The Hamer XT series is made in Korea. It has an alder body, a thick flame maple cap, maple neck, with rosewood board and med-jumbo frets, two Duncan Designed pickups, two volume controls, one tone, 22 frets, and a tune o matic bridge that strings through the body.

UTILIZATION

I bought this V as a big fan of guys like Michael Schenker and Wolf Hoffmann. I went to Hamer because guys like KK Downing, Glen Tipton, Wolf Hoffmann, and Rick Neisen played Hamers. I didn't know a whole lot about guitars then, but looking back, it sounded and played pretty great for the price. I had strung it with .11's after listening to tons of Gary Moore, and it still played easily.

I don't get the "you can't sit down while playing a V" comments. You stick the cutaway on your right thigh. Problem solved. Sitting like this actually improves left hand posture, and I still sit with the neck at that angle when I play leads on my strat styled guitars.

The pickups get the job done, but they are a touch brittle and lifeless at high volumes. I'd swap them out for your aftermarket pickup of choice.

The action on this guitar was the absolute lowest I've ever played on the fretboard side of things.

Since the V shape has no cutaway, and this Hamer is a set-neck, fret access on this guitar is perfect up to the 22nd fret.

SOUNDS

Clean tones are useable, but they lack character. Mid gain, Cheap Trick/Rush type tones sound crunchy and convincing with this guitar, but the neck pickup sounds stiff and scooped. Nice and thick though. High gain tones get muddy on the neck pickup, but are workable on the bridge.



OVERALL OPINION

I loved the flametop on this guitar, mine had huge flame lines, and the colour was vibrant and had a lot of character. It faded to a subtle orange, instead of the cheap looking red that is found on most of these V's.

I'd definitely change out the pickups, because the stock ones are less than stellar.

I'm growing less and less fond of finished necks, but that's a personal niggle.