• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Hamer USA: bass design input request

#162
As a bassist who has history with Hamer, I have really enjoyed the input here. Great reading, and great feedback. All of the photos are awesome - vintage and custom alike.

I recognize that Hamer is a custom shop. The quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail are second to none. That said, I would love to see a USA Hamer bass designed for bass players that does not cost an arm, a leg and a left nut.

I have 3 ideas. Here are the basics:
1. Semi-hollow body, double cutaway, offset design with dovetail set neck. Think body shape more like a Rick 4005, but a bit smaller. Rounded front, contoured back. Beautiful wood details with just the right amount of binding, inlay and chrome.
2. Korina body & neck, based (not exact) upon the Eclipse guitar of the 90's, but larger. Set neck. Use the Phat Cat Monaco bass pickups and the same wicked-cool knobs.
3. Bolt-on Hamonster (for fundamental and to keep the price down) with a reverse headstock, humbucker neck /P-bass middle /J-bass bridge pickups with volume/tone & 5 way pickup selector. Body TBD. Lean and nasty and plays like a dream.

The 90's Cruisebass was successful because we essentially updated the Fender Jazz Bass better than Fender did (the 90's Cruisebass debuted at the same NAMM show as Fender's new re-designed basses - we had no knowledge of their new designs, and they had no knowledge of what we were doing.) Being part the Cruisebass design team was indeed an honor - the perfect review in Bass Player Magazine and the legacy as indicated in this post speaks for itself. That said, there is no reason to bring back this design. As stated in earlier posts, the J market is far too crowded with other quality basses.
 
#165
Somehow I think it is fun to design something. So I revised my first design. I still think 3 pickups would be a cool idea. So I looked at several models like the Gibson RD (obviously, since this was where I started from), Gibson EB-3, Lakland Decade, Guild B-302, Epiphone Embassy and a Fender Telecaster Bass. I wanted some retro look and would go for a passive electronics as the market is crowded with high tech modern basses. Where do you go if you want vintage style? Body and neck can be mahogany, though personally I'd prefer maple.
 
#166
When on tour we went to the hammer shop in the chicago area IIRC and Joel gave us the 50 cent tour.. very cool place..
The Cruise bass was an awesome bass. I was not crazy about the Tu Teck though..

One thing about basses, i always prefer the Truss rod adjustment at the neck HEAL and not the headstock. I hate it at the headstock area. Especially if there is a truss rod cover to remove or loose. That's just one more piece to loose if you are on a touring gig.

Bring on the Truss Rod "Wheel" Adjuster as in the Music Man and Sadowsky basses. You dont know how many times i was saved by that wheel adjuster on a touring gig when in a rush...

I prefer full size tuners on a 4 string bass. Open gear type.. I like them because im just not a fan of the smaller diameter sting posts on the mini type tuners. I dig a traditional vibe that can go modern too... Also i have had mini ultralight hipshots and Schallers loosen up and slightly turn on me.. Al they have is one screw and the torque of the string post retainer holding it in place. Full size tuners have the 4 small screws and i never had an issue with those in decades.

One thing that may be cool is a Medium scale bass... I dont know of many folks building them these days..



By-passable preamp..
I liked the JJ of the Cruise bass. The forward PUP was back somewhat and i think it made the Bass punch a bit more and it had a throaty type tone.. Very cool..

Everyone is doing capped fingerboards these day.. I would love to see a one piece maple neck with the old skunk stripe.. I think they sound different...

I dig bolt ons... although i have an old early 80s Yamaha BB3000s that is neck through... it may the nicest playing bass that i have... its like buttah.. and very worn in.. it has traveled the planet a few times and still has original frets.. I think the frets were Stainless Steel.. not sure but way harder than the nickle frets on most basses..
 
#167
The Casidy is a GREAT style bass!!!!!
I would own something like that for sure.. form what i have noticed , many young guys are playing fender style basses.... OR pawn shop special types.. the hollow body type. That is why the Casidy vibe caught my attention... In fact th eguy from U2 was playing one on tour. Sounded pretty good too. Not sure but that may have to be a set neck type... of which Hammer has mucho experience with in the past.. But the one thing that i dont like about set necks is that the truss rod adjuster is usually at the Headstock... Im not a fan of that




LowB-ing said:
I think one area of the market that is underpopulated is semi acoustics with traditional styling. This might be because of limited demand, but might also be because noone else is doing it just right. The Epiphone Casidy model seems to have a lot of fans. Personally I would LOVE to have something in this vein with 5 strings, but noone seems to be doing that.

Here's what I would really want most of all:
-Archtop styling with dual f-holes. Doesn't have to be an actual archtop (to expensive), just that kind of looks.
-BIG body that looks right on stage with full size acoustic guitars, and allows the upper bout to extend to near the 12th fret for good balance. Single cutaway.
-Slim/thin body with solid block in the center like an ES 335 for good sustain and less feedback.
-Piezo pickup for acoustic sound.
-Single Volume knob "hidden" on the bridge, Rob Allen style.
-Detachable pickup/pickguard assembly with chrome pickup covers, that plugs into the onboard electronics through a hidden jack in the lower f-hole. The pickguard has blend knob for piezo/mag and other goodies. When the assembly is attached the bass can be run in passive mode with the piezo in series with the mag like on one of those Wendler Electrocoustic instruments.
-AVAILABLE IN 5-STRING VERSION!

I think this design has the potential to shore up the combined semiacoustic market by attracting the "acoustic" rockers, the indie rockers, the folk players and the jazz players. Each one of those niches might not be that big but combined they represent a lot of players. Hamer also has some previous experience with semi acoustics, so I think the would have at least some "street cred" with the potential buyers.
Click to expand...
 
#169
Yes .. I had an Ex Factor too. I wish that i had never sold it. One of the most comfy basses to play..

hasbeen said:
:D I had an Ex-Factor......I bought new in about 1986. Man...I was playing in a funk band and I did a lot of slap. That thing sounded great.

Phil K had already made a custom fretless neck for me at that point for a Fender PJ I was playing. What a neck!
Click to expand...
 
#171
I will just add this.
I've owned and played many Hamers over the years, from a very early Special, Standard, Scarab, Steve Stevens, 8 and 12 string basses, etc. What I think the main thing that any new design needs to do is to completely distance itself from the "Slammers" and other low end guitars that have been associated with Hamer of late. I know about the Monacos and the newer models (which are fantastic!) The Velocity bass was a nice attempt at bringing in a newer Hamer design but, to my knowledge, did not catch on well.
The older Hamers I have owned were spectacular playing guitars with a great feel and wonderful craftsmanship. I hope Hamer can be known for that once again with the new models, as they have been one of my favorite makes for a long, long time.
 
#172
Yes 5 string option- in demand for modern players
No medium scale- I like it but agree the market is slimer, people are comfortable with 34"
Yes hollowbody in any shape or form, for Jazz players. A lot of us play hybrid music, the tone and function is important above all else
Yes, natural wood colors! it's classy
 
#174
Non reverse T bird style body in 2 formats/price points:

Bolt on neck 1 or 2 p/u passive (PJ or MM?) in automotive paint schemes (think Hot Wheels) ala Fender 60's for a modest priced rock bass. How about pin stripes?

Set neck 2 p/u 3 band active deluxe version with fancy tops and binding ala the Standard. Offer this in 4 and 5 strings. Get Carey Nordstrand on board with a custom design:cool:

Classic, American, Rock, and not done to death. Put that T Bird body on a diet and slim it up and give it a belly contour in back.
 
#179
All you have to do is go to their website. What do you see? What is conspicuously absent?

I'm not trying to bust anybody's chops. I frequent the Hamer Fan Club site and have for many years. Hamer is what it is and what it is, is fairly high priced gear with an emphasis on quality in all aspects. They are not going to build a $1,000 Hamer USA bass; it just isn't going to happen (as much as I'd like to see one).
 
  • Like
Reactions: cmatthes

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back