The Hamer Newport may just be one of the best values on the used guitar market now. Prices on quality used and vintage instruments have gone up across the board so it is rare to find instruments of this caliber at an affordable price. That being said, players are beginning to rediscover Hamers and it is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. 

Established 1972 in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Hamer was one of the earliest boutique guitar manufacturers in the US. Production was moved to New Hartford, CT in 1997. Then in 2007, it was purchased by Fender who operated the brand until 2012 when production was stopped altogether. Overtime, the brand had become associated with the lower end instruments that were imported from Korea and China, but few remember the high end, handcrafted instruments from the US.

This Newport model features a one piece chambered mahogany back with a solid carved spruce top. The pickups are Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P-90's and this example also has a factory original bigsby vibrato. It as great acoustic volume and resonance thanks to the hollowbody construction and carved spruce top. Any new instrument with these features would cost significantly more than what this Newport is going for. The tone is similar to what you might get from a ES-175 with more clarity on the high end. The controls are simple- a 3 way switch with a master volume and tone. The playability is perfect, the neck is dead flat with the action set to 2/32" on both sides. Condition is near mint with hardly any play wear. Comes with the original Hamer hard shell case. Overall this is the best value on the market for an American made, hollowbody electric guitar.