Who has paid for Hamel pickups and is still waiting?

skiraly017 · April 28th, 2005, 09:35 PM

Just curious.

stephent2 · April 28th, 2005, 11:10 PM

about four months. Guess I should just relax, I still have months to go.

PeterUK · April 29th, 2005, 02:51 AM

I had a e-mail from a pal who's been in touch with Alan recently and he's just finished a batch and has some in stock so I'm guessing that mine will soon be on they way.

:D Peter

Scotland · April 29th, 2005, 02:52 AM

0le FUZZY · April 29th, 2005, 12:25 PM

I waz knott gonna type anythin about the flavor of the month P/Us here but after all, this iss the Bad Dog.

Alan has wrtten tew me and what a great guy !!

This email (ex-cert there of) waz sent before his wife's death which only compounded his production prollems.

He iss very much aware of us here and other forums and has read most of my junk onna NET.

When sew many good folks we all know find his product sew good we must stan unner that the sales and bidness is gonna increase and that there will be prollems here and there.

Part of one of hiss emails read li kiss:

Quote:

As soon as I get caught up on my pickups orders I would be happy to send you a set of pickups to give a listen to and get your honest opinion of them. Not everybody likes vanilla ice cream which is why there's that outfit with 31 flavors. It wouldn't upset me if they didn't float your boat in the sea of tonality (wasn't that a Don Gibson tune?) You may have the perfect setup already in you guitar that I'd like to know about, I only have 28 flavors so far.

I dent axe him he jes vol-linn-teared and I tolt him knott tew worry bout sendin any jes yet.

He has a good head on his shoulders and he stans unner watt sum of us muss be goin threw.

He also seems tew haff a good heart sew I say jes wait and be asured he iss a werkin on yer P/U order. With sew many of our TELECASTER pickin heros a liken his product it will be werth it.

Yew all know my opinion on mag-a-nutes rapped roun with sum wire and how I kant stan unner why one wood be better than an udder sew I won't beat no dead horse rite now.

Good luck and chances are yew will luv yer P/Us when they git there.

I wish no ill will on anyone.

Please visit my page

Mickey · April 29th, 2005, 01:30 PM

I won a set of his pups in the sweepstakes. A tall neck and a regular bridge. I don't know exactly what to say except they're fabulous. There isn't a bit of mud in them, articulate, clear, harmonic, interesting. I do clean chime to slight hair and these things are great. I can't comment further on distortion because my ear isn't trained to hear serious breakup.

Hope everybody who wants to ends up with a similarly good experience and that A. Hamel's doing alright.

tellypicker · April 29th, 2005, 03:11 PM

so is Alan taking orders again, and if so, how in the world does one place an order? I emailed this Ron guy a month ago and never heard a peep from him. anybody know how to place an order for a set of Hamels?

stephent2 · April 30th, 2005, 12:50 PM

I'm sure Alan's a great guy, but for us who have ordered, paid $$$ and are waiting with no word, no contact, on some future delivery (for months) whether or not Alan is a fine fellow is not the issue.

It's just good business to let your customers know what's going on with an order.

I ordered & paid knowing it would take months, but I really expect some sort of contact from Alan or Ron, but none of my emails to Ron have been answered.

A great product is more than the bits and pieces, it's also the folks who stand behind the product that determines the real value.

PeterUK · April 30th, 2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephent2

I'm sure Alan's a great guy, but for us who have ordered, paid $$$ and are waiting with no word, no contact, on some future delivery (for months) whether or not Alan is a fine fellow is not the issue.

It's just good business to let your customers know what's going on with an order.

I ordered & paid knowing it would take months, but I really expect some sort of contact from Alan or Ron, but none of my emails to Ron have been answered.

A great product is more than the bits and pieces, it's also the folks who stand behind the product that determines the real value.

The wait has been frustrating although I'm pleased to say that Alan did drop me a note last month suggesting progress was being made and that pick ups were being wound. Also the note I received from another TDPRIer who'd been in touch with Alan recently suggested that the backlog has been satisfied and he'd actually got a stock of pick ups, so I'm hoping the wait won't be much longer.

:D Peter

0le FUZZY · April 30th, 2005, 01:48 PM

[*]stephent2, I haff been here onna NET fer at least 9 years now and haff ceen many P/Us and their makers come and go.

Even before the TDP back in 97 I had been hackin roun the music pages and ceen how folks went on about sum P/U er a nutter.

I haff had many of them sent tew me tew check out and I assume (lou-kout now) they wished an endorsement or a favorable comment of sum sort.

I haff liked them all and like all the wonz I haff but the mistook many make (MHO) iss when they take my werd or any udder of our fine members werds that any pee-tick-yew-ler P/U iss the greatest thang cents sliced bread.

I call all these P/Us the "Flavor of the month" because when sumone tries one out and they are a person of note the small manufactures git hit with big orders and kant keep up with them.

I haff no clue about watt Alan iss doin or watt he iss gonna dew. Alst I kin say iss when yew cee sumbody a goin on about sum P/U tew high heaven jes cornsider the fact that many udder folks issa readin the text and thinkin, "I gotta haff won of them cause Joe Blow says they are the kats meow".

I posted the email segment only tew show folks that he iss there and he iss still doin P/Us.

Time frame of delivery? I haff no clue but I did wait a year once fer a special order 74 Z-28 Camaro. The reason I waited sew long iss because I had ordered a 4 speed and this state had jes decided I couldn't haff a 4 speed for watt ever reason and nobody else in the state could either.

My point iss that stuff happins tew the bess of us from time tew time.

Hang in air !! Lettus know when they arrive and how yew like em onna forum.

0le (sad) FUZZY

stephent2 · April 30th, 2005, 06:16 PM

"stephent2, I haff been here onna NET fer at least 9 years now and haff ceen many P/Us and their makers come and go".

Me too Fuzzy.

I studied and worked as a luthier in the 70s, I had a small guitar company in the 90s and I've been around the block more than once in my 54 years. I've been playing guitars for 44 and seen many a company come and go.

Stuff that happens to us is generally unavoidable, how we respond to stuff is a matter of choice.

"I haff no clue about watt Alan iss doin or watt he iss gonna dew. Alst I kin say iss when yew cee sumbody a goin on about sum P/U tew high heaven jes cornsider the fact that many udder folks issa readin the text and thinkin, "I gotta haff won of them cause Joe Blow says they are the kats meow"."

I'm just search for clues like the rest of us, if the Hamels are the Kats Meow, would I be a Wally if maybe 200 people felt the same?

Put it another way, if someone was posting about how great their Cadillac Escalade is, I would NOT be getting in that line so I'd like to think I'm selective in my desires.*

All that aside, I can't wait to get my Hamels and I'll certainly shout it from the rooftops when I get mine.

blauserk · May 13th, 2005, 04:39 PM

I ordered mine in July 2004. They arrived yesterday. I haven't had a chance to put them in to anything yet, but the set that I got last summer (which inspired me to order a second set) was un-frickin'-believable.

Rick Towne · May 14th, 2005, 12:35 AM

pickup? Is it an hour, a day, two days, a week? I really have no idea, but that information would provide some insight into whether delays of a week, amonth, or ten months (??!!) are reasonable. (Speaking as one who doesn't get paid for services until after they're rendered).

Dave W · May 14th, 2005, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Towne

pickup? Is it an hour, a day, two days, a week? I really have no idea, but that information would provide some insight into whether delays of a week, amonth, or ten months (??!!) are reasonable. (Speaking as one who doesn't get paid for services until after they're rendered).

Should be under an hour for everything, even handwinding at relatively low speed. But winding time is probably not the real issue here. Apparently personal issues have kept him from getting to his orders.

PeterUK · May 17th, 2005, 07:47 AM

...after a 5-month wait, although I did throw a tantrum last week after I heard a rumour about queue jumping and pick ups in stock but not being shipped. Dunno if this is true but after 5-months I did blow and fuse and I was perhaps a little unduly rude and aggressive towards Alan and Ron.

After a 5-months wait and uncalled for "high blood pressure"

I hope the wait has been worth while.

They are due to go into this one:

which is a Brian Poe 1-piece body, Elliot Mechanic neck and period Fender hardware. It's due to have a relic finish but I'm going to put it all together first to ensure it sounds the part before spending $$$$ (well actually ££££

) on a relic finish. Already sounds fantastic acoustically so if the Hamels are as good as everyone says they are, it should be a goodie. 8)

So far this project is 13-months overdue!!

Kingpin · May 17th, 2005, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterUK

... Already sounds fantastic acoustically so if the Hamels are as good as everyone says they are, it should be a goodie. 8)

Peter, with the components you've chosen I'd be surprised if that guitar doesn't sound incredible when completed. :D :D :D

I've stated my views on Hamel pickups before (I have the std. bridge), and here they are in a nutshell:

Anyone who orders a Hamel P.U. (if that's even possible at this point), should be prepared for a frustrating, maddening wait. This shouldn't be news to anyone familiar with this board.

Although Mr. Hamel marches to his own drummer with regards to how he manages his business, he hasn't reneged on filling his orders or taking the money and running - like some other well known folks. Customers should give him the benefit of the doubt that he will fill their orders eventually.

The quality of his work speaks for itself. Anyone who can tick off customers with long waits/no communication and still have them rave about the sound must be delivering the goods with his product.

I experienced all of the above when I ordered my Hamel. I waited. I was frustrated with the lack of communication. I was prepared not to like the pickup because I was irritated with the order process. I installed it and I couldn't deny it was the best Tele Pickup I've ever had.

Would I do it again? I can't really say. There are other PU makers I might explore, but if I had a project with about a year's lead time I might go with the Hamel again.

Skully · May 17th, 2005, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Mine arrived this morning... after a 5-month wait, although I did throw a tantrum last week after I heard a rumour about queue jumping and pick ups in stock but not being shipped. Dunno if this is true but after 5-months I did blow and fuse and I was perhaps a little unduly rude and aggressive towards Alan and Ron.

Given the long wait, the lack of communication, etc., it sounds like you had every right to blow a fuse and read them the riot act. They're the ones who should be publicly apologizing, not you.

People who bend over backwards to make excuses for shoddy business practices are essentially acting as enablers.

PeterUK · May 17th, 2005, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingpin

Would I do it again? I can't really say. There are other PU makers I might explore, but if I had a project with about a year's lead time I might go with the Hamel again.

Hmm. Me too. There are a couple of very, very good UK pick up companies to have emerged in the last 12-months on these shores, so I'd probably end up going that route. But I'll see how these work out.

:D Peter

PS. Although with the grief I've given Alan and Ron in the last 2-weeks, they'd probably tell me to get lost!

Long_Ghost · May 17th, 2005, 02:52 PM

I ordered a Bridge PU in Nov. of 04, no word to date, but I am not too concerned. These things take time. The only problem I have encountered is, I started to really love the sound of my Nocaster bridge PU. Now I'm afraid I'll have to buy another guitar to install the Hamel in.

PeterUK · May 17th, 2005, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long_Ghost

I ordered a Bridge PU in Nov. of 04, no word to date, but I am not too concerned. These things take time. The only problem I have encountered is, I started to really love the sound of my Nocaster bridge PU. Now I'm afraid I'll have to buy another guitar to install the Hamel in.

Be aware that they come with no hardware, e.g. screws, springs or tubing!

Fortunately I've got a supply of all the correct slotted screws for both the bridge and the neck, complete with Brian Poe neck springs. :)

I was also surprised that the neck pick up cover is not relic-ed as requested. The bridge pick up comes beautifully relic-ed but the neck pu cover is new and shiny. :?

They're installed but not wired up yet. Full report soon.

8) Peter

Scotland · May 22nd, 2005, 05:50 AM

Have you installed them yet and if so, what's your verdict ?

PeterUK · May 22nd, 2005, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotland

Have you installed them yet and if so, what's your verdict ?

John

I've installed them but not wired them up yet. The whole guitar is going up to Steve Robinson on Tuesday and he's going to set it up including wiring the pick ups. I want to check that it all works and sounds OK before it then goes off for a relic finish. I don't want to spend lots of money for a relic finish for a guitar that sounds like a lemon!

I'm hoping Steve can turn it around quickly so I can get to hear what the Hamels and the whole guitar sounds like before I spend any more. The relic finish could take 4 - 5-months!

Stay tuned.

:D Peter

Joe-Bob · May 22nd, 2005, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterUK

I don't want to spend lots of money for a relic finish for a guitar that sounds like a lemon!

The relic finish could take 4 - 5-months!

For 5 months, you could be gigging with it, and adding your own -authentic- relic finish.

April 28th, 2005, 09:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
skiraly017 Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA Posts: 674	Who has paid for Hamel pickups and is still waiting? Just curious. __________________ "But right now I need a Telecaster through a Vibrolux turned up to ten."

April 28th, 2005, 11:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
stephent2 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA. Age: 57 Posts: 2,510 20 Photos	I've paid and I've waited about four months. Guess I should just relax, I still have months to go. __________________ ".. Pine cones go in here (points to still), party liquors comes out here and proceed to here (mouth). Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated". -- Earlie Cuyler, Squidbillies

April 29th, 2005, 02:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 2,830	I am but I think they'll be here soon I had a e-mail from a pal who's been in touch with Alan recently and he's just finished a batch and has some in stock so I'm guessing that mine will soon be on they way. :D Peter __________________ .

April 29th, 2005, 02:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 54 Posts: 6,510 3 Photos	__________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !

April 29th, 2005, 01:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mickey Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: L.A., CA Posts: 928	He's a supporter of TDPRI I won a set of his pups in the sweepstakes. A tall neck and a regular bridge. I don't know exactly what to say except they're fabulous. There isn't a bit of mud in them, articulate, clear, harmonic, interesting. I do clean chime to slight hair and these things are great. I can't comment further on distortion because my ear isn't trained to hear serious breakup. Hope everybody who wants to ends up with a similarly good experience and that A. Hamel's doing alright.

April 29th, 2005, 03:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
tellypicker Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 340	so is Alan taking orders again, and if so, how in the world does one place an order? I emailed this Ron guy a month ago and never heard a peep from him. anybody know how to place an order for a set of Hamels? __________________ What would Scooby Do?

April 30th, 2005, 12:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
stephent2 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA. Age: 57 Posts: 2,510 20 Photos	That's nice you received an email Fuzzy, I'm sure Alan's a great guy, but for us who have ordered, paid $$$ and are waiting with no word, no contact, on some future delivery (for months) whether or not Alan is a fine fellow is not the issue. It's just good business to let your customers know what's going on with an order. I ordered & paid knowing it would take months, but I really expect some sort of contact from Alan or Ron, but none of my emails to Ron have been answered. A great product is more than the bits and pieces, it's also the folks who stand behind the product that determines the real value. __________________ ".. Pine cones go in here (points to still), party liquors comes out here and proceed to here (mouth). Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated". -- Earlie Cuyler, Squidbillies

April 30th, 2005, 01:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	[]stephent2,* I haff been here onna NET fer at least 9 years now and haff ceen many P/Us and their makers come and go. Even before the TDP back in 97 I had been hackin roun the music pages and ceen how folks went on about sum P/U er a nutter. I haff had many of them sent tew me tew check out and I assume (lou-kout now) they wished an endorsement or a favorable comment of sum sort. I haff liked them all and like all the wonz I haff but the mistook many make (MHO) iss when they take my werd or any udder of our fine members werds that any pee-tick-yew-ler P/U iss the greatest thang cents sliced bread. I call all these P/Us the "Flavor of the month" because when sumone tries one out and they are a person of note the small manufactures git hit with big orders and kant keep up with them. I haff no clue about watt Alan iss doin or watt he iss gonna dew. Alst I kin say iss when yew cee sumbody a goin on about sum P/U tew high heaven jes cornsider the fact that many udder folks issa readin the text and thinkin, "I gotta haff won of them cause Joe Blow says they are the kats meow". I posted the email segment only tew show folks that he iss there and he iss still doin P/Us. Time frame of delivery? I haff no clue but I did wait a year once fer a special order 74 Z-28 Camaro. The reason I waited sew long iss because I had ordered a 4 speed and this state had jes decided I couldn't haff a 4 speed for watt ever reason and nobody else in the state could either. My point iss that stuff happins tew the bess of us from time tew time. Hang in air !! Lettus know when they arrive and how yew like em onna forum. 0le (sad) FUZZY

April 30th, 2005, 06:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
stephent2 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA. Age: 57 Posts: 2,510 20 Photos	"stephent2, I haff been here onna NET fer at least 9 years now and haff ceen many P/Us and their makers come and go". Me too Fuzzy. I studied and worked as a luthier in the 70s, I had a small guitar company in the 90s and I've been around the block more than once in my 54 years. I've been playing guitars for 44 and seen many a company come and go. Stuff that happens to us is generally unavoidable, how we respond to stuff is a matter of choice. "I haff no clue about watt Alan iss doin or watt he iss gonna dew. Alst I kin say iss when yew cee sumbody a goin on about sum P/U tew high heaven jes cornsider the fact that many udder folks issa readin the text and thinkin, "I gotta haff won of them cause Joe Blow says they are the kats meow"." I'm just search for clues like the rest of us, if the Hamels are the Kats Meow, would I be a Wally if maybe 200 people felt the same? Put it another way, if someone was posting about how great their Cadillac Escalade is, I would NOT be getting in that line so I'd like to think I'm selective in my desires.* All that aside, I can't wait to get my Hamels and I'll certainly shout it from the rooftops when I get mine. __________________ ".. Pine cones go in here (points to still), party liquors comes out here and proceed to here (mouth). Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated". -- Earlie Cuyler, Squidbillies

May 13th, 2005, 04:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
blauserk Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 145	I ordered mine in July 2004. They arrived yesterday. I haven't had a chance to put them in to anything yet, but the set that I got last summer (which inspired me to order a second set) was un-frickin'-believable.

May 14th, 2005, 12:35 AM	#13 (permalink)
Rick Towne Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 819	FWIW, does anyone know how long it takes to wind/assemble a pickup? Is it an hour, a day, two days, a week? I really have no idea, but that information would provide some insight into whether delays of a week, amonth, or ten months (??!!) are reasonable. (Speaking as one who doesn't get paid for services until after they're rendered).

May 17th, 2005, 07:47 AM	#15 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 2,830	Mine arrived this morning... ...after a 5-month wait, although I did throw a tantrum last week after I heard a rumour about queue jumping and pick ups in stock but not being shipped. Dunno if this is true but after 5-months I did blow and fuse and I was perhaps a little unduly rude and aggressive towards Alan and Ron. After a 5-months wait and uncalled for "high blood pressure" I hope the wait has been worth while. They are due to go into this one: which is a Brian Poe 1-piece body, Elliot Mechanic neck and period Fender hardware. It's due to have a relic finish but I'm going to put it all together first to ensure it sounds the part before spending $$$$ (well actually ££££ ) on a relic finish. Already sounds fantastic acoustically so if the Hamels are as good as everyone says they are, it should be a goodie. 8) So far this project is 13-months overdue!! __________________ .

May 17th, 2005, 02:52 PM	#19 (permalink)
Long_Ghost Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Texas Hillcountry Age: 59 Posts: 181 2 Photos	I ordered a Bridge PU in Nov. of 04, no word to date, but I am not too concerned. These things take time. The only problem I have encountered is, I started to really love the sound of my Nocaster bridge PU. Now I'm afraid I'll have to buy another guitar to install the Hamel in.

May 22nd, 2005, 05:50 AM	#21 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 54 Posts: 6,510 3 Photos	Peter Have you installed them yet and if so, what's your verdict ? __________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !