Hamer Archtop

This is a second submission, approximately one month from date of purchase. What I said earlier here remains the same.

Now that I have had time to really know this guitar, I can say that it isn't really very good. I plays like a budget instrument. And it sounds like one. It compares with an epiphone, basically. Unless you are a very casual beginner, don't waste your money.
The overdrive on my Marshall makes the thing feedback like a microphone. Cheaply made pickups. Not real Duncans, I am quite sure!
The neck is so flimsey that you can flat the tuning by lightly pressing on the back of the neck. It sounds like a toy.

The action and finish were good.

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All toll, I have been playing about 37 years. This was the first budget guitar that I have ever purchased for myself. It is also the last. The sales guy at the store was nice enough to refund my money. I bought a new American Standard Telecastor, instead.
Don't misunderstand me: this would be an okay instrument for a kid, although my first electric was a fender, way back when. Fender, Gibson. You can't lose with them. And then, the Designer brands. But never buy a toy if you really want to play. Get a used Strat or SG. Get one of the budget Gibsons or Fenders: they're going to be a zillion times better than any asian-made copy brand.
Word to the wise.

Korean made, amber maple top on mahogany back. Set mahogany neck with gold hardware and two "Duncan Designed" humbuckers. Came (at Guitar Center) w/out a bag or case. Look real close and you'll see the back is a veneer over a multi-piece back, but it looks nice. Just as I'd have spec'd it, but with "real" Duncans

Sounded...okay. Not great, certainly not like I'd expect the maple/mahogany combo to sound. I liked it, although I'd have tweaked the p/ups if I'd kept the guitar.

The finish was beautiful, and flawless. The flame in the top was marginal, but quite nice for the price.
THe problem was the fretwork and neck. I'm an amateur luthier (I've made my last six guitars), and I could not get this thing to play clean. I even took it to John at Hidden Music (Hickory Hills, IL) who's a HELL of a set-up guy. He reduced, but did not eliminate a bad buzzing from frets 8-10. No truss rod adjustment or saddle adjustment would fix it. I SHOULD have caught this in the store, except some 12 year old was playing what was almost a chord through a Marshall half-stack right next to me.

Didn't have it long enough to tell.

Hamer is virtually unreachable. Their phone number never even appears on their web site, and neither does their e-mail! The Hamer fan club is filled with people who disavow the Korean made Hamers, and and several people posted messages asking what I expected for "only" $400 dollars. Hamer seems content to put their name on these things, profit from them and then just refer all complaints to the store. Luckily, the one good thing about Guitar Center (other than cheap prices) is a liberal return policy. Back it went, with never another Hamer to cross my threshold.

Been playing 10 years, have (go count)... 9 guitars and two amps. Wanted a set neck, since I don't make those yet, and liked the looks and reputation of the Hamer. Won't EVER deal with them again. I understand that everything can have a problem-I even spent some $ on a pro set-up before I tried to contact Hamer-but the total disavowal of a product with their name on it blew me away. I didn't expect a USA Hamer-those run $1500 or more. I just wanted it to PLAY. Epiphone seems to do it, so does Squire. And you can actually CONTACT them.
Suffice to say, I was peeved.

Its a 1999 model, I assume. Made in the Korea, I think. Double-cutaway Les-Paul copy. 22 frets. Really nice finish. It has a through body neck, with square inlays. Two volumes and a tone control, with 3-way switch. It has two Seymour Duncan P-90s. Nice fretboard, although I am not sure what its made of. It has Schaller tuners and a Schaller tune-o-matic style bridge.

As soon as you realize that it is NOT a Les Paul or a Gibson of any kind, it begins to sound okay, although the sustain isn't the best. Through my practice amp and with either overdrive or some devices, it sounds great for straight-ahead rock. Plain, it has a somewhat hollow sound reminiscent of Korean instruments, particularly using the bridge pick-up alone. I haven't used it with my Marshall yet. I gave it a 7, but I would rate it higher for other guitars in its price range.

The action was decent enough, but I lowered it to my tastes (very, very low). Not much fret noise with the strings low, surprizingly. The only down-side is that the cutaway was not designed for easy playing while seated. The cutaway is located at an uncomfortable place. However, this is not a problem when standing up. The output jack is also at an odd place, making it hard to lean the instrument when not in use without unplugging it.

Too new to know, really. But so far, so good.

I have been playing about 37 years, 29-ish professionally, etc. Over the years, I have owned just about everything. These days, my main guitar is an American Standard Deluxe Strat, which I love. The Hamer is strictly a "second" guitar, the one that I keep in the living room, (now that I am single again).
If this instrument were stolen, etc., I would probably look around for something else, but not because I don't like it. In the coming months I hope to purchase another Les Paul in any case. I bought the Hamer just to play a flat neck in the meantime. But I like the thing. Its like a second mistress.
I should have played it sitting down in the store. Had I done so, I might have chosen something else. Sitting, it is like playing a V or something like that, since you have to hold the guitar up when playing. The cutaway is too far up the body, making it useless as leg rest.
Otherwise, and given the price and manufacturer, I would give it a good recommendation.

The prettiest guitar I own, Gold Aztec lacquer over a beautiful flame maple top, mahogany body, rosewood fretboard and set maple neck. All gold hardware, Duncan Design pick-ups, and M.O.P. dot inlays. This guitar was hanging next to a PRS on the wall, and it put it to shame!

Prog-power-pop. This axe has great tone. The Duncan Designed Pickups are responsive(but i changed them!! read on) and well suited to pretty much all styles, but I like Seth Lovers and popped in a pair of those(personal preference. The Duncan's are great) Line 6 Flexi HD is my amp and this axe goes great with it. Clean is crystal, and dirty is rich and warm.

My one gripe. I hate these tuners. They are a schallers, and I am put Sperzel locking tuners on. The rest of the guitar is immaculate, the finish is FLAWLESS and the set up was fine. Once again I changed the pick-ups in addition to the tuners, ( which will virtually turn this 499.00 axe into a 2,500 usa model since the wood and hardware are all pretty much the same!)But the stock tuners hurt the rating.

This thing is solid. I wouldn't throw it out of a bus, but I'm sure she'll last

never called, never will (DIY guy)

17 years, and dozens of guitars, and I have never seen a guitar as beautiful as this. If this was stolen I'd kill the mofo, because I don't think they'll last at this price(they list for $900, Guitar Center bought a train full or something). My finished guitar is matched to the specs of the top of the line USA Hamer Artist (but this is an Archtop and has no sound chamber)and is a solid 10!!!!!! BUT!!! as purchased I'd have to give it a nine because of those cheese ball tuners. Still, for 499.00 I got a guitar that plays better than my PRS did(sold it), and sounded as good as any Les Paul I have owned. A versatile and marveleous guitar. Don't let the fact that it's an import scare you, because MADE IN USA doesn't neccessarily mean quality all the time, and for the extra 2,000 you'd spend on a PRS that looks half as good you could make the minor ($375. for pickups and tuners) adjustments I made and have an axe that would put the big boys to shame. Bravo!Once again, a 9 that became a 10