Hamer SATF

Only to add to my previous entry regarding the SATF is that the neck appears to be a three-piece mahogany laminate with a scarf-joined headstock.

Both Hamer-branded humbuckers were replaced with Kent Armstrong units; a ceramic "Rocker" [15k] in the bridge slot and an Alnico PAF in the neck position.

The original factory-fitted electrics have been substantially replaced. The original 3-way toggle selector switch is retained together with the output jack and the neck volume pot. The bridge PU pot and the tone pot were both repleced with 500 kohm push/push DPDT switch pots from WD. The tone capacitor was changed to a WD-supplied 0.47 in keeping with Gibson Les Paul specs.

The tone pot DPDT switch determine humbucking or single coil modes for both PUs. The switch on the bridge volume pot selects between inner- or outer-coils a la PRS.

My comments about the original PUs were expressed in my first review of this guitar. If we ignore the coil-tapping and inner/outer coil selection options, the change to the Armstrongs has transformed the guitar.

The ceramic "Rocker" in the bridge has added brightness, power and clarity together with an extra edge. The neck Alnico PAF is smooth, rounded and sweet. Individually they give the SATF two very distinct and eminently usable voices. Both vast improvements on the original units. Linked together the two humbuckers show a pretty close resemblance to the classic Les Paul both-on sound. Slightly hollow with a woody quality. The three basic PU options work very well with the Hamer and would be well worthwhile considerations for any prospective purchasers.

However, the coil taps open up far greater tonal options; more bite from the bridge, more open-ness at the neck. Both single coils can operate together as either inner pairs [a bit glassy with a slightly muscular Strat neck/middle together edge], or outer pairs which emphasise the hollow quality by reducing the grunt and increasing the clarity.

The modifications have lifted this Chinese-made guitar out of the bland/anonymous rating and it now has much more tonal versatility which can be accessed easily in gig circumstances. Even without the coil tapping options, the PU change radically improved the SATF's tonal character. Make no mistake - upgrading the pickups on the SATF will transform a well-made, but average sounding, guitar into a versatile solid, reliable good-sounding working player's instrument.

Clearly the platform [i.e. body, neck, fingerboard and associated hardware] is sufficiently good to create the right string vibrations. Pity the PUs were not up to the same level. BUT all is not lost as I hope I have outlined....

Factory action was fine. No problems with the frets which were all correctly seated, no buzzes, rattles or whatnot. No sharp fret end and reasonable polishing to finish off. Slight neck relief well within acceptable/usable limits.

The rather clubby neck has become far less noticeable with regular playing and it is suprisingly not tiring to play for extended periods.

Cosmetically it is impossible to fault the Hamer Sunburst and the quality control team at Hamer deserves much credit. With time I would expect the Sunburst to lose its perceived stigma of being made in China - I remain optimstic that it will become simply another great sounding Hamer.

When a Gibbo dies mid-gig you learn PDQ not to rely on taking only one guitar. I would always prefer to take back-up. That said I would have no qualms about using this guitar live either as principal weapon-of-choice or as back-up.

Hardware seems OK but my sweaty hands can - and have! - removed chrome finishes from top-line instruments. Time, with care and maintenace, will tell.

Tiny strap buttons were taken off and over-sized US Hamer counterparts from my Special P90 went on. Far more secure and confidence inspiring.

I would not have bought the Sunburst if I did not think it would ultimately be usable in live situations. Its weight and solidity suggests that you have a serious, grown-up instrument hanging round your neck - and with the sounds now available, I do!

Customer support? I think I've committed Hari Kiri on this matter as far as Hamer is concerned!

Over 30 years playing. I love Hamers and have a US Special P90 too. Great design, well-built, great sounds. In some ways it's a pity Hamer has not achieved the recognition of a PRS.

I normally choose two of my six guitars for electric gigs. Two Les Pauls (Pro Deluxe and 'Standardised' Deluxe}, two Hamers (Special P90 and Sunburst), WD component HSS Strat and Ibanez Blazer.

Amps are Marshall MG30 for tiny venues and Hiwatt DR103 with either 2x12 or 4x12 cab for average /large gigs. Run through home-made pedalboard outfitted with:-

Boss TU-2 >> Monte Allums CS-3 >> modded Blubber wah >> Monte Allums SD-808 >> Monte Allums BD-H2O >> ProCo Rat2 >> Boss DD-3.

I felt that maybe I had taken a bit of a gamble buying this guitar. The pickups did disappoint but I was prepared for that. The rest of the package came as a pleasant suprise. But somehow I would not expect Hamer to allow its name to appear on a product that did not justify it.

I certainly will not worry to the same extent about this guitar being hammered in a noisy, smoky pub on a Friday night as I would with either of my 1970's Les Pauls. But amazingly I will have similar sounds at my disposal!

This is a Chinese built version of the Sunburst Archtop. It has a three-piece mahogany body with a one-piece rear veneer of mahogany to conceal the slab joins and a two-piece flame maple veneer on the arched top.

It is finished in a cherry sunburst. The neck appears to be mahogany with a stained rosewood fingerbaord. The neck has a rather clubby feel but is not uncomfortable to play. Certainly thicker than my US Hamer and 70's Les Pauls. I suspect it may be modelled on Gibson's 50's neck profile. Fret work is pretty good. No rough ends, smooth string-contact surfaces and no buzzes, rattles or choking out.

Shaped after the American Hamer Sunburst, this Oriental version features a tunomatic bridge with stop tailpiece, generic Schaller-style M6 tuners, two volume pots, a tone control, a 3-way selector and two Hamer-branded pickups.

The neck has 22 medium jumbo frets on 24.75 inch scale. It is glued into the body which has ivoroid binding around its top edge. The neck is unbound which works well with the simple dot fret markers.

Bought new, the price included a Hamer branded gig bag.

Whilst the quality of the woodworking and string-related hardware was fine, the electric sound was disappointing. The bridge PU was flat and lifeless; the neck PU was muddy and indistinct.

HOWEVER, replacing the bridge PU with a Kent Armstrong ceramic Hot Rod PAF ("Rocker" model) completely transformed the guitar. It sounded vibrant, with lots of clarity and power and notes that were blurred now sound clearly. I will change the muddy neck PU for an Armstrong PAF.

Controls work well enough. No scratching in the pots and the selector switch works without crackles or clunks.

Before the PU change I would have rated the the sound quality of the SATF a 5 or 6. With the bridge PU change it warrants an 8, so with the hoped for improvement from the KA PAF in the neck I have hopes for minimum of a 9. If my wiring proposals work out how I hope we could well have sonic full marks.

Overall the SATF has a usable range of sounds voiced midway between a Les Paul and an SG and I would have no qualms about using the modified guitar for rock and/or blues gigs. Pity the PUs let down the guitar but for relativley modest outlay replcements can reveal a pretty serious guitar lurking beneath the flame maple veneer.

No quibbles about the factory set up. Neck had just the right amount of relief. Action was a fraction high but no hassle dropping the tunomatic. Fret work was surpisingly good. I have to force myself to remember this is an economy guitar.

The finish is a lot more plastic-y to the touch than the US Hamer, but we are comparing a hand-finished guitar with one off a Chinese production line. The neck is not quite as tactile or slippery as the US lacquer finish, but compared to some Oriental guitars I have played recently the SATF feels better than average. All screws appear to be tightened adequately.

Cherry Sunburst is well-applied and quite convincing. Finish to the rear of the neck covers the edge of the fingerboard but leaves the fret surface bare wood like my US model.

No early to say, but I am optimistic.

Year warranty already voided by PU change!

The overall rating will untimately be dertermined by the pickup and wiring changes I have in mind. Having said that, the platform the Hamer provides for these mods gives me a strong sense of optimism for its future. I suspect that the modified ??239 Chinese-made SATF will get as much gig use as my far more expensive US-made guitars.

I will add further comments at a later date.

The body, neck and fingerboard belie the price paid for this guitar and as such can only befit from hardware upgrades.

2002 Made in Indonesia. This is the blueburst flametop finish.
Typical 3 knob configuration -- mine had solid black speed knobs but new it comes with black knobs that have the 1-10 dial on them
3-way selector switch
Nice chrome Hamer tuners that hold tuning extremely well
Rosewood fretboard with typical dot inlays
Angled Headstock; 3 pegs to a side
Set neck
Archtop Mahogany body
Vintage white binding on body
Duncan Designed humbucker pickups; crome covers
Tune-O-Matic bridge

Excellent sound -- I knocked around with an electric guitar as a teenager 20 years ago then got away from it and I'm re-starting the hobby now in my late 30s. I play rock, classic rock and metal mostly and it suits these music categories well. One of the Jazz Theory music teachers at the shop where I bought it also uses this exact guitar, so it's obviously versatile. Pickups are very nice for being stock Duncan designed, and I have no plans to change them.
There is a bit of static when turning the tone knob, but mine's three years old so that may come from abuse by the prior owner rather than a fault of Hamer -- I don't know.

Hard to say how this guitar comes from the factory because I bought mine used and the shop where I bought it did a nice setup on it when I bought it. However, everything is put together well, action required minimal adjustment, intonation was right on and the truss rod didn't need any adjustment. The fretboard is in nice shape and the frets are all well installed and there are no sharp edges, etc. Neck is fast and easy to play. Pickups are installed properly and no real adjustment was necessary. Tuners are exceptional -- it will stay in tune for DAYS, even with being lugged around in a case to lessons, etc. -- very impressive considering they're Hamer's own chrome tuners and not one of the big name-brand locking tuners.
Mine had a few scratches here and there in the finish -- nothing major, especially considering mine was 3 years old when I bought it used.

This guitar seems very durable and my guitar teacher has been impressed with it and he has been playing and performing for about 20 years. This is just a hobby for me and it won't be getting played onstage or anything, but it is a very solidly built guitar that I think will stand up to any abuse I can dish out (not that I plan to abuse it). Finish is thick and beautiful and the guitar shows very little wear considering I bought it 3 months ago used and it was built in 2002.

Haven't contacted Hamer, but the company is known for quality products and for standing behind their equipment, so I'm sure it'll be fine.

One concern I had when looking for a guitar after being out of touch for so many years was to make sure I got something of good quality yet not too expensive in case I didn't stick with the hobby after picking it up again 20 years later. I didn't want to pay $150 for a piece of garbage that goes out of tune and is unplayable, but I also didn't want to drop big $$$ on a Gibson Les Paul in case I didn't stick with it. I researched guitars for MONTHS on the Internet, in magazines, in shops and talking to friends who play guitar. The staff at the 4 music shops I went to repeatedly each week probably got sick of me after awhile, but I feel like doing my homework resulted in me knowing what I was looking for even though I couldn't play well when I started up again, and my homework resulted in getting a great deal on a guitar that I cen keep for a lifetime. Unlike some "starter" guitars, I won't be compelled to sell this thing in a year when I improve in my playing because this baby is already at least a couple steps above the "starter" market. I'm very pleased with my purchase and will look at Hamer in the future if I ever plan to expand the collection.

Brand new, made in China.
Basically a non-Gibson Les Paul doublecut, but with a flamed maple top like a LP custom. 2 Stock humbuckers (to be replaced ASAP w/a burstbucker 2(br) and a Duncan SH-1 (neck). Even at $00 a steal, but I got mine for $239.

I play guitar-driven indie-rock. I'm a gearhead & a sucker for vintage-type tones, play into a handmade tonebender clone fuzztone into all-tube amps. I mod *anything* that isn't older than me (34).

A mahogany body and set mahogany neck do wonders for any instrument's tone, but don't quite make up for wimpy stock humbuckers. Even decent Epiphone pickups would be a noticeable improvement here. Ideally, I'd use PAF-types or P-90s and that's exactly what I intend to do. Out of the box, it does have a brownish, if not generic, Paul-esque sound. When I install the new pickups, It will sound *exactly* like a $2200 Les Paul.
If they bothered with decent pickups (like Gibsons or Duncans)I'd give an 11 for sound.

I like the resonance & warmth of mahogany & a set neck. I dislike the mickey mouse pickups, but that's an easy and inexpensive mod, considering what you'd pay for even the cheapest Paul.

The guitar was set up well. Everything was tight, intonated and properly adjusted. The action was a bit high for my liking (though still on the low side) & the strings were .011s (I use .008s), but that's another easy adjustment. I may have the frets filed a bit so as to allow an even lower action. The Pickups could have been closer to the strings, but they were fine.

No Hameritis, beauty finish job. Heavenly neck & gorgeous rosewood fingerboard.

The headstock/neck joint is sturdier than a Gibson but not quite as bulletproof as a Fender. Great knobs & toggle. All guitars get dinged, just ask Willie Nelson. Seems dependable enough, but I wouldn't gig *anywhere* without some backup.

Been playing since I was 11 so that's 23 years, kids. I own vintage Fender (Duo Sonic)& Guild (Starfire ii) and 2 newer Epi electrics (Casino, Wildkat) plus newer Washburn & Epi acoustics. I have a late 60s Traynor head (wired back then to clone a Fender Bassman, I believe) into a 4X12 Marshall studio cabinet and a pair of newer Fender Blues Juniors modded with Jensen P12 loudspeakers to eliminate the 'boxy' tone. I use a Throbak Stone Bender fuzz (*always* on) behind a keeley'd true bypass Crybaby and an MXR Dyna Comp, which I use sparingly. I have a lexicon dual reverb rack, but that's more for studio post-production stuff.

This is a pretty nice guitar. It may never take the place of my beatiful, battered old Guild, but it may come pretty dern close.

All the features listed below.
I paid 319.00 for mine. 2005 model. Cherry sunburst (beautiful). Made in China.
I don't feel like typing it all out. My fingers are sore from rockin this guitar...

O.K.
I play all kinds of music. Mostly hard rock, but touches of other kinds...country, metal, oldies, etc. The guitar suits my style just fine. It is very comfortable to play, and is very easy to play.
It makes no noise in any setting unless I have the gain on my amp's distortion channel up very high.
The sound is very decent for a guitar this price.
Likes: very good sustain.
Dislikes: pickups need to be replaced. There is only a subtle difference in tone when switching between the bridge and neck pickups.
This weekend I will be installing Duncan SH-2 jazz in the neck and Duncan SH-5 Custom in the bridge position (for dropped tuning best pickup I think). I may also re-wire the knobs to have tone for each pickup and one volume for both. haven't decided that yet.
I bet there will be a difference when switched then.
I use a Crate gx-40d amp. It rules. Misc. pedals, but only the basics (heavy distortion, wah, flange) are needed because my amp incorporates a lot of digital effects in it's chassis.

Guitar was set up pretty good from factory.
Plan on having it professionally done at my local music store (KEEP YOUR MONEY LOCAL!!) after my modifications. See pickup replacement and wiring above, and others following.
I have a Graph-tech Trem-Nut to install (model 6060, same as for epiphone). The B string hangs a little in the nut. Installed Wilkinson EZ-LOK tuners, because they are good (and EZ, hahaaa)and the ones that come on the guitar suck rather hard. Have Graph-Tech saddles also to install (model 8633, same as epiphone les paul). These things allow strings to last 2-3 times longer, and smooth out the tone immensely.
Said and done, I got a thousand dollar guitar for about 500 bucks.
Finish is excellent.
Matchbooking is just as good as the Monaco Elite I looked at.
200 bones for modifications, and this is a godamn good guitar.

It seems well built. I haven't smashed anything with it, so I don't know how tough it is. Probably won't find out, either.
Put Schaller strap-locks on it. didn't really need them, as my strap is heavy leather. But if you use a nylon strap with those flimsy ends, you better get some locks.
As far as depending on it, when I plug it in, it plays. Good enough for me.

haven't dealt with them.
Lifetime warranty on craftsmanship. They don't cover strings under warranty (DAMN!)

I have been playing for 15 years.
This is by far the prettiest and best sounding guitar I have ever had.
If it was stolen, they better hope I don't find them. Because I hate thieves and I like to fight.
If I didn't find them, I would buy another one and start all over.
I compared it to numerous other guitars and bought it because for how much it costs there was nothing even close to it. Yeah, try playing the low-end Ibanez. Yuck.

Mine is made in China. I have been playing for 45 yrs. and up until a few weeks ago never once bought an import. I teach at a music studio, left my guitar at home and ended up playing the Hamer. Pickups are alive and full of sustain, the neck is comfortable.

Sounds and feels like my Les Paul Jr. Amazing guitar for the cash.

For a $350.00 guitar I have not one complaint. I use it in my studio for guitar lessons and ensemble classes.

Haven't had the guitar long enough, but if the hardwear tarnished and the finish pealed off if it still played and sounded the same,for what I paid for it it would be fine.

I own a 56 LP Jr. Strats, teles, love Reverends. I also have some beautiful archtops. I wish I could buy all my close friends one for Xmas.

This is a pretty standard Les Paul double cutaway type of guitar. Two Humbuckers, a three way switch. Volume knobs for both pickups and a tone control. Basic, but does the job well

I'm not sure what the original pickups sound like. I bought this off e-bay with a Seymour Duncan JB and 59 put in. Personally I think it sounds awesome with this set up. I play through a Hiwatt D100L and can get the classic Fripp sort of sound with it or maybe Mars Volta type of sounds. Overall very impressive for an import guitar.

The action on this guitar was very good when I recieved it. The finish was done quite well for a Korean guitar. There's a few bubbles where the neck and body meet, but other than that it looks very good. Even a pretty nice flamed maple top for what it is. Some of the binding was covered by finish from the Mohagony back, but I can't complain. The hardware is pretty good. The tuners are a little weak and could probably be replaced though. Other than that everything is about this guitar is way above average

This guitar is very well built. Feels solid, it's been dropped and banged around some and still works fine. The finish is quite good on it, withstands average abuse. Strap buttons are very solid. Right now I'd say I'd use this without a backup.

never dealt with them

I've been playing nearly 9 years now. This guitar compares well to any USA hamer or PRS. Obviously it's much cheaper though and there are differences between the real thing. It doesn't have as good of hardware and the flame maple isn't as pretty. However for an under $400 price tag and what it has to compete against in the same category, you're much better off with this than any Epiphone or Fender. The neck is amazing and the guitar is an eye catcher. Right now the only other company that I'd say produces guitars of this quality in the price range is Fernandes. Can't complain for what it is. Fernandes has Hamer beat in one thing though, they put Seymour Duncan JBs and 59s on their guitar as stock pickups. So there's my opinion it gets a 9 since it could possibly be better, but really there's not much competition for it.

The Korean-made double cutaway sunburst arched top flame(hence the name SATF)is a mid-level electric with a solid mahogany body, carved flamed maple top, rosewood finger board and Seymour Duncan designed pickups with a 3-way selector and 3 knobs. Tune-o-matic type bridge and chrome tuners, high gloss finish, 22 frets, no tremelo. 1 and 5/8" at the nut with no neck binding.

I beefed up the strings to a heavier gauge (50 - 11) with a wound D to get the fatter sound I like. The tone of this guitar is sweet and can range from a Les Paul to near Telecaster when on the brightest pickup with the tone cranked. I give it high marks for sound due to it's relatively low price. So far I've only recorded with it, straight to a Fostex 16-track through a Digitech RP-200 effects pedal.

Came set up well, no buzzing, low action. As with another reviewer, I experienced the same intonation trouble with the D string. I moved to a wound D and tweaked the tune-o-matic but I think the tuners may slip some. Plan to upgrade them, around $30 for a decent set of chrome Grovers. I noted some resistance when bending notes, particularly around thr the first three frets so I spent some time buffing the fretboard with fine steel wool and then treating it with lemon oil. Nut is nylon or plastic, bone would be nice. The finish is excellent. Pickups were adjusted well from the factory. No major complaints.

I think this guitar is a great deal for the money. It seems very solid and very well made. Feels substantial and fits nicely though I'd personally like a bevel for my strumming arm, my one big complaint about Les Paul-type designs besides the weight. I'd take the SATF out with my acoustic/electric since I alternate styles.

I'll give kudos to GuitarWeb here. They were great to deal with. My guitar was advertised as being used on Ebay but in this case, they shipped me a brand new one right from Kaman. Fast too. I was really pleased with the value for the money. Don't know how they'd be if problems arose but all indications are that they are a great company.

I've been playing for about 30 years and have owned many, many guitars. This guitar suits my specific need which at this point is a versatile lead instrument for recording. I'm primarily an acoustic fingerstyle player. When compared to other guitars in this price range (notably the Mexican-made Strats and Teles), this one wins, in my opinion. The cheap Ibanez line is nowhere close. The STAF looks good, sounds good and is a real bargain for the money. If you're thinking about one, go for it. It should hold it's value.

I think its a 1999 guitar but im not pretty sure, made in Korea, this guitar is overall a pretty good guitar, 2 Duncan Designed pickups,22 frets and the body's made of mahogany with a bit of maple on the disolving line.

The sound is perfect, i think that either on bridge or neck the pickups responds to my musical needs, if 311, Dream Theater, or any other band i think this is your axe.

The tuning keys of this guitar is the only flaw i could find but at the same time it's a pretty BAD flaw. It's like every song i get carried away and strum hard, detuned, if i bend too hard, detuned if i slide my pick on the G string, detuned.....so fuck that.....

It's pretty reliable.....except for the tuning keys shit....i had to change this 3 weeks after i bought it....after that it's been Hamer and Hamer.....its a pretty good guitar

never had to beef with em......

Yeah.....um it's pretty good, but if i lost it i wouldn't buy it again...

Solid mahogany body with a flamed maple top (nothing better than a single A grade, but nice with a gloss finish). Mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard. Cherry Sunburst color with nickel chrome hardware. Two Duncan Designed (passive)humbuckers, 2 volume and 1 tone control with a 3-way toggle switch above the controls. Tun-o-matic and stop tilpiece. The body style is the old Les Paul double cutaway which Hamer began to make in the 70s but this time with an arched top. It has a wide, slim taper neck, Schaller type tuners and I purchased it with a Hamer hardshell case (very nice). It is everything I love in a guitar. A Les Paul double cutaway non-tremelo with two humbuckers like I like (the Duncan JB and 59 pickups) and control configuration is the best in my humble opinion. The orignal owner bought it new in 1998. He sold it because he is a Fender guy, though he raved about the guitar. I give it a high rating because it is what I want and need.

It suits my style perfectly. I play blues, blues/rock rock and worship music. I play it in with a number of different effects and amp comfigurations. One is with a DOD G10 rack processor into a Vox. Another is a Digitech RP2000 into the Vox and/or an Oliver bass head with a Mesa Boogie 1x12 cab. Or, I run into an Ibanez Comp/Limiter--Morley Vol/Wah--Ibanez TS7--ProCo Brat--Danelectro Bacon and Eggs--Danelectro Chorus--into a Yamaha rack mount analog delay split into the Ampeg and Oliver. It is clean. It has a well-rounded full sound. I like the ability to have a lot of sustain and open chord voicings and it suits me fine. The looks, playability, and tone are one of the types of tone I like.

I got the guitar used, but it was set up well. The only thing I've had to do was reset things when I cleaned and serviced it as I do at least annually. I accidentlly altered the bridge adjustment wheels. Everything fits perfectly. The bridge and nut and pickups were alligned. I couldn't find any flaws. Nothing anyone could gripe about. I don't complain much though.

This guitar has been played live in a number of situations, in and outside. The finish is holding up very well (but I do wax my guitars so as to keep my heavey sweating from harming the finish. I need to replace the tuners. They didn't last as long as I would think they ought too, but there isn't a guitar I haven't had to replace tuners on. Sperzel locking tuners will be the replacements of choice. I'm thinking of having a tremelo added to the guitar, which will alter it, but I don't care. It is to be used not just to be looked at.

I've not done anything with the company about this guitar.

I have played for 27 years. I've played hundreds of guitars, and owned 50-60 other electrics. I currently have the Hamer and a 1980 Gibson Les Paul Firebrand (also reviewed here on Harmony Central). I purchased the Hamer from someone on ebay. I was the only bidder, so I was able to acquire it for the lowest price, plus $50 for the case. I love the way it looks, feels, sounds, and plays. It feels good hanging from my neck and fits my hands perfectly. I love that it is a double cutaway Les Paul type guitar. It has a long sustain and a smooth tone. I named her Inez, after my wife, go figure. I would buy again, but hearing from others, I might sort through guitars to choose the one that is best. If it didn't have the pickups it did, I would have put the Duncan JB and 59 in it anyway. I wish it had a Wilkinson tremelo like the Hamer Mirage.