Uncle GroOve

Nik Huber #999 – a “defining” moment

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:11:48 +0000

I have been meeting and talking with Nik about number 999… the last of the “3-digit” Hubers which, as you may recall, will be a truly one-off affair.
In the continuing series of “firsts” defined by our orders, this will be the first fully hollowbody Twangmeister (Jazzmeister?), with a flame maple front and back.
On the electronics side we are enlisting the help of…. Jason Lollar, the king of the new vintage renaissance. His Charlie Christian pickup will grace the neck position, and we’ll have something equally juicy in the bridge position.

This is all for this first teaser… more to come (fretboard inlays, etc…) – stay tuned!

Video of #999 – the Rietbergen Dolphin (video by Premier Guitars)

2004 Korina Hamer Standard – one piece body (!)

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:31:47 +0000

A 2004 Hamer Standard in korina, featuring an incredible one piece body (!).
This guitar was custom spec’d without the pickguard, as percertificates, but one is included, should you want to convert to a “realistic” explorer.
In contrast to a Gibson, the main advantages of a Hamer build is in the neck tenon, which is dovetailed, and more massive – which allows a better transfer of energy to the body.
Gold hardware, Peter Florance PAFs, OHSC complement this offer.
The guitar is in excellent condition – there is slight tarnishing on the gold tuner keys, and a small paint chip in the bottom edge of the body.
Neck is “baseball bat” size – makes for ton of sustainnnnnn

Price Eur 2’000 including shipping to your country of destination

Hamer Standard Custom (1995)

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:52:37 +0000

A nice piece of rock’n'roll history. Hamer’s version of the Gibson Explorer, but a much better build in many people’s opinion; in contrast to Gibson, Hamer was/is running a much smaller shop, where instruments are *really* hand-built one by one…
Built in the pre-FMIC (Fender Musical Instrument Corporation) and when Jol Dantzig still was the boss of the whole show (now that he’s gone we really wonder what is going to happen to this great guitar manufacturing shop)
Pickups were swapped to Haeussel (TOZZ bridge, VIN neck). Incredible 3-d flame maple top (very difficult to photograph) – the figuring changes as you move the guitar around.
Conditions are good for a 15 y.o. instruments – there are small finish impressions here and there, but no major scratches, paint chips, etc,
Comes with OHSC.

[pics soon]

Eur 1’200 plus shipping to your destination.

1994 Hamer Chaparral w/boomerang inlays

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:30:26 +0000

1994 Hamer USA Chapparal, holoflake finish, with boomerang inlays (both rare). SD trembucker p.ups for a very distorted and powerful tone. Guit comes w/ OHSC. Excellent fret life. No “issues” with the guitar. Great shredplank. Eur 1’000 plus shipping to … Continue reading →

1993 Hamer Special P90

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:27:11 +0000

Almost mint – only signs present are the marks at the base of the headstock where the guitar hung in the store. Finish has turned from white to cream.
Built in the golden era of the Hamer shop – when Jol Dantzig still ruled the game, and before FMIC (Fender) took the brand over…
Pickups changed to Lollar, but originals included. Original OHSC.

Eur 900.- + shipping to your destination

1974 Fender Starcaster Semihollow (SOLD)

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:23:19 +0000

SOLD

1974 fender Starcaster in good condition w/ original OHSC. Beautiful sunburst finish (think Johnny Greenwood / Radiohead). Back of neck oversprayed. some chips in the finish on the headstock. Original electronics.

Price Eur 2’500 + shipping to your destination

Ex-demo Koll Tornado (black limba)

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:41:39 +0000

Saul Koll: black limba Tornado

SOLD
Beautiful 2007 Tornado, built by Saul Koll in Portland, Oregon (USA).
This model, part of Saul’s line of “Glides” was ordered in 2006 and received well over one year later, such is the backlog for Saul’s fine guitars (solidbodies, archtops, custom stuff).
Upon arrival it was very clear that this was an exceptional instrument – one jazz player said it felt “alive”. The Skyway tremolo, handbuilt by Rick Huff, is one of the finest trem bridges in circulation and does not detract from the instruments’ resonance and sustain. The bridge “electroflux” pickup is handmade by TV Jones to Saul’s specs: it is a cross between a P90 and a Tele pickup and the windings are asymmetrically scattered – taller and “slimmer” under the bass strings, lower and “fatter” under the treble strings. The neck pickup is a Haeussel AlNiCo III P90. The overall tone can be described as woody, yet the mid pickup position is tele-inspired. A truly unique instrument for “nu jazz” / fusion / electric blues / alt-rock….

The guitar is in ex-demo condition: showed twice at the Milano Guitar Show, and longingly embraced by a number of tone freaks, it has never been gigged, has no defects, scratches, issues, blemishes. The color is a very nice hue with shades of brown, ash, olive, weat.

Selling price: EUR 3’000.– plus shipping to your destination (import taxes might apply, please enquire)

Specs as reported on order sheet:

tornado_7287_specsheet

Nik Huber #999 – reserve now!

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:44:12 +0000

The count is surely and consistently growing…we’re almost at number 999, the last of the “thre digits” (to paraphrase the craziness of the early Hamer ’4 digit” guitars).
This does not imply that post-1K instruments will be less desirable (by the way #1000 will be something spectacular… write for more info), but rather that there is something unique in owning the last of the the instruments of this early period.

If you wish to associate your name to #999, please do give me a call (+4176 – 343 61 93) or write (guitars at unclegroove dot com) and we’ll discuss how and what we can do to make this instrument an outstanding one-off, whether you want a metal, jazz, blues – or whether it’s just going to a beautiful piece of sonic art…!

Wood + Tubes = Rock’n'Roll!!

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:35:56 +0000

Nik Huber Guitars has unveiled the new model for 2010 – the Krautster (rhymes with “Lester”, by the way).
We’re talking about a high-quality, stripped down, high performance rock guitar.
Just like with high performance “naked” motor bikes, most of the bling has been reduced to the essential – in this case it has been left in a very sexy, sleek, and organic feeling satin maple neck.
One volume control and you’re ready to rock – in my mind it conjures echoes of “Nantucket Sleighride” and “Theme from an imaginary western”, “Jumping Jack Flash” and generally speaking those edgy or epic rock-blues pieces from the late 60s to the mid 70s. The real “vintage vibe” if you wish…

Specs as per Nik Huber:

Body Wood: Mahogany (flat top), bound with cream binding
Finish: Top: solid colour satin, Back: open pore satin
Neck Wood: Curly Maple (glued in)
Fretboard: East Indian Rosewood
Scale Length” 25“ (635mm)
Radius: Compound, 10“ – 14“ (255mm – 355mm)
Frets 22 Medium Jumbo, extra hard (2,49mm wide – 1,19mm high), routed fretslots
Trussrod Double Action (Single Rod, compressed)
Shape: Std.
Width at Nut: 1,67“ (42,5mm)
Thickness : 0,88“ (22,5mm) at 1st Fret; 0,96“ (24,5mm) at 12th Fret
Inlays: Abalone Dots (7mm)
Headstock: Painted black
Finish: Satin
Nut : Bone

H A R D W A R E

Bridge: Stoptail (Aluminum w/ Brass Studs), aged
Tuners: Kluson Style (by Gotoh)
Hardware Colour: Nickel
Bridge Pickup: Custom Humbucker w/ aged Nickel Cover (made by H. Häussel)
Electronics: 1 Master Volume (Push/ Pull for Coiltap)
Backplate: Mahogany or Rosewood
String setup: 010 – 046
Colours: Onyx Black, Gold Top, Copper Top, Vintage White
OHSC

O P T I O N S: Neck Pickup (P90 Soapbar – includes Tone Control and 3-way Toggle Switch), Custom Colours, Bigsby. Call / write to discuss more options!

Nik Huber 59-09: Getting there, in big style

admin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:40:12 +0000

Well, here we are.
Worthy of the best of the best pieces (Gustavsson, anyone? or are you more of the Custom Shop variety?) here is a stolen shot directly from Nik’s workbench.
This Orca is ON!
(Les Paul would agree with us, I bet).
Check out the thread below to have a look at the grain of the mahogany: as traditional and “custom shop” as it gets – same for the eastern flame maple top… the real deal, straight from the Beauty of the Burst.
Nitro spraying starts today (october 8th) – be prepared for some seriously drooling pics.

Oh – by the way…. since we had said that we weren’t going to show you any pics (see thread below), but we really couldn’t resist, we now call the “sneek peek” season over for good.

We will be back with the pics of the finished thing – in a couple weeks’ time (and this time we mean it!)…
Be ready for some very mouth watering pics…..

Nik Huber Orca 59-09 50th Anniversary