Author Topic: Which BKP's for a 1980 hamer special??? (Read 4271 times)

riffpowers · « **on:** September 22, 2007, 11:17:51 PM »

I might be buying a 1980 hamer special. Problem is the owner has removed the original pickups.
They originally had custom wound dimarzios, they weren't even part of their range.

Just wondering what a good choice of humbuckers wqould be for it.

CJ · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2007, 11:44:25 PM »

they'd all sound good... i think everyones going to want some more info here... what are you looking for, what other gear are you using, etc..

Philly Q · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2007, 01:27:24 AM »

I have an old Hamer Special. I've always thought it was an '81 (I bought it in January '82), but it might be an '80. If yours is the same as mine, it'll have a thick, flat-topped mahogany body with a maple top. The maple is very thin, really not much more than a veneer, so it doesn't affect the tone in the way the maple top of a Les Paul does.

Model details here:

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/andrewlarge/specials.htm

(in the picture showing two bridges, the one on the right could be mine, because I sold it to the guy who wrote the article. Fame at last... :roll: )

Because it's essentially an all-mahogany guitar, I think it would be best with fairly vintage-output pickups. The original pickups were basically unpotted DiMarzio PAFs (probably not intentionally unpotted, I'd guess DiMarzio just weren't potting them in those days). I'd think a set of BKP Mules would do the job very nicely if you wanted something similar to the originals.

Phil King has a Hamer Sunburst with an Abraxas set that I know he's very happy with. The Sunburst is basically the same as the Special but with a bound body, only I'm not sure if it might have a thicker maple top.

PhilKing · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2007, 12:38:24 PM »

I have an Abraxas set in my 79 sunburst. I still have the original DiMarzio's but the Abraxas' sound way better. They have the clarity and tone that is missing a bit from the DM's. They can go from early Santana (Samba Pa Ti, Black Magic Woman) to newer stuff like Smooth. Inbetween those tones are all the Rock sounds you could want.

riffpowers · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2007, 04:59:27 PM »

I already have a hamer korina jr and have had a mahogany artist, but apart from the 1981 special I played the other week this will be my 1st "vintage" hamer . Never owned one before, so not sure what the pickups are supposed to sound like, or what would work well.

Oh yeah, and if any of you guys want to sell your hamers, you got a buyer here!!

Philly Q · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2007, 06:40:22 PM »

Quote from: riffpowers

Oh yeah, and if any of you guys want to sell your hamers, you got a buyer here!!

Sorry, I'm never selling my Special! I've sold all the other Hamers I've had over the years (the one thing I don't like is their neck shapes) but the Special was my first "proper" guitar.

Not sure you'd want to buy it anyway - here it is in about 1988, after I'd foolishly added a Kahler and a Duncan JB/59 combo :oops: . Also pictured (sorry about the quality, it's a scan) is my Vector, which I should never have sold

.

Unfortunately my Special is in a terrible state at the moment - it sat in its case for years and the finish reacted with the case lining, so the back of the guitar is totally knackered. I would get a refinish, but the sunburst is such a perfect colour I really don't want to mess it up. Maybe I could just get some clear coats over the top.

riffpowers · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2007, 06:55:48 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: riffpowers
Oh yeah, and if any of you guys want to sell your hamers, you got a buyer here!!

Sorry, I'm never selling my Special! I've sold all the other Hamers I've had over the years (the one thing I don't like is their neck shapes) but the Special was my first "proper" guitar.

Not sure you'd want to buy it anyway - here it is in about 1988, after I'd foolishly added a Kahler and a Duncan JB/59 combo :oops: . Also pictured (sorry about the quality, it's a scan) is my Vector, which I should never have sold .

Unfortunately my Special is in a terrible state at the moment - it sat in its case for years and the finish reacted with the case lining, so the back of the guitar is totally knackered. I would get a refinish, but the sunburst is such a perfect colour I really don't want to mess it up. Maybe I could just get some clear coats over the top.

The 1980 hamer special I'm about to buy isn;t that great condition wise either!! Its had the pickups put and some holes drilled in the top, but its a hamer special so it'll be great anyway!!

I say keep yours like it is, all those things that have happened to it are part of its life, and personally I like a guitar with personality!!

Philly Q · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2007, 07:52:11 PM »

Quote from: riffpowers

I say keep yours like it is, all those things that have happened to it are part of its life, and personally I like a guitar with personality!!

You're right, I suppose it's my equivalent of Rory Gallagher's '61 Strat

. I've got most of the original parts, including the DiMarzios and the pots from the Vector, so I might try restoring it to something like its original spec. The Kahler will have to stay.

Quote

I already have a hamer korina jr

Forgot to say, mighty cool guitar! :D I'd love one of those, if they weren't so hugely expensive. Hamers were really cheap in the UK once - I got a new Special (P-90 version) for £399 in 1995.

riffpowers · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2007, 07:55:52 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: riffpowers
I say keep yours like it is, all those things that have happened to it are part of its life, and personally I like a guitar with personality!!

You're right, I suppose it's my equivalent of Rory Gallagher's '61 Strat . I've got most of the original parts, including the DiMarzios and the pots from the Vector, so I might try restoring it to something like its original spec. The Kahler will have to stay.

Quote
I already have a hamer korina jr

Forgot to say, mighty cool guitar! :D I'd love one of those, if they weren't so hugely expensive. Hamers were really cheap in the UK once - I got a new Special (P-90 version) for £399 in 1995.

The korina jr is totally stunning in every way, it made me sell off the rest of my guitars!! Thats why I;m looking for another hamer really.
They are pretty rare over here unfortunately aren;t they!! Bith my hamers came from the states.

I just sent you a pm

fps_dean · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2007, 03:58:45 AM »

Rebel Yells should sound awesome in that guitar. Not sure if you want something cleaner or louder, but I have Rebel Yells in my Les Paul and they're easily the most perfect pickups for the guitar. They do anything right up to old school thrash metal -- beyond that you'd probably want something louder and bassier.