1990 Hamer Californian

Details

This very special Hamer Californian is technically an “Elite” model, but instead of an ebony fretboard with boomerang inlays, it has a very grainy, quartersawn maple fretboard with abalone dot inlays. The body is finished in a very sparkly, metallic dark red, and has chrome hardware, along with original Seymour Duncan Parallel Axis pickups (called “Trembucker” back then). Some Elite Californians had OBL pickups, which I would love to try sometime.

I love the neck on this guitar, it’s just glossy enough to feel smooth but doesn’t get sticky or bumpy, and the action is extremely low. The only thing I don’t love about it is the chrome hardware, which I feel contrasts a little too brightly against the darker colored red body.

This one clearly has gotten the most play time compared to my other Hamers, even though the neck is in great shape, the body shows various signs of wear and tear like small scratches, impressions, and chips. The plus side is I don’t feel bad playing it so much, because this neck really deserves to be played!