Hamer Blitz bass?

[W1_Pro]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187850638336

 

This is an odd thing. It would be very cheap for an actual Blitz bass. I can't find a pic of a Blitz online that looks quite like this one. They seem to have a straight 'P' type headstock whereas this has the droopy/raked (delete as applicable) Explorer type. In fact, the bass is the very image of an Epiphone Explorer save for the Hamer transfer on the headstock. Right down to the shape of the scratchplate.  Anyone with any knowledge of these things care to share an opinion?

[Mudpup]

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Edited January 1 by Mudpup

[Mudpup]

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Edited January 1 by Mudpup

[Mudpup]

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Edited January 1 by Mudpup

[Bassassin]

On 01/01/2026 at 14:40, W1_Pro said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187850638336

 

This is an odd thing. It would be very cheap for an actual Blitz bass. I can't find a pic of a Blitz online that looks quite like this one. They seem to have a straight 'P' type headstock whereas this has the droopy/raked (delete as applicable) Explorer type. In fact, the bass is the very image of an Epiphone Explorer save for the Hamer transfer on the headstock. Right down to the shape of the scratchplate.  Anyone with any knowledge of these things care to share an opinion?

 

I don't know nuffink about these but I did find this, which calls itself a 2001 Hamer Standard Explorer bass, which is pretty much the same instrument as the Ebay one.

https://www.loudandclearmusic.com/shop/c/p/HAMER-STANDARD-EXPLORER-4-STRING-BASS-2001-x88149777.htm

 

I'd guess this is a sort-of reissue of the 80s Blitz (which as I mentioned, I know nuffink about) but much closer to being an unashamed Explorer knockoff, and likely Korean or Indonesian, considering the vintage. There are some minor differences from the Epi Explorer (trc, screw positions, pickups, bridge etc) but it may well be they're both variations of the same thing, from the same factory.

 

The description's a pack of lies - he's trying to fob it off as an original US-made bass when you can actually see there's a country of origin (not legible, but absolutely NOT USA) under the serial number!

 

Googled 'Hamer Explorer bass' & there are loads. Heres one, 2010, Korean.

 

https://www.vintageandrare.com/product/Hamer-Standard-Explorer-Bass-2010-Black-Finish-87420#prettyPhoto

 

I now know much more about these than I previously did... 

 

[W1_Pro]

Ahhh....interesting. Thanks @Bassassin. Thats good information.

[tauzero]

Another point is that every single image of a Blitz bass shows them with PJ pickups, not twin soapbars. And the Blitz doesn't have a scratchplate. However, the Hamer Explorer has twin soapbars and a white scratchplate with what I assume is a pickup selector switch.

[tauzero]

Messaged him to say it was an Explorer not a Blitz, and he's messaged me back to say Hamer never made an Explorer, that was Gibson, 100% it's a Blitz and he has a collection of Hamer from 20 years of running a Def Leppard tribute. I've messaged him back to suggest he googles Hamer Explorer.

[tauzero]

Well, that went downhill quickly. "Do you want to buy it or are you just being a clever dick?". So I said I was just telling him he'd described it wrong, and he was too arrogant for me to buy anything from him.

[W1_Pro]

9 hours ago, tauzero said:

Messaged him to say it was an Explorer not a Blitz, and he's messaged me back to say Hamer never made an Explorer, that was Gibson, 100% it's a Blitz and he has a collection of Hamer from 20 years of running a Def Leppard tribute. I've messaged him back to suggest he googles Hamer Explorer.

That'll teach you...trying to be helpful and factual...He's had Hamer basses since Adam was a lad you know.

[W1_Pro]

8 hours ago, tauzero said:

Well, that went downhill quickly. "Do you want to buy it or are you just being a clever dick?". So I said I was just telling him he'd described it wrong, and he was too arrogant for me to buy anything from him.

Its a weird one, eh? Its up for £700 quid and some change. I don't think thats a bad price for a Hamer Explorer. Why insist on describing it as something that its obviously not? I mean he might have thought it was a Blitz when he bought it, he might have always called it a Blitz and never been contradicted before- these are unusual basses after all- but now he's been told and presented with evidence that it's not actually a Blitz but something else, which is still probaby worth what he wants, he gets the hump. Truly there is nowt so strange as folks.