Hamer Standard 12-String Basses

Hamer Standard 12-string basses

Hamer produced the Standard model 12-string basses starting in 1979. They were all custom instruments and never appeared in a Hamer Guitars catalog as a production model. Standards exist in both the 34" long scale and 30½" short scale versions. Most were made with the Split-V headstock but some have the B12A-style headstock. Some Standard 12’s incorporate body binding.

The first Standard 12-string bass built was the Quadraphonic bass built for John Entwistle of The Who. This was the only Quad bass built in the Standard body style. This bass has a number of other features that distinguish it from the rest of the Quads, most obviously the switches and the 12 knobs for the quadraphonic circuitry are all at the bottom of the body instead of at the top. The two main knobs are positioned far forward. Although the body was routed for two pick-ups only one was actually included. It had 21 frets with a set neck. The custom double-dot inlays are set to the outsides of the neck with three inlays at the 12th fret.

1988 Red Snakeskin finish Hamer Standard 12-string bass.

2005 Black Hamer Standard 12-string bass with White body binding.

Burst finish Hamer Standard 12-string bass.

Transparent Black Quilt finish Hamer Standard 12-string bass.

2008 Hamer Standard Limited Edition

2008 Tortoise Quilt finish Hamer Standard 12-string bass.

This Standard bass was a limited edition made for sale exclusively on the Musician's Friend website. It features a 4A Ultimate Quilt maple top, an ebony fingerboard with 10 Victory inlays and Ivoroid Plus 4-ply anniversary binding. It is available only in the Tortoise finish. There are two EMG-35P humbuckers and active electronics. Chrome hardware.

Jol Dantzig told us, "This is a custom order bass for Musician's Friend, they have ordered a number of elaborate customs over the last few years. The anniversary binding is a four-ply ivoroid that we used on our 30th anniversary guitars a few years back.”

At a Musician's Friend retail price of $5,999.00, this bass qualifies as the most expensive production model / limited edition 12-string bass that Hamer Guitars ever offered. Only a small percentage of custom 12's have cost more.

Zebra-striped Hamer Standard 12 owned by Pete Comita

This bass is serial # 0432 and was built in 1980. Pete Comita used it on Cheap Trick’s 1980 tour as well as on television appearances in 1981. Hamer referred to the finish as “zig zag” but Comita calls it “zebra striped”.

Dan “Bassfreak” Vashaw from Atlanta, Georgia with his 2003 Black Hamer Standard 12. Dan said, "I sent Hamer a vial of my blood to mix in with paint.”

Crown inlays. “Bassfreak” is on the headstock.

Steve Post and his 1993 Black Hamer Standard 12-string bass.

Steve told us, “I've done the multi pickup / outputs upgrades gradually through the years. Since I use a two-amp rig I did these modifications so I could play it live. All of my other basses have at least two outputs. I added a third output for the bridge pickup just in case of a possible studio situation for a different sound. Each pickup has its own output. I mainly use the neck and middle jacks for gigs / rehearsal.”