Gust0o

Music existed before the theory of it ever did. Make of that what you will

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Schwing! Looks very nice, mate

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1357231700' post='1919508'] You obviously aren't aware of what actually happened - Fender actually started the process of closing Hamer down almost as soon as they bought them. They stopped Hamer producing guitars to supply to shops & turned them into a "special order only" outfit. How the hell is a guitar maker supposed to keep up a profile & sell guitars if the owner stops them supplying shops with their instruments? [/quote] Perhaps they had prospered nicely, as you say - but their original operation clearly didn't fit with Fender's wider business plan, or their intents if they made the decision so quickly. The above sounds like a rationalisation exercise, from what you've said RhysP - Fender pulling them back to what is, perhaps, a core strength. Others have noted their boutique nature and quality, so why not? In terms of the mass market, they weren't a brand fit to compete in the way that Fender itself does - perhaps Fender thought the spare production could be better utilised for other purposes, or assets sold on to recoup on costs. And, in any case, would Fender want a Hamer sub-brand challenging their main lines? I'm not so sure, unless there were some real differentiation. There are a whole host of reasons why Fender might make that decision very early in the deal, and not simply to put a 'competitor' out of business. This type of move is very common in business. Just musing, maybe shedding a light on some decisions which might otherwise seem bizarre - I'd quite like a look at Fender's strategy, mind, out of professional interest

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[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1357229114' post='1919438'] I've worked in manufacturing and maintaining small volume products is particularly easy or profitable. A lot of the time it just doesn't make financial sense. [/quote] Maintaining the methods of mass production for small volumes is the killer. Works for craft production, in the small-volume/high-end space, but you have to cut your cloth accordingly - you can't have production sat idle. I think the market killed Hamer. People were likely just not buying them in the same volumes as in previous periods, and someone made a commercial decision.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1357227470' post='1919400'] I get a lot of that from the current mrs discreet.[/quote]

This is mine...

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Ooh, very nice Mudpup - will be back to coo over the pics

I love that Black Jazz, Chris - looks stunning, right up my street! You have a wonderful collection

I could go down to one, in which case it would be my trusty Lakland DJ4 - well, one of them, anyway! I'm just very unlikely to go down to just one. I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to own more, in a time when I can, and I enjoy the variety - each to their own

[quote name='Geddys nose' timestamp='1356784369' post='1913534'] Lol Yes same User name and Password! [/quote] Hmm... not that I could suggest any of it... but this could be an ideal opportunity.

Baroness - Yellow/Green.

... but then it should be, as it's £78,200 OTR! Nice though. I need to get promoted. And promoted. And promoted...

[quote name='ern500evo' timestamp='1356778655' post='1913441'] Having said that, a friend of mine has an S8 with that V10 engine which they now use in the RS6 and its a beast of an engine( it sounds incredible!). [/quote] I bet that's one hell of a car!

What are you on about?! You could get the Motörhead PA in there! With three girls in the back!

It might, just about - I put my double gig bag in diagonally, and that fits. The only challenge is that the seats are at an angle, and there's a pillar across the back - which supports the seats, and contains the cargo shelf cover and dog mesh. It's deeper at the bottom than the top. If you wanted the case in, without issues, just drop a seat.

And, for comparison, an A4 - this is a 53 plate, 2.0 TFSI. It's the wife's, and is regularly found lugging bits and pieces of outdoor and horsey equipment. So... like the A6, it won't fit the case flat without some adjustment, but is a pretty useful space. Naturally, like all Audi's, reliability is great - which is good, as parts can be expensive when not - and should run for 100k-200k, easily enough. Felt more helpful than regaling you with tales of just how much equipment I used to fit in smaller previous cars

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1356429631' post='1910113'] I have an Avant A6 Quattro. There is no chance of fitting 3 normal-length bass hard cases in the boot, you will have to put part of the rear seat down. Why 4WD? There's no way you'd want to take one of these off-road. [/quote] And to the case (geddit?!) in point... So, the A6. This model is a 2010 Le Man S-line. Won't fit the case directly, but the boot is large in any case and pretty cavernous with the seats and down and pillar removed.

[quote name='Dubs' timestamp='1356394820' post='1910016'] Estate. I've had a lot of cars over the last couple of years through work - A3, A4, A5, A6, Octavia, Superb, Fabia, 1 Series - and the biggest factor when it comes to transporting gear is how easy it is to get in and out of the boot. An estate with a flat loading boot is unbeatable IMO. When I have to buy my own car again that's what I'll be looking for. The Skodas are unbeatable value for money IMO - they feel as good as the Audis but less than 2/3 the price, especially the Superb, great car. [/quote] There's a Superb near me, and it looks stunning. The Exeo's not a bad call. The only likely difference will be in trim quality and branding.

Surprised not more love for the Volvos - some bargains on Autotrader, if you're not snobbish about the mileage!

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1356388104' post='1909950'] Skoda Octavia estate, bigger storage space than the Audi A4. An awful lot of quality car for not a lot of cash (relatively speaking). [/quote] Same boot space as the Passat - which is probably about the same as the A6. The A4 is definitely smaller. If you have a heavy foot, you'll like the VRS - and they're pretty cheap to pick up. Thinking back to when we went car shopping, the only really disappointing car was the BMW 3-series Tourer - which had a tiny boot for an estate; though an upgrade to a 5 might sort that, and the old 520 was regularly touted by pundits.