Hamer Monaco question

[jzucker]

What's the deal with the body protruding past the neck into the cutaway area? Does that get in the way in playing in the upper position?

[bach]

I believe it has something to do with the huge dovetail joint Hamer uses to join the neck to the body. It's a seriously tight joint. Hopefully someone will post some pictures.

I know it's there on my Monaco Elite, but it does not interfere with my playing. If I played the bass strings above the 16th fret, it probably would, but I don't notice it when I play the treble strings above the 16th because my fingers curl and my palm doesn't touch that side of the neck anyway.

[Karmateria]

I agree, it's not an issue for me.
Bach is right, it hhas to do with the fact that Hamer uses a full-width dovetail joint instead of a tenon style. There's more attachment area and therefore more resonance than a typical tenon joint.

There's a shot of the procedure on the shop tour page.

http://www.hamerguitars.com/img/workshop/16.jpg

[jzucker]

Cool workshop photos in the tour section but I don't see any of the dovetail joint. All the neck ends looked like tenons to me. It just seems like a funny design choice since on a standard Les Paul neck joint, I don't think there's any issue with energy transfer. Sustain is incredible on a standard tenon joint, particularly with all that mahogany.

[Rocco Siffredi]

I need to play one of these if I ever see one in person. The appearance of the joint has always been a big turnoff for me. However, I guess until I try it, I will never no for sure.

[bach]

http://www.hamerguitars.com/img/pdf/ToneQuest_Lo.pdf


Page 10.

[slipperyfingers]

Thanks Bach,
A very interesting article. I own and play daily, a custom ordered Monaco Elite (purchased used, and not ordered by me) and it just amazes me. Mine weighs 9 lbs on the button. I have put up a few clips in the past up on the LPF. I get lots of compliments on the tone...and that's through a Guitar port. The fretwork, binding, inlay work...just overall is outstanding. And to answer the original poster's question, upper fret access is better than a LP.

-SF

[jzucker]

http://www.hamerguitars.com/img/pdf/ToneQuest_Lo.pdf


Page 10.

Still looks like a tenon to me. I don't see the dovetail geometry.

[jzucker]

I guess my answer to hamer's comments is that I haven't seen any Les Pauls with loose neck joints and there seems to be no problem with energy transfer with that design whereas there is *DEFINITELY* a market problem / perception with the hamer monaco design. Whether it sounds great or not I can't say but while I'd like to try one, I'm afraid to buy sight unseen and they are unlikely to make it to this part of the country. Too bad. I love my newport but I've had mixed luck with the hamer guitars. Some of them just sound shrill to me.

[HHB]

I had a Monaco , the shelf never got in my way

[EunosFD]

I got the Hamer DVD earlier this year and they spoke of the neck joint. IIRC (without digging the disc out) another part of the reason why it is designed that way is so that the joint area is stronger & more stable. More wood on the treble side to add strength to the joint area. I don't recall offhand if they said the joint is a dovetail or regular tenon though.

Love me some Monaco's though & I'm majorly GAS'ing for a Monaco III...I mean BIG TIME! :D

[jzucker]

I had a Monaco , the shelf never got in my way

I have a hard time with that concept. If you play a line in 15th position that takes you down to the low strings, I don't see how it wouldn't get in your way unless you have hendrix hands...

[arniez]

I have a Monaco III and and with the longer scale the cutaway and the shelf don't interfere with my playing. It is significantly more accessible than the neck on my LP which requires me to wrap my thumb around the heel of the neck. I did find the "shelf" to be obtrusive on the shorter scale Monaco Elite. That I found to be slightly more difficult than the LP.
ArnieZ

[JimH]

I gots me a super pro and don't find it obtrusive. I got the guitar as I never gelled with my LP, partially due to playability. The monaco is far easier to play in my opinion, although there are many factors dictating that.

[HHB]

I have a hard time with that concept. If you play a line in 15th position that takes you down to the low strings, I don't see how it wouldn't get in your way unless you have hendrix hands...


not really, I've played singlecuts up high for many years, it's no harder than a Les Paul for me, the shelf goes right into the arch of my hand , or did, it had some of that "shrill" thing you mentioned, at any rate, I swear that was not a problem for my stubby nordic fingers

[jzucker]

not really, I've played singlecuts up high for many years, it's no harder than a Les Paul for me, the shelf goes right into the arch of my hand , or did, it had some of that "shrill" thing you mentioned, at any rate, I swear that was not a problem for my stubby nordic fingers

thanks for the feedback. So it wasn't sweet like the Les Paul?

[HHB]

I custom ordered one and it was a big mistake. never bonded w/ it. I would try one if your unsure, in fact post over on the Hamer Fan Club, I'll bet there is someone who owns one in your area that would let you try it, nice bunch of guys @ the HFC

[jzucker]

I custom ordered one and it was a big mistake. never bonded w/ it. I would try one if your unsure, in fact post over on the Hamer Fan Club, I'll bet there is someone who owns one in your area that would let you try it, nice bunch of guys @ the HFC

can you elaborate? If I got one, I'd probably hold out for a used 25.5" scale version.

[HHB]

I'll PM ya