Hamer Cruise (2Tek) Question...

I loves me some 2TEK bridges! I have one on my Frankenfender PJ along with a Moses neck and another on my Peavey GV. I'd love to try one of the Hamers, let me know how it does.

 

I'd guesstimate it's worth between $550-650. Nice playing basses, although that 2-tek can add some weight.

 

^^^ That's about right. Check Ebay's completed auctions, as there have been a few of those lately, and also check the TB classifieds.

 

Before I even read the replies I was going to say it's worth about $650. I know because I had one just like it in black.

The action was very good. The finish was very good. Hamer painted my headstock black to match the body for me as a custom enhancement. That was nice of Hamer. I had played a blue one just like that at Guitar Villa in Bethlehem, PA. The owner put the order in to Hamer for me. That blue demo I played had it all - depth of tone, good weight and balance and nice finish with superior grade hardware. It beat out EVERY bass in the store including Ricks, Schecters, vintage Fenders, Tobias, Alembics and whatever else you can name that was 2 or 3 times the cost. That was 10 years ago. I paid around $800 complete for my custom order - in black.

Unfortunately, from day one the new black model did not have the same tone as the blue one. My quest for it "all" ended in a disappointment. I chose looks and lost the tone. The black one never had the depth of tone that I heard in the blue demo model. It looked great but I didn't want to play it. I guess the grain of the wood or that particular combination of construction techniques somehow didn't connect well. After messing with it for months and trying to rationalize my purchase, I traded it to my brother for an original Gibson Firebird guitar. Good deal for me, except that the Firebird wouldn't hold pitch. Darn ol' original Gibson stamped tuners.

Now, I'd imagine that another Hamer like these could vary as much as all basses and guitars do. If you find a real winner and it sounds and plays and looks the way you like, you pay what you think it's worth. If my dream bass was a boat oar to someone else, I'd pay for it the way any of us would - top dollar - in the four figure range - regarless of what someone else thinks.

Of course, your buddy who ran his own music shop is more inclined to profit from this sale. Let the market bear what it will and remember that this economy allows you to justify offering as little as half the going rate in order just to get a conversation going with a salesman.

Now... if that's the same blue Hamer demo from Guitar Villa that I played 10 years ago - it's worth at least a grand. - to me.

 

It seems that exact bass sold on ebay a few weeks ago for $600.

 

If not, it is the exact model. There does seem to be some similarity in the graining on the fretboard. I'm not seeing the same pattern on the pickguard, but the reflected angles differ and make it tough to find any identical distinguishing marks.

 

I have four of the 4-string Cruises w/2-tek, all in excellent condition with OHSC. I paid between $550 and $700 for all of them. I'd say $650 is a good deal - I've seen recent ones listed for a lot more, though not sure if they sold or not. FWIW, mine are all very consistent in tone and feel.

JR

 

The prices shown are pretty accurate, but I'm going to echo Arranger. I came across a mint 3 tone sunburst with 2TEK and it was also outfitted with Sadowsky pickups. Stunning. It just didn't sound like one would expect it to, plus the 3 piece neck had some "less than live" spots in weird places in the middle of the neck. I tried a few things but in the end I knew it had to go.

Make sure you really like it and that it's a good one. The good ones are clearly an excellent value. Just beware that dogs exist.

 

$600 - $650 w/oshc is a fair deal. If you had the time and inclination, you could do better but being able to play the bass before buying is a good thing. Mine is a bit "used" but sounds and plays perfectly. The 3-piece neck on mine has been stable, I have not adjusted it in years.

 

Great basses. I've had a couple, and still have in the fold. The neck is thin and fast. For $600, I'd go for it.

 

Yes, they really are very nice to play. The action and construction are superior. Perhaps it's just the individual wood that makes or breaks each one. Hearing is believing.

I went through this issue with a US Deluxe Fender Jazz some years ago. I picked up one in the store and loved it. Took it home and couldn't believe how perfect the tone was in every way. I just didn't like the maple neck. I searched high and low for a rosewood neck and A/B'd them 'till eternity. I never found a rosewood that had the same depth of tone. Fortunately, I held my ground that time and kept the one that sounded the best, even though its appearance wasn't perfecto in my opinion. I'm sure that nobody else really cares what it looks like. I mean, who looks at the bass player anyway!

 

This is key to all G.A.S.

If you find a bass that really speaks, grab it!! Don't look at the color or the headstock or anything else. To find one where it truly is the sum of all the parts, and the wood and electronics all come together doesn't happen as often as one would think in this saturated marketplace. I believe it's because we're saturated and it's all about max production that this cohesion can be elusive more often than not.

Like your Deluxe J, I'm sure other ones are decent for the most part. It's finding the gem that makes it special.

Boutiques have a higher success rate but even so there are really good ones and then there are great ones. And some examples that just aren't as good as you'd think....

 

So true. My "Motherlode of all bass finds" occurred at a Mars music store. There was this one gem and I'm so lucky that I just happened randomly pick it out of the wall of crud.

 

Its a very nice Bass, but $1500 is entirely delusional. I've never seen one go for anywhere near that figure.

 

When some of the MIM Fenders are approaching $1000, those Hamers are looking a bit better. I'm still not touching one for more than $750 unless it's superb in every way.

 

Feel free to send him a link to this thread. Speaking for myself, as a Hamer Cruisebass fan who watches Ebay like a freaking hawk, I can tell you the highest price I have seen a 4-string one actually sell for over the last year is $650. I've seen a couple of 5-stringers go for up to (but not exceeding) $850, but the 4's are much more common.