Hamer B12L

The US-made long-scale 12-string bass. Mine is a 2000 model, built like all of them: Mahogany body, set neck, twin truss rods, 22 jumbo frets on a rosewood board, two EMG pickups with master volume, treble boost/cut, bass boost/cut, and pickup pan. Schaller tuners, Dunlop straplocks, glossy black finish. It's very similar to the Korean CH12 but the workmanship is noticably better and it has the active EMGs instead of passive, imported EMG-HZs, plus better tuners, a graphite nut, and the Dunlop strap buttons.

All 12-ers sound a bit alike in that they ahve two strings tuned in unison one octave above the bass string. I've tried Dean, Univox, Venson, imported Hamer, and the short-scale Hamer USA B12S and this has the most satisfying sound to my ears. The short-scale Hamer's tends to ahve more fret buzz as the string tension is lower, and perhaps not quite the bottom end, and I find the electronics on all the import 12s to make them too whiny and metallic-sounding. It may be a combination of electronics and wood and construction. I'd like to try a B12L with Lane Poor or Bartolini pickups, as some owners have switched to, because the amplified sound of this bass is still a bit more edgy and harsh than the unamplified sound, which is sublime. The body resonates nicely and the overall tone is great.

The build quality on this bass is flat-out superb. I also have a Pedulla and have owned USA Fenders, G&Ls, Rickenbackers, a Steinberger, a Godin... the neck is straight and not as tempermental as you'd think with all that tension, the finish was flawless until I started playing out with it, and it has that rock-solid, smooth feeling found only an instrument handmade by people who care.

Built like a tank. The strap buttons don't even loosen, and that ALWAYS happens! Not noisy at all, stays in tune. All I could ask for.

I had to contact Hamer once before about a Hamer USA guitar I owned and Kim Keller was responsive and polite.

I play for fun and money in an original band and have done it for twenty+ years. I've recorded and performed with some known names and while no virtuoso, am considered a solid player and I like solid, reliable gear. A 12-string bass is not for everyone, but without playing a Chandler Royale or Warrior (yet), this seems to be the cream of the crop for 12-string basses. I'd give it a "10" if there were other finish options (and yes I know Hamer does lots of custom orders but just ONE finish beside black should be available at no extra charge!) and I do think the sound is a LITTLE harsher than ideal.