equipped with three Seymour Duncan single-coil-sized humbuckers (all perpendicular to the strings) a Hot Rail at the bridge and two split-rail Vintage Rails. We were seeing vintage 50s Les Pauls selling for $3,000. The name had changed but the appearance was still generic. This is my tribute to the fine guitars and basses made by Hamer USA. The Echotone was basically a version of the semi-hollowbody Gibson ES-335. It had just slightly offset double cutaways with a slightly extended upper horn and a slightly deeper treble cutaway. Tuners were Grover Super Rotomatics, with the Art Deco buttons. Vanguard Kenny Passarelli Kenny Passarelli Mandocello Paul Hamer, the company's president, and chief salesperson, left in 1987 to pursue a career in retail. New was a laminated pickguard with Prototype engraved and carrying a three-coil bridge pickup very similar to Mighty Mite Motherbuckers of the time, though actually it was a single-coil pickup tucked next to a humbucker in the same ring. We used to literally sell crates of old guitars maybe 75 instruments at a time to Australia and Japan, where buyers would pay twice what Americans would pay, recalls Dantzig, who quickly amassed a huge collection that included some of the earliest Broadcasters, P-Basses, Strats, and Les Paul Standards a stash many would kill for today. Off Broadway John Ivan Sunbursts (4) Mine was made at the Cort factory in 92 but I can't say for sure if all Slammer Series were made by Cort. The result was the cleverly named 12-String Bass. In 1977 the company set up shop in Palatine, Illinois and employed seven workers. 82 most came with passive DiMarzio P and J-type, with exposed polepieces. Hamer, Monaco and Slammer are registered trademarks of KMC Music. In March of 80 the Standard with dots listed at $1,199.95, Standard with crowns $1,299.95, the 8-String Bass was $1,499.95, 12-String Bass $1,700, 12-String Quadbass $2,000, Sunburst with dots $799.90, Sunburst with crowns $869.90, and the Special was $699.90. Except for the V-shaped bodies, these conform in all details to the original Standard including the Explorer-style headstock. Free shipping. It sort of reminds me of a cheaper PRS McCarty. In order to better balance the pickups in this environment, Hamer began to de-wind the neck pickup to decrease the output slightly. I'd had an interest in a P90 Sunburst for a while now, but never saw any out in the wild. Eclipse Phantom Revisited The Standard Custom had a bound rosewood fingerboard with crown mother-of-pearl inlays. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Numbering System # 1 1976 to 1981 #0001 to #0680 A Total of 680 guitars All Custom Shop guitars or custom made for someone special etc etc. Find great deals and sell your items for free. 92 Hamer Slammer humbuckers and single-coils (black, DiMarzio) This differed from the regular edition in that it sported a bound flamed maple top (even the f-hole was bound) and a bound ebony fingerboard (and head) with pearl crown inlays. . I paid $350 with a hard case and couldn't be happier. This was a spectacular guitar, substantially the same as the carved-top Artist but with some extra-fancy features. Cheap Trick Robin Zander Custom 12-String Guitar The Import Echotone and Stellar 1 did not have USA equivalents. In 84, the Phantom A5 changed to a second version basically the same as the earlier one, except it featured a six-in-line headstock and Kahler Flat-Mount vibrato system was standard. However, the truly deluxe features were 25th Anniversary engraved sterling silver truss rod cover and back control plate, a line of sterling silver purfling on the inside of the body binding, and a special silver-colored hardshell case! Rockpile Dave Edmunds Sunburst Pickups were either one or two twin-blade DiMarzio X2N humbuckers. Futura is the name applied to some early 58 Gibson Explorers which were closer to the prototype sketch in the patent application than subsequent production models. There was a small black pickup, three-way select, volume and tone controls. This was the same as the new 84 Phantom A5, with the addition of a Roland hex MIDI pickup in front of the vibrato, with a three-way toggle (MIDI/regular/both) and two other parameter control knobs. Get the best deal for Hamer Electric Guitars from the largest online selection at eBay.ca. I can take closer pictures if needed. Body and neck were maple. This model did not go into production in the 70s, but the shape, at least, found an incarnation in 82 as the Vector, right in step with the tastes of those heavy metal times. The founders may not have quite gotten it, but Hamer guitars sure didnt turn out to be a mistake. As mentioned, ca. reserved. Roy Buchanan Roy Buchanan Standards (2) Dire Straits Mark Knopfler Sunburst By 1996, Hamer had begun to modify its import strategy and made a transition for its Ko-rean models which would end up being called the Import Series - basically upscale copies of its better Hamer USA guitars, still made in Korea. Eventually, Hamer began to stamp its name into the baseplates of the pickups, and these would come to be known as Hamer Slammer pickups (they dont rhyme!). The first Hamer guitar, a Flying V bass, was built at Northern Prairie Music, a vintage instrument shop in Wilmette, Illinois, owned by Hamer and Dantzig. Crushed, Dantzig returned to Chicago. The 22-fret rosewood fingerboard had a 251/2 scale, dot inlays, and a Hamer three-and-three head. The decision was made to consolidate all guitarmaking activities in Connecticut, and the Illinois factory was closed. There were six tuners on each side of the head, in two sizes, with smaller ones for the octave strings. The new version (Model BCRS) was redesigned to have a much more rounded form, much closer to a Fender bass design, just slightly more exaggerated waists. Anybody know the model of this guitar I've discribed and what it would be worth? They'd eventually add the Sunburst and other designs, becoming the first boutique vintage brand. Hardware was gold. [3] These were used on virtually all two-humbucker Hamers up to 82. $99.99 shipping. However, in the new vintage environment of the 90s, the model was revived in 95. Maybe $265.00 aint bad? It may look like a one-trick ponybut what a ride. Bridge units on the multi-string basses were of Hamers design, allowing individual intonation of each string. The Import Cruise basses were replicas of the latter model, with the Fender-style profile and the little batwing pickguard. These Slammer by Hamers were probably available through the move to Connecticut. Circa 1970, Dantzig was playing bass in a club band called Heartbreaker. The pups in these MIK Hamer's are SD designed,whatever?, all I DO know is they are pretty sweet and as I stated, all that was TRULY needed on that Echotone was a new Harness, and all else was good,as good as your gonna' get for under $300. Untermyer served as a partner and international sales manager. Dantzig recalls getting more and more requests for instruments they didnt think they could make, but took the plunge and eventually built them. Reaction score. Controls remained two volumes and a tone. The beginnings of Hamer Guitars (pronounced Hay-mer, not hammer) go back to those heady days of the early 70s, when Chicago was the breeding ground of soon-to-be-famous rock bands such as REO Speedwagon, Styx, and Cheap Trick. Single Cut LP Style $599.00 $40.00 shipping or Best Offer 30 watching The staff had grown to 12 and Hamer Guitars continued to launch new models, such as the "Special", "Cruisebass", "Prototype", "Blitz" and "Phantom". Mesa, AZ. Next month, well pick up the Hamer chronicles as the company begins to pick up steam in the early to mid 80s. Following delivery of the 12-String Bass, Hamer was challenged again in 78 by an order for an 8-String Bass. The Hamer Import Series remains available to this day. The company's early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer (The Standard) and Gibson Flying V (Vector), before adding more traditional Gibson-inspired designs such as the Sunburst. instrument. Finish was transparent orange. It sort of reminds me of a cheaper PRS McCarty. This had a double-cutaway maple body basically the same as the Sunburst but without binding and with a glued-in mahogany neck, a large split-V headstock and a short 301/2. The body was mahogany with a carved, figured koa top with a glued-in mahogany neck. You must log in or register to reply here. Jethro Tull Martin Barre Standard, Sunbursts (2) It remains available. The first few Standards were fitted with original Gibson PAF humbuckers, many of them non-functioning units obtained from the repair shop at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and rewound by Larry DiMarzio. A few Standards are seen with the Sustain Block bridges used on Sunbursts (see below), so presumably they date from about this time. I was going to get one a while back, but ended up with another Gibson. The Mirage and Mirage II lasted until 97 or 98, when they were replaced by the Mirage Maple Top (essentially the Mirage II with a flamed maple top), Seymour Duncan 59 and JB humbuckers, and locking Schaller tuners. Only a 3 way tangle and 1 volume and 1 tone control. The fingerboard remained unbound rosewood with pearl dots. The vibrato was a non-locking Wilkinson VSV vibrato combined with chrome locking Sperzel tuners. By 77, the other two original partners sold their shares, and the company was in the hands of Dantzig and Hamer. This was identical except for having a single Hamer Slammer humbucker at the bridge and one volume control, available in custom colors and graphic finishes. The early instruments produced by this company were similar to the Gibson Flying V and the Explorer. The Prototype This initial Prototype series was offered through 86. The original version also had a Wilkinson Wrap Around bridge, although by 97 this had changed to a finetune bridge and stop tailpiece. Along with its parent company Kaman Music, Hamer was acquired by guitar giant Fender Musical Instruments on December 31, 2007. Controls were one volume and one midrange tone/contour control with a three-way toggle, again behind the bridge, which offered humbucking and single-coil sounds. Soon, this guitar would become known as the Standard. This was essentially the same as the Archtop Artist, except it lacked body and fingerboard binding, and had dot inlays. Hamer offered a wide array of electric guitars and electric basses and since its foundation, placed an emphasis on producing high-quality instruments with vintage aesthetics as well as creative innovations.[3]. It differed from the Sunburst mainly in that it lacked binding. This second version of the Phantom was now also offered as the Phantom A7 Synthesizer Controller. Most Vectors have the Sustain Block fixed bridge with strings through the body, but some are found with the Sustain Block vibrato, or Kahler or Floyd Rose double-locking units. OBLs were mainly used on the Custom models, though some show up on standard instruments. Controls were one volume and two tone with a three-way select behind the bridge unusual placement. By 83, a 12-string Prototype was offered, differing only in the larger headstock (tapered, not the V-head of the basses) and having a 12-saddle bridge and stop tail. Please Note: For product service outside the U.S. and Canada, please contact either the Dealer from whom you purchased the product, or the Authorized Gretsch Distributor in your area for information and assistance. Twin humbuckers, three-way, two volumes and two tones, finetune bridge, stop tailpiece and elevated black laminated pickguard completed the picture. 92, as the vogue for locking vibratos began to wane, guitars such as the Vintage S and T-62 were fitted with a non-locking ABM roller-saddle bridge. The Phantom had a Honduras mahogany body, glued-in neck, three-and-three headstock, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays, finetune bridge and stop tailpiece. $100. This included guitars like Nielsens five-necked monstrosity, which was built by 82. Probably a set neck. Where are Hamer Slammer guitars made? By the time the Sunburst appeared in 77, bound rosewood fingerboards with crown inlays were offered as an option, and these appointments begin appearing on some Standards. We would buy old Strats for $150, Jazzmasters for $80, he adds. Instead of a lever, the Phantom Custom featured a five-way rotary selector which offered the neck single-coil, neck and bridge single-coils, bridge single-coil, all three bridge coils, and the bridge humbucker plus master volume and tone. Indeed, as you read about special features that come online, these might appear on any instrument as a custom-order feature, so if you find an unusual Hamer, think twice before you conclude that it has been modified. This Phantom lasted only a year before it was replaced by the Phantom Custom (PHANC). . United States. In 95/96 Hamer produced a limited number of Korina Standards, versions of the original Gibson Explorer of 58. Carved flame maple top over mahogany, rosewood dotneck with three-and-three head. New Partner, New Digs Tony Williams Band Tony Williams Sunburst As the Korean-made Hamers made their transition to become the Import Series around 98, the logo simply read Hamer, in Hamer block type, no USA.. This model came in honey, kool blue, and red transparent. Pezband Mike Gorman 8-String Bass Most early Hamer catalogs do not have a copyright date, but you can get a clue by referring to the address. Eschewing the fine-tune bridge and stop tailpiece of the Standard, Sunbursts featured a one-piece bridge/tailpiece assembly similar to that found on a stoptail Strat, with adjustable saddles and strings passing through the body. Early Hamers had black bobbins on the lead pickup and cream bobbins on the neck pickup. With better facilities and the infusion of new enthusiasm, Hamer introduced its next model, a slightly downscale version of the Sunburst called the Special, in 80. Guitar #8 21416 was made in 1988 and was the 21,416th guitar so numbered. Fender instruments made after the CBS takeover in 65 had gotten a bad rap from guitarists by the end of the 60s, based in part on some quality control problems and the infamous three-bolt neck controversy (Fender engineers felt four bolts were overkill and they could save money without sacrificing stability; players didnt see it that way). The Phantom Custom was basically a Prototype Custom with a triple-coil pickup at the bridge and slanted single-coil neck pickup, plus an unbound flamed maple top. The Import Diablo, too, was similar to its forebear, with maple body and neck. By 84, Hamer pickups were called Slammers, still produced by DiMarzio. It had a British Honduras mahogany body with a glued-in mahogany neck, the droopy banana or scimitar six-in-line headstock, an unbound fingerboard with dot inlays (243/4 scale), fine-tune bridge, and stop tailpiece. High-end or budget, theres no doubt Hamer Guitars have been successful and earned the allegiance of players and collectors alike. Jul 4, 2015. The Who John Entwhistle 12-String Quad Bass Basically, it did with the Sunburst what it had done with the Explorer. HAMER FUT-VKC Natural Made in USA EXP Type Electric Guitar MOD Rare Pre-Owned $4,620.00 jpitemsgoods (361) 98.8% Buy It Now Free shipping from Japan Free returns Sponsored HAMER FUT-VKC Natural Made in USA EXP Type Electric Guitar MOD, o2212 Pre-Owned $4,815.00 fun-japanproduct (922) 99.1% Buy It Now Free shipping from Japan Free returns Actually, this is misleading because, as weve documented, the company really began in 73 and kind of evolved into existence over the next couple of years. He liked to shake hands, Dantzig explains. Dantzig controlled 60 percent of the stock, the rest was split between Hamer and Untermeyer. After five years with Kaman, Dantzig left the company in 1993, moving to California to begin a design and consulting business. Standard Revisited The Phantom guitar series lasted through 86. Nevertheless, Dantzig and Hamer continued to play with their new creations and got the attention of more and more curious musicians.
