Identify the vintage Kramer I played today...

[Mario8672]

I played a Kramer Striker. The serial # was "S B 8558". What year was it from? Any other info?

thanks

[Metaled1020]

Go to... vintagekramer.com

[Mario8672]

None of their "null" links work. I've tried it.

[Shibs]

Any Kramer that have the S or SB serial numbers are made overseas. I would say yours is either 1987 or 1988. The Striker line was discontinued in early 1989.

Also... Some say that the overseas Strikers were solid body, but this has never really been confirmed! Most of them have however been confirmed to be either laminate or plywood manufactured!

If you must have an old Kramer, buy American... I have two and they play well!

Shibs

[Mario8672]

Any Kramer that have the S or SB serial numbers are made overseas. I would say yours is either 1987 or 1988. The Striker line was discontinued in early 1989.

Also... Some say that the overseas Strikers were solid body, but this has never really been confirmed! Most of them have however been confirmed to be either laminate or plywood manufactured!

If you must have an old Kramer, buy American... I have two and they play well!

Shibs

Thanks!
"Neptune, NJ
USA"

was misleading :P

[straycat]

They were just like the Charvels of the same time period Charvels said FT Worth TX USA Neptune NJ was the home office address of kramer.The S stands for striker B indicates overseas MFG.I have and 85 import striker (plywood body) is not a bad player at all just a tone turd.The neck is killer and the floyd II kicks ass.
I have an 87 E series Kramer American and it is a very high quality guitar.ESP made body and neck assembled in the USA.

[Frigo89]

try to Find a Focus series guitar or an American series.

I personally have a couple of American Series and they are great quality guitars.

I always found the Jackson/Charvel vs. Kramer rivalry stupid, they are both quality manufacturers aslong as you don't get into the cheap shit

words of Advice...

Stay away from any Kramer with 2 letters next to each other in the serial #.

i.e. "SBxxxxx, those will for the most part be plywood or laminate,

but in odd cases, towards the end Kramer "revamped" the Striker line with carved maple bodies (similar in shape to Ibanez) and Floyd Rose Pro tremolos

[Mario8672]

Ah, the neck felt pretty good on this one, I can imagine how much better the USA series would be. :O

[straycat]

If the price is cheap buy it for the neck and then give MOJO bodies a call and get a correct body.

[Mario8672]

Did this guitar come stock with an EMG (silver logo) 81? It has a smooth surface (unlike the newer ones with a rough surface).

[Mario8672]

What I think I'm gonna do is call some of the local pawnbrokers, and ask if they have any guitars. (especially '80s super strats).

[Frigo89]

That guitar should come stock with some POS pickups lol, or old Seymour Duncan Designed Pickups.

Mario, where are you in Ontario?

[Mario8672]

That guitar should come stock with some POS pickups lol, or old Seymour Duncan Designed Pickups.

Mario, where are you in Ontario?

Yea, the EMG must've been an upgrade haha. I'm in Kitchener. Why do you ask?

[Frigo89]

Im about an hour from you, Im in London.

The American series of Kramer came stock with Duncans starting in 86, and came with Schallers from 82 to 86, and Dimarzios in the Aluminum neck era