Jol Dantzig

Jolyon C. Dantzig (Jol Dantzig) is known as a guitar designer, guitarist, luthier, and one of the founders of Hamer Guitars.

Biography

A native of Evanston, Illinois, Jolyon (Jol) Dantzig began playing guitar and piano in grade school. He studied guitar with local teachers, most notably local blues guitarist Michael Bloomfield. Dantzig attended Evanston Township High School where he studied photography. Dantzig continued his art education at the Art Institute of Chicago. While still in his early twenties, he became a touring musician, playing guitar, bass and singing in numerous rock and R&B bands. Dantzig also supported himself by buying and selling used guitars and running a band equipment rental company.

In 1970, Dantzig became a partner in Northern Prairie Music, one of the first shops selling "vintage" instruments to professional musicians and collectors. Northern Prairie was started by Craig Hendee. Hendee's protégé was a young guitarist named Paul Hamer. Dantzig met Hendee and Hamer through a mutual friend. Dantzig became a partner in the business after Hendee left.

In 1973 Dantzig along with repairman John Montgomery, built a custom bass guitar. They began supplying custom guitars directly to musicians via the Northern Prairie storefront and through advertisements in Guitar Player magazine under the "Hamer" name in 1974. Hamer Guitars was incorporated in 1976.

During the 1970s and 80s Hamer Guitars grew in size and reputation. During this period Dantzig designed instruments for many of biggest names in music including all four The Beatles, three of The Rolling Stones and every member of The Pretenders, Def Leppard and The Police. Hamer Guitars was acquired by Kaman Music (a distribution firm) in 1988. Kaman Music (and Hamer Guitars) was acquired by Fender Musical Instruments Inc. in 2007. [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/30/business/fi-fender30] , LA Times.]

In 1993 Dantzig relocated to northern California to start the Dantzig Design Group, a graphic design and Internet content company. He also served as a consultant to Kaman Music and a host of other music industry companies.

Dantzig returned to Hamer as Technical Director in 1997 when the facility was moved to Connecticut. Dantzig is active in the design and manufacture of Hamer's high-end custom guitars, as well as developing products for other clients via his Dantzig Design company.

Dantzig's hobby is collecting, working on and racing vintage sports cars.

Dantzig currently resides in Connecticut where he is the Technical Director for Hamer Guitars, and owner of Dantzig Design Group.

Guitar building achievements

One of Hamer Guitar's most famous pieces is an orange five-neck guitar built in 1981 for Rick Nielsen of the band Cheap Trick. This guitar was exhibited at the Boston Museum of Fine Art. Some of Dantzig's other designs were also featured in an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution.

Musical achievements

Although Dantzig was busy with his various business ventures, he has remained an active musician. Over the years he has written and performed music for several feature films including "End of the Line" and "Another Saturday Night." His guitar and vocal work appears on recordings by Freddy Scott, Buddy Guy, Wilson Pickett, Frank Black, Jim Carrol and Shaw-Blades.

External links

* [http://www.guitarguru.typepad.com/ Hamer Guru Blog]
* [http://www.hamerguitars.com/?fa=guitars Official site of Hamer Guitars]
* [http://www.guitargurus.com/ Jol Dantzig Guru Tour]
* [http://www.guitardesigner.com Custom Guitar Gallery]
* [http://www.dantzig.com/ Jol Dantzig Website]

References