Anybody try to order Hamels recently?

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by stephent2

Peter, Guess you missed the point. Ain't no thing tho. We'll live.

Stephen

What do you think I missed? Please help me.

I've re-read you post. Are you referring to this?

Originally Posted by stephent2

It's kind of like saying we who love our Hamels are total idiots and don't know tone. It would a bit more responsible to say that you hated the set you received and leave it at that.

Be assured, when I heard Pete's "Call Home" I could relate to that tone. Same with Bill Hullett's description of tone and I've got his CD as a benchmark. I've also played a Mexican tele through a good amp, and that's the tone my Hamels deliver to me. $10 tone for an investment of $350!

I discussed the Hamel tone with my good friend Scotland and he described a great sound from his Hamels, despite Mr. Hamel coming to this board and describing John's heritage in a very racist manner when he [Scotland] expressed his views on the so called customer service. BUT he ended up with quality pick ups.

I actually EXPECTED crap customer service BUT expected great pick ups. I GOT crap customer service but got crap pick ups.

I'm not picking a fight. Believe me my friend. we've aired this in public and private. BUT my Hamels are $10 pick ups.

Peter

[RBrooks]

I think their is some validity in what both partys are saying. It reminds me of a man I knew who is no longer with us who was a luthier, he was unfortunately a gifted man with a flaw, he loved the fruit of the grape. When he was his sober self he turned out some wonderful instruments but when he had enjoyed the grape to much which in his later years was an all to common event he ruined things on a regular basis and eventually destroyed his reputation. I still miss him and would still be taking some repair work to him, why? Because he was a human being with flaws just like the rest of us, and sometimes forgiving each other of these flaws and mistakes are the best thing that we can do.

I don't know that this applies to Alan Hamel at all, I do know I personally have gotten some really good pickups and a couple of so-so sets which I think is pretty much the norm when you are handwinding pickups or building guitars one at a time.

I wish Alan the best , we always seem to want more and sometimes we just don't need it, so I will continue to enjoy the Hamel's Ive got
and not think about the one's I did'nt get . Season Greetings to all

[Falstaff]

Wow...people get really defensive about this stuff sometimes.

[stephent2]

Peter, It's a thing called "Tact". We have Emily Post to thank for our manners, I don't know who you'all have.

http://www.emilypost.com/

I've learned over the years of internet posting to avoid diss-ing someone else's gear (not easy for an opinionated guy like me), even when I strongly disagree. For instance, I stay away from Ovation threads on the acoustic forums I visit. What do I care if someone loves their Ovation, I'm not going to rain on their parade.

I know you have an agenda, that is to diss Hamel every chance that arises to pay him back for your disappointment. The wound that never heals I guess. Here's to better times.

S.

[Durtdog]

Well, no matter how tactfully Peter states it or how much he tries to avoid offending sensitive types about their own gear, he has a right to "dis" his own set of pickups that he paid for himself. I think he has a valid point--no matter how distasteful his experience was to others, it was HIS experience.

[stephent2]

Originally Posted by Durtdog

Well, no matter how tactfully Peter states it or how much he tries to avoid offending sensitive types about their own gear, he has a right to "dis" his own set of pickups that he paid for himself. I think he has a valid point--no matter how distasteful his experience was to others, it was HIS experience.

Of course. And it's my right to respond to his assertion that Hamels are rubbish and my right to suggest PeterUK has an agenda beyond tone.

If I hated mine so much I guaran-damn-ty ya they'd be out of my guitar and I'd be on to the next whiskey bar.

AND, I'm a musician, if I weren't a "sensitive type" I'd be lousy at my job.

[benmeza]

...man you folks sure are cranky some times.



FWIW, I had tried to order some Hamels recently and got no response either. I ended up going with the Stuarts which I am very excited to receive in a few weeks. I had a pair of Hamels I ordered from Alan way back when he was still working with Ron and I didn't know about the Stuarts yet. Mine took about 6 months and the wait was worth it(fantastic pickups), but I'm confident Fred can put out a similar quality pickup. If I wanted another pair of Hamels I would just snatch a used pair up and pay the premium....but I doubt it will come to that after I put the Stuarts in my new tele project.

I mean Fred & Alan worked at the custom shop together and started their own pickup line together(A&F) so I'm sure there aren't too many tricks Alan has that Fred doesn't know about as well.

[E.D. Patton]

I put a set of GVCG/Lollars in my pinecaster and I've been happy ever since.

Kinda pricey, but you can sure where your money went!

And Jonathan is a real gentleman, total straight shooter. Got my PUPS in less than a week.

Jonathan and Dale Clark at Glendale Guitars are two of the nicest men I've ever done business with and it just makes playing that guitar a happy experience.

Peter Florance is also supposed to be great to deal with and makes a superb product. I don't know why people deal with Hamel and his shady operation.

Jonathan also sent me a free copy of his album "Frankie Ray" with the order and it hasn't left my CD changer since.

Consider this an unqualified rave review.

[Scotland]

Let me just say, if Peter thinks they are crap then they ARE crap...for him. Peter may have been very unfortunate to receive a "bad" set, it happens but I certainly know him well enough to believe every word he types here and that leads me to think he may have had a rough diamond deal. He has played through quality pickups for some time and they have been fitted on very high quality guitars so he knows of what he speaks. Personally, I really wanted to hate the sound of them for reasons I won't go into but instead I loved them and still do. That said, there are times I prefer the OV ones on another Tele, mostly depending on which type of music I am playing and what mood my ears are in. I'm just glad and grateful that I am able to choose and that my choices are exactly that.
Regardless of whether or not anyone's pickups are best, better or worse than any others, I'm glad we all have different tastes in everything. Fortunately, we all love Telecasters here .. regardless of what pickups are installed.

[Falstaff]

Could great men thunder
As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,
For every pelting, petty officer
Would use his heaven for thunder;
Nothing but thunder! Merciful Heaven,
Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt
Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak
Than the soft myrtle: but man, proud man,
Drest in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he's most assured,
His glassy essence, like an angry ape,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens,
Would all themselves laugh mortal.

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by stephent2

...PeterUK has an agenda beyond tone.

Ah! That's what you think. OK. BUT you're wrong.

All I wanted, after spending $350, was a good set of pick ups, and mine are lousy. I have a very classy guitar which I'll need to spend significant bucks on to make it toneful like my other beauties. $350 down the drain doesn't leave a very good taste in the mouth.

Originally Posted by stephent2

AND, I'm a musician, if I weren't a "sensitive type" I'd be lousy at my job.

Me too!

Thanks for the support guys. Clearly, quite a few of you understand that, after paying $350 for a set of indifferent pick ups, I'm a little unhappy. And will that change just because someone believes my opinion is not valid.

Answers on a postcard please!

Peter

[stephent2]

Originally Posted by PeterUK

Ah! That's what you think. OK. BUT you're wrong.

All I wanted, after spending $350, was a good set of pick ups, and mine are lousy. I have a very classy guitar which I'll need to spend significant bucks on to make it toneful like my other beauties. $350 down the drain doesn't leave a very good taste in the mouth.



Me too!

Thanks for the support guys. Clearly, quite a few of you understand that, after paying $350 for a set of indifferent pick ups, I'm a little unhappy. And will that change just because someone believes my opinion is not valid.

Answers on a postcard please!

Peter

OK Peter, riddle me this, why do you still own (at least) one set of Hamels? I'm certain many posters on this forum (me included) would trade you out and try to make you happy (like you use to be).

Let's do it and be over with all this!

Stephen

[Falstaff]

Having it be over would be nice, being the holiday season and all.

[68tele]

Man, if I didn't have a conscience, I'd start up my own hypno-mystery-aftermarket-hameltique Parts $hoppe in a heartbeat: Look!...Look into my hype!...You are getting stoopid - oops, I mean sleepy...Now, send me $350, nay, $500 for these magical pickups/parts...pay no mind to fools who dare slag me, they are not worthy!...C'mon, you know you want them...for with them you will rule the world...fame and fortune await!

DISCLAIMER: Dear suckers, sending money to us voids all of your rights. Empty boxes will be shipped within ten years of receipt of payment. Maybe. Maybe not. Attempts to contact us will result in laughter on our part, anger and frustration on your part.

[stephent2]

BTW, I never spent any more than $240 for a set of Hamels, how did the magical price escalate?

For those that are out $$ for pickups here's the last contact info I have on Alan. Good Luck.

Alan Hamel
26907 Beaumont Ave.
Redlands, CA. 92373
(909) 793-1085

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by stephent2

BTW, I never spent any more than $240 for a set of Hamels, how did the magical price escalate?

1. Relic-ing, although only the bridge pick up came relic-ed.
2. International shipping

Peter

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by stephent2

OK Peter, riddle me this, why do you still own (at least) one set of Hamels?

Missed this one. Because they are unsellable.

Peter

[stephent2]

Originally Posted by PeterUK

Missed this one. Because they are unsellable.

Peter

Now I know you're pulling me leg, unless you crushed them in a vise they are very sell-able.

[Drak]

Hypothetical question.

Your boutique pickups are squelch for tone, but very expensive, wound by a guy with a huge well known reputation.

You sell them fully well knowing what you can get for them, but you also know they are not nearly up to what everyone expects when they spend that kind of money.

Would you be just as guilty if only on a morality base alone, as the winder who did the squelch job in the first place?

You could choose either 'the buck stops here', or 'let's pass the buck along, as long as I get mine back, it's OK'.

Hypothetical question only.


PS, I'm wondering ...with a guy of this magnitude of reputation, why, if one thought they were in some way defective, couldn't you send them back for replacement (I understand it might take a year or three to get a new set )
I read almost ALL boutique builders are some of the BEST retailers out there at backing up their work and will take returns and work with a customer until he/she is as happy as a singing lark in a tree with the product.
If any average boutique winder out there will honor a return policy like that, why wouldn't the Supreme Deity of Winding not offer the same, if not better, customer service?

Just a question.

[KarlH]

Originally Posted by PeterUK

Missed this one. Because they are unsellable.

Peter