Hamer California Elite - who has played one?

[jabps]

Mine was one of the "limited" Diablo 1 models with the birdseye maple neck. Neck was much thinner than my Cali's neck but I still thought it felt awesome

Really liked my Diablo, love Hamer necks. Unfortunately I couldn't deal with the neck pickup angle. Hell if that had been a single could which I was used too I'd probably still own that guitar.

 

[Econ]

I love my Hamer Chaparral

 

[Devin]

^ that thing is fuckin glorious

 

[Devin]

Really liked my Diablo, love Hamer necks. Unfortunately I couldn't deal with the neck pickup angle. Hell if that had been a single could which I was used too I'd probably still own that guitar.

Best mod I did to mine was replacing the pickups with BG Darkbuckers. Took it from bright and thin sounding to fat as fuck

But I reckon if the neck pickup gets in your way the only real option is to remove it

 

[John4021]

I had that exact Cali but mine did have a single coil neck.
The total flamed maple body (as someone said) is a neck diving whore and heavey as fuck.
PLUS, it was overly bright. Lacked tone.

That one is way overpriced. $1800 maybe.

 

[mooncobra]

There's one fs somewhat near me but I think it's fugly and wayy overpriced.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/msg/7532085878.html

Same listing

 

[Speeddemon]

I had 2 cheaper versions; a Slammer Series from Korea and a Californian Deluxe from Indonesia.
The Slammer series had dot inlays on the neck, the Deluxe had the nice boomerang inlays. I've always lusted for an orange/amber flamed maple Elite version, but like some said, they're overpriced.

The Slammer series one that I had sounded awesome with a JB in the bridge and a Chopper neck. The Deluxe -while being the better looking one- was a weaker guitar, tone-wise and playability wise.
At the time I also had 2 Hamer Vector Flying V's, and as I was moving away from Licensed Floyd equipped guitars then, I sold both Californians.

If I can find an amber/orange flamed maple USA made one in Europe, sub $2k, I might consider it.

 

[zendra]

Best mod I did to mine was replacing the pickups with BG Darkbuckers. Took it from bright and thin sounding to fat as fuck

But I reckon if the neck pickup gets in your way the only real option is to remove it

thats what i meant by calling it 'rock machine' ....tonne of mids (i would say) but deff not that much bass...you plug it in a fat distortioned amp and...80's rock !

i have all maple carvin (dc whatever) that does exactly the same....so thats how i can heal it from being good just for hairfarmer rock ?
one darkbucker in the neck (???) and we can expand the genres? ok...like the fact that its not that complicated...

 

[a24fretman]

Had 2 Hamer Californian Elites back in the 80’s. Prolly 2 of the top playing guitars I have had. Traded them for a early 80’s San dimas Charvel, and an 85 San dimas jackson rhoads many many years ago. Was a great deal, at the time, but to this day, I still wish I had both those Hamers. Incredible playing instruments!

 

[Devin]

I had that exact Cali but mine did have a single coil neck.
The total flamed maple body (as someone said) is a neck diving whore and heavey as fuck.
PLUS, it was overly bright. Lacked tone.

That one is way overpriced. $1800 maybe.

It's super hard to find any sort of USA Cali these days for less than $2,000 unless it's absolutely beat to shit and barely functional unfortunately

 

[Devin]

thats what i meant by calling it 'rock machine' ....tonne of mids (i would say) but deff not that much bass...you plug it in a fat distortioned amp and...80's rock !

i have all maple carvin (dc whatever) that does exactly the same....so thats how i can heal it from being good just for hairfarmer rock ?
one darkbucker in the neck (???) and we can expand the genres? ok...like the fact that its not that complicated...

A set of Darkbuckers would probably work well I'd think, though I don't have any real experience with Carvin guitars myself