HAMER CHAPARRAL CUSTOM

  • Hamer Chaparral Custom electric guitar
    Hamer Chaparral Custom (1986)
  • Hamer Chaparral Custom (1988) electric guitar
    Hamer Chaparral Custom (1988)

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • electric guitars

Series name: 

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Dates of manufacture: 

1986 to 1988

HAMER produced the CHAPPARRAL CUSTOM (MODEL GCHC) between 1986 and 1988. The Chaparral Custom had an ebony fingerboard with pearl boomerang inlays. The standard bridge was a double-locking Floyd Rose, but a Kahler was an option. Pickups were three humbuckers:  a Slammer at the bridge with two single-coils sized dual-blade OBL humbuckers. A flamed maple top was an option and there was also a carved top version introduced in 1987. Finish options were all of Hamer's custom colors.

Hamer described the Chaparral Custom as follows in their 1988 catalog:

"Designed as an all new combination of tradition and radical guitar designs. Equally at home on stage or in the studio, this guitar is extremely light and responsive.

The one piece Honduras Mahogany body has ultra deep cutaways, allowing totally unobstructed access to the highest (24th) fret. Fingerboard is ebony, accented with genuine mother of pearl inlays in Hamer's distinctive Boomerang pattern. Electronics consist of three pickups, with a unique switching system for limitless versatility. Both the neck and middle position pickups are single coil style, yet are full humbucking double "blade" design. These state of the art pickups are manufactured to demanding specifications for Hamer in West Germany. The bridge pickup is the Hamer Slammer double coil humbucker. Three 3-way mini toggle switches are used for pickup selection, coil tapping of the bridge pickup, and phase reversal of the single coil pickups. This allows selection of any combination of pickups, in or out of phase. One volume control is teamed with the exclusive midrange tone contour control. The slim, fast neck is hand carved from rock maple. Width at nut is typically 1 5/8". Hamer frets are custom machined medium ovals, with a nickel content of 18%. The Chaparral is outfitted with the Floyd Rose tremolo system as standard equipment (Kahler also available). Tuners are by Hamer with a 12:1 ratio. Black hardware is standard, and the Chaparral is available in all of Hamer's custom colors.

Also available: Chaparral (Custom Mapletop) with curly maple top, bound body and transparent finish."

Specifications (17)

Controls

Tone controls1 tone control
Volume controls1 volume control
Pickup selector controls3 pickup selector switches

Electronics

Pickups brand and modelHamer Slammer pickup(s), OBL pickup(s)
Pickups configuration2 stacked coil/1 humbucker pickups

General

Finish colorswhite finish
Made inUSA
Number of strings6 strings
Scale length25.5 inches scale-length

Body

Body stylesuper strat style body

Hardware

BridgeFloyd Rose tremolo, Kahler tremolo
Hardware colorblack hardware

Fretboard

Fingerboard materialebony fingerboard
Fingerboard position markersboomerang fingerboard position markers

Neck

Neck jointset neck
Neck materialmaple neck
Neck width1.625 inches wide at nut

Prices (3)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
19863100 DEM new
19863100 DEM goodMichaelThere are many other guitars out there, but none, that is better. I'll pass mine on to my son.
19873000 DEM excellent

Reviews (2)

HAMER CHAPARRAL CUSTOM reviewed by Michael

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
If there were 6 or even ten stars, I'd rate it 10 stars. Best sound, sustain, and playability, ever. Love it and will never ever sell it. There are other great guitars, but none of them can be any better than this one. Theoretically and at the best, they can be as good as the Chaparral Custom, if they were as versatile. But that's just in theory. I don't know any guitar, that is as versatile as a Chaparral Custom. Best guitar I can possibly dream of!

HAMER CHAPARRAL CUSTOM reviewed by Alexander Aruca

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
I have a one of a kind custom, Black & Orange Tiger stripe, I'll never give up! These guitars are fast & sound mean. Leads are crisp & playing one of these bad boys is an opportunity. I bought mine in 1988, played it on the road but is strictly used on studio recordings. Alexander Aruca

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Players (1)

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