Hamer Jazz 5

Finish: Blonde/orange translucent with beautiful flame on back and sides.
Body style: hollow-body, archtop, similar to Gibson L5
Bridge style: Floating bridge adjustable saddles and trapeze tailpiece
Tuners: chrome keystone style, non-specified
Neck/Scale: rosewood fingerboard, fully bound, trapezoid inlay (mother of pearl?). Medium frets. Gibson scale
Included Hamer case by TKL
What year was it made? Made between 2000/2002 in Korea
Frets: 22
Top: Some say solid, but I've always assumed it was a laminate.
Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone; amber top-hat
Pickup: very hot "Duncan Designed" humbuckers with chrome covers.
Body and neck woods? No expert here, but appears to be flame maple body with maple neck.

Stellar clean tone suitable for Jazz, Pop, Country, Rockabilly. I add some delay for U2 like tones.
I've played this with a 50 watt Vox Valvetronix amp and an 80 watt Marshall combo.
I play clean on the Vox, and get a little dirty on the Marshall for some raunchy Rock/Blues
It's a fully hollow body, so it can feedback at loud volumes. I play it live all the time with no problem, though.
I'd describe the sound as rich, full, with a little bit of round/ballsy in there. It's very natural to get a Brian Setzer, Scotty Moore, Wes Montgomery, and even (ahem) Ted Nugent vibe going on.
It's no Jackson or Fender... but it suits the style of playing it's made for. In the right hands, it is the perfect way to fill out clean rhythm parts with a little dirt-- areas for which Strats or LPs might be too one dimensional.

I've never had to get this thing set-up. I bought it used, so it's possible the previous owner did some work.

I've played both with flatwound and round wound strings. Tone is great either way depending on whether you want to go jazzy or rockabilly.

Amazing fit and finish. It's hard to believe this guitar came from Korea. I've got a Les Paul, Firebird, Tele, Dobro, and more...the Hamer always impresses. Even non-guitar players use words like "beautiful" "unique" or "stunning" to describe it. Better than my Gibson on fit and finish.

No glue marks, rough edges or funky frets. The binding is very neat and clean. No rattles.

Action is balanced for a Jazz guitar. It plays more like an acoustic than an electric.

I'd prefer the Hamer Logo to be smaller, more traditional. But it looks like every other Hamer logo...

I've played this guitar live several times a month for 4 years now. I never need a backup. I have a strong right hand, so I usually tune it after about 45 minutes of playing, just minor adjustments.

-Toggle switch has to be tightened every couple of months.
-Chrome has held up nicely and cleans up well.
-Finish is easy to wipe off after a gig, and still looks brand new.
-I added a guitar armor protector on the back to prevent buckle rash. The rounded back was inviting it.

This guitar came with a warranty, which I filled out and mailed off. I don't remember how long it was for!

I wish the website had more info on this discontinued model. Since the website lacks details, I'll give them a 7. But hey, they made a good product that hasn't needed any support, so that's good!

I've been playing for over 15 years, and lean more towards rock, britpop sound. I've enjoyed having this guitar, but feel like I don't give it the playing it deserves. In a jazz band, it would certainly stand out.
If it were stolen, I'd collect the insurance money and purchase another hollowbody that's a bit thinner, like a Casino or 335. Then I'd wonder if the thief was treating my Hamer with the respect she deserves.
I could get lost in this baby's TONE! Puts solidbodies to shame! I love the color, binding, curves and size. My favorite feature is the toggle on the upper bout...many hollow bodies have the toggle near the controls.
I bought it to be an electric that could fit appropriately with an acoustic band, and it does that very well. However, it's easy to forget that aspect and get frustrated when doing a bend in the upper frets-- then you remember how tight the action is. This is not a superstrat.

Made in 2000 in Korea. Solid spruce top, flame maple back (really gorgeous), solid maple sides with high gloss, blond finish. Triple bound body (top and bottom) with bound f-holes and neck. Pearl trapezoid inlay on the neck. This guitar is a looker. 1 volume, 1 tone control, 3 way toggle. H/H pickup configuration; Duncan design. Archtop is a little flat for an archtop but it still qualifies. Floating tail piece adds class. Hard shell, thickly padded case was included with price. I would have liked a flame or curly maple top but for the price this guitar looks great. Specs are supposed to match the L5 (don't have one to compare). For the money, this is a really good jazz box.

I play lots of different styles (love almost all guitar sounds). This is a really great jazz box. However, if you crank the amp you get LOTS of feed back; this is a truly hollow box. The only thing I didn't like is if you cut back on the tone controls the sound is really dead. But with tone controls full treble in any pickup configuration, you get some really nice jazz sounds running clean. If you like lots of REAL feedback distortion, crank the amp and stand within 10 feet of it and this little baby squeals (if you can control it; you can get some really neat effects).

Guitar is setup great. Since I bought it used I'm not sure if it came from factory this way. Really low action with no fret buzz; anywhere. Peeked inside and she's as clean inside as out. NO glue marks anywhere. There is no strap button at the neck joint or anywhere near by; a slight inconvenience. I could fix this but it's not important enough to me.

I've been playing this dear for a little over a year and it has worked well for me. Finish is still like new, no tarnish on anything. Sound is still great.

Never used it. Hamer Web site has not implemented any of their 'history' features yet so you can't find much info on this model except here at Harmony Central (thank you Harmony Central).

I love this guitar for the jazzy sounds. I've got flat wound strings on it now and it gives a really great jazz tone. I've got an Epi LP, Fender Tele, Fender Strat, Saga Acoustic and Epi 12 string acoustic (different horses for different courses as a friend used to say). Love the Hamer for the jazz sound and outlandish feedback sounds when doing some original new stuff.

Well, I got all excited when I read that the top was spruce, and that it is made with exact L5 dimensions. Note also that it is completely hollow, with no peg under the bridge. Though it doesn't have alot of features, somebody was thinking when they designed this!

Well, this proves that there is still no such thing as an affordable hollowbody. Sad to say that I was a little disappointed in the tone, but the playability and looks are top-notch. Neck feels like a Gibson. The essential jazzbox signature is there, and the spruce sound does come through, but you can tell that it's not an expensive instrument after 4 chords. Please note that I got all riled up when I saw the pricetag, and I after hearing that Hamers are some of the most underrated guitars, I thought I was in for a treat. It was only what you would expect; not extra-crispy. Still better than anything I've seen at that price! By the way, I nearly paid $7000 for my teachers 1970's L5, and I got to play it a little, so I have a pretty good reference point. This guitar desn't compare, but I really like how they tried to put out something cool and affordable.

Really nice, especially for the price of this thing! Double binding all round, trapeze inlays, the tailpiece is very tasteful, unlike many wannabe archtops (and even some "real" expensive ones!). Beautiful sunburst only slightly cheap-looking (the yellow was a tad bright), and nice curly maple.

I would venture that this guitar isn't made for 10 years of hardcore woodshedding, but you never know. I noticed the top is kind of flat for an archtop. It's acceptable since you get what you pay for in most cases. No visible problems...

I would say that this is the best buy out there for someone who is not going to buy a "real" archtop (by real, I'm referring to Gibson, Gretsch, Guild's better models, etc.). The quality is not what you would accept if it was a $2000 Gretsch, but is super for an imported instrument that costs peanuts! I would say it's ideal for a young jazz student who wants to wait a few years before investing in a professional instrument (referring to high school, junior college student here -performance majors in university will want something nicer). The sound is great for an economy model, adequate for intermediate settings, pretty flacid for a serious professional IMHO.

The other reviewers have already hit the high points on this item except that it has a floating bridge that needs to be intonated, so have a professional set it up if you don't know how.

(please see the other reviews).

Acoustically I have a ringing vibration tone coming from someplace in the floating bridge. Which seems to be from the flat angle of the neck and the low string positioning. (This is driving me nuts!!!)

I will be experimenting with the old "yarn on the bridge excess string trick" and maybe heaver round wound strings instead of the jazz flat wound strings.

I beleive a hollow body acustic guitar should be "CLEAN!!!" this one is not.

But electrically there is a lush quality sound coming from this warm instrument that compensates for my acoustic problem somewhat.

The action is very good (now, after a set up) no finishing problems to speak of. It plays wonderfully, and sounds great when amplified.

customer support email from Hamer was friendly and prompt, but actual service on the korean instrument will vary from shop to shop. Because this is an Ebay purchase I have no warrenty to use.

I have been playing off and on since the early 60's
I wish I had known about the floating bridge and set up needs before purchase. I purchased this instrument because I fell in love with a Samick LaSalle but couldn't pay the $800 to $1000 at this time, and this is as close as I could come. If stolen I would play any acoustic it before I bought it (not blindly on Ebay)

Blond finish with double humbuckers, round cutaway and chrome finish. Pretty much a classic jazzbox look.

Rosewood fingerboard.

It has an adjustable bridge on top of a rosewood base. I was a bit concerned at the beginning because it's not typical on archtop guitars, but it has proven superior for intonation and adjustability.

I checked inside (with a small mirror) and the top is indeed of solid spruce, presumably pressed. Amazing at this price! The cheapest Gibson's are plywood and cost twice as much.

Very, very nice. Both pickups are mid-voiced, clear and perfect for jazz. I thought I would have to replace them, but they're perfect. I plug in mostly in a Traynor (all tube) amp.

Acoustically, it's fine and typical of an archtop ('dry as a bone'). I have chrome flatwounds on it, which steals some of the resonance for this application.

I had a side-by-side choice between an Aria archtop, with floating pickup, and this guitar. I picked the Hamer because of its superior action, sound and playability.

The finish is very good. The headstock is actually not that big (definitely smaller than D'Angelico-type headstocks as on my Guild archtop), but the HAMER name on it is too large and is esthetically unpleasant.

Picky-picky, but it does not have an upper body strap button.

Not much can go wrong with this kind of instrument, so I'm not worried. I've had it for a year, and play it every day - no problems.

I've been playing seriously about 5 years. I have a G&L Tele, which is very nice and my solidbody backup. I also have a 70's Guild Artists Award, which I keep only as an investment; I would say that the Hamer is a better guitar overall.

This guitar is a fantastic bargain. Korean craftmanship, in wood and electronics, has improved to the point that professional level instruments are available at incredible prices.

This is Hamer's first foray into the world of true archtop guitars - a full size L5 clone, manufactured in Korea. The one I bought is a natural finish with flamed laminated maple sides and backs and spruce top. Their website simply indicates spruce top. From the sound I would take it to be solid (either pressed or carved) spruce top. All hardware, including the tunomatic bridge is chrome finished. it's bound everywhere except the headstock. Shows typical high-quality Korean craftsmanship all around. Features two "Duncan designed." humbuckers. Gold hardware would look nicer, I suppose, but then chrome doesn't corrode. The big HAMER headstock is anything but subltle and take a little getting used to, but then again you don't play the headstock. The original case goes for $109, but you can pick up a good quaity case on the WEB for $60, so I passed.

My main concern is acoustic sound and for this reason I generally steer clear of double pickup achtops, feeling that the extra bracing deed for that second pickup take a big toll acoustically. This guitar, howver, has urprising volume acoustically and a nice mellow, not overly woody sound, from treble to bass. You can feel the bass. Although I'm basically an acoustic player I've plugged this into my Roland Jazz Chorus 55 and was surpised by the really nice mellow jazz tones jazz tones it is capable of.

The finish is nice but nothing special, about what you expect on an good guality Asian made guitar. The bookmached maple back is a nice touch. There was one tiny flaw (pin-sized chip at the base of the headstock) in the finish. Set up nicely from the factory with medium low action. I just slapped on a set of flatwounds and was ready to go.

Seems like a good durable, gigable guitar. The chrome hardware should still be shining when some else's gold has all rubbed off. For some strange reason it didn't come with a front strap button. I picked one up at the music store for a couple of bucks and screwed it on.

I haven't had to deal with the company, but it came with a limited lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects. Great service from Tina's Guitars.

I've been playing archtop jazz guitars for over 25 years and I've owned and traded away hundreds. I think the time has come to stop bad rapping these Korean archtops, all of which, I guess, are custom made by either Samick or Cort. I'm sure there are still a lot of junky sounding "gloss boxes" being turned out, but this sure isn't one of them, and I also own an Aria which is just fine.This guitar is as good as any I've owned, including a number of Gibsons and so called "Golden Era" Japanese guitars not to mention "vintage" American junk.