Hamer Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitars. Founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners, Jol Dantzig and his business partner Paul Hamer. Early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer and Flying V. Hamer Guitars is generally considered to be the first "boutique" electric guitar brand that specifically catered to pro musicians.
The company was incorporated in Illinois in 1976, and acquired by Kaman Music Corporation in 1988. Kaman has since been purchased by Fender Musical Instruments Corp (2008). Hamer offers a wide array of electric guitars and electric basses, and, since its foundation placed an emphasis on producing high-quality instruments with vintage aesthetics as well as creative innovations.
Hamer marketed a lower priced line of Asian-built instruments called the "XT Series". and "Slammer by Hamer" which were discontinued in 2009.
The first Hamer Guitar (a Flying V bass) was built at Northern Prairie Music, a vintage instrument shop owned by Hamer and Dantzig in Wilmette, Illinois. This shop catered to musicians who were interested in high-quality instruments. This first instrument served as the basis for a new company called Hamer Guitars.
Hamer began publicizing their instruments with small black and white ads in guitar magazines in 1974, and was incorporated in 1976. By 1977 the company employed up to seven workers. Most of the work up to this point had been one-off custom variations on the original "Standard" and "Flying V" guitars. During this period Hamer's customers were limited to big-name touring groups such as Bad Company, Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull, and Savoy Brown. In order to appeal to a broader market, the first "production" Hamer called the "Sunburst" debuted in 1977. Production was reportedly set at around 10 guitars per week. During this time the company undoubtedly gained more popularity with the high-profile patronage of Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and the use of Hamer 8- and 12-string basses in their music. In 1978 Frank Untermyer joined the company, opening up the international market for Hamer Guitars.
In 1980, Hamer moved to larger quarters in Arlington Heights (a suburb of Chicago.) The staff had grown to 12 and Hamer Guitars continued to launch new models such as the Special, Cruisebass, Prototype, Blitz, and Phantom. Paul Hamer, who had primarily served as sales manager, left the company in 1987 to pursue his career in retail sales. Kaman Music was then approached to handle sales while the remaining owners concentrated on manufacturing. Kaman Music agreed to purchase Hamer in late 1988.
After five years with Kaman, Dantzig departed from the company in 1993, moving to California to begin a design and consulting business.
As the mid-priced guitar market became saturated, Hamer sought to improve sales and regain its former brand identity. In 1997 Kaman Music relocated the company to a small shop in New Hartford, Connecticut. The top ten builders were relocated to New Hartford along with Dantzig, who was re-hired as technical director. Hamer then began concentrating on a core of high-quality designs targeted at the burgeoning high-end and collector market.
Under its parent company Kaman Music, Hamer was acquired by guitar giant Fender Musical Instruments on December 31, 2007.
Jol Dantzig left Hamer/Fender in 2010 to concentrate on his guitar design business.