Hello fellow guitar enthusiasts,
As a long-time admirer of guitars, I’m looking to add a Hamer to my collection. I’ve been intrigued by Hamer Guitars for a while now and am ready to finally take the plunge, but I’m a bit undecided on which model would be the best fit for my playing style and tonal preferences. I’ve noticed in online forums that some Hamer devotees express extremely high praise, sometimes claiming they surpass even legendary brands in build quality and sound. While I appreciate the enthusiasm, I prefer to approach these claims with a healthy dose of skepticism. My focus is solely on finding exceptional guitars, regardless of the brand name on the headstock. I’m not swayed by hype, and I believe every guitar should be judged on its own merits.
In the past, I’ve also read about older Hamers occasionally having issues with binding or finish imperfections. While ideally, such flaws shouldn’t exist, I’m more concerned with how a guitar plays and sounds. For me, a truly great instrument transcends minor cosmetic issues. I’ve always been drawn to Hamer’s unique and cool designs, and with a collection that currently includes a variety of vintage and modern Gibsons, Fenders, and other interesting guitars, it feels like a Hamer is the missing piece.
My current interest lies primarily between two eras of Hamer guitars: the early 1980s Hamer Specials and the 1990s models like the Hamer Artist, Archtop FM, or Special FM. I previously owned a ’93 Hamer Archtop, but ultimately sold it. While I appreciated its lightweight feel and comfortable playability, I found its tone a bit too thin for my liking. I tend to favor a robust, full-bodied rock sound – think along the lines of Kossoff or Angus Young. Additionally, the neck on that particular Archtop seemed quite sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, requiring seasonal adjustments, an issue I haven’t encountered with any of my other guitars.
Therefore, I’m reaching out to the community for honest opinions. Among the Hamer models I’m considering – the early 80s models typically equipped with Dimarzio pickups, or the 1990s versions often featuring Duncan pickups – is there a significant tonal difference? Or is the core Hamer sound consistent across these eras? My main concern is whether a Hamer can deliver the kind of thick, authoritative lead tone I associate with a great Les Paul, or was my experience with the Archtop indicative of a general characteristic of Hamer guitars?
Furthermore, I’m curious about the tonal impact of different bridge types found on Hamer Specials. Specifically, how do the sustain block bridges of some Specials compare to the 1990s models with tune-o-matic/stop tailpiece setups and those with Wilkinson bridges? Understanding these nuances would be incredibly helpful.
Ultimately, I’m open to all perspectives, even if it means being talked out of pursuing a Hamer altogether. Honest and informed opinions are exactly what I’m after. Thank you in advance for sharing your expertise and insights on Hamer guitars. Your views will be greatly appreciated as I navigate this decision.
