1983 Hamer Special...Yay or Nay?

[bynapkinart]

Hey all, I have an opportunity to get a 1983 Hamer Special. I'm kind of psyched to get it, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything beforehand. Are Hamers from this era generally good? Anyone know if they're nitro or poly? Anyone know the average resale price? Finally, any and all pics/opinions really appreciated. Let me know!

Thanks!

[Virtual Pariah]

Very good,
Nitro usually
anywhere between 800 - 1000 depending on condition.

[bizzwriter]

Great guitars, but be careful of REALLY narrow and thin necks (called "pencil necks" by Hamer fans) -- be sure to try before you buy. Also, certain years have a finish problem called "hameritis" where the finish delaminates from the guitar neck or body. This problem seems to occur most commonly around neck joints and fingerboard edges. While it isn't a really a big deal unless the finish starts chipping away, I would pay less for a guitar with this problem. I had a great '82 that I sold because I just couldn't bond with the narrow neck. These guitars are really good bargains, they sound great, and are better guitars than Gibson was building at the time. Check ebay completed auctions for current resale market, and be sure to check out the Hamer Fan Club Forum (http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/).

[bynapkinart]

Good to hear, thanks! I'm still thinking about it, HBs aren't my thing but I've heard many good things about Chicago-era Hamers and this is the first one I've had within reach.

[Maggie_O]

I absolutely adore my '81 Hamer Special. I'm a fan of chunky necks, but the Hamer is one of the few thin necks I get along with, FWIW.

Mine:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/3819314836_7103bb59df_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mediawench/3819314836/)
1981 Hamer Special And Swart Atomic Space Tone, July, 2009 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mediawench/3819314836/) by Maggie Osterberg (http://www.flickr.com/people/mediawench/), on Flickr

[mc5nrg]

Run, don't walk.

[distorted noise]

buy it you won't regret it

[slipbeer]

Had one for years and wish I still did. Sustainblock Specials are great guitars.

Ditto on checking in at the Hamer Fan Club. All you'd ever want to know. A couple of weeks back there were 3 active threads on Specials.

[G Man]

I just took in my first vintage Hamer yesterday, an 81 Special. Love it so far. Neck is a bit thinner than I am used to, but still very comfortable. Buy it, you won't regret it.

[Guitarworks]

Do It! I had an '81 sustainblock special much like the one pictured earlier in this thread. Great guitars and a nice vintage piece as well.

[scolfax]

You're killing me! I almost bought one for $700 a couple of weeks ago in killer condition and I let it pass. Ug.

[treeofpain]

The thin necks are actually pretty comfortable, but it is VERY EASY to bend them out of tune. You have to have a light touch.

[Ampegasaur]

I like The Sunbursts better, I have a 79. The Specials body is thinner, and so are the necks as previously mentioned. However, they are great, and are between a Les Paul and an SG tonewise. I am a Hamer nut, and feel they have been consistently one of the best makers out there. Almost never played a bad Hamer, just ones I did not bond with. Do it, if for some reason you don't like it, you can always get your money back, or even a little more.

[scolfax]

Wait, are the necks thinner or narrower? Thin I can handle. I just made an offer on one.

[G Man]

I was a little worried about the neck on my 81 but it feels great. I've probably played it for at least 5 hours over the last 24 with no discomfort to speak of.

Here's a pic I took today.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s210/gcoccolu/81%20Hamer%20%20Special/fullfronttable.jpg

[Drew816]

Here are the measurements on my '81 Hamer:


1 5/8: 1.61 42 mm
0.79" 1st
0.76" 3rd
0.85" 12th frets

Great guitar, love it, run don't walk to go get that thing!

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p218/Drew816_photos/Feb_2011_P90s.jpg

[markooo]

Simply put ...USA Hamers are usually the best bang for the buck. I purchased a beautiful Studio Custom goldtop with P90s this summer. It looked new as it hung from GC's wall and turned out to be 17 years old.

I have the factory DVD showing the steps involved in the crafting and went through a detailed slide show showing several steps in the process of making Hamers. When you see what is involved you understand why they are so expensive when new.

They also use far many more steps than any Gibson or Fender custom shop ... and PRS as well.

The only bad thing is that their used prices are discounted too much ... buy that is great for the buyer ...and good for you.

GET IT !

[scolfax]

OK, let's talk about prices then. Is $800 too much for one of these guys?

[markooo]

If it is perfect ... and you can't find another one anywhere then maybe/probably.

One note ... Wilcutt guitars in Lexington has the last of Hamer inventory for sale.

They have blow out prices on all new items, so that makes the used prices go down also. I have seen used prices on some that were ok a while ago, but now you can get brand new Hamers at a very good price.

I would also think that a nice Hamer for $800 is much better than 90% of all the $800 used guitars available at this time. Also, do a quick eBay search to check prices.

There was an Eclipse that just sold on TGP ... never seen one before .... but wish I bought it.

[markooo]

Since Fender is now the owner of Hamer, and they have the Hamer guys working on Guild guitars, I don't think there will be many more Hamers.

Personally, I want to stock up on them for there build quality.

Sure, I have a Strat, a nice PRS and want a nice LP. But for the price, I would buy Hamer's all day long. I play mostly at home and being able to judge an items quality pretty well, I'll take any mint used Hamer anytime.

I also enjoy when friends come over to play and all are amazed when they play my Hamer and I tell them it was $999. The new version out recently was $3500.

[HoboMan]

I sold all my Gibsons after I got my first Hamer.

[Kurt L]

Old sustain block Hamers are great guitars. I'd do it...

[straightblues]

Great guitars. I would say $500 to $800 is the range. If it is very nice and comes with an original case, $800 isn't too much.

[cmatthes]

Since Fender is now the owner of Hamer, and they have the Hamer guys working on Guild guitars, I don't think there will be many more Hamers.

Not quite. Hamer is making all the custom orders that come in the door. They're working on some pretty cool things right now. Guild is the major priority right now, but they sure as hell ain't dead. Willcutt also doesn't have the "Last Hamers", as they've advertised - they have the last warehoused Hamers.

Big difference.


Those early run Sunbursts are great rockers. Think LP Jr. on steroids - really nicely made. My first Hamer back in the early '80s was an '83 Special. Good stuff.

[Armitage]

Yeah, Hamer went from a small shop sort'a Custom Shop, to an all out Custom Shop, build to order.

[bynapkinart]

Good news for you all, I ended up picking it up! I discovered that it's actually a 1981 model, serial number #1 3376. Not minty fresh...it had a headstock repair and it has been played a lot. The frets look new and the repair looks fantastic, plus I feel like headstocks last longer after they've been broken and repaired once. Original case! The previous owner put a Seymour Duncan George Lynch Screamin' Demon in the bridge (ew, IMO), but had the really good sense to keep the original bridge close. The original pickup looks awesome! It's a DiMarzio, looks unpotted like a lot of the old DiMarzios were, and I can't wait to put that thing back where it belongs.

I don't want to give too much of an opinion right now beyond the usual NGD "it's incredible" nonsense... :love:

I was looking for a great hardtail to complement the Tele, and I'm trying humbuckers on for the fourth time in the hopes that it'll work out. This is my first vintage guitar (does 30 years old qualify as vintage?), and I'm really psyched to own a Chicago-era Hamer. My first ever guitar was a Hamer Slammer, too, so my guitar life is coming full circle with a proper Hamer.

I have awful, terrible, horrible pics from the phone right now...I'll pop open a NGD thread in the next few days with proper pics once I put the old DiMarzio back in!

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss258/bynapkinart/IMG_0183.jpg
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss258/bynapkinart/IMG_0184.jpg
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss258/bynapkinart/IMG_0156.jpg
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss258/bynapkinart/IMG_0187.jpg

[G Man]

Very nice, looks a lot like the 81 I just picked up, which is just a bit older with 1 2944 serial number. I also have to replace the SD someone put in mine with an original DiMarzio, unfortunately the original did not come with mine, but I have been able to source one.

Hope you enjoy her as much as I am enjoying mine.

[bynapkinart]

That's too bad about the SD...I don't know what people are thinking sometimes putting a 16-17k pup in the same circuit as a 6-7k pup, but its not a good sound. I'm really happy the seller kept the original, though...I've heard really, really good things about original DiMarzio PAFs.