Hamer Daytona USA

1994 guitar that I bought the guitar in 1994. It is a Fender strat copy but with much better quality than your typical strat (including American made). It feels absolutely great to play -- the neck, the weight, the quality. I was just getting back into playing guitar at mid-life and I credit my real love for the guitar to buying this great guitar as my first electric guitar. Any other, lesser quality guitar and I may have gone to some other activity. You just wanted to pick it up and play.

I basically play in the basement, but every year I have joined bands on stage in several cities for a few numbers when I travel on business (usually pre-arranged with the band). Half the time I use this guitar and the other half I use my Paul Reed Smith with a bolt-on neck (also a tremendous guitar).

It comes with standard Fender-like single coil pickups, so you get the standard problems that there is hiss and buzz when the gain on the amplifier is set high. I thought the pickup at the bridge was weak and replaced it with a "Screamin' Demon" humbucker that fits in a single-coil space. I'm happy with the sound now.

Absolutely great

It is so incredibly reliable and dependable. I've taken it on airplane trips to various cities and I can always count on it being in great shape, even when there is a dramatic change in climate (e.g., go to the dry weather in Arizona or the humidity of South Carolina).

Never had to.

Every guitar has its own personality and every player has his or her own affection toward an instrument that is unique. I'm really in love with this guitar and would really miss it if it were lost or stolen. I have a few other electrics -- Hamer Studio FM, PRS CE 24 and an Alverez Custom that I got used -- and the only one that I might like as much as the Hamer Daytona USA is the PRS. That says a lot.

Watch out since Hamer sells cheaper foreign-made guitars under the name "Daytona". If I'm not mistaken, Hamer only made these Daytona guitars in the USA for a few years: 1994 and 1995 or so.

Bought new in 1995, USA made Ash strat style guitar with, 22 frets, locking tuners, and Seymour Duncan pickups. I replaced the bridge single coil with a Dimarzio "Fast Track II" rail type pickup. Included hardshell case when I bought it.

A very punchy and snappy single coil sound thanks to the ash body. Sounds more like a strat than any recent Fender (thanks to Fenders current "swimming pool" routing method. Humbucker sound is very smooth. Sustains for days at high volume (probably due more to the pickup than the guitar). I only wish the single coils cut a little more on stage....other than that, a tremendous sounding guitar.

Flawless....beautiful.....Hamer, what else can I say

Have played hours a day every day for 5 years on this guitar, and the only issues (considering the level of use on this instrument) are some slight corrosion to the bridge and the input jack which I had to re-solder.

I here that Hamer is great....but there is no longer a single Hamer dealer in Atlanta. Additionally, I find it impossible to find their phone number.

My number one guitar. I would weep like a little girl if anything ever happened to it, then I would scour the world looking for another JUST like it. Absolutely the finest playing guitar I have ever owned.....and I've been playing as long as I've been walking.

This guitar kicks total ass. US made strat style with seymour duncan pickups(Alnico Pro Strat II, vintage staggered) 22 frets, flame maple neck, 2 piece alder body, AWSOME SUNBURST FINISH!!!!! Wilkinson VS-100 Trem, sperzel tuners, THIS BEAST IS LOADED!!! got a hard case with it, s/s/s p.u.'s,...... what else now.....wider necks than most fenders, flat fingerboard camber, very good playability. 25 1/2 inch scale

Wow. i work in a music store, I see lots of guitar, but this one rules. Perect SRV tone, better that the pricy fender SRV strat. This axe can go from jazz to punk and back again. I rules.

Hamer lives up to it's rep. yet again.

no complaints, it's been perfect.

no need yet

This is the best strat I have ever played. It is comfortable to play for hours. Best sound anywhere. The hard rock sound is not that great, but I don't play that junk. i recomend this guitar compleaty to anyone who can get there hands on one.GO AND BUY ONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure of the year, but it's basically set up like an American Standard Strat. Mine has a swamp ash body with a beautiful natural/clear finish, maple neck and fretboard with a satin finish on the back of the neck, tortoise-shell pickguard, sperzel locking tuners, and Wilkinson Trem. When I bought it, it had a set of Seymour Duncans in all 3 positions. I kept those the same, except I replaced the neck position with a Duncan Vintage Rail (it had a Cool Rail, which I hated). The middle is a Duncan JB Jr., and the bridge has a Duncan Rails. I also installed some mini switches to split the coils on the middle and bridge pickups, which makes this axe very versatile.

My amp is a 1978 Marshall JMP MK II 100 watt 2 x 12" all-tube combo Master Volume Super Lead with a new set of Celestion G12T-75's, and EL-34 Power tubes. I normally plug in dry. This guitar is very versatile. It doesn't quite emulate the single-coil sparkle of a Fender Strat like I would like, but it comes close. The Hot Rail pickup in the bridge is just too hot for that, even with one of the coils tapped off. It does get a nice notch-position "Quack" when I'm running single coil. When I switch to full humbuckers, it gets very balsy, but a little dark and mid-rangy. It doesn't quite have the deep character I was looking for; but it's still a lot of fun to play. I play Hendrix, SRV, Jeff Beck, Zepp type stuff. The guitar is adequate for most of those, except the Zepp tone. I would still like to plug in a real Fender Strat in my amp, I have before, and the tone blew me away. When I want to get really down and dirty, I'll plug in my 1971 Gibson SG Custom, which absolutely wails through this amp.

Action and finish are flawless. This guitar is an absolute joy to play. I've had Fender players fall in love with the action/playability of this axe.

Seems to be built like a tank. No complaints.

Never had to contact Hamer.

I've been playing un-professionally for over 20 years. I currently mix sound for a band, and play a little on the side. Besides what I described above, I also own a Guild F50E Jumbo Acoustic, which I love. If this guitar were ever stolen, I'd probably opt to look for an older American Fender Strat. This Hamer with the Duncan Pickups doesn't quite get that glassy tone, but I love it's versatility otherwise.

Mine is a 1996 Daytona made in the USA. It has a swamp ash body with a maple neck and fingerboard. It has a standard strat layout on the controls, one volume and two tone knobs. Three single coil pickups. They are Duncan Alnico II's with staggared poles. Great choice there. The finish is clear nitro over an emerald green color. They did a great job here. Basic strat body, very comfortable. Wilkinson bridge. Locking sperzel tuners. These are my favorite. The neck is 1and 11/16 at the nut. It came with a hardshell case. The did a great job of picking out the hardware for this guitar. Everything is first rate.

I play poprockalternative music. It is just a great sounding guitar. The Alnico II's are great vintage pickups. The inbetween settings are great, and I live in the neck position. I rarely use the bridge on it's own, but it does have a good sound. I use it through a 70's bassman head that has been blackfaced. For effects I use a Fulltone Fulldrive II and a Dunlop Gc 95 wah. That is it for now. This guitar does the strat thing great. It kills the new American standards. You do get single coil hum on the individual settings. The only thing I don't use much is the bridge pickup, but I wouldn't use it by itself on any strat guitar.

This is flat out the best playing guitar I have ever played. Now that is just my opinion, but anyone who has picked up this guitar loves the way it plays. Mine came with a free set up from the store I bought it from, so it was perfect when I took it home. The finish is stunning. I have a see through green nitro finish and the grain of the wood is great. It is one great looking piece of ash wood. Perfect finish. The two piece body is put together perfectly.

This guitar is played out weekly. I have other guitars I bring with me, but this gets the most playing time. It is a very reliable guitar. I have never broken a string on it in the two years I have been using it. Nothing has gone wrong with it. Since it is a nitro finish it will not last as long as poly, but that is ok with me. Hamer will refinish their guitars at a very reasonable price. Everything is super solid.

I have never had to deal with them, but I believe them to be a good company to work with. Guitar came with a five year warranty.

I have been playing for over ten years. I have played in many bands. I have done recording sessions for others and myself. This is MY alltime favorite guitar. I know Hamer is not a name associated with strats, but this guitar is perfect for ME. I love it to death. If it was stolen I would weep like a child and search the country for another like it. Would that one make me as happy? I don't know, but it would be the closest thing.