The End of Hamer Guitars

[JohnnyGtar]

 

[70 Mach 1]

I thought they pulled the plug a while back.
Going to buy a nice 80s one when i can find it

 

[motorboy1]

Uggh. Should of bought one back in the days. Their factory was in my neighborhood in Chicago. Nice flame top explorer.

 

[thegame]

At least they don’t have to look far for the right tool to get that final nail in the coffin

 

[Music&Chaos]

Hamer has still been making guitars?? Dude, I haven't seen anyone play one or even talk about them in years.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

Bummer. I'm a major fan of real Hamers. Can't say I've had a chance to try any of their cheap lines.

Maybe the same geniuses who resurrected B.C. Rich umpteen times can help......

 

[klugster]

Guy near me on Marketplace has quite a few USA Hamers for sale. Pricey I think. 3500-2500 a piece, he has like 4-5 for sale.

 

[romanianreaper]

Never played one and barely have seen one anywhere. You would think a 56 year old guitar player would occasionally see one and makes me wonder if they didn't market themselves enough.

 

[Tone Ranger]

I talked to Jeff Watson a while back Apparently one of his most famous Hamers is hanging up at a House of Blues in SF

 

[skoora]

Could never bond with their double cuts over the years, compared to a Gibson. Their USA Korina explorers and V’s were always killer but even when they weren’t expensive I just never got one. Was never a Super Strat player, so even though I thought the USA Californian was kinda of cool looking, never went there either.
No regrets here on not having one. Would have happened if it was meant to. Like many things before Covid, they used to be commonly found used for good prices and then it all dried up.

 

[stephen sawall]

I still have my 98' Phantom. I owned a bunch of the USA made. It's kind of between a LP Junior and Telecaster.

 

[skoora]

I still have my 98' Phantom. I owned a bunch of the USA made. It's kind of between a LP Junior and Telecaster. View attachment 437780

I remember the triple pickup. Thought it looked cool but I couldn't get any sound out of it that was all that great, utilizing the single coil. Seemed more gimmick than breakthrough.

 

[stephen sawall]

I remember the triple pickup. Thought it looked cool but I couldn't get any sound out of it that was all that great, utilizing the single coil. Seemed more gimmick than breakthrough.

It's a hot single coil and a SH-4 JB. I pretty much just use one or the other. I messed around with pickup height to get the balance I want out of it. Definitely a bit gimmicky. I actually play it often.

 

[Racerxrated]

Bought a brand new USA Hamer Centaura Iridescent finish back in 1991. That was my main guitar for 17 years; with an 87 RG 500 as my backup/drop D guitar. Hamer made some great stuff.

 

[bugsy5150]

Ordered a Cherry Flame Standard in 1981 with money from my high school graduation party!!
Wish that I still had that!!! Young and Dumb!!

 

[SoooRad]

Hamer has been done for alost 15 years. I had an Old Sunburst (Which was actually black) with a Kahler that was awesome. I should've kept it. And I had a Centaura that wasn't as awesome, but it also seemed to have had a hard life before it got to me and I didn't want to invest in a lazarus.

 

[Wayniac3]

Great guitars - both in Fender & Gibson scales. Had & sold a bunch over the years. Biggest regret was selling my set neck Cali, and a Chaparral in iridescent with a sustainer. I still have a Chaparral bass.. probably moving it soon

 

[Devin]

They are my favorite guitars; owned a Californian, Centaura, and Diablo

All amazing

Still have the Californian; lifer guitar

 

[Frehley12]

Found this on Ishibashi a few years ago for cheap. Mint condition. Killer super strat. '93 USA Hamer Centaura.

 

[jabps]

They are my favorite guitars; owned a Californian, Centaura, and Diablo

All amazing

Still have the Californian; lifer guitar

Honestly, those along with the original ESP run were easily the best super strat guitars built during that era.