Some of my Hamer guitars
Some of my Hamer guitars
Back in the early 2000's I endorsed Hamer guitars, some of which I still play to this very day. (The green guitar I play alot is a Hamer Daytona strat style guitar. ) I thought it might be interesting to show you some of the guitars from my collection of Hamers. To me they are some of the finest guitars ever made, the quality and workmanship is world class and blows away a lot of the more known makers. For some reason they are still a bargain on the used guitar market (although the prices seem to have gone up over the past few years...). I don't have any affiliation with them anymore nor know what the status of Hamer is now, although I do hear from Jol Dantzig (one of the founders) every so often.
You have a very rare bird there! I worked for Kaman Music, who owned Hamer, as a rep back in the 90’s, The only other Hamer Eclipse 12 I’ve seen was about 1994. I had the company send me a sample, and I loaned it to a guy who worked at Willie’s American Guitars, so he could record with his group called the Honeydogs.
Hamer was always focused on making the best instruments possible. The attention to small, but important details still resonates with players today.
I ordered a Daytona for myself in 1996, and asked that everyone in the shop sign the back of it before it was clear coated. It’s Sea Foam Green with a matching headstock. I love playing it.
Right after I received it, I learned that the Arlington Heights, IL shop would be closing, and moving to the Ovation Guitars shop in New Hartford, CT. It was the end of an era, especially for me. When I was born, my first home was about three miles from the Hamer shop.
Not much else to say, but what a great legacy Hamer has earned!
Shane, what led you on your Hamer path?
Cheers
Bill
I have a really similar Hamer Artist Custom. Beautiful, great guitar. What you say about the volume pot taper is spot on, it works so well, I don't have any other guitar with such a perfect volume pot.
Hamers are so underrated, they are definitely as good as Gibson Custom Shops or high end PRS.
Great video Shane.
