Hamers...Where are they all?

[6feet7]

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1456870529' post='2993169']
I'm in negotiations for a white Cruise. It's in pretty awful condition. Will cost me $600 plus taxes to get it here. I'm in two minds; £500 more or less, then factor in some kind of refinish. Hmmm.
[/quote]

Are they that good? Arnt there just as good basses out there that cost less?

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='6feet7' timestamp='1456862981' post='2993053']


There's one on eBay at the moment.
[/quote] I'll have a look cheers

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1456840616' post='2992758']
Here's one hidden on Ebay...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-bass-guitar-/2721495892?hash=item3f5d645434:g:tOEAAOSwFNZW0
[/quote]. Sssssshhhh!

[12stringbassist]

Someone's flogging this on Facebook.

[NancyJohnson]

Yikes. How much? I'd like an 8-string. Not sure about a Standard.

[RhysP]

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1456840616' post='2992758']
Here's one hidden on Ebay...

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-bass-guitar-/272149795892?hash=item3f5d645434:g:tOEAAOSwFNZW0x46"]http://www.ebay.co.u...OEAAOSwFNZW0x46[/url]
[/quote]

That's not a USA Hamer, it's one of the later import models.

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1456921380' post='2993512']


That's not a USA Hamer, it's one of the later import models.
[/quote] how do you tell them apart?

[RhysP]

Well, a USA one won't be on Ebay for £150 including an amp for a start.....

USA Hamers always have a small "USA" at the end of the Hamer logo on the headstock.

Import models will also have some additional writing on the headstock - "Slammer" or "XT series" for example.

Hamer USA serial numbers are stamped into the wood on the back of the headstock, import models quite often won't have a serial number, or if they do it will be on a sticker.

Edited March 2, 2016 by RhysP

[Cosmo Valdemar]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1456921380' post='2993512']
That's not a USA Hamer, it's one of the later import models.
[/quote]

I thought as much. Still a Hamer though.

[NancyJohnson]

[quote name='6feet7' timestamp='1456871353' post='2993177']
Are they that good? Arnt there just as good basses out there that cost less?
[/quote]

I've liked the series one models since I first saw them, but the Cruises that followed (with the 2Tek bridge and more Fender-shaped body) didn't appeal.

Sure there's other P/J derivatives, but for me the series one just oozes cool.

[Turnaround]

As for players, musn't forget Nick Lowe played an 8 string Hamer bass back in the Rockpile days. Live anyway.....clearly seen in footage from the time. I wonder if he recorded with it too?

[NancyJohnson]

Don't forget Cheap Trick. They must have pretty much kept Hamer in business during the early days.

[RhysP]

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1456998512' post='2994282']
Don't forget Cheap Trick. They must have pretty much kept Hamer in business during the early days.
[/quote]

They had a lot of really high profile bands using their guitars right from day one - The Police, Jethro Tull, Cheap Trick, The Pretenders, The Cars & Wishbone Ash to name a few.

[Sammers]

Jeff Ament from Pearl Jam is quite a high profile player too, pretty sure he's had 4, 8 and 12 string Hamers over the years.
Saw em in '14 and he was using a 12 string that had a Mike Lull T Bird body with a Hamer neck. Sounded ace, so unsual to see (and hear) too!

[12stringbassist]

Rick Nielsen's book of guitars is a Hamer-fest.
He's got some of the best guitars going and has been Hamer's most prominent user.





[left]"The Hamer Explorers used to go on the bottom. As a result they developed some "interesting wear patterns. This one is the first one they built, Serial 0000."

[/left]

[left] [/left]

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[left]I think Rick answers the question where are all the Hamers?[/left]

Edited March 4, 2016 by 12stringbassist