| Hamer Artist | Hamer Jeff Watkins | Hamer Cruise Bass | Hamer Impact Bass |
| Hamer Blitz | Hamer KK Downing | Hamer Centaura | Hamer Monaco |
| Hamer Californian | Hamer Scarab | Hamer Model T51 | Hamer 8 String Bass |
| Hamer Chapparal | Hamer Scepter | Hamer 12 String Bass | |
| Hamer Glenn Tipton | Hamer Standard (Explorer) | Hamer Diablo | Hamer Sunburst |
| Hamer DuotoneIncl | Hamer Steve Stevens 22 & 24 | Hamer Eclipse | Hamer Special |
| Hamer StudioIncl | Hamer Rick Neilson | Hamer Talladega | Hamer Miscellaneous |
| Hamer Vector Incl | Hamer Virtuoso | Hamer Maestro 7 | Hamer Prototype |
| Hamer Doublenecks | Hamer Paul Stanley | Hamer Short Scale Bass | |
| Hamer Phantom | Hamer Newport Pro BE | Hamer Improv | Hamer Firebird |
A Note on Hamer Serial Numbers In 1974 Hamer used a four digit number stamped into the wood starting with guitar #0000 and, until the launch of the Sunburst, this system was used on all guitars. Hamer Guitar Lookup Serial Number Starts I have one Korean Standard thats said being produced in 2002 and the serial number starts with a 2. I case you have the simple Hamer logo printed on the headstock of your guitars and assumed a similar serial numbering system applies to the Korean made as it applies to the USA made then yours are from 2000 and 2001. The Hamer Archtop. The Archtop is based on the Hamer Studio body, the third classic Hamer design introduced in 1977. Upgraded with a solid Maple top on Mahogany body, the tone is beefy yet focused and a Transparent Black on figured Maple veneer results in a visually inspiring instrument.
Hamer has had a lot of cool models especially during the 80's
2x Dimarzzio humbucking pickups, Tune-O-Matic bridge with 6 adjustable saddles, 6x original Grover tuners, Original black Hamer case w/maron lining. Hamer Archtop Artist (1995 - date) -semi-solid design with f-hole. Hamer Blitz Bass Blitz Guitar (1st version) (1982 - 1984) - Explorer style body, 3-a-side peghead, dot inlays and 22 frets on a 24.75 inch scale length.
Hamer display at Ed Roman Guitars
Extremely Nice Hamer Artist Sold To Joe Barbieri 1993 prox | Hamer Model Confusion Hamer models are pretty confusing. Over the years they have been known to produce a double cutaway guitar that looks a lot like the Abstract double cut or DC-1. The problem is nomenclature. They have called this guitar (shown left) by various names. Originally it was 'The Sunburst' which made no sense because it came in several other colors. Then they called it 'The Studio,' which made the guitar sound like a beginners guitar, then they called it 'The Artist,' but that got confusing simply because they had numerous different models. The Hamer guitar is for the most part an excellent guitar. I personally don't hold with the 22 fret model being the only one you can buy. I also am not a fan of set neck guitars. |
HAMER VIRTUOSO
36 Frets, Very Rare Model, Ed Roman usually has one available
No Longer Being Built High Quality Replica's Available From Abstract Guitars
The Abstract Replicas Are Only Available On Discontinued Hamer Models
We Have Done Our Best To Recreate These Guitars With As Many Improvements as Possible.
Abstract Prodigy
There Is Still Some Body Carving To Do On The Above Model
Improvements
Neck Thru Body, Gold Adamantium Frets, Graphite Nut.
Two Pickups Instead Of One, Macassar Ebony, Neck & Fingerboard
Upgraded Electronics, Also Available In Doubleneck, Baritone Or Bass
Hamer Produced About 100 Different Models in the 80's We are always looking to buy them so if you have a used one please call Ed Roman personally at the Las Vegas Store. Steve Stevens models, Scepter's, Jeff Watson, Scarabs, Blitz models, Daytonas, Doublenecks, Maestro's, Virtuosos, even Chaparrals'. In my Custom Shop I have created many copies of those old discontinued models. |
Original Californian Discontinued) The Hamer Californian is my personal all time favorite Bolt on neck, All out Rock n Roll Guitar, On mine I substituted the Seymour Black Back Pickups and I am quite happy with the sound I have achieved. |
HAMER Artist Models Available models include: Artist (Shown) Artist Custom Artist Mahogany Mahogany HB Artist Korina Korina HB Artist Ultimate Just how 'Ultimate' is Hamer's Artist? Upon review, Guitar Player Magazine awarded the Artist Korina and Artist Mahogany HB (formerly known as the Hamer 25th Anniversary) models with the magazine's coveted Editor's Pick Award. |
USA Duo Tone DuoTone Custom (Shown) You can even combine acoustic and electric sounds at the same time..leaving the audience to wonder if there is a second player hiding behind your rig. Body Type: Ivoroid Bound Semi-Hollow Mahogany Colors: Jazzburst, Red Transparent, Vintage Natural |
USA Standard Custom Available Models Include: Standard Custom Custom (Shown) One-piece Honduras Mahogany bound body, 3-piece stressed Mahogany bound neck, oversized dovetail joint, Mother-Of-Pearl crown inlays, gorgeous flamed maple top. Body Type: Ivoroid Bound Mahogany Colors: '59 Burst. |
| Hamer Archtop Artist (1995 - date) -semi-solid design with f-hole. Hamer Blitz Bass Blitz Guitar (1st version) (1982 - 1984) - Explorer style body, 3-a-side peghead, dot inlays and 22 frets on a 24.75 inch scale length. Fitted with two humbuckers (Hamer Slammers) and a choice of Sustain Block tremolo or Sustain Block fixed bridge. Later guitars (late 1983 onwards) often have locking Kahler Flat Mount trem. Hamer Cruise Bass
Mirage (1994 - 1997) - Double cutaway body with carved flame koa wood arched top, otherwise all mahogany with a 22 fret neck (25.5 inch scale), rosewood fingerboard/dot inlays and three-a-side peghead. Fitted with a Wilkinson VSV trem. and three Seymour Duncan single-coil size rail humbuckers (Hot Rails at the bridge and two Vintage Rails). Two humbucker version introduced in 1995. |
Hamer Guitars on display at a music exhibition, 2008 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Musical instruments |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973; 47 years ago |
| Headquarters | Arlington Heights, Illinois |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Paul Hamer, Jol Dantzig and John Montgomery | |
| Products | Electric guitars |
| Parent | KMC Music[1] |
| Website | hamerguitars.com |
Hamer Guitar Serial Number Search
Hamer Guitars was an American manufacturer of electric guitars founded in 1973, in Wilmette, Illinois, by vintage guitar shop owners Paul Hamer, and Jol Dantzig. The company's early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer (The Standard) and Gibson Flying V (Vector), before adding more traditional Gibson-inspired designs such as the Sunburst. Hamer Guitars is generally considered the first 'boutique' vintage-style electric guitar brand that specifically catered to professional musicians, and was the first guitar manufacturers to produce a 12 string bass guitar.[2]
The company was incorporated in Illinois in 1976 by John Montgomery, Jol Dantzig, James Walker and Hamer. It was acquired by Kaman Music Corporation in 1988, which was purchased in turn by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2008. Hamer offered a wide array of electric guitars and electric basses and since its foundation, placed an emphasis on producing high-quality instruments with vintage aesthetics as well as creative innovations.[3]
Kaman marketed a lower-priced line of Asian-built instruments called the Hamer XT Series and Slammer by Hamer, which was discontinued in 2009.
After a 4-year hiatus since Fender had discontinued the Hamer models in 2013, the brand was re-introduced as a subsidiary of KMC Music, which announced the return of Hamer Guitars at the NAMM Show that same year.
History[edit]
The first Hamer guitar, a Flying V bass, was built at Northern Prairie Music, a vintage instrument shop in Wilmette, Illinois, owned by Hamer and Dantzig. The shop catered to musicians who were interested in high-quality instruments. This first instrument served as the basis for a new company called Hamer Guitars.[3]
Hamer began publicizing its instruments in 1974, with small black-and-white ads in guitar magazines. Hamer Guitars Inc. was incorporated in Illinois in 1976 by John Montgomery, Jol Dantzig, Paul Hamer and James Walker. In 1977 the company set up shop in Palatine, Illinois and employed seven workers. At this time the woodworking was being subcontracted to the Tom Holmes Company in Nashville, Tennessee, with the painting and setup (stringing) being done in the Palatine shop. Prior to that point production had been one-off custom variations on the original 'Standard' and 'Flying V' guitars. The new arrangement with Holmes allowed Hamer to broaden its offering by building a more mainstream instrument called the 'Sunburst.' Before this expansion Hamer's customers were limited to big-name touring groups such as Kiss, Bad Company, Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull and Savoy Brown. In the late 1970s to the mid-1980s Def Leppard used Hamer guitars and basses.
Hamer Serial Number Dating
To appeal to a broader market, Hamer introduced its first production guitar, the Sunburst, 1977. Production was reportedly around 10 guitars per week. During that time, the company gained more popularity due to the high-profile patronage of Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and that group's use of Hamer eight- and 12-string basses. In 1978, Frank Untermyer joined the company as part of Hamer's attempt to expand its business worldwide. Untermyer served as a partner and international sales manager.
In 1980, Hamer moved to larger quarters in Arlington Heights, a suburb of Chicago. The staff had grown to 12 and Hamer Guitars continued to launch new models, such as the 'Special', 'Cruisebass', 'Prototype', 'Blitz' and 'Phantom'. Paul Hamer, the company's president, and chief salesperson, left in 1987 to pursue a career in retail. Kaman Music was then approached to handle sales, while the remaining owners concentrated on manufacturing. Kaman Music agreed to purchase Hamer in late 1988.
Form this era stems the appearance of Hamer models for Heavy metal pioneers Judas Priest. Glenn Tipton's designed and used two very iconic Hamer guitars: the non-production Hamer GT Custom, introduced in 1986, and the Hamer Phantom GT. Especially designed by Tipton, the GT Custom has a unique design, loosely based on a classic asymmetric V design but optimised for balance, sporting either Seymour Duncans and EMGs pickups. The Phantom GT followed the more traditional design of a super-strat double cutaway guitar, equipped with EMG pickups. Both guitars are still used by Tipton on stage as of 2020.[4]
After five years with Kaman, Dantzig left the company in 1993, moving to California to begin a design and consulting business.
In 1997 Kaman Music relocated Hamer to a small shop in New Hartford, Connecticut, home of Ovation Guitars. Ten employees were relocated to New Hartford along with Dantzig, who was re-hired as technical director. Untermyer had the dual role of general manager of both Hamer and Ovation. Hamer then began concentrating on a core of high-quality designs targeted at the high-end and collector market. Brand Manager Frank Rindone assumed all marketing, advertising and sales responsibilities.[3]Along with its parent company Kaman Music, Hamer was acquired by guitar giant Fender Musical Instruments on December 31, 2007.
Hamer lives in Chicago, where he operates a retail framing business. Dantzig left Fender in 2010 to build instruments under the Jol Dantzig Guitar Design name. Untermyer left the company in 2012 and now oversees the global supply chain of guitar manufacturer C. F. Martin & Company.
In December 2012, Fender announced that Hamer would no longer produce guitars and the company would cease to operate.[5][6]
As of January 25, 2017 KMC Music announced at NAMM 2017 the re-introduction of import Hamer Guitars with 5 models.[7]
References[edit]
- ^Our brands on KMC Music website, 13 Oct 2019
- ^Steve Matthes, Joe Moffett (2013). The Ultimate Hamer Guitars: An Illustrated History. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-4352-0.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- ^ abcZachary R. Fjestad (ed.). Hamer Electric Guitar Values. Blue Book of guitar Values. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
- ^http://www.glenntipton.com/hamer-guitar.asp
- ^'Fender closes Hamer. Are more to follow?' by Ronnie Dungan, 28 Dec 2012
- ^'FMIC Suspends Hamer Production' on Premier Guitars website, 9 Jan 2013
- ^January 25, Press Release; 2017. 'Hamer Guitars Announces 2017 Lineup'. www.premierguitar.com.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hamer Guitars. |
- Jol Dantzig Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2009)
- Frank Untermyer Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2009)
- Paul Hamer Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2017)