Hamer Club?!

[diablo_man]

This is so cool! I used to own a SB4F myself, but parted ways with it due to its lack of comfort. From someone who owns a beveled Kiesel (Vanquish multiscale bass) I can imagine your beautiful refinish and body modifications make this feel like a MUCH more comfortable bass. I really like the way it looks now. Great job on a beautiful end result!

Thanks so much! My Kiesel Guitar was actually the reason I decided to do this style of bevel, I got that guitar specifically because I figured it would be better for my wrist with chronic tendonitis(it is).

I think I might still have refinished it, possibly with a more traditional bent top style arm bend, but thats just because I am a sucker for a project and I like good natural wood instruments(the more figured the wood the better!)


Your Vanquish is beautiful btw, I love that bass shape, your wood choices, and Im a major multiscale fan as well.

 

[Sleep Distance]

An update to the post I put on page 6 of this thread. It's been a while since I visited. Early in 2015, I added one more Hamer bass to my stash. A 5 string 1990s USA Cruise with the 2Tek bridge. This one has Seymour Duncan Basslines active bass pickups. It also has the Seymour Duncan active electronics with the 3 band EQ, which I'm not sure is original. Seymour Duncan has an active bass preamp with two band EQ and I know some of these Cruise basses came with that one installed.
It's a very comfortable bass, sounds great, and the string spacing makes arpeggiated passages where I have to hop from one string to another easy.

 

[Gregc57]

HAMERusa was and is wonderful stuff.

 

[Bartrinsic]

An update to the post I put on page 6 of this thread. It's been a while since I visited. Early in 2015, I added one more Hamer bass to my stash. A 5 string 1990s USA Cruise with the 2Tek bridge. This one has Seymour Duncan Basslines active bass pickups. It also has the Seymour Duncan active electronics with the 3 band EQ, which I'm not sure is original. Seymour Duncan has an active bass preamp with two band EQ and I know some of these Cruise basses came with that one installed.
It's a very comfortable bass, sounds great, and the string spacing makes arpeggiated passages where I have to hop from one string to another easy. View attachment 3677687

Looks like this one!

 

[mbluto]

Looks like this one!
View attachment 4323389

My old bass!!! Loved this one... installed an audere preamp and aero pickups, and the electronics matched this bass perfectly... hope the old girl is keeping you happy!

 

[Bartrinsic]

My old bass!!! Loved this one... installed an audere preamp and aero pickups, and the electronics matched this bass perfectly... hope the old girl is keeping you happy!

Still plays great, still sounds great--thanks for passing it along.

 

[Jaime Poole]

How about an 84 flashback! I'll try to post my Custom 8-string and 80's Cruisebass this weekend.
View attachment 1327500

Here is my 1984 Blitz Bass! I bit too much for me to play! I did use it this weekend for the Gonzofest in Louisville over the weekend and a punk gig Saturday night and it rocked! My back and hips were screaming yesterday as I jumped around a lot!!Thinking about trading it for a Stingray, Thunderbird or Guild Starfire if I can find one that would be better suited for my back!! This thing is huge, with a huge sound! Decisions decisions!!

 

[Jaime Poole]

Didn't know there was a Hamer Club.
I don't gig too much anymore. I have a Cruise Bass 2Tek listed, I'd like to get it into the hands of someone who will play 'er.

Is this cool to post this here?
For Sale - Hamer Cruise Bass 2Tek

Is there a Hamer Club on here? I have an 84 Blitz Bass. It’s too much for me!

 

[jeff62]

On the off chance that anyone is still monitoring this thread and has a B4 or B8 they'd like to part with, I'd be an interested party to speak with.

 

[embellisher]

I'll join!

Signed by Dug,Ty & Jerry from King's X

 

[jamesblue]

Has anyone found light weight tuners or bridges that will fit the 1995-1997 Hamer USA Cruise basses without modifications? My bass weights about 8lb 3oz and just would like to reduce the weight a little bit.

The headstock tuner holes are 12mm I believe, even the new Scharller light weight M4 180 tuners seem to have 14mm holes now. I understand that there we alot of basses made in the 1980s and 90s that used the Schaller 12mm size tuners. I would guess a smaller one would work say a 11mm or 10mm tuner, but I can't seem to find one that would work. Has anyone asked say HipShot or other companies if they could custome make some.

Sperzel has a tuner (called the smaller tuner) on their website for 11mm holes, it's the only one I've found close to 12mm (anything large just woldn't fit).

I can't seem to find any bridge that would match the mounting holes for the Gotoh bridge as well.

I have had 3 of the Hamer USA Cruise basses, really great basses.

 

[Iridescentone]

Has anyone found light weight tuners or bridges that will fit the 1995-1997 Hamer USA Cruise basses without modifications? My bass weights about 8lb 3oz and just would like to reduce the weight a little bit.

The headstock tuner holes are 12mm I believe, even the new Scharller light weight M4 180 tuners seem to have 14mm holes now. I understand that there we alot of basses made in the 1980s and 90s that used the Schaller 12mm size tuners. I would guess a smaller one would work say a 11mm or 10mm tuner, but I can't seem to find one that would work. Has anyone asked say HipShot or other companies if they could custome make some.

Sperzel has a tuner (called the smaller tuner) on their website for 11mm holes, it's the only one I've found close to 12mm (anything large just woldn't fit).

I can't seem to find any bridge that would match the mounting holes for the Gotoh bridge as well.

I have had 3 of the Hamer USA Cruise basses, really great basses.

Good question. If you find something please post a link. TIA

My '95 is (I believe) one of the last years for USA made Cruise basses. It has stock Schaller M4 tuners (not sure of the exact model). They're pretty sloppy with a lotta (somewhat annoying) slack. I have some Hipshot Ultralites in my parts drawer which I could use, but the Schallers (as you know) have oblique mounting holes. I don't want to drill new holes so I just put up with the crappy M4's. I haven't weighed an M4 but I suspect the Ultralites are lighter, so there's that.

Apart from the crap tuners it's a really well made bass with a 3-ply lam'd neck, and a pair of Duncan singles. I like the Gotoh bridge though, so not looking to replace mine. No clue as to what might drop into a Cruise.

I know Hipshot can do and has done custom work, but that may apply to builders who place multiple orders. If they'll do what you want the cost may be prohibitive. But you could ask them. Good luck.

Love this meat 'n potatoes jazz bass (even with the lousy tuners)!

 

[jamesblue]

The Schaller tuners are quality, but will age with use like anything else. You may be able to do some maintenance on them, the string tree may just not be tight, I think you can remove some of the tuner parts are resecure them, just don't loose any of the parts. There are youtube videos on how to do it, not hard at all. I'll post if I find a drop in solution for tuners or the bridge.

 

[Iridescentone]

The Schaller tuners are quality, but will age with use like anything else. You may be able to do some maintenance on them, the string tree may just not be tight, I think you can remove some of the tuner parts are resecure them, just don't loose any of the parts. There are youtube videos on how to do it, not hard at all. I'll post if I find a drop in solution for tuners or the bridge.

I'll look into the prospect of repairing the M4's. The string tree is fine, a mod from the stock button-type, to a Hipshot type that holds down 3 strings instead of just two. The tree wouldn't have anything to do with the sloppy operation I'm talking about, anyway. That slack is going on inside the tuner.

I'll know more if/when I take one apart, gears could be worn. If so, that's an indication of a less-than-optimally designed machine to me. The bass is in great condition, with little play wear showing, overall. If the gears are badly worn for some reason (brass?), then that wear is not commensurate with wear on the rest of tha bass. Total replacement may be the best answer. No clue if replacement internal gears are even available. We'll see. Cheers.

 

[Bartrinsic]

I'll look into the prospect of repairing the M4's. The string tree is fine, a mod from the stock button-type, to a Hipshot type that holds down 3 strings instead of just two. The tree wouldn't have anything to do with the sloppy operation I'm talking about, anyway. That slack is going on inside the tuner.

I'll know more if/when I take one apart, gears could be worn. If so, that's an indication of a less-than-optimally designed machine to me. The bass is in great condition, with little play wear showing, overall. If the gears are badly worn for some reason (brass?), then that wear is not commensurate with wear on the rest of tha bass. Total replacement may be the best answer. No clue if replacement internal gears are even available. We'll see. Cheers.

Don’t try this at home. Only professional psychiatrists should struggle to prevent this risky behavior. I couldn’t even wait for this nice reamer (6 weeks!), so I drilled it. Drilling is not advised. I managed to wrestle it to my will, but not easily- and 4 times. The reamer might be easier, for the courageous

.

 

[Dadagoboi]

THAT IS NOT A REAMER, Google it.

 

[jamesblue]

Confirmed that Sperzel stopped making bass tuners by their customer support, however still listed on their web site.

Yeah, to enlarge a 12mm hole to 14mm, a very good tool would be a hand (powered) reamer 12mm to 14mm, easily purchased from amazon for $10 or so. From what I read you hand ream from both sides of the headstock, half at a time, so you complete the hole half way inside as to prevent exit splintering if you were to go straight thru. I've never done this so, don't rely on what what I just posted, research yourself.

I may do this in the future. The schaller tuners I have on my 1995 Hamer USA 4 Cruise weigh 67 grams, new HipShot USA ultralights weight at 42 grams; if my math is right, the ultralights would reduce the weight by about 100 grams, it's like reducing 1 1/2 of the stock tuners; less weight and less pressure on the strap onto the sholder.

 

[Iridescentone]

Confirmed that Sperzel stopped making bass tuners by their customer support, however still listed on their web site.

Yeah, to enlarge a 12mm hole to 14mm, a very good tool would be a hand (powered) reamer 12mm to 14mm, easily purchased from amazon for $10 or so. From what I read you hand ream from both sides of the headstock, half at a time, so you complete the hole half way inside as to prevent exit splintering if you were to go straight thru. I've never done this so, don't rely on what what I just posted, research yourself.

I may do this in the future. The schaller tuners I have on my 1995 Hamer USA 4 Cruise weigh 67 grams, new HipShot USA ultralights weight at 42 grams; if my math is right, the ultralights would reduce the weight by about 100 grams, it's like reducing 1 1/2 of the stock tuners; less weight and less pressure on the strap onto the sholder.

3.5 oz off a headstock would make a huge difference in balance over the M4's. Worth the effort and cost (IMO). If I knew that I was keeping the Cruise (doubtful), I'd go for it.

Speaking of M4's, I dragged out a NOS Czech-made bass with M4's. The bass is virtually unplayed. Guess what?....same exact amount of slop as the ones on my Cruise. Small and anecdotal sample size, but apparently that seems to be nature of the beast with them, despite the M4 reputation as premium tuners. Tuner precision operation has come a long way over the decades.

Thanks for posting.

 

[BASSPLAYERS4HIM]

Hello friends,
Could anyone please possibly let me know what kind of

Hex Truss Rod Wrench can I use for my 1996 USA Hamer CruiseBass truss Rod?​

Is it Standard or Metric

What's the size?

See photo attachments of the truss Rod...
Thanks
Dave

 

[Kindness]

Hello friends,
Could anyone please possibly let me know what kind of

Hex Truss Rod Wrench can I use for my 1996 USA Hamer CruiseBass truss Rod?​

Is it Standard or Metric

What's the size?

See photo attachments of the truss Rod...
Thanks
Dave

All of my 95s and 96s have been 5/16th hex nuts.