Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Philly Q on December 06, 2011, 10:42:06 AM
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Although I've been doing more selling than buying recently, I've got a couple of things on the GAS list.... but this was something I spotted on eBay and just had to go for! :oops:
It's a 1996 Hamer Eclipse. I had one of these about 10 years ago, and always semi-regretted selling it. I suppose it pre-dated my obsession with Juniors and Specials, but it does fit in quite nicely with those guitars.
My old one was prettier than this one (in a sort of faded cherry meets vintage orange) but it had a tune-o-matic and stop tailpiece, and I always wanted the original version with a wraparound bridge.
It doesn't really show in the photos, but it has quite a lot of dents and dings (by my standards!) so hopefully I won't be too precious about it. All the important parts are in perfect working order. I must say, it's very much a guitar for the smaller person, the body is tiny although it's no lightweight!
Now to start planning the modifications..... :lol:
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/Hamer-Eclipse-blk-w-1528.jpg)(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/Hamer-Eclipse-blk-w-1529.jpg)(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/Hamer-Eclipse-blk-w-1530.jpg)(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/Hamer-Eclipse-blk-w-1532.jpg)(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/Hamer-Eclipse-blk-w-1533.jpg)
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I like that Phil, very tasty. Reminds me of a Travis Bean!
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Very nice indeed. Only thing I would change would probably be the bridge.
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I like that Phil, very tasty. Reminds me of a Travis Bean!
No metal neck though! :lol:
Although it is a bit neck heavy.... I might swap those big metal tuner buttons for wood or plastic ones, which I did on my old Eclipse.
Very nice indeed. Only thing I would change would probably be the bridge.
Precisely, I don't much like the Wilkinson bridge.
I'll get some TonePros studs on there for a start. Then I have a one-piece aluminium Allparts bridge which will be perfect if the intonation works. Failing that, I have a couple of Pigtails, a TonePros, I even have a spare PRS stoptail bridge somewhere. The benefits of hoarding! :wink:
Also the knobs aren't very "grippy", makes it hard to turn the CTS pots with one finger. So I might change those too.
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I'd go for whatever has the most flexible intonation possibilities. Personally, I'd rather have something like a Badass bridge on there than having to use those two little screws to move the entire bridge.
But I'm weird when it comes to intonation...;)
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As long as it intonates with your preferred choice of strings, does it matter what bridge it is?
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As far as I'm concerned, the less adjustment the better, so long as it's close enough for rock'n'roll! PRS have the right idea.
I don't like the Gibson "lightning bar" bridges with a stepped ridge along the top, but I like this type:
(http://www.allparts.uk.com/images/products/large/TP3403001.jpg)
As I say, if that doesn't work I'll use an adjustable one like the TonePros.
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very nice :) the more i look at it the more it's growing on me
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It sure looks like a cool guitar. Is it mini humbuckers, or? And happy NGD!
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The right day for the right guitar :santa: :drink:,congrats !How does it sound with those SD mini-HB's ?
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Haven't plugged in yet, but if I remember right I liked the sound of the neck pickup but the bridge was a bit harsh.
Of course, there aren't too many alternatives in the world of Firebird pickups and mini-humbuckers. I have a pair of DiMarzios, and a Lollar neck pickup. Might try those in due course, but we'll see how it goes!
Acoustically, it's got a bright, ringing sort of tone. Better for chords than single notes, I think. They made a twelve-string version, which makes perfect sense, although it must have been incredibly neck-heavy!!
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i really like that hamer headstock, too :)
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Yep, I like it too- nice one Philly.
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nice one Philly, congrats. i've found the same with the mini-humbuckers on my Les Paul Deluxes, neck sounds great but bridge is quite shrill. i've considered putting a P90 at the bridge
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Congrats! Those Hamers are amazing value. It's just a plain beauty. The minihb's are a useful addition to your (mainly P90-equipped) arsenal too.
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That looks great, a really nice looking guitar. I've always liked Hamers, I nearly got one in the mid-90s but ended up with a Les Paul Special double cut which, in retrospect, was a mistake. I like it in the black finish too, it gives it a more modern look which suits it.
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Congrats! Those Hamers are amazing value. It's just a plain beauty. The minihb's are a useful addition to your (mainly P90-equipped) arsenal too.
They can be good value secondhand. New, they're overpriced I think.
Years ago, Hamer made top-quality guitars which didn't cost too much, then suddenly the prices shot up and that seems to have almost killed the brand. I'm not sure where they went wrong - maybe it was simply bad distribution - but if things had gone differently they might have been a rival to PRS.
I'm not sure what they're doing nowadays. I know the company is part of the Fender empire, but without Jol Dantzig they seem to have lost their identity.
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I think Fender does really good for Fender, but most other companies they bought... I used to really like Jackson's website and could one day when I won the lottery get a custom shop (don't like skinny necks, so normal production doesn't appeal me)... After Fender it became the worst website of the big brands and I lost all interest on it...
Nice guitar Phill! :)
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Congrats! Those Hamers are amazing value. It's just a plain beauty. The minihb's are a useful addition to your (mainly P90-equipped) arsenal too.
They can be good value secondhand. New, they're overpriced I think.
Years ago, Hamer made top-quality guitars which didn't cost too much, then suddenly the prices shot up and that seems to have almost killed the brand. I'm not sure where they went wrong - maybe it was simply bad distribution - but if things had gone differently they might have been a rival to PRS.
I'm not sure what they're doing nowadays. I know the company is part of the Fender empire, but without Jol Dantzig they seem to have lost their identity.
I know what you mean. These old Hamers still appeal to me. Max Guitars has a nice special from 1993.
http://www.maxguitarstore.com/store/index.php?categoryID=703 (http://www.maxguitarstore.com/store/index.php?categoryID=703)
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That is nice! I didn't remember them making the P-90 Special with a maple top.
I had one of the all-mahogany ones around that time, only cost £399 new! Nice guitar, but very skinny neck...
Edit: I like that Artist Korina too!
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That is nice! I didn't remember them making the P-90 Special with a maple top.
I had one of the all-mahogany ones around that time, only cost £399 new! Nice guitar, but very skinny neck...
Edit: I like that Artist Korina too!
Edit: I saw they dropped prices in their december-blowout. Special 1993 and Korina 3 x P90 now 1295 euro. Chaparral 1195. 8)
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Nice score Philly!
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Congrats on the guitar. Enjoy 8)
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i'm into it, very unusual, good score.
this link may or may not interest you:
http://www.geminipickups.co.uk/p90_mini_hb_66.html
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I thought you might like it, gwEm. I know you're fond of a minibucker or two. :D
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I keep thinking I've commented on this, but haven't... :roll:
My original first impression was "yeah, it's a guitar..." :lol:
I think my areas of "not sure" were the logos on the minbuckers and the cutaway (probably accentuated by the angle of the photos). But with successive viewings it's kinda growing on me.
Nice one :D
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Well, the logos on the pickups are just...there. If I replace 'em there'll be no logos. :wink:
The cutaway looks a little odd, I agree. But I've owned several Hamers with their normal doublecut LP Junior shape - the neck joins the body at the 21st fret (unlike an LP Junior) and because the cutaway is at 90 degrees to the neck it's actually really hard to reach the 22nd fret! The scooped cutaway on the Eclipse solves that problem, and I also think, once you get used to it, it fits with the more contoured, streamlined look of the guitar.