Thinning my Hamer herd.

[shredmonster]

Re: Thinning my Hamer herd.

I have a Cali. I really like it. One of my all time favorite guitars. Kick the Ibanez Jem that I had hands down.

Has a decent tremelo system for it not being a Floyd. Very nice neck and very fast. Action is very low. No complaints.

[slayer]

Re: Thinning my Hamer herd.

The USA Calis used the Floyd 2 or the Schaller 2 similar to the Original with the shorter locking pins, made by the same company. Jack.

[1trussell]

Re: Thinning my Hamer herd.

My old Cali had one of the Kahler Steeler trems on it. Cool guitar. If it had jumbo frets on it, I never would have sold it.

[Inazone]

Re: Thinning my Hamer herd.

[ QUOTE ]
Do they play and feel as good as a usa soloist would?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, a Dinky would be a closer comparison. Since I prefer the feel of a satin or raw neck, I actually like the feel of my Cali Elite more than my Soloists, but the Cali Deluxe had a lacquered neck. Personal preference aside, the quality of a USA Hamer actually might edge out most Jacksons, but Hamer's annual production was (and probably still is) a fraction of USA Jackson/Charvel guitars built during the same time period. Definitely more of a hand-built vibe in my opinion, so the best comparison would probably be early San Dimas J/Cs compared to early `90s Hamers.

[1trussell]

Re: Thinning my Hamer herd.

As of right now, Hamer makes 3 guitars per day.

[shredmonster]

Re: Thinning my Hamer herd.

[ QUOTE ]
Well, a Dinky would be a closer comparison. Since I prefer the feel of a satin or raw neck, I actually like the feel of my Cali Elite more than my Soloists, but the Cali Deluxe had a lacquered neck. Personal preference aside, the quality of a USA Hamer actually might edge out most Jacksons, but Hamer's annual production was (and probably still is) a fraction of USA Jackson/Charvel guitars built during the same time period. Definitely more of a hand-built vibe in my opinion, so the best comparison would probably be early San Dimas J/Cs compared to early `90s Hamers.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. I think they play better than a Soloist.
Personally I like the quality of Jackson - most other guitars feel more like a toy to me including the Hamer.
I have read some of the Cali's have neck issues.

But I like the feel of a bolt on better than a neck through anyway. The Hamer sounds very clean also. I have a Deluxe and wish I had a Custom.
I will have to say my bolt on Jackson PC1 better but it is a totally different guitar and neck and has a completely different vibe and sound.
But you can't go wrong with a Hamer Cali providing it is a USA model. One of the best playing guitars I have seen.

[El_Kabong]

Re: Thinning my Hamer herd.

I sold my '91 Californian Elite last year for $1200, w/EMG's. But it was dead mint, with case candy and unsigned warranty card. True, everything that's imported is inflated in Japan, but I paid $800 for it a year before that in a shop. Awesome guitar, but I couldn't get over the rail road tracks that they were using for frets and the novelty of the EMG's wore thin.