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THE BEST ON TEST
Track Star
Guitar Aficionado test-drives a custom-order
Hanier Talla4lega Pro.
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the guitar’s inherent voice, complete
the true customization of instrument.
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Stock appointments on the
Talladega Pro include a chambered
Honduran mahogany body with
ivoroid binding, TonePros “Kluson
style” vintage tuners, and aTonePros
aluminum wrap-around tailpiece that
provides spot-on intonation, a surprising achievement for this style of
bridge. The 22-fret, 25 1/2—inch-scale neck, which is also ivoroid-bound,
is fashioned of three-piece stressed mahogany and boasts classy victory
inlays that reside on avery flat 14 i/a—inch radius fingerboard. The neck
possesses a relatively slim and ultra-comfortable ‘56 V shaped profile
that is meaty enough to make chording effortless but also appropriately
sleek for fleet fingered flights of fancy As is always the case with
Hamer, the fretwork is beyond impeccable. Bending is effortless, and
absolutely no dead spots or rough edges are to be found.
With the guitar plugged into Fender Deluxe Reverb and ‘72
Marshall Super Lead amplifiers, the custom pickups revealed
themselves to be perfectly suited to the instrument’s refined
character. The bridge unit exhibited a firm mid-range that was
perfect for blues and rock, while the neck pickup, both alone and
in combination with the bridge, was nothing short of magical.
The Talladega Pm is an excellent example ofwhy Hamer continues
to win over guitarists who typically go for the classic manufacturers’
instruments. Even the mildly skeptic or vintage conscious guitarist
can easily fall in love with this hybrid of two very familiar guitars.
The Talladega Pro has the heft of a Les Paul and the sparkle ofaTele,
and like the superspeedway after which it was named, the guitar
handled every musical twist that came its way. All ofwhich tells me
that the Talladega Pro is more than a mere utilitarian tool or vintage
offshoot—it’s already in a class by itself. CYAI
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BY PAUL RIARIO
•
PHOTOS BY MA 551MG GA MMACUR TA
IN AN ISSuE LUCETHIS ONE, in which we explore the decades-long
symbiosis of car and guitar cultures, it seems only appropriate to
examine an instrument created by Hamer, a manufacturer that
has long acknowledged this vital connection in its guitars.Jol
Dantzig, designer at Hamer Guitars for the past three-plus decades,
and a die-hard racing enthusiast, has always been vehicularly
inspired, having named guitars after eclectic racecars (the Vector
and Chaparral) and renowned racetracks (the Monaco and the
Talladega). For this review, I test drove a customized example of the
most recent Talladega model, the Talladega Pro.
The original Tafladega is a Telecaster-inspired instrument that offers
a distinct world of series and parallel tones from its uniquely designed
Seymour Duncan single-coil pickups. While both feature a modified
Tele shape with a softly contoured back, the Pro is more like a Les Paul,
with its upper bout toggle switch, humbucking pickups, and familiar
four-knob volume/tone configuration. Ifyou’re already comfortable
with the feel and sound of a classic Gibson but crave more of the snap
you get from iguitar with a longer scale length, the Tafladega Pro is an
instrument worth investigating.
The custom-ordered Talladega Pro I tested is a particularly
interesting guitar, from its special features to its mysterious Night
Tiger finish. What separates this Pro from a stock model is the use
of unique and rare materials in its construction. The top features
hand-carved, super-figured quilt maple, a matching piece ofwhich
adorns the face of the headstock, as well. I-lamer’s stockpile of oldgrowth wood was tapped for the lustrous, dark, and beautifully grained
Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, and this rare piece of rainforests past
complements the guitar’s caramel color and smooth nitroceilulose finish
perkctly In lieu of the standard bone nut, the guitar features a polished
pure ivory nut, employed for its lubricity acoustic properties, and
PIT STOP
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distinguished texture. A set of Seymour
Duncan Antiquity humbucker pickups,
custom wound to suit the client’s needs
and calibrated by Dantzig to support
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$6,200
Hamer Guita s, www.hamerguita scam
CREW CHIEF JUL DANTZIG DISCUSSES A LIFE SPENT BEHIND THE WHEEL AT KAMER GUITARS.
Are here any limits in creating a custom guitar in
the Hamer USA Custom Shop?
When you own one of our guitars, it’s a direct
connection to our entire history and lineage.
We always start with one of our own designs,
and through consultation we guide a client to a
conclusion that satisfies their needs.
GUITAR AFICIONADO
What s Hamer’s unique relationship with ca
culture?
I’ve been a racing enthusiast since I was a boy,
and I’ve always owned performance-oriented cars,
so it just seemed natural to name my designs
after the cars and places that inspired and
fascinated me.
What cars do you favo ?
I’ve driven hundreds of cars, from hot rods and
muscle cars to Formula cars and sports racers. I’ve
mostly raced Porsches, but my favorite possession
was a Chevron 623 that was like riding a video
game. It’s so quick that you have to drive 100 feet
ahead of where you are or you’iI be too ate,
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