New Kramers...

[death777]

Re: New Kramers...

You sure? I thought the focus was the cheapest of the line. Well, i'd still get a baretta if i was going to get one. [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[gemini8026]

Re: New Kramers...

I bought one a while back.

A red Scratch and Dent for 199$. I still have the pics kicking around somewhere.

I was excited about it, GREAT price, and I had previously OWNED a JAckson Soloist SL2H that I sold for $$$ reasons.

Anyhow. I modded it a little by adding aftermarket pups to it, as well as a Graphtech nut for better tuning (this was the neckthru fixed bridge version)

Anyhow, I also took it a to a tech because after I tried settin it up, it just WOULD rattle like hell.

The tech told me the fret work was inconsistant and that he owuld have to do some levelling. After all that, it still didnt play too hot. Very uninspiring neck profile to my hands. The finish was bad, it DID have waves and was rather thin. The locking tuners sucked. They would eat the high strings and the finish on them chipped off lightly.

I REALLY wanted the guitar to be a keeper because it was great.

Then I realised something. Why not save some hard earned money and buy something you can be proud of and that will be quality out of the box. Life is too short to piss around with being cheap and all that. If you enjoy guitar, buy something you WANT, not a compromise.

Anyhow, thats my review, I dont wanna come off as totally opposed to it, but it just wasnt very good, and I sold the body off and parts seperately on Ebay.

Save your pennies guys, and buy a used quality instrument on the Bay, you will be better off.

[gemini8026]

Re: New Kramers...

I bought one a while back.

A red Scratch and Dent for 199$. I still have the pics kicking around somewhere.

I was excited about it, GREAT price, and I had previously OWNED a JAckson Soloist SL2H that I sold for $$$ reasons.

Anyhow. I modded it a little by adding aftermarket pups to it, as well as a Graphtech nut for better tuning (this was the neckthru fixed bridge version)

Anyhow, I also took it a to a tech because after I tried settin it up, it just WOULD rattle like hell.

The tech told me the fret work was inconsistant and that he owuld have to do some levelling. After all that, it still didnt play too hot. Very uninspiring neck profile to my hands. The finish was bad, it DID have waves and was rather thin. The locking tuners sucked. They would eat the high strings and the finish on them chipped off lightly.

I REALLY wanted the guitar to be a keeper because it was great.

Then I realised something. Why not save some hard earned money and buy something you can be proud of and that will be quality out of the box. Life is too short to piss around with being cheap and all that. If you enjoy guitar, buy something you WANT, not a compromise.

Anyhow, thats my review, I dont wanna come off as totally opposed to it, but it just wasnt very good, and I sold the body off and parts seperately on Ebay.

Save your pennies guys, and buy a used quality instrument on the Bay, you will be better off.

[quiksilver]

Re: New Kramers...

The heel on the SL-4 does NOT look like the photographed heel from the Kramer. The SL-4 is cut away in a "C" shape, providing fantastic fret access that will spoil you for any other shape (I have 2 SL-4s - both have that same heel). The heel shape on most USA Soloists that I have seen does look like the Kramer's heel.

The SL-4 is a fantastic guitar. Well worth the $700 I paid for each of them. I think the Kramer looks like a nice quality instrument, and I'd get one in a second if they made them in 22 fret versions (like I need another guitar).

One more note: In the olden days (the '80s), the Kramer Focus series was better/pricier than the Kramer Striker series (non-locking tremolos, and I am told, laminated bodies). I had a Focus 1000 (Japanese old EVH-style Baretta copy) and a Charvel Model 2 back in 1984. The Model 2 was a better guitar, but the Focus has more style, with its slanted pickup and graceful, Kramer-style upper bout. I have a Focus 1000 sitting here right now which has a solid maple body (weird, I know - I think they used whatever was handy), and I just bought another on ebay, for $147.50. They do need a pickup replacement. The original Kramer pickup was weak. Otherwise, the guitar is nice and solid.

[quiksilver]

Re: New Kramers...

The heel on the SL-4 does NOT look like the photographed heel from the Kramer. The SL-4 is cut away in a "C" shape, providing fantastic fret access that will spoil you for any other shape (I have 2 SL-4s - both have that same heel). The heel shape on most USA Soloists that I have seen does look like the Kramer's heel.

The SL-4 is a fantastic guitar. Well worth the $700 I paid for each of them. I think the Kramer looks like a nice quality instrument, and I'd get one in a second if they made them in 22 fret versions (like I need another guitar).

One more note: In the olden days (the '80s), the Kramer Focus series was better/pricier than the Kramer Striker series (non-locking tremolos, and I am told, laminated bodies). I had a Focus 1000 (Japanese old EVH-style Baretta copy) and a Charvel Model 2 back in 1984. The Model 2 was a better guitar, but the Focus has more style, with its slanted pickup and graceful, Kramer-style upper bout. I have a Focus 1000 sitting here right now which has a solid maple body (weird, I know - I think they used whatever was handy), and I just bought another on ebay, for $147.50. They do need a pickup replacement. The original Kramer pickup was weak. Otherwise, the guitar is nice and solid.

[shreddin' ED]

Re: New Kramers...

Originally posted by abalonevintage:
For the price of many NEW Kramers you can buy a used Kramer from "SOME" era that is probably money better spent.

-eric

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">i got this b***h for $250
a 1984 pacer which is essentially the same as a '84 baretta with a extra pickup [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
the '84 reissues are $700 new [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]
i am interested in the newer 404 baretta's though? this one in particular with the psycho splatter finish ,

i mean shit $309 new with a graphic aint bad,is this one real good?

[shreddin' ED]

Re: New Kramers...

Originally posted by abalonevintage:
For the price of many NEW Kramers you can buy a used Kramer from "SOME" era that is probably money better spent.

-eric

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">i got this b***h for $250
a 1984 pacer which is essentially the same as a '84 baretta with a extra pickup [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
the '84 reissues are $700 new [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]
i am interested in the newer 404 baretta's though? this one in particular with the psycho splatter finish ,

i mean shit $309 new with a graphic aint bad,is this one real good?

[shreddin' ED]

Re: New Kramers...

Originally posted by lerxstcat:
Dude, a Striker is made of plywood. A Focus is solid wood at least, and is basically a cheaper Baretta. I'd pick a Focus over a Striker myself.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">yeah with the older kramers the strikers were the shittiest,pure [img]graemlins/puke.gif[/img]
some focus models had real floyds and duncans,my bud had one that had a duncan JB and two duncan singles and a OFR stock in his [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[shreddin' ED]

Re: New Kramers...

Originally posted by lerxstcat:
Dude, a Striker is made of plywood. A Focus is solid wood at least, and is basically a cheaper Baretta. I'd pick a Focus over a Striker myself.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">yeah with the older kramers the strikers were the shittiest,pure [img]graemlins/puke.gif[/img]
some focus models had real floyds and duncans,my bud had one that had a duncan JB and two duncan singles and a OFR stock in his [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[shreddin' ED]

Re: New Kramers...

hey what does music yo mean by
Description:

Kramer Baretta guitars are designed with the professional in mind. With a 3-piece laminated hard Maple THRU-neck and solid Alder body wings"

[img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

WTF is a laminated neck? and body wings?

[shreddin' ED]

Re: New Kramers...

hey what does music yo mean by
Description:

Kramer Baretta guitars are designed with the professional in mind. With a 3-piece laminated hard Maple THRU-neck and solid Alder body wings"

[img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

WTF is a laminated neck? and body wings?

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: New Kramers...

I'm assuming that they mean that 3 or more pieces of wood are laminated together to make the neck(usually with grains that are different, to prevent warpage), and body wings are the two sides of the body that are glued to the piece of wood making the neck and the centerpiece of the body, thus completing the guitar.

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: New Kramers...

I'm assuming that they mean that 3 or more pieces of wood are laminated together to make the neck(usually with grains that are different, to prevent warpage), and body wings are the two sides of the body that are glued to the piece of wood making the neck and the centerpiece of the body, thus completing the guitar.

[shreddin' ED]

Re: New Kramers...

Originally posted by Boxcar Willie 84:
I'm assuming that they mean that 3 or more pieces of wood are laminated together to make the neck(usually with grains that are different, to prevent warpage), and body wings are the two sides of the body that are glued to the piece of wood making the neck and the centerpiece of the body, thus completing the guitar.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">thanks that makes sense now [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[shreddin' ED]

Re: New Kramers...

Originally posted by Boxcar Willie 84:
I'm assuming that they mean that 3 or more pieces of wood are laminated together to make the neck(usually with grains that are different, to prevent warpage), and body wings are the two sides of the body that are glued to the piece of wood making the neck and the centerpiece of the body, thus completing the guitar.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">thanks that makes sense now [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]