Proud to say I was an endorsing artist from 2001 until kaman was bought, so the last decade of Hamer. They made me 3 customs (SATF, Vector, Standard), all one of a kind, no serial numbers, irreplaceable. Incredible guitars
Had the great opportunity to meet Paul Hamer in late 1979.....loved this dude loved guitars as much as me....this was on 48th street NYC ...the block......long gone shame
I remember as a kid taking train into NY and visiting the stores just to be awed. Nothing now. Same can be said for almost any of the business districts in NY like fur, art supplies, leather goods, etc. all the real estate was sold out for top dollar.
I miss going to 48th Street in the 80’s, when all the shops were open and owned by different people. Then Sam Ash bought up all the stores and then went out of business. Manny’s was my spot. I bought my first guitar and my first amp at Manny’s. I remember lugging that amp home on the subway back to Queens. When you’re a teenager you do dumb things like that😂😂.
My first made to order bass guitar was around 2005. It was a '59 LP 12 string bass. With hard case. Around $1,500 as I recall and took about 6 months to make. But I got it and was thrilled with it. I played it out at tiki bar gigs in the Florida Keys for a few years before selling it on eBay. Wish I still had it!
Rick Nielsen mentioning the 60,000 picks he gives away, reminded me to look for my "1" certain pick I got in a candy package when I bought a guitar from reverb. No name on it. Perfect for certain guitars and songs. Glad this was audio and great story. Looking forward to Part II
My friend Larry Melero was Rick's guitar tech up until he passed in 2018. I have boxes ful of Rick picks that Larry would 'acquire' on different tours ( a gift from his widow). 60.000 is a safe number - Rick goes through them so fast!
Fascinating history. I love this stuff; very well done. Thanks. PS, I was in high school when Cheap Trick Live at Budakan (sp?) came out. That album had such a huge impact on my musical interests. I knew Rick was a big Hamer guy, but didn’t realize how much the band contributed to the company’s early success. Great stuff, thanks for including it.
Great video can't wait for the 2nd part but as an owner of 4 Hamer guitars I hope this don't draw too much attention to our little secret and drive the used prices up lol Well done!
Seems likely but we've had it pretty good for a long time while the obvious brands got out of control lol. I'm from Maine so these were kinda everywhere.
Bought a double cut Hamer Special with a flat curly maple top from Texas Tom’s Music around 1980 it was incredible!! It was stolen in Lafayette LA., broke my heart!!
Never heard of this channel before. This video popped up on auto-play while I was making breakfast, and I'm happy it did. This was wonderfully done. I was legitimate bummed when I realized part two isn't out yet. I'm looking forward to part two and other videos on this channel.
Thank you, I really appreciate the kind words! This is the start of a new direction for the channel, so stay tuned, and hopefully, I can get more episodes out soon.
Fantastic! As a 12 year old Kid, I would wander into local music store and drool at the Hamer Standard...and then later the Steve Stevens "Barney Rubble". I never did buy one, but STILL pine for one! 💚🎸
Seeing the Kaman name reminds me of a different form of corporate consolidation. Kaman Aerospace in Bloomfield, CT primarily does vibration analysis of helicopter blades, going back to before corporate raiders tore apart United Technologies with Sikorsky, Pratt & Whitney, Otis, and Carrier, and mixed in former Raytheon. Kaman owned Microtime (NTSC video time base correctors), a home medical electronics company, and several brands of drums and percussion on top of the guitars line. That positioned them to do serious acoustic analysis by audio vibration and stroboscopic high speed photography, using military and aerospace tools, from sister companies on site.
What an amazing documentary. Cannot wait for part 2 - as a Judas Priest fan, I sincerely hope for the same 'deep dive' into KK's V's, Glenn's Phantoms and GT's (which to hear Glenn describe them are brilliant in how that bottom bout is supposed to rest on your leg to hold the guitar in a position to stretch to 'shred.' Very well done - especially exposing how Norlin and CBS forgot that guitars are for players. This is 'must see' video for any boomers and Gen X who were just discovering guitars at the time Hamer launched.
Thank you so much for the kind words! If you know of video of audio of Glenn or KK discussing their Hamers, please reach out at chris@sapulpaguitaracademy.com Thanks for watching!
No word yet. Part 2 is going to have a lot of new interviews that I've started conducting just this last week. I'm also deciding if I can realistically fit all of the 80s into one episode. From 80-87, Hamer issued 15 new models alone. I hope you're a Ken Burns fan because this series may be a few episodes longer than I intended. Thanks for watching!
@@SapulpaGuitarAcademy Music to my ears! I like to call this era (mid-70’s to mid 80’s) the Silver Age of independent US guitar makers - Hamer, Schecter, Jackson, BC Rich, etc. - so the more information brought to light on their stories the better!
Great presentation! I grew up in southern Wisconsin and a kid moved up from Belvidere Illinois in the summer of 77 … instant friends. Tell me about this cool band cheap trick ; he had bought his saxophone at one of the guys dad‘s music shop! Next thing I know I’m the biggest fan ever and they’ve gotten huge . Fast-forward to fall of 1982 starting college in Madison. A little music store off State Street had a Hamer Standard. Beautiful cherry Sunburst with pick ups and hardware from a ‘58 335… Serial number 0059 ! $1000. Trying to figure out how a broke college kid like myself can scrape up money for a layaway down payment , Mitch Ryder barreled through town and scooped it up. Ahhhhh, the ones that get away. 😎
Cool, I managed to score a 1982 black Hamer Blitz in 1985 for $400 with case in beautiful condition. It was my 1st quality instrument. In around 1998, I was able to locate a 1987 candy Hamer Blitz bass in a pawn shop for about $300 with case. I think it's been refinished, because it's in so nice condition. I heard from an employee that it possibly have a neck repair but I cannot notice any flaws in the next so I'm not sure. I still have and love these guitars. But, I've always wanted a Hamer Standard but they are now way out of my price range.
20 years ago my dad went to the hamer factory for a tour, and to hand pick the curly maple top for his Monaco. I ran the water jet at an aerospace company so I made some custom hamer usa signs out of polished diamond plate and he gave them to the people who mattered
Many years ago I met Paul Hamer at a music store event. He was very encouraging and respectful of my friend and me as aspiring rock stars (which we never became) Real nice guy. I can say that of a few others as well, but he made an impression on us.
I vividly remember seeing Cheap Trick on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in 1979 (I think). That was my 1st exposure to Hamers. They looked/sounded awesome. And TPs 12 string bass was amazing. Still a fan after all these years. It's such a shame that Hammer Guitars couldn't keep it together.
Damn! I briefly owned a left-handed Hamer...basically the "Standard" (Explorer), but it had LP Custom style appointments--block inlays, gold pickup covers & tuners (whenever they started doing those...early 80's?). Traded a guy for a red tolex Marshall 4x12 (straight), circa '70-'71, original Celestions--still have it! Anyway, this excellent documentary made me a bit wistful for that guitar, a real piece of "boutique" guitar history, wherever it is now... Thanks for this!
The only Hamer I've got left is an old Sunburst, early eighties. The best one I owned was a beautiful Hamer TLE with a tremendous figured top and ebony fretboard with boomerang inlays. That is the best of hundreds of guitars I have owned or played. UPS ruined it in transit, and paid me for it. Wish I still had it rather than the money. An incredible guitar.
I first heard of Hamer Guitars when Glenn and KK started playing them in Priest. Kk's red and white custom v was was sick that he started playing on the Defenders tour i wanted that guitar so bad and i always ❤ Glenn's custom black and white and his white and black guitars they made for him on the Turbo tour. They also made KK's mini V wich he played for a long time. I didn't really like the mini V. I was happy when he stopped playing it. More happy when he got rid of that perm. 😂 🤘🤘
I remember back in the early 90's when I was just starting out, I would look through guitar magazines and was always inspired by the Hamer ads. I remember one in particular, for the Hamer Californian, it was a super-strat style guitar with an extended fingerboard of 27 frets. It became my first of many "dream guitars" that also served to inspire my playing even if I never ended up owning one...perhaps someday!
Thank you for the kind words. It's good that this project is being enjoyed by folks like myself who were always curious to know more about these smaller brands. B.C. Rich would be amazing as a follow-up to this one, as well as Dean and DiMarzio. The 70s had some incredible people involved in guitars back then.
I had a Cruise bass back in the early 80s that I got from Banner Thomas of Molly Hatchet. I arrogantly had my name engraved on the pickguard, then ended up trading it away a few years later. I’ve regretted it ever since. I’m still looking for that bass, if anyone here knows of it. RIP BT.
Just... wow! And thank you, really looking forward to Pt. 2! Also, have owned and sold a good number of Hamers, and truly wish that l still owned every one I've ever sold. Keep rockin' ya'll!
Great doc thanks for posting it. I have 3 Hamer Standards. First one I got used was a '95 USA Hamer Explorer Standard Cherryburst VG condition. Second an '06 USA Hamer Standard Explorer Ice Tea Burst in EX condition and third an early Korean Hamer Standard Explorer Cherryburst VG condition. All have never left the house, I am a small time collector mainly 70's Gibson LPs, 70's Gretsch 7593 Falcons and Country Clubs and Fender Teles from many different years. But if you pick up my '77 NM white Gibson LP Custom and then pick up the '95 Hamer Standard you won't feel like picking the LP back up. The quality of these Hamers is so great. You can just feel it. In all honesty I don't play anymore but still collect here and there, but if I were to play now tbh I'd probably go for the Korean Hamer Standard as it is much lighter (those US Hamer Standards were heavy as F and I'm such a terrible player at 63 yrs old you couldn't tell the difference when I play anyway haha). Hamer were basically the first boutique guitar. And what I really want is the VG condition USA Black Hamer Standard with the white binding. So feel free to contact me. They aren't making any more of them.
Thanks! I really appreciate the kind words. The creators who graciously shared their content for me to use in this video can't be thanked enough. A couple have even agreed to produce new content for part 2.
I have a ‘94 Daytona. Best Strat I own, of five, including a mint ‘69 Fender Strat. Swamp ash, barely 7 pounds, see-thru white finish. I’ve also had a ‘94 T-51 and a Studio FM which were awesome too.
A guitar teacher of mine had a really nice semi hollow around 2006. I believe he had some kind of an endorsement deal. It was a beautiful guitar and the couple of times I played it I really enjoyed it.
You forget, Hamer was double the price of Gibson. Adjusted for inflation Gibson prices are cheaper than the early 70s - you broke-ass guys are out of gas. Today Hamers are Asian no better than any Squier or Epiphone. 🎸
@cuda426hemi The only thing "broke ass" is paying more to get less, with sub Chinese tier quality control issues. It's OK that it's garbage, because the Gibson™ name is on the headstock. If it weren't for Hetfield's asian Flying V™ and Explorer™ clones, as will as Slash's Asian Les Paul™ knock off, Gibson™ would have died in the 90's.
@@war2thegrave LOL Broke ass. Grow up, get a job and maybe some day you can own a Gibson, too. almost died in the 90s?? V's and Pauls? LOL Not even close. You morons don't even know what the top selliing Gibson IS every year, do you?? LOL go away, don't you have some begging to do? 🤣
I always wanted a Gibson Explorer but never seen them in music stores in the early 70's here in Eastern Iowa. Cheap Trick would often play around the Midwest and I began to notice Rick's beautiful guitars at a show at the Rockford Speedway one summer. They were Hamer guitars which turned out to be as hard as Gibson Explorer guitars to find in an era long before the internet and cell phones were invented. Now I know why I couldn't find one back then.❤
I used to have one of what I think was Hamer's earliest catalogs and price list. It was in black and white with about four or six pages. I think this was back in '78 or '79!
This doc is so good! What a 4th of July treat! Thank you so much for this, and i can't wait for Part 2! Excuse me, the wife is yelling at me to start the grill and begin our Independence Day fun! 😂😂😂
Back in the day, in the early 70's I was 18 and frequented Northern Prairie on Greenbay road. I had them put cream binding, flame top and dual D'Marzio humbuckers on a '63 double cut-a-way Melody Maker. Wanted an LP Jr. but couldn't afford on with my high school income.Traded it in for an ES335 plus few bucks a couple years later. I've always wondered what ever happened to the instrument over the years.... should have hung on to it....
Great documentary! I have one of the Indonesian Hamer Standards (updated with Dimarzio PAFs to be more period correct), but the closest I have is a Greco 1979 Standard copy. Always wanted one when I was a kid!
😮 I have been. Searching for the past 4 years for an Indonesia world factory 2017 Hamer standard Explorer shape! I found one on ebay, 2017 model, decent flame and only 300$ so I paid and waited and waited and waited and the ebay seller listed it again and on other sites and I was freaking out. I said to the shop "what's going on here, I just paid for this guitar you re listed it, what is going on" and he says "your guitar is being finished up and will be ready to ship soon" and I was like 😢 " No sir, I only want a 2017 made in Indonesia world factory Hamer licensed guitar with the serial number that is on the pictures of the ad I bought from you" and guess what !? It's a Chinese copy variety factory that put the real first guitar on the ad abs planned on sending me their cheap copy😢 I was so disappointed with that situation I just asked him to Cancel my order if they plan on sending any thing other than that guitar in the first picture. I still really really want the guitar you have but I had to settle on a Dean Explorer, which is very nice but the body and neck is thicker on the Hamer, that's why I wanted Hamer but I love my Deans and won't buy a new gibson again thane to dean guitars !
Paul Hamer was my boss at Guitar Center, San Jose in the early '90s. We liked each other a lot, but we were from two different planets; if I was anything, I wasn't a shark or a hustler which is what he was training us to be. I ended up getting another job, but it was a fun time. He was a great guy.
I went shopping for my first REAL so to speak guitar. Obviously eyeing the choices that Gibson and Fender had on the shelves in my local stores. This was 1979. The only thing within financial reach for me was Gibson The Paul and I just didn't care for it. The strats were to expensive and also had poor choices. So I go the back street music store. You know the kind full of old band instruments with a couple floors of vintage stuff over top of the main floor. I explain my problem to him and he says look what I just got in. He had a Hamer Sunburst. I believe the price was around 700. I played it, loved it and bought it. It was Les Paul killer. It was perfect. I bought another one of those in 79 also. Well in 1980 he got a Standard in. The big stores were bound to Fender and Gibson. This guy who sold mostly used was Hamer dealership. It was as new to him as to myself I suppose. I still have the standard and it is a 4 digit. I'm getting up there and considering selling it but the price is shooting up a couple grand a year on them. I rarely take it out of the house. I have never owned a Gibson. Don't care to. I do own two telecasters. An old early MIJ Fender Tele a Deluxe Nashville. Both were bought for 350.
I grew up playing Vintage guitars without knowing it. As I was always called upon to be the main singer I said; " I can't play without a guitar to hide behind." So I got to play early Epiphones, An SG ( 1969) Les Paul Jr, A Mustang because , simply we couldn't afford anything else. Anyway those guitars SANG and grew into mu lust for guitars. In the 80s I played an Ibaanez Artist, Gibson L-6s ( as used b keith Ricahards at the time), Yamaha SGs, a now vintage Telecaster and a 67 Fender twin with JBLs. I had a Japanese Epiphone as good as a J- 45. It was because we were dirt poor and these were bargains, hence we bought them and played them. A good era where 2nd hand guitars and amps were great and low priced. Their all " VINTAGE" now and my guitar gently weeps.
As a kid here in LA in the late 60's early 70's i started wheeling and dealing in vintage guitars gibsons and fenders it was still pretty cheep for a kid still living at home because my hands were not large i nded up playing PRS guitars pretty early bevause the necks were easy for me in 24 fret models to shread on but the Hamers were just comeing in then but as nice as they were i couldent get around the wide necks but they were beautiful and made with care and attention to details !
You know he will ABSOLUTELY read this, right/lol? Also, he should be so lucky to have his life play out like Orville Redenbacher's, given that he died at age 93 in a luxury Las Vegas suite, naked in bed with two gorgeous, naked women, a pile of pure cocaine next to the bed... Wait, I might be thinking of John Entwistle.
Fantastic! I can't wait for part two. I guess I'll just have to spend the time waiting playing my Hamer Standard. I purchased it 20 years ago and it's been my #1 ever since. It's a lean, mean, classy machine. If it wasn't for the Cheap Trick Budokan album and the pics of Rick with Standard, I would probably only be a Gibson Explorer fan, which is ok. I love me some Korina. But it's not a Hamer Standard.
I wish Dimarzio would reissue the original recipe Dimarzio Pafs/original DP 103 pickups. Those pickups are incredible. They didn't really follow the vintage Recipe and the sound was fairly different from a vintage PAF but that was a good thing because the 70s and early 80s Dimarzio PAFs were very unique sounding .They were very clear and had that vowel sounding pronounced midrange but without any mud. The Seymour Duncan custom custom and slash signature pickups sort of remind of the old Dimarzio PAF sound but the old Dimarzios are much bettet .. They had PAF output but with a voicing that made them a touch more aggressive and more suitable for heavy rock. The Super Distortion bridge paired with the PAF neck was the classic combo . The Super Distortion bridge and Super Distortion 2 neck was another classic combo but I prefer the PAF bridge and neck combo.
I used to stare at the Hamers in Ward Brodt , finally got a red Sunburst eventually became a mod on the Hamer Fan Club and also had their key man endorsement, Hamer and their fans are the best
While I have never played one, the original Hamer Standards are some of the best looking guitars I have ever seen. The tops on those guitars almost look too good to be true...but they definitely are true. hehe. People who have them swear by them.
I was a broke kid in the 90s and I couldn't even afford the import Hamers so I completely know the feeling. Truly a boutique brand before it's time. Thanks for watching!
Another band that I associate with early Hamer guitars is Rockpile. Billy Bremner played a Sunburst, and Nick Lowe played an 8-string bass that became very much identified with him.
Billy's Sunburst was, I believe, one of a pair of prototypes. They had a slightly different headstock from subsequent models. Dave Edmunds owned the other one. One of my biggest regrets (especially as a long time Rockpile freak) was not buying Dave's Hamer when he was selling it through Chandler Guitars in Kew (London) in about 1984. I was having a custom Schecter put together by Chandlers and my money was tied up in that but at least I had a little plink-a-plonk on it. As you say, Nick's 8-string had some thump to it and along with Terry Williams they could pin you to the wall......sorry! I'm getting overwhelming nostalgia for the lost optimism of youth.
Proud to say I was an endorsing artist from 2001 until kaman was bought, so the last decade of Hamer. They made me 3 customs (SATF, Vector, Standard), all one of a kind, no serial numbers, irreplaceable. Incredible guitars
Hamer: Building Gibson guitars with PRS quality, long before PRS existed.
No, it was PRS that started to build guitars heavily influenced by Hamer's unsurpassed quality. PRS are mainly followers.
I love the British Electric Blues and 5150 show Andrew and that rascal Simon Williams 🎉a great excerpt from a wonderful episode peace from California
I always loved the Models they made for Glen Tipton and KK downing from Judas Priest
My first real guitar I ever owned was a Hamer Phantom GT I had built in 1985 as a 17 year old. I still own and play it. It plays like butter!
I grew up across the street from Paul’s parents. I remember watching him jam in the backyard. It’s one f the reasons I started playing guitar.
Had the great opportunity to meet Paul Hamer in late 1979.....loved this dude loved guitars as much as me....this was on 48th street NYC ...the block......long gone shame
I remember as a kid taking train into NY and visiting the stores just to be awed. Nothing now. Same can be said for almost any of the business districts in NY like fur, art supplies, leather goods, etc. all the real estate was sold out for top dollar.
He'll, 48th street was the best part of going to the city. Now I could care less.
I miss going to 48th Street in the 80’s, when all the shops were open and owned by different people. Then Sam Ash bought up all the stores and then went out of business. Manny’s was my spot. I bought my first guitar and my first amp at Manny’s. I remember lugging that amp home on the subway back to Queens. When you’re a teenager you do dumb things like that😂😂.
My first made to order bass guitar was around 2005. It was a '59 LP 12 string bass. With hard case. Around $1,500 as I recall and took about 6 months to make. But I got it and was thrilled with it. I played it out at tiki bar gigs in the Florida Keys for a few years before selling it on eBay.
Wish I still had it!
Rick Nielsen mentioning the 60,000 picks he gives away, reminded me to look for my "1" certain pick I got in a candy package when I bought a guitar from reverb. No name on it. Perfect for certain guitars and songs. Glad this was audio and great story. Looking forward to Part II
My friend Larry Melero was Rick's guitar tech up until he passed in 2018. I have boxes ful of Rick picks that Larry would 'acquire' on different tours ( a gift from his widow). 60.000 is a safe number - Rick goes through them so fast!
Fascinating history. I love this stuff; very well done. Thanks.
PS, I was in high school when Cheap Trick Live at Budakan (sp?) came out. That album had such a huge impact on my musical interests. I knew Rick was a big Hamer guy, but didn’t realize how much the band contributed to the company’s early success. Great stuff, thanks for including it.
Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate the support!
Hamer guitars have always been cool to me. I grew up about an hour from their CT factory. Would love to own one someday.
Thank you for this! My Hamer Monaco Elite has always been my #1. Perfectly built.
Great video can't wait for the 2nd part but as an owner of 4 Hamer guitars I hope this don't draw too much attention to our little secret and drive the used prices up lol Well done!
I may or may not have bought a Special a few days before I posted. 🤫 Thanks for watching!
Too late.
Seems likely but we've had it pretty good for a long time while the obvious brands got out of control lol. I'm from Maine so these were kinda everywhere.
you already own 4. The value just went up! Count your blessings.
Fair point, but when you got gas you got gas! Lol Someone should do a psychological evaluation of us guitar players lol
I have a 1995 arch top. Waited 6 months for them to build it, lovely guitar
Bought a double cut Hamer Special with a flat curly maple top from Texas Tom’s Music around 1980 it was incredible!! It was stolen in Lafayette LA., broke my heart!!
Never heard of this channel before. This video popped up on auto-play while I was making breakfast, and I'm happy it did. This was wonderfully done. I was legitimate bummed when I realized part two isn't out yet. I'm looking forward to part two and other videos on this channel.
Thank you, I really appreciate the kind words! This is the start of a new direction for the channel, so stay tuned, and hopefully, I can get more episodes out soon.
I'm ready for part 2, thanks! This was great :)
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words.
Fantastic! As a 12 year old Kid, I would wander into local music store and drool at the Hamer Standard...and then later the Steve Stevens "Barney Rubble". I never did buy one, but STILL pine for one! 💚🎸
Excellent work. Looking forward to part 2
This was great! I'm looking forward to part two! Hamer has really never gotten the respect they deserve relative to the other guys.
Man, I enjoy this so much. Thanks guys !
I just picked up a Hamer Blitz bass. Always wanted one.
Excellent video!!! Professional guitar documentary!!! I used to drool over the Hamer ads when I was growing up....lol.❤
I bought a Hamer Standard from Willcutt Guitars in KY. Loved that guitar!
I lived in Lexington for 36 years & spent thousands of dollars in Bob’s store lol
Seeing the Kaman name reminds me of a different form of corporate consolidation.
Kaman Aerospace in Bloomfield, CT primarily does vibration analysis of helicopter blades, going back to before corporate raiders tore apart United Technologies with Sikorsky, Pratt & Whitney, Otis, and Carrier, and mixed in former Raytheon. Kaman owned Microtime (NTSC video time base correctors), a home medical electronics company, and several brands of drums and percussion on top of the guitars line.
That positioned them to do serious acoustic analysis by audio vibration and stroboscopic high speed photography, using military and aerospace tools, from sister companies on site.
What an amazing documentary. Cannot wait for part 2 - as a Judas Priest fan, I sincerely hope for the same 'deep dive' into KK's V's, Glenn's Phantoms and GT's (which to hear Glenn describe them are brilliant in how that bottom bout is supposed to rest on your leg to hold the guitar in a position to stretch to 'shred.' Very well done - especially exposing how Norlin and CBS forgot that guitars are for players. This is 'must see' video for any boomers and Gen X who were just discovering guitars at the time Hamer launched.
Thank you so much for the kind words! If you know of video of audio of Glenn or KK discussing their Hamers, please reach out at chris@sapulpaguitaracademy.com
Thanks for watching!
@@SapulpaGuitarAcademy just sent an email.
Also ZZ Top and Motley Crue were rocking Hamers in the 80s too!
Pearl jam played many Hamers in the early years, 1989 on through 2000's.
I had an 86 chaparral custom with a single humbucker Best guitar I have ever played and owned
These guitar company stories are PRICELESS. I dreamed of videos like this when I was a kid. I wore the VHS tapes I had out
Thanks! There's more episodes on the way. Hamer in the 80s will be a lot of fun for the fans of this type of content.
@@SapulpaGuitarAcademy Any word on when Pt 2 will be out? Pt 1 was outstanding!
No word yet. Part 2 is going to have a lot of new interviews that I've started conducting just this last week. I'm also deciding if I can realistically fit all of the 80s into one episode. From 80-87, Hamer issued 15 new models alone. I hope you're a Ken Burns fan because this series may be a few episodes longer than I intended. Thanks for watching!
@@SapulpaGuitarAcademy Schecter would be cool to do!
@@SapulpaGuitarAcademy Music to my ears! I like to call this era (mid-70’s to mid 80’s) the Silver Age of independent US guitar makers - Hamer, Schecter, Jackson, BC Rich, etc. - so the more information brought to light on their stories the better!
Great presentation!
I grew up in southern Wisconsin and a kid moved up from Belvidere Illinois in the summer of 77 … instant friends.
Tell me about this cool band cheap trick ; he had bought his saxophone at one of the guys dad‘s music shop!
Next thing I know I’m the biggest fan ever and they’ve gotten huge . Fast-forward to fall of 1982 starting college in Madison. A little music store off State Street had a Hamer Standard. Beautiful cherry Sunburst with pick ups and hardware from a ‘58 335…
Serial number 0059 ! $1000.
Trying to figure out how a broke college kid like myself can scrape up money for a layaway down payment , Mitch Ryder barreled through town and scooped it up. Ahhhhh, the ones that get away. 😎
Fantastic watch. Great content guys. Impatiently awaiting for part 2.
I’ve had a Hamer Blitz since 1983. It’s still one of my favorite guitars and it’s great to record with.
Cool, I managed to score a 1982 black Hamer Blitz in 1985 for $400
with case in beautiful condition. It was my 1st quality instrument. In around 1998, I was able to locate a 1987 candy Hamer Blitz bass in a pawn shop for about $300 with case. I think it's been refinished, because it's in so nice condition. I heard from an employee that it possibly have a neck repair but I cannot notice any flaws in the next so I'm not sure. I still have and love these guitars. But, I've always wanted a Hamer Standard but they are now way out of my price range.
Amazing! Love it. I can’t wait for part two!!
I also remember Dave l. From molly hatchet playing that hammer explorer , hammer guitars made it fun back then!thanks for the memories 🎶
20 years ago my dad went to the hamer factory for a tour, and to hand pick the curly maple top for his Monaco. I ran the water jet at an aerospace company so I made some custom hamer usa signs out of polished diamond plate and he gave them to the people who mattered
Many years ago I met Paul Hamer at a music store event.
He was very encouraging and respectful of my friend and me as aspiring rock stars (which we never became)
Real nice guy.
I can say that of a few others as well, but he made an impression on us.
That's great! I love my
1980 Sunburst and the 2 Specials 81 & 82 ;)
I have a 1980 Sunburst also!
@@audieophule5299 I did a demo of my 80 😉 th-cam.com/video/utNALOOIxwE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Wisf2HWQQ77BwakJ
I vividly remember seeing Cheap Trick on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in 1979 (I think). That was my 1st exposure to Hamers. They looked/sounded awesome. And TPs 12 string bass was amazing. Still a fan after all these years. It's such a shame that Hammer Guitars couldn't keep it together.
Looking forward to part 2, this was a good documentary.
Chris great info, great video, great job putting this all together.
Thanks, Steve! I appreciate you checking it out before I published it. Looking forward to hearing about the Doobies on Sunday.
Damn! I briefly owned a left-handed Hamer...basically the "Standard" (Explorer), but it had LP Custom style appointments--block inlays, gold pickup covers & tuners (whenever they started doing those...early 80's?). Traded a guy for a red tolex Marshall 4x12 (straight), circa '70-'71, original Celestions--still have it! Anyway, this excellent documentary made me a bit wistful for that guitar, a real piece of "boutique" guitar history, wherever it is now... Thanks for this!
The only Hamer I've got left is an old Sunburst, early eighties. The best one I owned was a beautiful Hamer TLE with a tremendous figured top and ebony fretboard with boomerang inlays. That is the best of hundreds of guitars I have owned or played. UPS ruined it in transit, and paid me for it. Wish I still had it rather than the money. An incredible guitar.
Hamer was my first guitar. It was an inexpensive guitar, mid 1990's. But it means a lot to me and never goes out of tune.
I first heard of Hamer Guitars when Glenn and KK started playing them in Priest. Kk's red and white custom v was was sick that he started playing on the Defenders tour i wanted that guitar so bad and i always ❤ Glenn's custom black and white and his white and black guitars they made for him on the Turbo tour. They also made KK's mini V wich he played for a long time. I didn't really like the mini V. I was happy when he stopped playing it. More happy when he got rid of that perm. 😂 🤘🤘
I remember back in the early 90's when I was just starting out, I would look through guitar magazines and was always inspired by the Hamer ads. I remember one in particular, for the Hamer Californian, it was a super-strat style guitar with an extended fingerboard of 27 frets. It became my first of many "dream guitars" that also served to inspire my playing even if I never ended up owning one...perhaps someday!
dude... this is awesome!! i see the level of work that went into this! i'd LOVE to hear the history of B.C. Rich [to mention a chaotic contemporary!]
Thank you for the kind words. It's good that this project is being enjoyed by folks like myself who were always curious to know more about these smaller brands. B.C. Rich would be amazing as a follow-up to this one, as well as Dean and DiMarzio. The 70s had some incredible people involved in guitars back then.
Such an amazing job. You have truly created something special
Thanks! I really appreciate the kind words. It was a labor of love and I'm glad people are digging it. Stick around for more episodes.
I had a Cruise bass back in the early 80s that I got from Banner Thomas of Molly Hatchet. I arrogantly had my name engraved on the pickguard, then ended up trading it away a few years later. I’ve regretted it ever since. I’m still looking for that bass, if anyone here knows of it. RIP BT.
Same here but a Blitz Bass. Regret it every single day.
got a Hamer and love it, we used to play Hamer and Kramer's back in the 80's , quality guitarw
Just... wow! And thank you, really looking forward to Pt. 2!
Also, have owned and sold a good number of Hamers, and truly wish that l still owned every one I've ever sold.
Keep rockin' ya'll!
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. More episodes coming!
Great doc thanks for posting it. I have 3 Hamer Standards. First one I got used was a '95 USA Hamer Explorer Standard Cherryburst VG condition. Second an '06 USA Hamer Standard Explorer Ice Tea Burst in EX condition and third an early Korean Hamer Standard Explorer Cherryburst VG condition. All have never left the house, I am a small time collector mainly 70's Gibson LPs, 70's Gretsch 7593 Falcons and Country Clubs and Fender Teles from many different years. But if you pick up my '77 NM white Gibson LP Custom and then pick up the '95 Hamer Standard you won't feel like picking the LP back up. The quality of these Hamers is so great. You can just feel it. In all honesty I don't play anymore but still collect here and there, but if I were to play now tbh I'd probably go for the Korean Hamer Standard as it is much lighter (those US Hamer Standards were heavy as F and I'm such a terrible player at 63 yrs old you couldn't tell the difference when I play anyway haha). Hamer were basically the first boutique guitar. And what I really want is the VG condition USA Black Hamer Standard with the white binding. So feel free to contact me. They aren't making any more of them.
This is first class work - thank you very much to you and the contributors!
Thanks! I really appreciate the kind words. The creators who graciously shared their content for me to use in this video can't be thanked enough. A couple have even agreed to produce new content for part 2.
I have a ‘94 Daytona. Best Strat I own, of five, including a mint ‘69 Fender Strat. Swamp ash, barely 7 pounds, see-thru white finish. I’ve also had a ‘94 T-51 and a Studio FM which were awesome too.
I got a used green Daytona back in like 96. Still have it and still love it!!
A guitar teacher of mine had a really nice semi hollow around 2006. I believe he had some kind of an endorsement deal. It was a beautiful guitar and the couple of times I played it I really enjoyed it.
Always wanted one but never got one,still do😊
In light of Gibson's unattainably-priced guitars these days, perhaps Hamer could come back.
Not without being sued, which is gibsons MO for attacking any competitive threat
You forget, Hamer was double the price of Gibson. Adjusted for inflation Gibson prices are cheaper than the early 70s - you broke-ass guys are out of gas. Today Hamers are Asian no better than any Squier or Epiphone. 🎸
@cuda426hemi The only thing "broke ass" is paying more to get less, with sub Chinese tier quality control issues. It's OK that it's garbage, because the Gibson™ name is on the headstock. If it weren't for Hetfield's asian Flying V™ and Explorer™ clones, as will as Slash's Asian Les Paul™ knock off, Gibson™ would have died in the 90's.
@@war2thegrave LOL Broke ass. Grow up, get a job and maybe some day you can own a Gibson, too. almost died in the 90s?? V's and Pauls? LOL Not even close. You morons don't even know what the top selliing Gibson IS every year, do you?? LOL go away, don't you have some begging to do? 🤣
Really enjoyed this!!!! Love my Hamers
I'm looking forward to seeing you in Part 2!
@@SapulpaGuitarAcademy me as well!! 🎸🎸🎸
I always wanted a Gibson Explorer but never seen them in music stores in the early 70's here in Eastern Iowa.
Cheap Trick would often play around the Midwest and I began to notice Rick's beautiful guitars at a show at the Rockford Speedway one summer.
They were Hamer guitars which turned out to be as hard as Gibson Explorer guitars to find in an era long before the internet and cell phones were invented.
Now I know why I couldn't find one back then.❤
I have a Hamer 335 made in Indonesia and it’s amazing. I put a couple Gibson pickups in it and it’s as high quantity as my R8 Les Paul.
Very cool video. Cant wait for prt2
I got a sunburst arch top i like alot its more comfy than my LP
My 1980 Special in candy apple green is amazing. Super resonant, great neck, and those Dimarzio pups rip!
I can remember seeing a white exployer by Hamer in the early 82 83 maybe in small store in Centralia IL. They may have had a few double cutaways also.
I used to have one of what I think was Hamer's earliest catalogs and price list. It was in black and white with about four or six pages. I think this was back in '78 or '79!
Hamer will always make me think of Rick Nielsen
Looking forward to Part 2. Lots of things I didn’t know - even as a guy who owns a couple dozen Hamers
Thanks! Lots of Hamer content coming up so stay tuned!
I first recognized Hamer from def lepard using them in the pyromania days. For some strange reason I always thought they were a German company.
My Hamer is the best guitar I’ve ever had.
They sure are awesome looking. I’ve got Les Paul’s and fender guitars. These always looked better. I guess more hoarding coming up
I just picked up a USA Hamer Studio Aztec today at a pawn shop for $600 with it's hard case. WOW what a great guitar!!
Great find and a great price! Thanks for watching!
This doc is so good! What a 4th of July treat! Thank you so much for this, and i can't wait for Part 2! Excuse me, the wife is yelling at me to start the grill and begin our Independence Day fun! 😂😂😂
Thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate it. Apologies to your wife, now and when Part 2 comes out. 😁
16:46 that ad is incredible.
Back in the day, in the early 70's I was 18 and frequented Northern Prairie on Greenbay road. I had them put cream binding, flame top and dual D'Marzio humbuckers on a '63 double cut-a-way Melody Maker. Wanted an LP Jr. but couldn't afford on with my high school income.Traded it in for an ES335 plus few bucks a couple years later. I've always wondered what ever happened to the instrument over the years.... should have hung on to it....
Jeff, could you send an email over when you get the chance? I'd like to get this story down. chris@sapulpaguitaracademy.com Thanks!
@@SapulpaGuitarAcademy Chris, sent you an email....
😎👍💗🎸💣🔊🎼 HAMER - THEE ORIGINAL CUSTOM SHOP!!!
Great documentary! I have one of the Indonesian Hamer Standards (updated with Dimarzio PAFs to be more period correct), but the closest I have is a Greco 1979 Standard copy. Always wanted one when I was a kid!
😮 I have been. Searching for the past 4 years for an Indonesia world factory 2017 Hamer standard Explorer shape! I found one on ebay, 2017 model, decent flame and only 300$ so I paid and waited and waited and waited and the ebay seller listed it again and on other sites and I was freaking out. I said to the shop "what's going on here, I just paid for this guitar you re listed it, what is going on" and he says "your guitar is being finished up and will be ready to ship soon" and I was like 😢 " No sir, I only want a 2017 made in Indonesia world factory Hamer licensed guitar with the serial number that is on the pictures of the ad I bought from you" and guess what !? It's a Chinese copy variety factory that put the real first guitar on the ad abs planned on sending me their cheap copy😢 I was so disappointed with that situation I just asked him to Cancel my order if they plan on sending any thing other than that guitar in the first picture. I still really really want the guitar you have but I had to settle on a Dean Explorer, which is very nice but the body and neck is thicker on the Hamer, that's why I wanted Hamer but I love my Deans and won't buy a new gibson again thane to dean guitars !
wish i still have my Hamer vector KK, signature guitar for kk downing
Great story. Well presented.
Wow, I always wondered why Jan Ackerman's LP fret extension was angled.
Paul Hamer was my boss at Guitar Center, San Jose in the early '90s. We liked each other a lot, but we were from two different planets; if I was anything, I wasn't a shark or a hustler which is what he was training us to be. I ended up getting another job, but it was a fun time. He was a great guy.
My studio archtop has a life tone and a neck that is perfect 35 years after it came home. Still a gorgeous dclp.
Can’t wait for Pt. II! Growth! Expansion! Contraction! The New Hartford years…
I went shopping for my first REAL so to speak guitar. Obviously eyeing the choices that Gibson and Fender had on the shelves in my local stores. This was 1979. The only thing within financial reach for me was Gibson The Paul and I just didn't care for it. The strats were to expensive and also had poor choices. So I go the back street music store. You know the kind full of old band instruments with a couple floors of vintage stuff over top of the main floor. I explain my problem to him and he says look what I just got in. He had a Hamer Sunburst. I believe the price was around 700. I played it, loved it and bought it. It was Les Paul killer. It was perfect. I bought another one of those in 79 also. Well in 1980 he got a Standard in. The big stores were bound to Fender and Gibson. This guy who sold mostly used was Hamer dealership. It was as new to him as to myself I suppose. I still have the standard and it is a 4 digit. I'm getting up there and considering selling it but the price is shooting up a couple grand a year on them. I rarely take it out of the house. I have never owned a Gibson. Don't care to. I do own two telecasters. An old early MIJ Fender Tele a Deluxe Nashville. Both were bought for 350.
Thanks for watching and sharing that story in particular! I hope you stick around for all the episodes coming up.
Great overview and learned a lot. Still have my 78 Sunburst, but alas not the original pickups (sad face). Always prefer it when recording leads.
great video by the way loved it !
Thanks! I really appreciate it. Stay tuned for more!
I grew up playing Vintage guitars without knowing it. As I was always called upon to be the main singer I said; " I can't play without a guitar to hide behind." So I got to play early Epiphones, An SG ( 1969) Les Paul Jr, A Mustang because , simply we couldn't afford anything else. Anyway those guitars SANG and grew into mu lust for guitars. In the 80s I played an Ibaanez Artist, Gibson L-6s ( as used b keith Ricahards at the time), Yamaha SGs, a now vintage Telecaster and a 67 Fender twin with JBLs. I had a Japanese Epiphone as good as a J- 45. It was because we were dirt poor and these were bargains, hence we bought them and played them. A good era where 2nd hand guitars and amps were great and low priced. Their all " VINTAGE" now and my guitar gently weeps.
As a kid here in LA in the late 60's early 70's i started wheeling and dealing in vintage guitars gibsons and fenders it was still pretty cheep for a kid still living at home because my hands were not large i nded up playing PRS guitars pretty early bevause the necks were easy for me in 24 fret models to shread on but the Hamers were just comeing in then but as nice as they were i couldent get around the wide necks but they were beautiful and made with care and attention to details !
I have avg hands and I never liked the feel and the necks ...I don't think k they were great ...
I always wanted a explorer bass like Rick Savage and 12 string of Tom Peterson.
Paul Hamer has morphed into Orville Reddenbacher
You know he will ABSOLUTELY read this, right/lol? Also, he should be so lucky to have his life play out like Orville Redenbacher's, given that he died at age 93 in a luxury Las Vegas suite, naked in bed with two gorgeous, naked women, a pile of pure cocaine next to the bed... Wait, I might be thinking of John Entwistle.
😂
The guy at 3:08 the title says George Gruhn when I heard him I thought it was "The Central Scrutinizer", instant Joe's Garage flashback.
You'll love it, its a way of life.
50$ bucks please.
Watching this video with my black californian elite to my side, awesome
Fantastic! I can't wait for part two. I guess I'll just have to spend the time waiting playing my Hamer Standard. I purchased it 20 years ago and it's been my #1 ever since. It's a lean, mean, classy machine. If it wasn't for the Cheap Trick Budokan album and the pics of Rick with Standard, I would probably only be a Gibson Explorer fan, which is ok. I love me some Korina. But it's not a Hamer Standard.
Thanks for the kind words, especially from a Hamer fan like yourself. Part 2 should really be something special, so I hope you stick around.
@@SapulpaGuitarAcademy Definitely!! Subbed an all!
Great job…well done👍
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words! A much bigger reaction than I was expecting.
I love gibson and fender and prs. Id love to own a hammer some day
Hamer rocks!!!
I wish Dimarzio would reissue the original recipe Dimarzio Pafs/original DP 103 pickups.
Those pickups are incredible. They didn't really follow the vintage Recipe and the sound was fairly different from a vintage PAF but that was a good thing because the 70s and early 80s Dimarzio PAFs were very unique sounding .They were very clear and had
that vowel sounding pronounced midrange but without any mud.
The Seymour Duncan custom custom and slash signature pickups sort of remind of the old Dimarzio PAF sound but the old Dimarzios are much bettet ..
They had PAF output but with a voicing that made them a touch more aggressive and more suitable for heavy rock.
The Super Distortion bridge paired with the PAF neck was the classic combo . The Super Distortion bridge and Super Distortion 2 neck was another classic combo but I prefer the PAF bridge and neck combo.
I used to stare at the Hamers in Ward Brodt , finally got a red Sunburst eventually became a mod on the Hamer Fan Club and also had their key man endorsement, Hamer and their fans are the best
Always wondered about the backstory. Cool
Great stuff fellas’
Dig all that history 📚😮
I remember watching Tom Petterson and Jon Brandt rocking their Hamer basses. Badass.
Also Pete Comita.
Brant 🤪
Petersson 🥳
My Hamer USA Daytona is absolutely flawless. I think it out strats a strat, custom shop on steroids.
While I have never played one, the original Hamer Standards are some of the best looking guitars I have ever seen. The tops on those guitars almost look too good to be true...but they definitely are true. hehe. People who have them swear by them.
My 78 Standard is the best guitar I've ever owned.
Back in 1981 I really wanted a hamer explorer But it was too expensive for a 15 year old kid. still want one to this day but they are hard to get
I was a broke kid in the 90s and I couldn't even afford the import Hamers so I completely know the feeling. Truly a boutique brand before it's time. Thanks for watching!
Another band that I associate with early Hamer guitars is Rockpile. Billy Bremner played a Sunburst, and Nick Lowe played an 8-string bass that became very much identified with him.
Billy's Sunburst was, I believe, one of a pair of prototypes. They had a slightly different headstock from subsequent models. Dave Edmunds owned the other one. One of my biggest regrets (especially as a long time Rockpile freak) was not buying Dave's Hamer when he was selling it through Chandler Guitars in Kew (London) in about 1984.
I was having a custom Schecter put together by Chandlers and my money was tied up in that but at least I had a little plink-a-plonk on it.
As you say, Nick's 8-string had some thump to it and along with Terry Williams they could pin you to the wall......sorry! I'm getting overwhelming nostalgia for the lost optimism of youth.