Hamer Phantom

[charvel750]

Hi, all. I got a lead on a USA Hamer Phantom for $650, no case. From what I can tell, it's a set neck 22 fret guitar with a triplebucker in the bridge and a single coil at neck. There's volume and tone knobs, plus a three way toggle and a mini toggle. It's blue and has a tremolo, like a vintage strat. Supposedly owned by Kaman who bought Hamer, or so I'm told by the seller. Any info on these guitars would be appreciated, is the price right?

[txcharvel]

Re: Hamer Phantom

That Phantom was made way before Kaman bought Hamer(I believe they bought them in '88 or '89). That guitar is easily a early 80's model. Find out the serial #, the first digit is the year it was made (436987 would be an '84)

If the guitar is stupid clean, $650 might be a good price. It seems a little high to me. They usually go for $350 to $500. Unless it's a signature guitar like a Glen Tipton Phantom GT or an Andy Summers model. These usually pull a lot more, especially the GT model with a maple board [img]/images/graemlins/drool2.gif[/img] The signature models have the 6 on one side headstock. The guitar you're looking at would have the 3 on 3 headstock.

Just my humble opinion...actual mileage may vary [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[charvel750]

Re: Hamer Phantom

Thanks for the info. If Mr. Kamen indeed owned it and there's positive documentation to that affect do you think it helps the value? Plays great, and looks pretty cool too. It's not in the best of physical condition though and has a lot of scratches and belt buckle rash.

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Hamer Phantom

I've always wondered about those triple-coiled pickups. Were they a gimmick, or do they actually produce a usable and unique sound?

[slayer]

Re: Hamer Phantom

Do you have pics and a serial #?? Jack.

[1trussell]

Re: Hamer Phantom

If it's in player's condition and without a case, I wouldn't go for more than $500 for it. They are great guiars, for sure. But, to me, a famous person owning a guitar doesn't do crap for me.

[charvelguy]

Re: Hamer Phantom

They were going on eBay for around 350-500 a couple years back when I was shopping them out. I believe Steve Stevens used to play one before they became more into his sig model and they were usually Kahler equiped, as they were produced during Kahlers peak popularity years. They even made a gold top if Im not mistaken.
So if you found a v-trem, that is more up your alley to a floyd. Some did not have the single slant in neck along with the triple hum and most I've seen are like this. Maybe you have a deluxe model or something. The point of the triple hum was similar to having the flexibility of a bridge hum along with a middle pos single on a strat combined, but in closer proximity. Pretty sure that triple hum was splitable into a few configurations.

If it is a 3x3, it is an earlier one..worth considering to snag-altho 550.00 would be a much nicer price. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[charvel750]

Re: Hamer Phantom

Thanks for that info, guys. I didn't happen to notice a serial number. It plays and sounds very good though. I'll mull it over...

[KevinDguitar]

Re: Hamer Phantom

I was a Hamer endorser and clinician in the 90's..the triple coil is sometimes mis-identified as a "motherbucker" but it is actually a bucker and a ss mounted in the same ring as opposed to a "triple" bucker..there's all kinds of crazy tonal variations available depending on the switching options available on the model you're looking at. Hope this helps some.