RIP Hamer Guitars

patchmcg · #1 12-07-2012, 02:34 PM

"Fender pulled the plug."

I don't even play electrics, but I still think it stinks. I've seen the shop in New Hartford, and they had some very talented people working on these instruments.

Glennwillow · #2 12-07-2012, 02:49 PM

That's too bad... They made some beautiful guitars. What a shame for the people who have lost their jobs.

- Glenn

Dru Edwards · #3 12-07-2012, 03:15 PM

The link isn't working for me (can't get to the thread) but that is a shame. Can you post some of the info here as to why?

lmacmil · #4 12-07-2012, 03:47 PM

I had a Hamer Special (P90 pickups) for a number of years. It was on heckuva nice sounding guitar. Oh well...

sixstring531 · #5 12-07-2012, 03:58 PM

This is a perfect opportunity for the employees to pool resources and start another Heritage (minus the headstock). Hamer makes/made some darn fine instruments and it would be a crying shame to let that talent and know how go un funded.

What will it cost to buy them from Fender?

geetarman · #6 12-07-2012, 04:21 PM

Very sad indeed love my Hamers. I do believe the shop will remain open but workers will be making Guilds instead so at least no one will be losing their job in the short term.

ewh2 · #7 12-07-2012, 04:34 PM

Fender's record for doing this is pretty horrible eg Takoma,

Gibson did the same thing with Trace Elliott.

Hate it when it happens...

Dru Edwards · #8 12-07-2012, 04:36 PM

Can someone send me a news link for this? I googled but couldn't find anything. Thanks.

Franklin'sTower · #9 12-07-2012, 05:02 PM

My first electric was a Hamer

j3ffr0 · #10 12-08-2012, 11:44 PM

I have a Hamer USA Californian with the 27 fret neck. It is the probably the finest electric neck I've ever played on. There better models are as good as anyone's.

franchelB · #11 12-09-2012, 05:54 AM

Yep, it's a shame. But I guess that's the guitar retail business...if you can't keep up with Fender, Gibson, Martin, or Taylor, sooner or later, you'll lose.... And as much as I love Guitar Center, I think the company is also involved in only supporting this 4 brands.

Which is why we should support the "mom and pop" even more, including Carvin and Peavey. Their longevity in the music retail business is impressive when it comes to competing with the bigger corporations.

s2y · #12 12-09-2012, 08:55 AM

Hmmmm, I should probably try to snag a 12 string bass while I still can. Not quite in a position to do so at the moment.

zabdart · #13 12-09-2012, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franchelB

Yep, it's a shame. But I guess that's the guitar retail business...if you can't keep up with Fender, Gibson, Martin, or Taylor, sooner or later, you'll lose.... And as much as I love Guitar Center, I think the company is also involved in only supporting this 4 brands.

Since Fender already owned Hamer, this is simply a matter of them discontinuing a brand and thus "rationalizing" the marketplace by eliminating a "competing" brand. One could argue that that's what was behind all those acquisitions Fender made in the go-go 90's.
I'm sad to see the "retirement" of the Hamer brand. When it was an independent company, they made some great guitars at reasonable prices. But business is about making profits -- not quality guitars, unfortunately.

Tahitijack · #14 12-09-2012, 12:12 PM

At the end of the day it is a business. When any product does not sustain itself it will have to go. The recession has now killed some more jobs and good products. Sad to hear more fine folks will be joining the unemployment lines.

JoeCharter · #15 12-09-2012, 01:06 PM

I still remember Doug Boyle playing Hamer guitars when he was with Robert Plant. It somewhat saddens me to see the brand go.

I've seen several beautiful Hamers at the local store -- but the truth is that they just wouldn't sell, even when heavily discounted. I guess most people who would be looking for an upscale archtop/set neck type of electric guitar would go for PRS instead.

And I wouldn't say RIP just yet. The brand might come back under a different form.