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Hamer Club?!

#181
Here's my '95 USA Cruise bass. It's the only Hamer I've ever owned. Light weight alder body, Duncan singles, Gotoh bridge, Schaller M4 machines. Just a very nicely built basic passive jazz bass. I like every thing about this bass. I have it strung with LaBella low tension flats and it sounds brilliant. I consider this bass to be an American classic.

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#186
Hi Guys,

Sorry I am coming in late to this party... Owned 14 Hamer 2nd Gen 2TEK CB's over the past 20+ years; now down to only two. First one is a '98 Semi-hollow 2tek CB with mahogany body, flamed maple top finished in Hamer's '59 burst finish... no pickguard!!!; 100% stock. Second in my '95 5-string 2tek CB in a matte natural finish... Swapped out the stock SD Basslines pickups with Aero Type 1 pups, and added in an Audere Pro Z preamp, SIGNIFICANT upgrade in sound...
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#187
1995 Hamer Cruise Jazz Bass with Gotoh bridge. 'Weak e string' as explained by the seller is soon diagnosed as fully decomposed pickup foam under stock Duncan pups. Lots of corrosion, spent tuning machines, crusty pots--apparently perspired on heavily for 23 years. Fair price though.
Easy 'nuff':
--Strip (no need to remove neck; action already good, now better with slight truss rod tightening)
--Vacuum old pickup foam dust out
--Install full set of replacement stainless bolts onto Gotoh bridge
--New ultralight Schaller machines (m4 180) to replace stock from same brand (stock 7/16" peg hole needed widening to 9/16")
--New Duncan Apollo jazz pups.
--New passive harness (Vol, Blend, Tone--nice with noiseless pups)
--New output barrel jack
--New nobs
--6 nights of vigorous hand cleaning
--Fretboard feed and wax

Labor free and 100% amateur. Plenty output now on all strings and neck is playing great with medium-low action!
 

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#188
I got this 97 Cruise Bass about 15 or so years ago on eBay. I was on the lookout for a Jazz style and a decent Fender was just too expensive. Then this beauty showed up. First bass I ever bought without playing it based on reviews and well, just look at it!

Serial # 748610 which makes it a 97, EMG Js with Bartolini NTBT 918 preamp. Very quiet. Did I mention it was quiet? Because it's very quiet. I did have to do a little setup (action was a little high) but it plays beautifully now.

Warning! Explicit bass photos below. You must be at least 18 to scroll down...

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#190
Bartrinsic said:
Were the electronics upgraded or original?
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As far as I know they are original. I read somewhere but can't find it now that these were an option with the Bartolini. I've seen others mention the EMG JVs but these are EMG Js.

Here's a product profile from Sept 1995 Bass Player. I thought I read it here but it doesn't mention specific options just says they can be customized.

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#192
alack said:
What?! Had no idea such a thing existed! One to never let go of.
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Trying not to let go of that one... Looks like the natural 2nd gen 2tek 5 (with the Aero's and Audere) I have to part with... bummed about that... Fought hard to keep them through recent divorce proceedings, but now post-divorce finances are talking in my ear pretty loudly...

There is another guy on ebay trying to sell his 1st generation custom hollowbody cruise bass... same 59 burst finish, with boomers, Kahler tremelo, and typical 1st gen CB profile and set-neck... doubt anyone will bite on the $9K asking price though, but never say never...
 
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#193
I repurchased my '90s Cruise Bass today! I traded it in to a local shop months ago as part of a swap for a vintage P-Bass. It hadn't sold, so the owner sold it back to me for just a few bucks more than my trade-in value had been -- plus he restrung it and set it up beautifully. It plays and sounds great. Glad to have it back. CAR/rosewood with Gotoh bridge.
 
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#195
Pet Sounds said:
I repurchased my '90s Cruise Bass today! I traded it in to a local shop months ago as part of a swap for a vintage P-Bass. It hadn't sold, so the owner sold it back to me for just a few bucks more than my trade-in value had been -- plus he restrung it and set it up beautifully. It plays and sounds great. Glad to have it back. CAR/rosewood with Gotoh bridge.
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Pics!
 
#197
Pet Sounds said:
P.S. -- It's unreal how little these basses sell for these days vs the amazing quality of them. I'm hard pressed to think of any other American made bass of such high quality that can be purchased so inexpensively.
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Yeah, I bought mine about 10 or 15 years ago and paid a little over $400 for it, insane.

There is one at Guitar Center right now for $499. It looks like it might be fretless? Hard to tell, pics and description are usually pretty bad or nonexistent for used gear on the GC site:

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#200
Pet Sounds said:
I'm second thought, it could have frets. If you look closely, you can at least see lines on the board. No case with that one, it appears.
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Could be. I have seen a fretless Cruise that had lines though. On the other hand, you'd think "fretless" would be important enough to include in the description.

My thought process when I saw it: "I should probably have a backup in case something happens to mine. Wait, is it fretless? I should really learn to play fretless anyway and this would motivate me to get started. Wait, does it have frets? Whew, now I won't have to learn fretless!"

Someone else really needs to buy this so I don't do something stupid.
 
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