Hamer Korina Vector

This is as close to a 58/59 Korina Flying V as I will ever get. I wanted to buy the Historic/Reissue V from Gibson's custom shop until I saw the 8k price tag, no thanks. I then started looking at the 1983 "Historic reissue" of the original Korina V... not even close! Most were beat, and not even close to the original! In fact, the wings on the ri are a few inches shorter... this does not make any sense to me... also gone was the 2 piece chevron design of the body, replaced by 3 straight jointed planks of not very well matched wood. A poor effort on Gibson's part which now fetches 3k or more on fleabay! Thank God for Hamer and their excellent luthiers. This guitar is a BIG winner. 10 points for historical accuracy.

Very cool tone... bright and projects like a lazer but not harsh. My playing covers Rock/Blues, some Jazz etc. This guitar can walk down many avenues sonically. Thick like a Paul but clearer, the neck p/u doesn't get too muddy, bridge pickup is sharp and clear, almost Strat-like. I really think Korina is a magic tone wood. Dislikes? Forget about sitting with this guitar unless you wear a strap.

The factory set-up was spot on. It took a few days for the guitar to settle in where I live, (very humid) but as soon as it acclimated it was obvious that I would not need to adjust anything except to lower the bridge p/u. Finish and action on the neck is perfect, hand made you know.

The guitar is well built and would endure gigging just fine, no fears. The gold finish will go south eventually, it always does. I'm a fan of nickel, however gold is historically correct. The strap buttons are unusually large, very secure. I would never use it exclusively on a gig, I carry 4-5 axes wherever I play.

no experience here

I have been playing for a bit more than 35 years. My other gear includes 14 other guitars, mostly Gibson, Goldtop, black custon LP, a few bursts, a 335, two SG LPs as well. Too many amps to list. If I lost this guitar it would be replaced asap. What I love about the Vector is that it is so close to an original 58/59 V. It is constructed by a company that still cares. What do I hate? That's a hard word but I did replace the Hamer truss rod cover with a 50's historical from Gibson, looks much better. I also replaced those impiossible to grab but historically correct witch-hat black knobs with a set of black with gold insert reflector knobs, much nicer! Finally, this is my first guitar constructed from Korina, wish I hadn't waited SO long... this thing rips!

2004 Korina Vector, "classic Flying vee" design w/out pickguard, gold hardware
Korina body & neck, natural finish, rosewood fretboard, dot inlays
Mounts originally 2x Seymour Duncan 59 HBs; had pups changeed to VooDoos
2 volume 1 tone pots, straight in line arrangment

It was an impulse purchase. I've always been attracted by the Vee and the Explorer. Didn't want a heavy metal axe and knew that it would take me more into blues-rock territory, which it does more than egregiously. The Vector has a beatiful middy (but not spikey) sound in the bridge position, while the neck position really sings out with sustain, it's liquid with a hint of strat-y-ness. The middle combo is very versatile, especially when one rolls just a little of the volume of one of the 2 pickups. I've managed to coax some very convincing funk rythm sounds...not bad for a set neck redneck axe ;-) No Molly Hatchet on this axe, sorry, but you can funk your Kravitz crave until you die....

Neck is chunky in a modern way (I have 10" handspan so take comment with a grain of salt) and never impedes a nice run up and down the fretboard. Frets are medium-small "vintagey" in stile, tall enough for proper bends but not as to slow down one's slurs up and down the fretboard. The finish is simply extraordinary; 14 hands of individually buffed clear laquer that show off the wonderful grain of the tone woods. The nut transition to the headstock is simply a work of art, and shimmers in the lovingly buffed finish. The black headstock features a wonderful real MOP Hamer inlay that glitters according to the way the light falls. Same for the fretboard markers and the position dots. Simply superb craftmanship....

Guitar looks solid indeed, but I guess I'd be too afraid to gig it.
I would be terrified of having it stolen or of bumping into something (the lower "winglet" can get into a lot of trouble I've seen). This probably means that if I sould ever go crazy and decide to sell it, it would probably in "near mint" condition ;-)....

Never had to deal with Hamer for this item. Had a problem with another Hamer guitar and received very careful attention.

I'm into all kinds of stuff musically speaking. This guitar is part of a small collection that incudes a 70s TeleThinline, a Parker Fly Classic, a Gibson RD, a BC Rich Mockingbird SLP amongst other axes and it definitely stands tall in every aspect. I can imagine that a modern jazzer could actually play jazz on this Vector, it's really that good.... I guess my surprise was the tone of the instrument. The VooDoo pickups are really dynamic and sometimes I just feel I'm almost playing single coils... I learnt to play electric on SCs and this kind of dynamic really adapts well to my personal style.
If someone somehow managed to ged his dirty hands on my beloved I'd probably kill him on the spot. Seriously - I'd replace it immediately. This one (and it's sister Standard) are coming to heaven with me...

This is a desparate plea: to whoever stole my baby, please return her. She is an extension of my body and I'm incomplete without her in my hands. I have the serial #, I've filed a report. You can't sell her in California without the police finding out so please just give her back. I've got a $500 reward, no questions asked. Please God, somebody help me.

This is an update from my earlier post...it's still a great guitar. I play it constantly. I've heard that the pickups are a JB and a 59, but I still don't know for sure. I don't want to take it apart. I'm a little disappointed with the customer service. I wanted them to refinish it, as I do play it live and it's got a few chips now, but they said they're only doing warranty work. What a shame. Anyway, I'm still very happy with it and have no regrets paying what I did for it. Wonderful guitar!

1997 USA
21 frets
Solid Korina korina
one volume, two tone three position Gibson style pu select
Two Humbucking
Most likely Seth Lover design
Passive electronics
All Korina A dead copy of the Gibson 1957
Satin clear finish
Flying V
Tune-O-Matic
Look like Kluson
Fat neck
Hard shell case

I love this guitar. It fits the blues rock style that I play
I use a Groove Tubes Trio Pre-amp, Groove Tubes Dual 75 power amp, two Groove Tubes 4-10 cabs.
Effects are handled by a TC Electronics G-Force
The guitar has a rich full sound
I can use this guitar for anything!
What's not to like?

Hamer only makes a perfect instrument. I own 9 different Hamers, all great. The guitar was perfectlt set at the factory. All I did was plug in.
A wonderful guitar.

I use this instrument all the time, and never woory about what I will hear.
Well, gold parts will wear depending on how much you sweat. I usually re-plate every five to seven years.
Strap buttons were replaced with quick release units by a german co.
I always depend on my Hamers
I carry treee guitars to every gig. I never know what I want to play until I get there.

I have spoken to the Hamer folks, but I have never needed to get anything repaired.
One year warranty, which is meeningless with this quality guitar.

I've been playing since 1954, own many instruments
I got my monies worth
I could not relace this guitar

1997, 22 med-jumbo frets, rosewood board, 3 piece korina neck, bookmatched korina body, 2 volume, 1 tone. 2 gold-covered humbuckers(no idea as to manufacturer). Transparent finish to show off beautiful korina grain. Tune o matic bridge with brass v tailpiece-strings through body. Kluson style vintage tuners. Case/little booklets/ truss rod adjuster. The kicker is that it is #29 of a run of 72! It came with the papers to prove it! Overall, it's pretty much a better version of the Gibson Heritage Korina V for a hell of a lot less money and more rare to boot.

Great for classic rock. I mean great. It has a very bright sound acoustically, and that makes the amplified tone very articulate. It's not very good for metal, as I think the pickups are unpotted(massive feedback at high gain), but for what I use it for it's perfect. It's got a great blues sound too. Not muddy at all; even when clean it sounds almost...sparkly. It will even do a convincing country-type tone. Some people give me shit for even playing it, seeing as what it is, but what use is a guitar if you buy it and put it in the closet?

The construction is flawless as you'd expect from a handmade custom shop anything. My only change was a set of .011s and a tweak of the truss rod to counter them. I can't abide .009s, it feels like nothing at all.

I'm pretty sure it'd withstand live playing, but I'm not sure I'd want to beat it like that. But I probably will. The gold plating will not last, as it never does on anything (I have sweaty hands) but the finish seems fairly strong. I've nicked it a couple of times and I still can't figure out how it doesn't get any scratches. Oh well-don't look a gift horse in the mouth, as they say. No backup is always a bad idea, but I've learned how to change strings pretty damn quickly because of it.

I don't know anything about them. I bought it from a guy who bought it new and put it under his bed (!@!) and it even had the original strings. I may send them some questions via email, but so far I don't have an opinion.

Playing about 12 years, I own several other guitars, none of them crap, and this stands out among them. I've got a 81 Les Paul, a 81 Explorer CMT, a 81 Fender Lead III(very underrated-great guitar), a 78 Ibanez Artist Hollowbody(also mucho bang for the buck), a 82 Ibanez Rocket Roll II, an 80s Kramer Baretta, and that's all I can think of right now. The Lead is more versatile(coil splitters and all that) but this thing still has got to be the hottest in my harem.