• s ome people have baby and pet pictures on their refrigerator. Not Bernie Hamburger and his wife, Diane. The couple display snap- shots of Bernie with legendary gui- tarists from the world of rock. SHARON LUCKERMAN In one shot, George Harrison Editorial Assistant is holding a hand-made guitar Hamburger crafted for him. The for- mer Beatle is just one of many per- formers who own a "Hamburguitar." Others include Andy Sommers (the Police), Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Ronni Le Tekro (TNT) and Carl Perkins. For 30 years, Hamburger balanced a split-shift career: autoworker at Detroit .Ford Motor Michigan Truck Company by day, guitar maker at night and on weekends. This past January, Hamburger downshifted to his dream job. He retired from Ford with a lifetime: pen- sion and medical insurance, and this month moved from Hamburger an Westland, Mich.,- to former Beatle Las Vegas, Nev., into George Harrison: "I saw the Beat a home he built, on The where he'll craft his Sullivan Show," says Hamburger, specialized guitars. "and fell in love He also hopes to play with Beatlemania." in a rock Cn' roll band. So how did this nice Jewish autoworker originally from the Bronx Bernie Hamburger followed his dream; the former autoworker now meet former Beatles and other famous makes guitars for the likes of George Harrison and Carl Perkins. musicians? LOTS OF PLUCK Lots Of Pluck on page 83 5/26 2000 X