Anyone here have one? What do you think of them? Anyone know where I might be able to find a nice used one for sale?
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Hamer USA Chaparral 5 Bass
- Thread starter nosajwp
- Start date
I have one. I got it new in 94. It was supposed to be my backup bass to my much prettier Yamaha Nathan East bass. (My first 5 string) My band preferred the Hamer. My drummer at the time was an engineer working in a NYC studio and I trusted his ears completely. When I later heard recordings of our rehearsals it was obvious. The Hamer was better. I eventually sold the Yamaha when funds got tight and my car needed a major repair. A few years later I was able to get a really good deal on a Ken Smith 5 string. It was a Chuck Rainey model. A really beautiful instrument that had a body of solid quilted maple. Again, I thought the Hamer would be the backup to the prettier more expensive bass. My band liked the Hamer better. I have also sold the Ken Smith now too. It is an amazing bass. Solid mahogany with EMG soapbars with the BTC preamp. It has a selectable boost on 4 settings that you can choose by pressing a dip switch in the control cavity I think I set it at 3K.Very useful. I have recorded with it and played many gigs with it. It continues to exceed my expectations repeatedly now for almost 20 years. I play in a country band now and the Hamer doesn't get out as much. It is a solid black bass with a reverse headstock. It is very much a "metal" looking bass. I have always felt the reverse headstock with the B string being the longest string contributes to the incredible tone on the low notes. In the metal band I used to play in we used to tune down sometimes a whole step and a half and the B string was always clear and had some tension too! I have only had to make very minor neck adjustments over the years. The neck is rock solid. It's a shame they don't make them any more. Occasionally you will see them here or on the bay. Keep looking. When you get one you won't be disappointed.
I too can't believe Hamer isn't producing high-quality basses anymore. Sure, they still put out the U.S. 12-string, but, how many of those get moved every year? I just don't get it with some builders. Their quality is too good not to have their foot in the door anymore.
They do? I was under the impression that Fender closed Hamer down for good last year.
Well, see? That just proves my point even further! 
Damn. Another one of the little guys gulped up by the monster. To be honest, I didn't even know they were bought out.
Damn. Another one of the little guys gulped up by the monster. To be honest, I didn't even know they were bought out.
Hi all, I've been on the look out for a Hamer Chaparrel 5 String for years here in Australia, I gave up looking, I've never seen one for sale here. A month ago I found a black one for sale in remote Western Australia, the owner bought it in from the US years ago. I now own it !, its probably the best sounding 5 string I've ever played. If anyone is curious about it, watch Def Leppard Live at Wembley on youtube and you'll witness how good one sounds.
I found a black one locally listed for $550 w/ case. I know little about the bass but it is pretty sharp looking. Is this a good value or something I should avoid?
Riis
Riis
Absolutley yes. mahogany body, set neck, rosewood finger board, EMG 35 Soapbars with EMG active pre amp, high mass Hamer bridge, Schailler machine heads. The pick ups alone are worth $450. You won't be disappointed
Thanks for the input! BTW, I love your earlier reference to "remote WA". My brother used to live in Exmouth / Northwest Cape. I used to layover in Sydney 'bout a 1/2 mile from King's Cross.
Riis
Will do. Here in the US, ~$500 may buy a new MIC / MII instrument so I'd consider it a reasonable deal if in good shape and and lighter than 9 lbs. May not be realistic but we'll know soon enough as I've e-mailed the seller and awaiting a response. He's within 15" of my house, not 3K miles.
Riis
hi... used to work for Hamer in the UK as part of KAMAN... ref the pickups, they are actually EMG 5 string Jazz . I have a white bass that was destined for Rick Savage... we got 3 in for m the states for him to chose from, 2 were marble effect paint-jobs and one was a creamy white. he didn't desire the white one and took the two graphic finished ones.
this was about the time he also started using the Trace Elliot cabinets... about 6 stacks of 2x15" and 2x10" with horn.
also, with EMG's you can put 9v batteries in series. i have 2 (giving a lovely high amount of boost), Rob Green of Status told me you could put up to 4 in series. never tried, but my god, i bet that kicks A**!
from wikipedia...
The company was incorporated in Illinois in 1976 by John Montgomery, Jol Dantzig, James Walker and Paul Hamer. Hamer Guitars was acquired by Kaman Music Corporation in 1988. Kaman has since been purchased by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2008. Hamer offered a wide array of electric guitars and electric basses, and, since its foundation placed an emphasis on producing high-quality instruments with vintage aesthetics as well as creative innovations.
Fender announced in February 2013 that the Hamer brand was being discontinued after 40 years of production.
I have a couple of Rick's Chap 5 Basses....he owned quite a few Hamer Basses over his career. The red metallic and black marble one here also has a custom white pearl "dash" inlay halfway up the side of the fretboard on the bass side and Rick's name on the headstock.
BTW, Hamer made the original Chap 5 in single truss rod version and around 1990 switched to a dual truss setup.
I recently acquired a black Chap 5 and absolutely love it!
If anyone is curious about what all the fuss is about this bass, have a listen to Def Leppard Live in Sheffield 1993 full concert on YouTube, listen to it with a good pair of headphones and you will get a very accurate example of how the bass sounds.
If anyone is curious about what all the fuss is about this bass, have a listen to Def Leppard Live in Sheffield 1993 full concert on YouTube, listen to it with a good pair of headphones and you will get a very accurate example of how the bass sounds.
Rock it at 37 minutes. A must watch on so many levels. Lots of bass tone with just drums, and insane 80s shannanogans.
Adjusted for time and style changes, they were a really great band. So many current bands could not get close to that kind of precision live.
A hamer chapperal i tried at a store in high school haunts me to this day.
Adjusted for time and style changes, they were a really great band. So many current bands could not get close to that kind of precision live.
A hamer chapperal i tried at a store in high school haunts me to this day.
