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Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | I am fully cognizant of the fact that this is OFC, and not HFC, but I've tried twice to get an account on HFC and have never made it as far as having it activated (no email from the admins whom I emailed about the issue, either). I figure they just don't want me over there.
Anyway, is there anyone here that knows Hamers? The local mom/pop has a Hamer Tele-style, but how do I tell if it's USAian or Asian? There's also a nice looking Hamer but the headstock has the big Hamer name, then under it says, 'Slammer series.' Is this just an older 'Slammer by Hamer' (made offshore?) git? FWIW, the Tele body is a nice piece of kit, although a bit dinged up...I don't care whether it's US or not if it plays well (and it do), but I do care to know the general specifics (hehe) about the pigs and their pokes when I'm buying...you know?
So, any help? |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Slammer is imported.
The T51 (USA)would have a s/n stamped into the back of the peghead, 6 digits and probably starting with 4, 5 or 6. They will also have Spurzel keys. |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by cwk2:
Slammer is imported.
The T51 (USA)would have a s/n stamped into the back of the peghead, 6 digits and probably starting with 4, 5 or 6. They will also have Spurzel keys.
W2-
Thanks! The non-'Slammer Series' guitar, as near as I can recall, did have a stamped number on the back of the headstock, but I can't remember the serial...my photogenic memory musta been on break at the time. |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | all the usa models say "hamer usa" on the headstock |
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January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Al,
What is the differance between the Hamer Studio and Hamer Special?
Thanks
Tommy |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | studio has no binding, special is a flat top.
I think that's right. |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | cwk is right
studio is arch topped. |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | The Hamers with "Slammer Series" in small print beneath the Hamer logo are the early Korean made models, and can be really good values for the money. They are not to be compared in quality with the later Slammers. I have a Slammer Series Daytona guitars (strat style) that is a really great buy for the $125 I am asking for it. Ditto for the Slammer Series basses I picked up and have around.
As to the Studio and Special, the former has humbuckers and the latter has P-90's. There is a 'bucker loaded Special with a figured maple top called the FM Special. These are very sweet guitars. |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Well, I couldn't stand the suspense, so I ran down there quick-like at lunch. The one *is* a Hamer (usa in small print) with a six digit stamped serial on the back starting '6141xx'. It has S/S/H with a stop tail, and a fantastic looking flame top done in what I would call 'black cherry burst.' It's definitely used, though...nicks through the finish (to the wood) along the top lower bout, couple of headstock nicks, and a nick through the finish on the back of the neck (to the wood, about the size of a pencil eraser in diameter). They want $399 w/case. Hrmm...brand new Peave Cropper Classic w/case or a mojo-laden Hamer T51 for a little less. If I went with the Hamer, I'd have enough left over for that V-Amp or Pod2.0...and, of course, I'd be staying in the Kaman family...decisions, decisions.
EDIT: Scratch that, it didn't have a stop tail, it has a Fishman powerbridge....Now how much would you pay?! |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Hmm.... Now you have my Missouri-born gift of curiousity stirred up about that Hamer. Is it an offset double cutaway like a Strat, or dc more like a Gibson original design? Is the top arched like a Les Paul? Dot inlays?
When you say 'stoptail', do you mean a tune-o-matic bridge with a stop bar tailpiece, a single wraparound bridge tailpiece, a hardtail strat type bridge, or a trem bridge set flat?
Lots of questions.... because if you are not interested in it, I might be. ;) |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by Paul Blanchard:
Hmm.... Now you have my Missouri-born gift of curiousity stirred up about that Hamer. Is it an offset double cutaway like a Strat, or dc more like a Gibson original design? Is the top arched like a Les Paul? Dot inlays?
When you say 'stoptail', do you mean a tune-o-matic bridge with a stop bar tailpiece, a single wraparound bridge tailpiece, a hardtail strat type bridge, or a trem bridge set flat?
Lots of questions.... because if you are not interested in it, I might be. ;)
Now that I'm doing a little research...*I'm* freaking confused. Here's the deal:
From what I can find, the T51s had bolt on necks. The one in the store has a set neck.
Research shows that they had pickguards, this one doesn't.
On the internet, it says they were black, butterscothc, orange, or white transparent...this one is the black cherry burst flame top.
The History of Hamer (I found parts online) sez the pups were chrome covered singles and a humbucker. This has open singles and humbucker...no covers.
The knobs are pocketed, too, I think. I wonder if this is a custom shop guitar. Oh, to answer your questions:
Telecaster, single cutaway style. The tailpiece is flat (like the old strat style), but only wide enough for the six saddles (it looks like a Fishman Powerbridge with no trem). I can't remember what the fretmarkers were...or if it even had any (isn't that weird?). Now I'm *really* intrigued.
EDIT: Oh, and it has a rosewood fretboard. Paging W2! Paging W2! |
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Posts: 52
Location: PA | a fishman in the bridge and a set-neck on a tele style USA Hamer? I'm interested.... |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by tommcatt99:
a fishman in the bridge and a set-neck on a tele style USA Hamer? I'm interested....
Well, now that I've continued my research, it could be a Wilkinson HT-100 hard tail bridge. In fact, it probably isn't the Fishman, as I can't find a Fishman that looks like that w/o the tremolo (although this has to be late 80s vintage, so good luck finding old pics of Fishman stuff from then). I'm 99.9% positive it has a set neck, though. I'm going back down there tonight for my lesson and to A/B the Cropper with the Hamer (didn't have time at lunch), so I'll get full details then.
So, tele body, set neck, flame top in a non-standard color? I don't think it's refinished, given the condition and that the back o' the neck (and possibly the headstock, but I was too wrapped up in the Cropper for details on the Hamer) matches the body.
EDIT: At any rate, anyone know the market value of a Hamer T-51 with some dings? No cracks, no break/fixes, just mojo-dings. |
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Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | And now I'll start talking to myself. I found this:
Beginning in 1977 with the Sunburst, a new system was initiated in which the first digit represents the year and the following numbers (four or more) are the running total of all guitars numbered using this method (Y XXXX). By ’80 most models used this second system. Numbers were stamped on the guitars, either in ink or black paint, or in yellow on dark instruments. Guitar #8 0196 would be from 1978 and was the 196th guitar numbered that way. Guitar #8 21416 was made in 1988 and was the 21,416th guitar so numbered. Beginning in late 1987 serial numbers were again stamped into the wood.
Many one-of-a-kind and prototype instruments have numbers that do not relate to either of the two numbering systems.
The T51 I'm looking at has a six digit number stamped into the headstock...not inked on, and it starts '6xxxxx' with no space between the 6 and the next digit. Mebee it falls under the umbrella of that last paragraph in the quote? |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | the 6 means 1986.
The T51 is bolt on
If it is a glued on neck it is probably a TLE model of some sort. Those were earlier. Then again it could be a custom, Hamer made lots of customs back then before we moved tham to CT. |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by cwk2:
the 6 means 1986.
The T51 is bolt on
If it is a glued on neck it is probably a TLE model of some sort. Those were earlier. Then again it could be a custom, Hamer made lots of customs back then before we moved tham to CT.
Interesting. Mayhap it *is* a TLE then. Here's what I found tonight upon closer examination:
The serial is 616141 and *is* inked in yellowish/gold ink (I must have gotten the stamped serial confused with another git I was looking at).
Headstock is black on the face, body color (dark red) on the back, with six on a side tuners bearing the 'Hamer' name.
The top isn't flamed, it's quilted. Finish is black on the outer edges, fading to the dark cherry color in the middle (hence I termed it the black cherry burst)
Fixed bridge with no markings. Wilkinson? Sustain-block? Dunno, just six saddles in a chrome plate.
Multi-piece set neck looks to be maple (three pieces?) and is finished in the dark red color.
Rosewood fretboard with perloid dots, unbound.
Fretboard looks fine, but the body has some dings around the top lower bout, a couple on the neck, some on the headstock. Scratches on the back. About what I'd expect for a guitar of this age.
I played it and it was very nice. Needs strings and a setup, but what used guitar doesn't? One volume, one tone, one selector switch. Comes with case, they're asking $399.99 but they've had it for a while, so who knows.
At any rate, sorry if I got anyone too worked up over it being a T-51. Guess the hamerfanclub shoulda let me in so I could get *those* people worked up instead of the nice O people, here. :) |
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Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Used USA T51 guitars usually go for $400 and up, depending on condition, case, etc. There IS a T51 model with a powerbridge, that is sometimes seen (the T51F). They are very cool, but require a stereo cord to split the signals and a rig suitable to handling both piezo and mag pickups. I love to play them, but much prefer the electronics on a Parker or Godin (with piezo/mag setups).
This 'mystery' guitar is probably an '86 TLE, as that is the Tele style Hamer with a setneck and S/S/H pickup configuration. What tripped my trigger about the bridge is that they usually have Floyd Rose trems. If you don't pursue that guitar, I would love to have the contact for the music store that has it so I can check it out. |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by Paul Blanchard:
Used USA T51 guitars usually go for $400 and up, depending on condition, case, etc. There IS a T51 model with a powerbridge, that is sometimes seen (the T51F). They are very cool, but require a stereo cord to split the signals and a rig suitable to handling both piezo and mag pickups. I love to play them, but much prefer the electronics on a Parker or Godin (with piezo/mag setups).
This 'mystery' guitar is probably an '86 TLE, as that is the Tele style Hamer with a setneck and S/S/H pickup configuration. What tripped my trigger about the bridge is that they usually have Floyd Rose trems. If you don't pursue that guitar, I would love to have the contact for the music store that has it so I can check it out.
More very useful information! Thanks! I have chosen to forego this particular guitar. I will PM you with the store/contact info if you'd like.
lyme |
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OT: Hamer questions
