Hamer guitars?

[beatlefreak]

Ok so I have heard of hamer guitars but have never really heard one played. I have heard both sides, I've heard that hamer guitars actually sound pretty good. I have also heard that hamer guitars are just a cheap generic brand of guitar. Someone who has heard a hamer or who plays a hamer tell me which is true. I'm looking to get a new guitar and would like to know before i decide on one.

[PFDarkside]

They're probably like most companies. The USA models are probably comparable/better than Gibson, and the imports are typical of that price range (think Epiphone, B.C. Rich, Dean...)

[Aaron Cheney]

Yup. And the overseas models I have played were about like an Epi. I'd love to play a US model, but I'll be darned if I can find one anywhere! Most dealers I've talked to say they dropped the line becuase they didn't turn over fast enough. Before I got a LesPaul I'd look into one no matter how far I had to drive though.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com

[KaBudokan]

Their USA models are great guitars - very high quality - think PRS at a more reasonable price. I'd also probably look at them before Gibson.

You can find them on ebay for decent prices a lot of times.

[Wide Awake]

Some of the best Hamers I've played are the Artist, Monaco, and Studio. Most of their guitars have excellent pickups designed by Seymour Duncan, even on their budget lines.

Too bad they are so difficult to find.

Gibson vs. Hamer ? That's complicated, but I will say the price differences aren't that big these days (unless you are talking about the extreme Historic Gibsons). Hamers prices have gone up in the past few years as their reputation has grown, while Gibson's have gone up and down and all over the place. They both make great guitars. I think many of the better Gibson's have more character and vibe, but the Hamers are more likely to come from the factory with fewer flaws. Almost every Hamer I have played has been close to flawless. I would be happy to own both brands...in fact I do

I have a Korean-made Hamer Echotone. It's a ES-335 knockoff that was $500. Good tone, decent build, Duncan pickups. It isn't quite like a great 60's ES-335 but it didn't have the enormous price tag either. The American-made line of Hamer are the better guitars, but you can find good value and tone in the Korean-made line too.

check 'em out www.hamerguitars.com

[eyeslikefire]

Hamer ROCKS!
Hamer has always made great axes.

Be patient and look for one, you will not be sorry.

[beaverbiscuit]

Originally posted by Aaron Cheney
Yup. And the overseas models I have played were about like an Epi. I'd love to play a US model, but I'll be darned if I can find one anywhere! Most dealers I've talked to say they dropped the line becuase they didn't turn over fast enough. Before I got a LesPaul I'd look into one no matter how far I had to drive though.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com

Maybe this will help you:

http://www.edroman.com/avail/guitar/avail_ham.htm

Don't know what you're willing to pay, so these may not be your cup o' tea. But some of the prices aren't too bad. Good luck

[Henri Devill]

I have a Hamer Sunburst.. 350.00 used.. gets a fat piggish tone..Sounds and plays as well as some LesPaul Studios I've tried

Don

[Fusioninspace]

I have two Hammers - Echotone (semi-hollow) and Standard (solid body - looks like a Gibson Explorer). They are both excellent guitars.

I'm a Guitar Center addict - it's cool to be able to spend a couple of hours with minimal distruption from sales people to try out a large varieties of makes and models... Anyway:

Just go there and compare them side by side with the Gibsons, Epi, Gretsch, Ibenez, etc. and base you decision on that. that's what I ended up doing on for each style guitar - and I ended up with a Hammer both times....

Just my 2 cents.

[roomtemp]

i have a hamer eclipse--basically a les paul jr. with mini-humbuckers. great big fun, nice twangy tone but a good rock growl from the bridge-only position, and can be picked up for @$200 on ebay. i really like the neck on this guitar, which is chunkier than my old sg and not as thick as my tele boatneck. it'll play as fast as you can go.

[donkeystyle]

the store i shop at started selling hamers. the usa ones are extremely badass. if i could afford one, i would definitely buy it. the store i'm referring to actually got them to do a special run of guitars. i think it's a studio, but the neck is a copy of an actual 59 les paul that the owner of the store owns. i think it has a special run of pickup in it too, and it has a tonepros bridge on it too.

if i remember the stores website address, i'll post it........they just changed it though and i can't remember what the new one was.

[Hard2Hear]

One of my favorite all time basses, if not the #1 favorite, is the Hamer Chapparral 5 bass. Its simply the best thing ever built in the bass world.

There are a few things to watch out for with US Hamer guitars. They have this condition where their glue interacts with their finish product and causes the finish to fade, crack, or even peel off around the neck joint. I have seen it on several models I see for sale on Ebay, so you better look close there. That glue also can tend to loosen up and require a neck reset and reglue. I have heard of some of those also.

The other thing is that they seem to use a wierd input jack thats too small for alot of normal plugs on the market. Its something that can be really annoying when you buy the guitar sight unseen and get it in the mail then don't have a guitar cord that will plug in to it!

Just keep your eyes open out there and buy informed!

H2H

[Janesaid2me]

I think hamer makes some really nice looking and sounding guitars...given as other said the imports are like any import...although I think their imports tend to be in the higher end of that spectrum...their USA lines are really nice...pricey but then again what isnt....who wants a gibson anyways...buy something cool....!