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Hamer Slammer Series Model Mystery

Lord Kinbote

Lord Kinbote

Jun 25, 2019
33
122
North Carolina
#1
Hello bass world!

Recently picked up a nasty, rusted, and neglected Slammer Series 5 string from Goodwill for almost nothing. Didn't have much hope for it, but mainly picked it up for the Fender Lace-Sensor pickups. After much cleaning and setup work it looks and plays great. Been thinking about getting a 5 string after not having one for 20+ years so it was a pleasant surprise.

I'm usually pretty good at tracking down info on the internet, but this one has me stumped as to a model name. Was hoping that someone out there may have run across one of these and have some info to share.

Any help would be appreciated!

hamer1.jpg
hamer2.jpg
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#5
Lord Kinbote said:
Hello bass world!

Recently picked up a nasty, rusted, and neglected Slammer Series 5 string from Goodwill for almost nothing. Didn't have much hope for it, but mainly picked it up for the Fender Lace-Sensor pickups. After much cleaning and setup work it looks and plays great. Been thinking about getting a 5 string after not having one for 20+ years so it was a pleasant surprise.

I'm usually pretty good at tracking down info on the internet, but this one has me stumped as to a model name. Was hoping that someone out there may have run across one of these and have some info to share.

Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...


Doing some searching myself. Found a sold one on Reverb, but no dice on a model -- Hamer Slammer 5-String Bass 2010s Purple Sparkle | Reverb

That input jack placement is genius, though.
 
#6
ComesATime said:
Doing some searching myself. Found a sold one on Reverb, but no dice on a model -- Hamer Slammer 5-String Bass 2010s Purple Sparkle | Reverb

That input jack placement is genius, though.
Click to expand...

I did run across that listing the other day in my search for info. From what little else I could find the "Hamer Slammer Series" on the headstock dates to the 1990s and was the first of their imports.

Agreed, regarding the input!
 
#12
Around 1994 or so, a family friend let me borrow his Hamer Slammer 5. It was almost identical to this, but in silver flake. That was probably my first 5-string experience outside of a music store, and I was hooked! It was a cool bass. I don't remember the exact pickups, but they were passive and probably something OEM. They weren't Fender Lace Sensors.

Not much more I can say about the bass, but it was more in the budget line at that time and off-shore, maybe built by Samick? It was a good intro to 5 strings and definitely got me hooked on the B-string.
 
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#17
lowfreqgeek said:
Around 1994 or so, a family friend let me borrow his Hamer Slammer 5. It was almost identical to this, but in silver flake. That was probably my first 5-string experience outside of a music store, and I was hooked! It was a cool bass. I don't remember the exact pickups, but they were passive and probably something OEM. They weren't Fender Lace Sensors.

Not much more I can say about the bass, but it was more in the budget line at that time and off-shore, maybe built by Samick? It was a good intro to 5 strings and definitely got me hooked on the B-string.
Click to expand...
I also owned the silver flake one...I remember getting it dirt cheap on Ebay in the early 2000's...as I recall mine just had unbranded passive pickups. It was the reverse headstock and the cool finish that got my attention...it was a great bass but I never got around to dropping the EMGs into it like Id planned.
 
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#18
lowfreqgeek said:
Around 1994 or so, a family friend let me borrow his Hamer Slammer 5. It was almost identical to this, but in silver flake. That was probably my first 5-string experience outside of a music store, and I was hooked! It was a cool bass. I don't remember the exact pickups, but they were passive and probably something OEM. They weren't Fender Lace Sensors.

Not much more I can say about the bass, but it was more in the budget line at that time and off-shore, maybe built by Samick? It was a good intro to 5 strings and definitely got me hooked on the B-string.
Click to expand...

I bought the silver flake around 94 just for looks alone. The B string was extremely floppy, but I was a college kid and didn't think to switch out strings lol. It had a great tone and was very playable. Not even sure where that bass went, I'm sure I sold it for next to nothing as it didn't cost that much to begin with.
 
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#20
Thanks for all the replies! It has been helpful, even if there is no definitive model name.

rojo412 said:
Very cool snag, if only for the pickups!
Looks like they just called them "Slammer Series." But this does have similar design cues to the Chaparral basses, with the reverse headstock.
Not the same, but similar.
Either way, sweet restoration job. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

It does look a lot like the Chaparral. Possibly, they modified the design a bit for the import as to not complete with the USA model. Probably reduced production costs as well.

I really have grown to enjoy restoring neglected basses! Been running across quite a few lately, so my studio is beginning to feel a bit like the island of misfit basses :)
 
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