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July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | How good can Hamer guitars be, since you can't ever find one in a store to try it out?
My local Guitar Center has a used Hamer Newport that's missing a knob. I've been infatuated with hollow bodies for awhile now, and toyed with everything they have in every price range, just for fun. The Newport plays and sounds as good or better than anything priced twice as high. This is one I actually would consider swapping the Deacon for.
Now I see what the fuss is about. Since it's out of my price range, how does the Echotone stack up? Is it like the Gretsch 5120, which feels like you're playing an acoustic guitar, compared to the higher end Gretschs? |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Jas, it's the import/US made thing again. No matter how good the echotone is the Newport is still better.
Hamers are great |
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November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | Jas,
Next time you visit your sister in Louisville, take the time to go to Willcutt's Guitar in Lexington. They have a large inventory of Hamer's and also carry Collings and some other high end guitars. Check out their website @ www.willcuttguitars.com |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | While it's true that USA made Hamers are probably better, my Echotone is a WONDERFUL guitar!! It is so well made that when I first picked it up I could feel the quality before I even strummed my first chord. It feels solid and somehow more "real" than the Ibanez Artcore that I used to have. And what's really weird is that I can get very clear chimes on EVERY fret!! And yes, it does drive like an acoustic. That is one of the things I was looking for. I generally don't like electric guitars. I have played mostly acoustic all my life, but with a touch of arthritis in my hands now I realized I would be needing an electric soon. This one fits the bill perfectly, and I can't imagine myself ever parting with it. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I owned an import Hamer and it was perfectly fine. When you picked up a USA model the difference was obvious, but sometimes the wallet wins the argument with the heart. It's just like the Celebrity vs. Ovation story. |
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July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Thanks guys and gals. It's not so bad for the wallet to win when it's a win-win situation. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| So, is there a Hamer in your future? Kewl. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Originally posted by Captain_Lovehandles:
This is one I actually would consider swapping the Deacon for. You wouldn't trade it for that lovely Tornado that you babysat for awhile??
I'm actually loving the Tornado lately - I put Thomastik flatwounds on it and have been playing it through the Blues Jr. Just wonderful! |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I just got done playing both my Hamers for a couple of hours this afternoon. For a while, the only comment I got was "Do you have to play that loud???". But then I started doing this jazzy surf-vibe thing with the Newport and I got a "that guitar sounds beautiful, I really like that". I had to write down the progression.
There are a couple of different levels of import Hamers. Some of them are pretty damn good ... way off the mark from the USA made ones (but that's like almost every other guitar brand on the planet save one or two), although IMHO the Koreans ones are better than most other imports I've played, including most Ibanez and Epiphones. But there's nothing quite like the USA ones ... and interestingly enough, as good as the earlier ones are, which was what made their stellar reputation, the new ones out of the factory now are a couple of notches better. Anything coming out of the Hamer shop today is just simply the best you can get. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Strangely, I'm starting to get Hamer GAS after reading this thread. Not that I can afford another, nor need another. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I bought a Hamer Newport Pro April 15th.
Its hand down the finest electric guitar I have ever played by a wide margin.
Don't expect the same sound or feel from the imports. For that matter nor will any mass produced
guitars and most custom shop guitars as well.
Hamer USA is guitars are simply in a class all by themself.
You will not regret getting one.
If its out of the price range save for one. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Jas, check out the Hamerfanclub forum. Newports show up there frequently for a decent price. Evilbay has some deals once in a while. For about $1k you can score a decent Newport with just a little luck. About $1200 is a typical price, and $1400 will get you a minty one.
That's not much above the trade-in value of your Deacon. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | OK, now you've got ME wanting a Newport. I can't afford to keep buying guitars for myself! I'm supposed to be SELLING them. If the Newport is that much better than the Echotone, it must be the very best ever made. I have a regular at the shop who owns a late 50's Gibson ES335, and we both agree that the Echotone is a better guitar. Looks like I'll have to join the Hamer forum myself and spend some of the money I WOULD'VE spent here on a Newport. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | LostArtVintage is a good Hamer dealer to check out. You can even call them today because they never close. :cool:
Alison ... don't think of it as a guitar for yourself, think about it as inventory! A Newport in Vintage Orange with a Bigsby is sure to generate foot traffic, if not gaseous desires, and therefore would also be a good investment in the business! And a guitar like that would need to be played frequently to keep it in tiptop operating condition ... that's the job of the owner, right?? ;) |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
Looks like I'll have to join the Hamer forum myself and spend some of the money I WOULD'VE spent here on a Newport. Hey, good idea! That's how I ended up with my orange sparkle Newport. Now I'm thinking about going for a more mellow looking Newport in some kind of either natural finish or tobacco-ish burst. Hamer's are as addictive as Ovations. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Originally posted by G8r:
So, is there a Hamer in your future? Kewl. More like it's in the "maybe someday" file. A year from now I'll be looking at TWO kids in college, so it's a good thing I'm happy with what I've got. |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...just hit the hammerfanclub dot com for sale page and this was the first one I saw:
Newport Pro |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Originally posted by CrimsonLake:
You wouldn't trade it for that lovely Tornado that you babysat for awhile?? I was sorely tempted. I still am. I'm not sure I wouldn't. You'd still have the T-head, right? |
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October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Originally posted by Tim in Yucaipa:
...just hit the hammerfanclub dot com for sale page and this was the first one I saw:
Newport Pro
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Get one with the Bigsby. And I really like the PhatCats that are on mine. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
Get one with the Bigsby. And I really like the PhatCats that are on mine. I don't know that I'd ever really use the Bigsby, plus I had a '75 Strat and the trem never stayed in tune. So there is a prejudice against them. The Bigsby sure looks cool, though. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | The Hamer stays in tune perfectly with the Bigsby. Amazed me because I've had similar experiences with other systems. But the Mirage with the Wilkinson also stays in tune. Must be the Hamer quality.
I will say that the Bigsby always gives me fits when I'm restringing. :eek: |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 482
Location: enid, ok | Played my first Hamer back in the mid-80s in Southern CA, a Phantom, they'd just come out, and Paul Hamer was at the store to demo these things. Fantasic guitars, good luck finding one now for a decent price, great idea with the pickup system, kinda reminded me of the Deacon/Breadwinner system, way ahead of it's time. Mr. Hamer was foolish enough to ask some idiot (me) what he thought, and got a typical idiot's response (not enough high end), which he quickly admonished with a small tweak, but he seemed genuinely put-out by my comment, and I feel bad about that to this day. Back then, Deans, Kramers and other guitars were all the rage as solidbody go-tos, and I thought Hamers smoked them all. Except my Limited. And, after 28 years, that hasn't changed. It's still my go-to hardtail. But a Hamer Phantom would have been a welcome addition. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Dantzig posted something on his workshop blog about how they add a small custom spacer wedge between the Bigsby unit and the guitar body (on the archtops) to improve string angle. Maybe this as something to do with staying in tune. I've never had an issue with mine in this regard. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The first Hamer I ever played I eventually purchased. It was an Improv, serial No. 6. The second one I played was a custom Monoco III ordered through Al. They're addictive so I'm trying to stay away from further testing of other models, although I was very tempted to get after the Talladega Pro displayed at NAMM earlier this year. I'm so weak in this regard. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The first Hamer I ever played I eventually purchased. It was an Improv, serial No. 6. The second one I played was a custom Monoco III ordered through Al. They're addictive so I'm trying to stay away from further testing of other models, although I was very tempted to get after the Talladega Pro displayed at NAMM earlier this year. I'm so weak in this regard. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | The first one I played was a 3 hole Duotone. Excellent build quality. Perfect fit and finish in every way. I enjoyed running the cables to the 2 amps and seeing how I could get a huge variety of sounds from the same guitar.
Then I took pictures, set it on the stand and looked at it. It just didn't make any sense to plug it in and play acoustic songs on it, so I sold it.
If I ever learn any songs for electric guitars, I'd like to get another Hamer, but I may have to wait until my next life. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Trust me, I'm resisting Hamer GAS as we speak. Been drooling over this baby for a couple days now... |
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Played my first Hamer