Thoughts on a Hamer Korina Artist P90?

[NeoFauve]

Someone from a Guild forum emailed me about a trade.
His Hamer Artist Korina P90 for my Bluesbird.

I almost bought one back when I got the BB.
Really tasty guitars.

I seem to remeber the construction was similar to the Bluesbird.
The P90's would offer some of the change I'm after, but I'm thinking it's not going to be hollow enough.

Any insights on the Hamer?

[elicross]

I've never owned a Hamer; I'm just posting to say I'd love to own either of those guitars.

[Cogs]

No insights on the Hamer but I'd keep the Guild. It just looks classier IMO.

[NeoFauve]

I've bounced a couple of messages back and forth with the guy.

He seems to think the right/treble half of the body is solid and the left/bass half is chambered.
I'm not so sure that's the case. But either way, it doesn't scratch my more hollow itch.

[elicross]

No insights on the Hamer but I'd keep the Guild. It just looks classier IMO.

Good point. The Hamer is very pretty, like most Hamers, but that Bluesbird is hawt.

[rudutch]

tough choice, the hamer I played had the baseball neck and felt great.
The Guild has a better looking headstock (IMHO) and are usually very well made.

[Dale]

One half of the Hamer is chambered and the other side is not. The Hamer does not have a Maple top, and while they are nice guitars (I would love one!) I personally would not trade it for guild unless I had a number of LP style guitars that made this pretty redundant. I would check ebay and see how much each goes for to see if the used value was close as well.

[refin]

That Guild top is sure purty.........tough call.
You know the Hamer sounds good with P-90s.

[Kap'n]

A friend has the mahogany/P90 Hamer hollowbody. It's OK. He's more impressed with it than I am. Not a lot of distinctive sounds. Plays nice, though. I think the Duncan P90's are a weak point.

[frank thomson]

i would NOT do that deal.........<<<JMO

how about putting some GFS P90S into your BB?

i'd try that first.....

but if u really wanna do a stoopid trade, i have a really cool Squire......

lol

[DanD]

A friend has the mahogany/P90 Hamer hollowbody. It's OK. He's more impressed with it than I am. Not a lot of distinctive sounds. Plays nice, though. I think the Duncan P90's are a weak point.

I hear a lot of people say that they have issues w/Duncan P 90s. Maybe it's their amp set ups or just a taste thing. I had both a Gibson CR '56 and a Historic '60 Special, mislabeled "Junior" in the silk screen on the headstock, that were both nice guitars. However, my Duncan P 90 equipped McCarty is the better axe for my style and taste. After I acquired the PRS both Gibsons went on the block.

The Duncan P 90s used by PRS seem to have a rounder less abrasive/harsh tone than the stock Gibson P 90s. The highs are cleaner/sweeter and the lows are tighter and more focused. For blues or smooth jazz tones at the neck position the Duncans kill the Gibson pups IMHO.

Could very well be a taste thing or even the scale length difference between the PRS and Gibsons, but I appreciate what the Duncans do for me. YMMV.

[hudpucker]

I'd trade a Guild Bluesbird for a Hamer Korina P90 Artist without hesitation.

[Dale]

Ebay - Lately:

1 Korina Artist at $710
2 Bluesbird at $999 and 1188

For me unless there is about a $300 bump in the deal the Bluesbird stays.

[CJ Neel]

I'd try putting some HB sized P90's in the bluesbird...

[Kap'n]

I'd try putting some HB sized P90's in the bluesbird...

Yep, or maybe some Magnatrons.....

[jerryjg]

Gotta go against the grain and say to snatch the Korina( white Limba) Hamer. If its a USA model!

[MMP]

Hamers are nice, but I'd hang on the the Bluesbird. It would go nice with my Les Pauls.

[NeoFauve]

Didn't do it.

Not hollow enough. I'm looking to get away from the BB's Lesterness.

I may try some single coils eventually.
GFS's ad copy about their new Mean 90's doesn't do it for me.

I'm in touch with someone about a Heritage H 550 thin body.
Could be nice. Fully hollow, with the bridge mounted like a Casino.

[flintpunk]

I don't know about the regular Duncan P-90's, but the Duncan Antiquity P-90 I put in my Billie Joe LP Jr. sounded amazing!

[NeoFauve]

I played a Tele with Antiquity Mini that was a one of my favorite sounds ever.

On Guild boards, some Bluesbird P90 or or Blues90 owners have complained that the factory Duncan (regular) P90's are too hot.

[Kap'n]

The Duncan P90's in the Godin LG guitars are kinda muddy. Even after you swap the 250k ohm pots for 500k. It's better, but not great.

[NeoFauve]

We're getting away from my original question, but what the hey, it was my original question.

I've played a couple of Hamers that had them, but what can you tell me about Duncan's Phat Cats?
I remember you had them in something.

[Kap'n]

I've played a couple of Hamers that had them, but what can you tell me about Duncan's Phat Cats?
I remember you had them in something.

I had them in one of these.

I liked 'em. I didn't think they were particularly P90 sounding, but nice and warm. Less aggressive than I was anticipating. Some of that could have been the guitar.

[NeoFauve]

That's a glitzier version of the brown one I have.