Product: Hamer Blitz Bass
Price Paid: US $200.00 used
Submitted
02/27/2000
at
08:51pm
by
Dave Stewart
Features
:
7
1984 model, built in Chicago, IL. It's a 34" scale, (21 Frets on a Rosewood fingerboard. 3-peice Mahogany Set-Neck.) The neck joins the body at 18th fret. Mahogany body is Explorer shaped. As I understand it, the 'Standard' models (bass and guitar) have a 1-piece Mahogany body (expensive!) and the 'Blitz' models have a 3-piece Mahogany body. Bass has a pretty nice Metallic Red Sparkle finish. I kinda prefer an unfinished neck, but the finish isn't too terribly sticky. Finish is really well done and evenly buffed...especially considering the awkward body shape. Since I bought this from a pawn shop, I have to say the finish is pretty durable. It was in amazing shape with hardly any dings...I don't know how long it was hanging there, but it wasn't the most charming store. P-J setup with smooth black covers. I understand DiMarzio custom wound the early P.U. for Hamer, until probably the mid-80's. These are probably DiMarzio's since they have the same 'patent applied for' stickers an the bottom, like my others do. Vol/ Vol/ Tone knobs are a passive system. I prefer the 2 Volume method opposed to the Toggle Switch/ Blend Knob approach. Tuners and Bridge are both Schallers. Hamer went through a time when they stamped 'Hamer' on nearly everything to show that they wanted particular parts for an instrument, rather than whatever was on sale, or at the top of the parts bin. I guess people didn't care, since they don't do that anymore, but still use the same parts... The strings go through the base of the bridge, rather than through-body. The Neck is pretty hefty...standard Precision Bass width at nut, but a little thick for me. It's still playable, and since these are custom-made instruments, I can handle the variance in neck size. The gripe is that you can't get to the octave "E" on the high 'G' string, because the lower horn is in the way. So this is not a gymnastic kind of instrument...Think Cliff Williams of AC/DC, or Rick Savage of Def Leppard who used to play the Standard (deluxe version) and the 'Scarab' (same bass, but with a J-shaped cutout along the back...think Iceman-ish...) The bass is made very well, just very functional...and therefore pretty plain.
Sound
:
7
A little quirky sounding, until I found out what it was good at. With both pickups on full, it's not as full-sounding as the 2 Old-style Hamer CruiseBasses I have. Even though it's probably the same pickups, I think the body shape may have some impact. It's also a little lower output than I would have expected. HOWEVER, this bass is Amazingly powerful for rock playing with a pick. The trick is to just use the neck (Precision) pickup on full. Even with the stage-ready shape, I've had the best luck with this bass as a recording instrument. I run mine through a Trace Elliot Solid State combo with success. Again, think Rock tones with a pick for this one.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
It's built extremely well...still playable, even with the big neck.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
All the components are as good or better than everything else available. It came with straplocks from the factory which is always very courteous.
I haven't had any need to make truss rod adjustments, even though I live in a hot, humid area
Customer Support
:
10
Originally, this came with a Lifetime Warranty.
I've called Hamer only a few times, and they were plenty helpful. In,turn, I tried not to waste their time with blah-blah chit-chat. Despite that, I had a great natural conversation with their customer service guy, Kim K. and even got to speak with Jol Dantzig (the co-founder of the company) about basses and comments/ suggestions for a few moments.
I tried to not be a burden, and they were very, very easy and pleasant to talk with...should be no problems.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've played bass for 16 years, I have got 3 other Hamer Basses, a Peavey Fury, Fender Musicmaster, and Gibson EB-3.
I should feel pretty guilty for buying this bass for 2 bills, but suprisingly enough...of course I don't. It is definitely worth more.
I'd hate to lose any instrument, but this one is a real fail-safe in the studio...I'd miss the security.
I've since played a Gibson Explorer Bass, and it really didn't convince me that it was built with as much consideration as the Hamer.
Maybe someday, I'd put Basslines Active-EQ pickups in it, since I think they sound great. But I won't mess with a good thing.
