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Hamer Guitars: A Historical Archive
by Jol Dantzig I was the Technical Director, designer, and former co-owner of Hamer guitars. The brand had long since been acquired by Kaman Music, which was eventually bought by Fender (FMIC). The company was floundering after a series of bad marketing decisions dictated by the parent company, and I was fighting to pursue a… Continue reading
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Paint Time for Talladega Earthen!
Original Publish date: June 03, 2008 The first coats of lacquer have cured so the Earthen Talladegas are ready to be colored. We always prepare the surface for color by applying a base coat of nitrocellulose lacquer to raise the grain and create “bite” for the finish. Our nitro is thin and it seeps down… Continue reading
The Modern Vintage Bloodline
Above all, I’m an artist. I’ve been lucky to scratch out a living doing what I enjoy. People sometimes call me the “Godfather of Boutique,” but I’m not sure that’s accurate.
I do believe that my first guitars, starting in 1973, were the earliest successful “Modern Vintage” custom electric guitars on the scene.
My love of vintage instruments led me to buy, sell, and trade fine instruments from the golden age of American guitars, and that’s the same DNA that’s infused in everything I do.
In 1973 John Montgomery and I built my Flying V bass. Arguably the first Hamer instrument.