This guitar is a commission sale - if you have a high end guitar or amplifier you are interested in selling, please contact us.
Here for sale we have a Hamer Californian electric guitar in Purple Sparkle finish. Hamer Guitars are widely considered to be the first brand to offer boutique vintage-style instruments to the professional musician. The company was founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners Paul Hamer & Jol Dantzig. Initially the company focussed on making 'modern vintage' instruments that were designed for musicians to take on the road in place of their eye-wateringly expensive genuine vintage Gibsons. Hamer began producing their own unique designs in the early '80s, harnessing the rock, metal and shred boom years to grow into the brand we know today. Hamer was acquired by Fender in 2007 before being completely discontinued in 2012. The brand was relaunched by KMC Music in 2017 with imported models.
This Californian model was made in the USA in 1988, and features a bolt-on construction comprising a Mahogany body, Rock Maple neck and an extended range Rosewood fingerboard, with 24 full frets and partial 25th, 26th & 27th frets. Black hardware is fitted including Hamer branded sealed tuning machines and an original Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo system. A pair of Hamer Slammer pickups are installed, with a humbucker in the bridge and a slanted single-coil in the neck position. This guitar has been modified to include a Roland GK-2 pickup for use with Roland guitar synthesizer units and other MIDI compatible devices.
The Rock Maple neck plays exceptionally well, with a profile which might be described as a slim 'C' shape. This offers comfortable and practical playability across the register without feeling too thin or characterless, as can be the case with some more modern 'Super-Strat' guitars. The Rosewood of the fingerboard is pleasant under the fingers, and with its 15" radius is in-keeping with the high-performance ethos of the instrument. The neck heel gently is sculpted to improve access to the upper frets, as are the two generous cutaways. This ensures that access right up to the partial 27th fret is a breeze for players with even the largest of hands.
The pair of Hamer Slammer pickups installed in this guitar deliver an impressive range of tones thanks to their HS configuration. The bridge produces a searing output which is sure to drive your amp into a saturated distortion with ease; perfect for those hair-raising, spandex-clad riffs and rhythm parts. The single-coil in the neck is of course rounder and clearer, and whilst it delivers a more modest output than the bridge still works well for lead lines and solos- not to mention crystalline clean parts. The controls are kept brutally simple, offering just a 3-way selector and master volume for ample control with no distractions. The installed Roland GK-2 pickup provides access to a plethora of synth sounds, and with it's MIDI output can work with any MIDI device or DAW.
This guitar is a commission sale - if you have a high end guitar or amplifier you are interested in selling, please contact us.
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.
Hamer Californian Purple Sparkle 1988 Modified Electric Guitar with GK-2
Brand- Hamer
Model- Californian
Finish- Purple Sparkle
Year- 1988
Made In- USA
Body- Mahogany
Neck- Rock Maple
Fingerboard- Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius- 15" (Measured)
Frets- 24 Full, Partial 25, 26 & 27
Scale Length- 25.5"
Nut Width- 1.659"
Pickups- Hamer: Slammer Single-Coil (Neck), Slammer Humbucker (Bridge), Roland GK-2
Controls- 3-Way Blade Switch, Master Volume, Roland GK-2: Synth Level, Down/S1, Up/S2, 3-Way Selector (Guitar, Mix, Synth)
Our ID: 1310525104901
Weight: 7.45lbs
Serial: 820196
Aesthetic Condition:
Headstock: Overall very good condition. All aspects of the headstock display mild nitro checking as is common with nitrocellulose finishes of this age. Light paint transfer is present to the tip of the headstock. All aspects of the headstock display light scratching which can be seen under direct light.
Neck: Overall good condition. Moderate discolouration is present to the rear of the neck across the register, this is common with satin wood finished necks on a guitar of this age. Any markings to the fingerboard are difficult to discern.
Body: Overall fair condition. A previous owner has routed out the wood between the bridge humbucker and tremolo to allow the Roland GK-2 pickup to be fitted, this can only be seen when the Roland pickup is removed. All aspects of the body display light to mild indentations with the most noticeable indentations breaking the finish partially exposing the wood beneath. All aspects of the body display mild nitro checking as is common with nitrocellulose finishes of this age. All aspects of the body display light to mild scratching which can be seen under direct light, as is common with gloss finishes.
Condition of Frets:
The frets demonstrate moderate signs of use, not affecting playability. Flattening of the frets is apparent throughout the register. There is light material remaining for any fret work the new owner may wish to perform.
Current Set Up:
Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (5/16" socket) not included.
Hardware: Overall good condition. The locking nut ‘castles’ are missing, along with the backplate. All aspects of the metal hardware display mild to moderate tarnishing. Non-original tremolo arm included.
Structural: No concerns or issues to note.
Height of the string from the 12th Fret-1.5mm - Bass 2mm
Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.
Strings on Guitar - 9-42
This guitar demonstrates moderate fret noise which is mildly apparent when amplified. This noise does not affect the sustain or bending of notes. The new owner may choose to raise the action to alleviate this.
Electrics:
Fully functional. A Roland GK-2 pickup has been installed by a previous owner. Please see notes on ‘Body’
Case & Accessories:
Hard Case
Overall good condition. All aspects of the case display moderate signs of wear. Tremolo arm included.