Hamer Guitars
Encyclopedia
Hamer Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitar
s. Founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners, Jol Dantzig
and his business partner Paul Hamer. Early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer and Flying V. Hamer Guitars is generally considered to be the first "boutique" electric guitar brand that specifically catered to pro musicians.
The company was incorporated in Illinois in 1976, and acquired by Kaman Music Corporation
in 1988. Kaman has since been purchased by Fender Musical Instruments Corp (2008). Hamer offers a wide array of electric guitar
s and electric bass
es, and, since its foundation placed an emphasis on producing high-quality instruments with vintage aesthetics as well as creative innovations.
Hamer marketed a lower priced line of Asian-built instruments called the "XT Series". and "Slammer by Hamer" which were discontinued in 2009.
Hamer began publicizing their instruments with small black and white ads in guitar magazines in 1974, and was incorporated in 1976. By 1977 the company employed up to seven workers. Most of the work up to this point had been one-off custom variations on the original "Standard" and "Flying V" guitars. During this period Hamer's customers were limited to big-name touring groups such as Bad Company, Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull, and Savoy Brown. In order to appeal to a broader market, the first "production" Hamer called the "Sunburst" debuted in 1977. Production was reportedly set at around 10 guitars per week. During this time the company undoubtedly gained more popularity with the high-profile patronage of Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and the use of Hamer 8- and 12-string basses in their music. In 1978 Frank Untermyer joined the company, opening up the international market for Hamer Guitars.
In 1980, Hamer moved to larger quarters in Arlington Heights (a suburb of Chicago.) The staff had grown to 12 and Hamer Guitars continued to launch new models such as the Special, Cruisebass, Prototype, Blitz, and Phantom. Paul Hamer, who had primarily served as sales manager, left the company in 1987 to pursue his career in retail sales. Kaman Music was then approached to handle sales while the remaining owners concentrated on manufacturing. Kaman Music agreed to purchase Hamer in late 1988.
After five years with Kaman, Dantzig departed from the company in 1993, moving to California to begin a design and consulting business.
As the mid-priced guitar market became saturated, Hamer sought to improve sales and regain its former brand identity. In 1997 Kaman Music relocated the company to a small shop in New Hartford, Connecticut. The top ten builders were relocated to New Hartford along with Dantzig, who was re-hired as technical director. Hamer then began concentrating on a core of high-quality designs targeted at the burgeoning high-end and collector market.
Under its parent company Kaman Music, Hamer was acquired by guitar giant Fender Musical Instruments on December 31, 2007.
Jol Dantzig left Hamer/Fender in 2010 to concentrate on his guitar design business.
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s. Founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners, Jol Dantzig
Jol Dantzig
Jolyon C. Dantzig is known as an artist, businessman, songwriter, designer, guitarist, luthier, author and one of the founders of Hamer Guitars.-Biography:...
and his business partner Paul Hamer. Early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer and Flying V. Hamer Guitars is generally considered to be the first "boutique" electric guitar brand that specifically catered to pro musicians.
The company was incorporated in Illinois in 1976, and acquired by Kaman Music Corporation
Kaman Music Corporation
Kaman Music Corporation is a part of the Kaman Corporation founded by Charles Kaman. Kaman is also a guitarist and he came to explore the use of composite materials technologies to guitar building. He and his engineers created the round-backed, composite-body Ovation guitar which revolutionized...
in 1988. Kaman has since been purchased by Fender Musical Instruments Corp (2008). Hamer offers a wide array of electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s and electric bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
es, and, since its foundation placed an emphasis on producing high-quality instruments with vintage aesthetics as well as creative innovations.
Hamer marketed a lower priced line of Asian-built instruments called the "XT Series". and "Slammer by Hamer" which were discontinued in 2009.
History
The first Hamer Guitar (a Flying V bass) was built at Northern Prairie Music, a vintage instrument shop owned by Hamer and Dantzig in Wilmette, Illinois. This shop catered to musicians who were interested in high-quality instruments. This first instrument served as the basis for a new company called Hamer Guitars.Hamer began publicizing their instruments with small black and white ads in guitar magazines in 1974, and was incorporated in 1976. By 1977 the company employed up to seven workers. Most of the work up to this point had been one-off custom variations on the original "Standard" and "Flying V" guitars. During this period Hamer's customers were limited to big-name touring groups such as Bad Company, Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull, and Savoy Brown. In order to appeal to a broader market, the first "production" Hamer called the "Sunburst" debuted in 1977. Production was reportedly set at around 10 guitars per week. During this time the company undoubtedly gained more popularity with the high-profile patronage of Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and the use of Hamer 8- and 12-string basses in their music. In 1978 Frank Untermyer joined the company, opening up the international market for Hamer Guitars.
In 1980, Hamer moved to larger quarters in Arlington Heights (a suburb of Chicago.) The staff had grown to 12 and Hamer Guitars continued to launch new models such as the Special, Cruisebass, Prototype, Blitz, and Phantom. Paul Hamer, who had primarily served as sales manager, left the company in 1987 to pursue his career in retail sales. Kaman Music was then approached to handle sales while the remaining owners concentrated on manufacturing. Kaman Music agreed to purchase Hamer in late 1988.
After five years with Kaman, Dantzig departed from the company in 1993, moving to California to begin a design and consulting business.
As the mid-priced guitar market became saturated, Hamer sought to improve sales and regain its former brand identity. In 1997 Kaman Music relocated the company to a small shop in New Hartford, Connecticut. The top ten builders were relocated to New Hartford along with Dantzig, who was re-hired as technical director. Hamer then began concentrating on a core of high-quality designs targeted at the burgeoning high-end and collector market.
Under its parent company Kaman Music, Hamer was acquired by guitar giant Fender Musical Instruments on December 31, 2007.
Jol Dantzig left Hamer/Fender in 2010 to concentrate on his guitar design business.