Hamer Echotone 335 Custom with Duncan Seth Lover pickups

[b1gnasty69]

What a wonderful sound you produce

[Kaajasgalvaa]

Great, great sound. I love Seth lovers in my Les Paul.

[bebenavole]

what is the neck like?

[jeremydmccann]

Nice vid and nice work on the guitar! I am in the market for a 335 copy. How is the build quality on this one compared to others like it including the real 335? Like you, I would probably upgrade the electronics and whatnot. I just want something that is put together well with quality wood. Right now I am looking at the Washburn HB35, the Peavey JF-1, Cort Jazz Box, Hohner se 35 and the Agiles.

[chooseyourblues]

@jeremydmccann

Sure the Hamer is a reasonable guitar for the money. It's made in the Far East so don't be expecting Gibson Quality and Feel. Having said that it was my first 335 style guitar and it got me the 'experience' for not a lot of money. So much so that I decided to only play semi's now. I sold a couple of guitars and went out to buy a real 335 but came home with a Yamaha SA2200. In my opinion 100 times better quality and build than any of the Gibson 335's I played.

[jeremydmccann]

@chooseyourblues

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, I have heard that the SA200 is awesome. I hear you about only wanting to play semi's now. My grandmother has given me my grandfathers old es330. It is mint. I just got it professionally setup, but it will never leave my house lol. Plus, as I am sure you know, it is completely hollow and equipped with P-90s. Anyway, thanks for the reply, and good work on that guitar!

[chooseyourblues]

@jeremydmccann

Ahh. the 330. Incredible guitar. Made back when Gibson's WERE Gibsons. Gotta be loving those P90's man. Get a video uploaded, share the joy with the world!

[R0ckers2R0ckers]

@chooseyourblues Hi that Hamer XT Series Ecotone sounds niiice mate. You upgraded it closer to one of the 'Newport' models that Hamer USA make right? The USA Models really are outstanding examples of how an electric guitar should be built. Even the XT Series made in SE Asia are incredible value for money. I'm on the hunt for a Ecotone and don't care what colour. Nice mods on your guitar and will keep them in mind. Cheers

[chooseyourblues]

@R0ckers2R0ckers

Thanks for the comments. I haven't played one of the USA Hamers, but this is a great guitar for the price. The pickups and the mods improve it vastly thats for sure.

Good luck with your search!

[paulignacius]

What did you do when you change those stock pups into SD's?What I mean is the process of changing pups in a semi hollow type guitar.

[chooseyourblues]

@paulignacius

It's a bitch, you have to go in through the back pickup cavity.

Keyhole stuff, I don't advise it.

[paulignacius]

@chooseyourblues

Back pickup cavity?Are you pertaining to the hole at the back of the guitar body? I thought semi's don't have any cavity at the back of their body. Pardon me sir, I am still noob.

[chooseyourblues]

@paulignacius

The back/bridge pickup cavity, i.e. unscrew the pickup and use the cavity to access the pots and wires.

[mdavev]

what type of pick ups? alnico.. ceramic?

[JOHNNYG99X]

thanks a lot for sharing

[JOHNNYG99X]

sorry, one more thig.. how much did the project to upgrade cost in total ?

[JOHNNYG99X]

hey man, your playing is very similar in style to mine.. how does your upgraded Echotone compare to a real 335 in terms of playability, feel, sound etc ? Looks really nice I have to say !

[chooseyourblues]

Hi Johnny, for a cheap 335 copy (under £300) the Hamer is hard to beat.

Better than the china made Tokai and Epiphones. The stock pickups and electronics are dog shit as you would expect. The Seth Lover pickups are my favourite humbuckers, I also had them in a Les Paul. After all the bits were done I guess the guitar stood me about £450 and for that I did have a decent 335 guitar, I even gigged it a couple of times but truth be told I sold it as the neck always felt cold and 'light'.

[chooseyourblues]

Sure. I have been asked this a few times before so I will up load a video later with some blues ideas on it. If it works for you I can upload some more.

Thanks,

[GeorgiaFreetime]

good stuff man, i was thinking about the hb35 and doing some similar upgrades to it! i love the seth lover pups

[lexist7]

hey, i got the first view of this. great playing again! is that your dumkudo at around a minute? nice tone!

[chooseyourblues]

Hey man, thanks for the 5 stars also bro.

Glad you like the tone, no dumkudo, I am using a custom made RAT 6 watt amp based on an Epiphone Blues Junior but hod rodded within an inch of it's life by a guy in England. I love it because the distortion is natural pre-amp AND power amp saturation which I think is the key here.

[lexist7]

nothing beats power tube break-up. the speakers seemed to be working really hard too.

hey, if there were more stars, you could have em all. :)

custom rat? sounds good to me. btw, did you mean Epi Valve Jr. or Fender Blues Jr? I think you have had both in the past from my recollection.