Around the time of the move Hamer introduced another variation on its semi-hollow Artist guitar, a top-of-the-line Hamer Artist Ultimate (ARTULT). In 85, the neck was changed to maple. Finally, all three Cruisebasses were available in fretless versions (Models BCRTF, BCRSF, and BC5TF) identical except for a Madagascar ebony fingerboard inlaid with maple markers. The CruiseBass was available in four and five-string versions. The result was the cleverly named 12-String Bass. Very simple to spot differences. In 98, Hamer hooked up again with long-time supporter and enthusiast Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick to develop the Rick Nielsen Limited Edition. A finetune bridge and stop tailpiece completed the outfit. Besides, I thought guitarmaking was going to be a short run and Id end up a famous musician or race car driver or something. Then he quickly quips, But Dantzig is still available.. So our perspective has always been a little skewed. 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. In September of 78 a Standard would set you back $1,199.95, list. Hamer Guitars was founded in 1973 by Jol Dantzig and Paul Hamer in Wilmette, Illinois. As with the Gibson, this was a limited edition guitar. Other out there models included various doublenecks, a Standard-shaped mandocello (mandocello scale with double strings tuned in fifths), a mandar (Standard-shaped with four pairs of strings tuned as a mandolin, but in a guitar scale), and at least one 20-string harp guitar (six-string neck with seven tunable sympathetic strings on either side). Where are Hamer Slammer guitars made? 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. Hamer began publicizing its instruments in 1974, with small black-and-white ads in guitar magazines. Surprise, AZ. Standard Revisited Reaction score. $449.99. Next month, well pick up the Hamer chronicles as the company begins to pick up steam in the early to mid 80s. The Ramones Johnny Ramone Sunbursts (2) 1995 Seymour Duncan. How to differentiate a Korean or Japanese Hamer From USA Made The 22-fret rosewood fingerboard is bound with pearl dot inlays. Other musicians would ask what it was and would be incredulous when told he made it himself. Hamer uses 2 serial numbering systems. The second Hamer was an Explorer copy made for Paul in 74. Can't get over how nice this thing looks and plays, its a good day! Production was reportedly around 10 guitars per week. 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 glued-in neck featured a tapered three-and-three headstock and a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays. It was available in two versions the Custom (Model GTSC) and Standard (Model GTSS). You will find original articles, full lists of Hamer USA models as well as old catalogues and articles from various sources. The pickguard was a natty laminated tortoise affair, sort of oval extending under the strings from the neck, but with a kind of batwing extension over the treble cutaway horn. Off Broadway John Ivan Sunbursts (4) It differed from the Sunburst mainly in that it lacked binding. dovetail neck joint and fitted with a Hamer Dog Eared P-90, the SPJ provides resonance galore. Kenny Passarelli Kenny Passarelli Mandocello The earliest pickups on Hamer Standards were actual Gibson PAFs obtained from Gibson. The Blitz guitar lasted only two years until 84, while the Blitz Bass lasted to 90. 1977. The MONO M80 Vertigo Ultra Dreadnought Acoustic and Semi-Hollow Guitar Cases come complete with a range of game-changing design features, including the patent-pending attachable FREERIDE Wheel System, premium water-resistant and reflective materials, shockproof shell structure, and improved ergonomic features. When we created Hamer, we created the high-end boutique guitar category, but we didnt intend it that way. Except for the V-shaped bodies, these conform in all details to the original Standard including the Explorer-style headstock. Guitars The Standard Bass was offered until 84. Theyd take them to concerts passing through. Tuners were Grover Super Rotomatics, with the Art Deco buttons. . In 95/96 Hamer produced a limited number of Korina Standards, versions of the original Gibson Explorer of 58. Relatively few were used, mainly on 83 Phantom A5 and Blitz guitars, after which the fashion for locking vibrato systems supplanted the Sustain-block vibrato. Built with a full depth If it plays nice and feels nice, that's half of it right there. I found the neck to be a bit soft for me as I'm heavy handed. To much flex so bending notes and chords out of tune to easily, Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Pickup control changed to a five-way select on the pickguard. Now the good stuff.. 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. In 76, a meeting was called with everyone who worked at Northern Prairie Music Dantzig, Hamer and two repair guys. However, 74 was the year the first Standard (Explorer) appeared, so that is apparently the marker being used. In 74, Dantzig packed his guitar and bass and visited McCarty, hoping to get some advice, and perhaps a blessing. I doubt it's a neck-through. $250. The first had the sleek offset double-cutaway body similar to the Phantom guitar, with pointed horns (the upper extended), glued-in neck, and a three-and-three headstock, which changed to a four-in-line. Introducing MONO M80 Vertigo Ultra Case - Premier Guitar However, an early American model may or may not have USA as part of the logo, but after 98 absence of USA in the logo indicates the guitar is imported. It remains available. We thought we could make guitars just as good and sell them for a third of that price. The bridge was the heavy-duty Sustain Block. The neck is glued in, with the three-and-three headstock. Blues Brothers John Belushi Sunburst Hamer DC Flame Maple Studio Archtop Guitar Tonerider P90 Pickups Made in Korea . Otherwise it was similar to the f-holed Artist with one exception it was finished entirely in silver sparkle. This did not really make good business sense. Replacing the former P and J-style pickups were a pair of Duncan Vintage Jazz J-style units, one pickguard-mounted, the other on the top near the Gotoh bridge/tailpiece assembly. It may look like a one-trick ponybut what a ride. The guitar is pretty much mint with no fretware at all. Only a 3 way tangle and 1 volume and 1 tone control. I don't know what years they were made but it looks good and played well. . Hamer Standard 1997 | Reverb Mesa, AZ. Outputs included 1/4 and synth DIN plugs. By 79, the 12-String Bass was offered with four quadraphonic outputs (plus one mono output five in all) as the 12-String Quadbass. This looked like the old model, complete with pickguard, but was now made of solid maple with a glued-in neck and scimitar headstock. . The body was mahogany with a carved, figured koa top with a glued-in mahogany neck. Untermyer had the dual role of general manager of both Hamer and Ovation. Adding Bass Strings and More Carved flame maple top over mahogany, rosewood dotneck with three-and-three head. Great Condition USA MADE! The History of Hamer, Part One | Vintage Guitar magazine It was shaped like a Vox Phantom with Hamer Phantom electronics(! All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. These were controlled by a five-way select and one volume and one tone control. A similar Newport Pro model was also offered, identical except for a pair of Duncan Seth Lover humbuckers and a stop tailpiece. For pick players, these could be reversed. Also introduced in 95 was the Studio Archtop Artist. The body was Honduras mahogany with an optional unbound flamed-maple top. If you find The Ultimate Hamer USA Archive (@The Buddleja Garden) useful, interesting or I paid $350 with a hard case and couldn't be happier. Electric Guitar Hamer Slammer Series Made in Korea S/N 6016108 with Soft Case. In 96 Gibson made a limited run of 100 replicas of these early Explorers called the Futura. The body is one piece of select British Honduras Mahogany, avilable with or without a twopiece "bookmatched" curly maple top. Soon, this guitar would become known as the Standard. It had no serial number, and when it was done, Dantzig began to take it to gigs.