HAMER Guitars RIP, possibly???

[WezV]

Just heard on the grapevine that Hamer will no longer be making guitars, although at the moment its unclear whether that is just the USA side of things


Bit of a shame, but I cant help but hope there are some end of line deals or factory clear out (although likely to be absorbed into fender stock)

They had been in a partnership with FMIC, so whether its fender trimming down or not, who knows.  the good news is they had been helping out fender with the Guild side of things - so it may not be job losses.  unless FMIC axe Guild too

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Rick Nielsen's gonna be disappointed!

[Telerocker]

That would be bad news. I like the old Hamers, like the Special and the Sunburst. Great value.

[Philly Q]

I must admit I thought the US operation had already ceased, not long after Jol Dantzig left and Fender bought the company (don't know which came first)

Sorry to see them go, I've owned quite a few Hamers over the years.

[dave_mc]

that sucks. never played any of the USAs but i always thought they looked nice.

[FELINEGUITARS]

This is why I hate the mad acquisition thing that Fender has ben doing for a number of years.

They have ended up reducing the number of INDEPENDANT makers (admittedly Hamer was part of Ovation/Kaman for ages but when Fender bought Ovation they got Hamer too.)

Jol Danzig who for most part was Hamer Guitars has been doing his own thing for a long while
Here is his blog:http://guitarguru.typepad.com

[mecca777]

This is why I hate the mad acquisition thing that Fender has ben doing for a number of years.

They have ended up reducing the number of INDEPENDANT makers (admittedly Hamer was part of Ovation/Kaman for ages but when Fender bought Ovation they got Hamer too.)

I couldn't agree more. I was hugely sad to see Guild's line of electric guitars taken out of production, even if they have occasionally brought back limited runs of Starfires. The reorganisation of Charvel's production models, from classic EVH-style superstrats to Schecter/Dean/Ltd analogues dripping with abalone, is also a little bit saddening to me. I suppose they'd say they're running a business rather than a nostalgia factory (endless Fender vintage reissues aside).

[marantz1300]

One of the best guitars I had was a 93 FM Special. As good as any PRS ,Musicman,Gibson or Fender I've had and that includes real vintage era and Historics. Wish I still had it.

[richardjmorgan]

The reorganisation of Charvel's production models, from classic EVH-style superstrats to Schecter/Dean/Ltd analogues dripping with abalone, is also a little bit saddening to me. I suppose they'd say they're running a business rather than a nostalgia factory (endless Fender vintage reissues aside).

Saw these recently and did a bit of sick inside my mouth. I guess that sort of thing's fine if you like it, but do we really need another maker knocking that stuff out? Like you say, Schecter, Dean and Ltd pretty much have it covered.

[itamar101]

The reorganisation of Charvel's production models, from classic EVH-style superstrats to Schecter/Dean/Ltd analogues dripping with abalone, is also a little bit saddening to me. I suppose they'd say they're running a business rather than a nostalgia factory (endless Fender vintage reissues aside).

Saw these recently and did a bit of sick inside my mouth. I guess that sort of thing's fine if you like it, but do we really need another maker knocking that stuff out? Like you say, Schecter, Dean and Ltd pretty much have it covered.

+1
Those over the top designs with abalone on every corner are sickening in my opinion... And I'm no vintage revivalist. We need the So-Cal back... :(
I don't want to make music with a fake diamond necklace that doesn't fit well, I wanna do it with a strong and smooth steel ring.

[Afghan Dave]

The reorganisation of Charvel's production models, from classic EVH-style superstrats to Schecter/Dean/Ltd analogues dripping with abalone, is also a little bit saddening to me. I suppose they'd say they're running a business rather than a nostalgia factory (endless Fender vintage reissues aside).

Saw these recently and did a bit of sick inside my mouth. I guess that sort of thing's fine if you like it, but do we really need another maker knocking that stuff out? Like you say, Schecter, Dean and Ltd pretty much have it covered.

+1
Those over the top designs with abalone on every corner are sickening in my opinion... And I'm no vintage revivalist. We need the So-Cal back... :(
I don't want to make music with a fake diamond necklace that doesn't fit well, I wanna do it with a strong and smooth steel ring.

Yes, yes. 100x yes.  :x

[Alex]

The reorganisation of Charvel's production models, from classic EVH-style superstrats to Schecter/Dean/Ltd analogues dripping with abalone, is also a little bit saddening to me. I suppose they'd say they're running a business rather than a nostalgia factory (endless Fender vintage reissues aside).

Saw these recently and did a bit of sick inside my mouth. I guess that sort of thing's fine if you like it, but do we really need another maker knocking that stuff out? Like you say, Schecter, Dean and Ltd pretty much have it covered.

+1
Those over the top designs with abalone on every corner are sickening in my opinion... And I'm no vintage revivalist. We need the So-Cal back... :(
I don't want to make music with a fake diamond necklace that doesn't fit well, I wanna do it with a strong and smooth steel ring.

I thought that market was already covered by Schecter and ESP/LTD. I always found it amusing that the cheaper LTD Eclipses feature more "bling" than the more expensive ESPs ones - they know exactly where which market is and who buys which guitars.

[sgmypod]

I couldn't agree more. I was hugely sad to see Guild's line of electric guitars taken out of production, even if they have occasionally brought back limited runs of Starfires. The reorganisation of Charvel's production models, from classic EVH-style superstrats to Schecter/Dean/Ltd analogues dripping with abalone, is also a little bit saddening to me. I suppose they'd say they're running a business rather than a nostalgia factory (endless Fender vintage reissues aside).


like the Bluesbird.....damn Fender

[dave_mc]

+1
Those over the top designs with abalone on every corner are sickening in my opinion... And I'm no vintage revivalist. We need the So-Cal back... :(

+1

to be fair to fender/charvel- the factory shut (though whether that was because of fender's policies, I have no idea :lol: ). the decision was sorta taken out of their hands, i think.

i think the new jackson dinky pros are being made in mexico. might be nice if they started making bolt-on charvels there. Probably not as good as MIJ (and obviously if they could find another Japanese factory and make them at the same price as the old ones, that'd be beyond awesome), but might be better than nothing.

[darkbluemurder]

That would be bad news. I like the old Hamers, like the Special and the Sunburst. Great value.

Well you must have had/played better examples than the one I had. While it had a good tone it would not stay in tune no matter what. A pure living room guitar but I would not give it admission to any playing stage.

Cheers Stephan