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Hamer Cruise with Gotoh bridge

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Tumbao, Jan 15, 2009.

  1. Jan 15, 2009 #1
    Tumbao

    Tumbao

    Nov 10, 2001
    FL
    Some day, I'd like to get one of those basses... again.
    Looking for more info/pics.
     
  2. Jan 15, 2009 #2
    JTE

    JTE Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 12, 2008
    Central Illinois, USA
    GREAT basses! I had one (and one with the 2-TEK). The Gotoh one was one of the best jazz-bass clones I've ever played. The only reasons I got rid of mine was that the neck wasn't as stable as I wished (I got it used and it'd been terribly abused before I got it- it took me a week of tweaking to get the neck straight enough to set the action- I think it's been hanging in the pawn shop for two years, and the previous owner probably hadn't done anything except attack it wth a heavy pick while strumming....) and because I needed to dump some gear post-divorce.

    I spent a lot of time trying to find a great Jazz bass, playing every Fender in the area for two years before I decided the Hammer was the one. In that time I played uncounted Fender American Standards, then the American Series which replaced the original Am Standards, both of the Fender Vintage Series Jazz basses that came through the area, two Geddy Lees (including one I bought), and all the MIM ones too. The Hammer sounded like a real Jazz bass, had a great neck, excellent set up, fit-and-finish, and top-notch hardware carefully installed.

    They both had excellent hardware (real Schaller tuners, Duncan Vintage pickups, high guality pots and jacks, Dunolp dual-design strap buttons), and remarkable construciton. The frets were perfect, the nut was better than any other company I'd seen to that point (that was just before I played my first Lakland), there was NO rubbing compund in the control cavity, and the wiring was just as neat as my own anal soldering was).

    I don't think I have any picutes of mine any more, but I'll check the 'puter at home later.

    jte
     
  3. Jan 15, 2009 #3
    kraigo

    kraigo

    Jun 21, 2007
    Minneapolis, MN
    I had a five with the 2-Tek. I thought the 2-Tek took away a bit of the warmth (the clarity was incredible). I also didn't like the string-to-string spacing. I loved the B string and I thought that the Duncan pickups were fantastic.

    Beware the resale value. Buy used if you can. If I saw a nice four string with a Gotoh bridge used, I'd probably get it.

    Very nice bass.

    KO
     
  4. Jan 15, 2009 #4
    Joshua

    Joshua WJWJr Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Aug 23, 2000
    Connecticut
    My fave BGs by far. I have 2:

    http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=93153&d=1212629992

    It's been my main fretted since I bought it new in 96, and my only fretted for the past 3+ years. It went thru a bazillion electronics variations (hence the switch installed), but is currently and has been for a long time strictly passive with SD/Basslines Antiquity IIs.

    http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=93154&d=1212629992

    One of my first great fretli was a 2tek hamer 4, but I couldn't get into the metallic flavor added by the 2tek. Asked my local shopowner (where I bought both the 2tek and the fretted) to keep his eyes open for a fretless gotoh model, and in 2004 this popped up. It's dead stock except I added SD/Basslines Antiquity IIs.

    Truly top of the line J basses. Note that the neck pickup is pushed 1/2" closer to the bridge than on standard Js. I could never figured out why I preferred the tone of the Cruise basses to Fender Js, and that explains a lot. They have a touch more punch from the pickup placement. The 3 piece necks on mine have been ridiculously stable, and the whole package just reeks of quality.

    Nice to see a fellow old time TBer (with amazing taste in instruments might I add) starting a thread about my fave BGs!