1980s Flashback Invades Workshop

Sometimes you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Ok, so maybe that's not exactly what this story is about, but it's a lesson learned just the same. 

Recently, Kim, our customer service manager walked up to my desk holding a new prized possession—in the shape of a beer label. It was a 1980s vintage Hamer "Miller" guitar. When I saw it I started to laugh, but not for the reason you might suspect.

The Ragin' Cajun, Darren Wallace, throws down some T-Bone on the "High Life"

Back in the crazy 1980s Hamer supplied Miller Brewing with a series of special Miller-branded guitars. These instruments were intended for use by bands in the brewer's national live-music promotional campaign. To tell the truth, I thought it degraded the image of our shop, but when it came time to design the guitars I did my damnedest to make them as cool as I could. I took the classic beer bottle label and logo and distorted it into a usable guitar shape—a sort of Gumbyesque double cutaway. The figured maple top was tinted a deep cherry red to emulate the brand's logo without giving up some of the Hamer mojo that a solid color would obscure. The Miller logo was big and bold and I liked the phrase "high life" so we kept that on as well. Finally, the rest of the guitar was bathed in a metallic gold color, which was not only replicated the look of the beer can, but was a traditional electric guitar color too. The rest of the axe was pretty much stock Hamer fare, with two of our original Peter Green/Gary Moore spec. humbucker pickups and the classic Hamer sustain block bridge. Given the parameters of the exercise, I felt I'd done a good job. We made a couple dozen of them, and then it was over. Good riddance, I thought. Still, over the years people always asked about them, and reluctantly we acknowledged their existence. How embarrassing.

I'd pretty much forgotten about the whole deal by the late 1990s when I came face to face with irony in its most glorious and humbling incarnation. My friend Jon Tiven invited me to tag along to a sound-check at a Manhattan club one Friday afternoon, but I had no idea what I was stepping into at the time. Jon knew that I was a huge Fleetwood Mac fan, and an even bigger Peter Green fan, so as we ducked into the darkened club my eyes barely had time to adjust before Jon was introducing to Mr. Tone himself. We were at one of the few American appearances of "Peter Green's Splinter Group." As Jon made the introductions, Green seemed gracious but somewhat distracted, as though he'd rather be tuning up. That was, until, he heard the word Hamer. 

"Nigel!" Green shouted emphatically towards the stage where his band-mate Nigel Watson was standing. Now I thought he was ignoring me completely. 

"Nigel" he shouted again, The Miller Guitar! He's the man who made the Miller guitar," Now, the man was beaming and pointing at me. Suddenly I had everyone's attention, and handshakes were had all the way around. Yes, it's true, Peter Green had, and loved a Hamer Miller Guitar—I could hardly believe the surreal moment. We chatted for a while about instruments and blues and... beer. Then it was time for the sound check, and as Green walked away I began to chuckle. When my chuckle turned into hysterical laughter, some people near me looked at me as though I were going mad. The weight of the irony was full upon me, and I was enjoying the lesson—everything matters. It's something I remember every time I contemplate a new guitar. 

Approach each task as if it were the one that will define you.

Reunited and reconciled. By the way, this guitar sounds incredible.

Comments

[Scott Wheeler]

Mr. Danzig,

I have been a Hamer owner since 2003, a custom order Monaco that has been my number one fixed bridge guitar. I have the signed shop document framed on my wall and to this day look at it with pride that I received a custom guitar being the nobody that I am.

That said I am also an owner of a early 90s Hamer Diablo and always on the lookout for a California Elite. I know that Hamer prides itself with fine guitars from another era that you can purchuse today but there are people out there that love what was created in the 80s. I love the 80s Hamer superstrats and I am not embarrassed to admit it either. Jol, you made the monster by building them too good so your stuck with hearing the requests for floyds!!

Don't be embarrassed about your 80s pieces Jol, you created pieces that are still in high demand 20 years later. I loved the piece you wrote about the Rick's Standard coming in to be fixed, seeing that guitar brought back great memories of shows right here in Connecticut. It does matter the hardware or era the guitar was made, what matters is that the guitar is happening........that is what Hamer to me is about.

Regards,

Scott Wheeler

[Jol]

Thanks for the kind words Scott! You know, around here we all LOVE those '80 guitars—we just don't make them now.

AND... you're not a nobody, you're a Hamer guy!

[Harry]

I have almost all the early days. Thee best White British Blues Band of the era. I think you'll love this clip. Yes, Hef's so hip "The Fleetwood Mac". Stick to brainless blondes.

[Ron]

I have been having a blast playing an 82 short scale 12 string bass that was made for Jon Brant from Cheap Trick over the last 2 months. I asked Hamer what the electronics were since the bass had been altered several times, I got a response which was cute; "We don't remember". Several years ago in Rockford, IL I also had a chance to play one of those Miller guitars and like all the other early 80's Hamers they all ROCKED.

Your past, even for promotional dadaism, has produced some memorable guitars to play, feel (important and overlooked quality) and gawk at. Thanks Hamer!

[Jol]

Thanks Ron. Yeah, we do know how to have fun around here, stay tuned to this blog and you'll see we haven't lost our absurdist sense of humor—with a couple of Rick Nielsen projects coming up.

As for the preamp answer, if you like, I can make something up and tell you that instead... hmmmm I forgot what I was gonna say.

But seriously, we've used a host of different preamps in those basses and there is no record of what went into which. More than likely it was a Balz Deluxe.

Cheers!

[Ron]

Balz Deluxe.

Is that something you can still retro-fit into my 86 Hamer TP style 12? I love the boost and growl it gives to JB's 12 and would love to have something like that on my 86 Hamer.

Please email me and let me know cost and feasibility.

Thanks, Jol!

[Brian]

I see nothing wrong with art reflecting the era from which it came. They're all cool guitars in their own way.

[Guitar BassMan]

THOSE are sweet guitars. We're always looking for crazy new designs and awesome guitars to feature on GuitarBassMan.com so keep up the good work!!

[Lenna]

Very COOL, Jol. I love stopping by your blog. There is always something good to read and the tracks rock! Hey, Steven and I were browsing YouTube videos the other night and found a couple that featured you! That was fun and really informative about Hamer guitars : ) see you saturday.

[Hamerica]

The Hamer Miller Guitars are some of the best promo items ever to be produced for any company. I have seen cars, beer mugs, pens, and et al and these are prized guitars that are way cool beyond the promo factor. Besides being unique, they have the goods.

Flame underneath a corporate logo? Yep. Sustain Block? Yep.
Peter Green loves em? Yep.

The Peter Green story is excellent.

That specific guitar is the "Norm" guitar which some will get and others will need to think about.

Cheers!

Hamerica

[Anne]

I love this story and your words of wisdom at the end. I will hang these words above my work space.

[Ron]

Off topic, sort of. I recall being at Arlington Heights when Nikki Sixx was having a bass made that Hame shot with a gun and then put the caps in the fret board.

Did you guys ever take photos of that? I know I saw it, but I don't ever seeing any photos of it being played by Nikki.

The year would have been 86 or 87.