K-Gold

Kramer had released a lineup of 50th Anniversary guitars which are actually current production models finished in gold. Why gold? Because the 50th Anniversary is also known as the golden anniversary. My favourite is the Night Swan depicted above; I actually like seeing this model in it brighter / lighter colours. 

Pic: Kramer

GT Deluxe

Kramer now has this Deluxe GT. A no-frills guitar aimed at similar conceptions by Charvel & Ibanez, among others. One more time, I do not wish to say much about any Kramer developments here because we know how indifferent & detached the Kramer dealer here is. They are doing well with music education which has a wider commercial reach as opposed to an acute focus on guitars. For the record, it's Cristofori Music. 

Pic: Kramer

Volante (2)

I don't know why I missed this out the last time - Kramer's new Volante model is also offered in a single-action whammy bridge. The neck single coil there is an in-house Triton model which is hum cancelling. Once again, I'm calling out the local Kramer dealer here for the lack of enthusiasm & deserving goodwill. It's good that we have a local Kramer dealer here but things are just not happening in terms of availability.

Pic: Kramer

Volante

Kramer has the new Volante model flying its shred-friendly flag. 

It has a quilt top variant to entice you in equal parts. Pickups are Kramer's own Neptune humbuckers & the bridge is an FR1000 unit. Still trying to figure out why the Volante is a necessary release in view of the numerous shred-tastic models Kramer has in its catalogue. On a personal note, I associate Kramer with the pointy / banana-esque headstock, this headstock design is a no go for me.

Pics: Kramer

No / not yet?

Walked past Cristofori a couple of days ago - no Kramers in sight. I sincerely hope it's a matter of not yet instead of none. A friend highlighted the fact that Cristofori makes money through its music courses & lessons. Selling instruments is a secondary business. This is why I believe in supporting music stores which are true to their cause instead of establishments like this. It also highlighted the fact that for a big name like Gibson, only certain distributors here can truly represent the brand in terms of intent. Imagine having the '84s & Night Swans in store for you to try & renew your Kramer inclinations. Not in the mean time, I guess.

$399 vs $399

Same price, interesting considerations. If you are in the market for a trustworthy entry-level guitar, these two might just be the value-for-money instruments you would want to shortlist.

The LTD MH-10 is the epitome of comfort & playability. The only possible dispirited outcome here might be the pickups which serve overdrive & distortion better than clean settings. 

The Kramer Focus VT-211S has lots of tonal versatility on board due to its HSS pickup combo. I like everything about it less the tuners. You might wanna look into replacing those for some peace of mind during performances. 

DISCLAIMER: I tried this guitar when it was still available at Swee Lee. Back in the day, these were easily some of the most affordable starter models out there & they used to list for $200 +/- no kidding. Now that Cristofori Music is listing them for $399 with no upgrades in instrument components, we might be compelled to consider a Bacchus / Aria just to weigh in on the value-for-money consideration.

 

Pics: ESP / Kramer

Kramer @ SG

We now know where Kramer guitars are sold here - Cristofori Music. I sincerely hope these four models are not the only ones made available, hopefully more to come. Also hoping this Kramer episode would give a more positive picture of what Cristofori has to offer in terms of distributorship & customer relations. I would really want to forget about the SOLAR episode but it takes time (for me at least).

Pic: Cristofori Music SG

 

'84 HH

So the Kramer camp decided the '84 deserves a neck pickup & it happened. In addition to this detail, the guitar also features two mini switches for split coil applications. This ebony fretboard version comes with a maple veneer.

You can also get the maple fretboard alternative but these come in  non-veneered tops featuring solid colours instead. Giving the '84 a neck pickup is good for tone variation but this feature, together with the mini toggle switches simply killed the inherent '84 vibe - simplicity & focus. 

We already know the new Gibson & Epiphone distributors, waiting for a certain commercial music establishment here to announce their dealership for Kramer but it looks like another case of sheer disinterest. 

 Pics: Kramer

Kramer PUs

Gibson & Kramer are scratching each other's backs. But heck, Gibson owns Kramer so what's happening on the pickup front is actually Gibson flexing its production muscle & using the Kramer name at their behest. This is why you see Kramer pickups being offered as standalone products now.

Take this as an example - we know high output pickups won't get Gibson anywhere on the sale front. If you think 'Gibson', you have vintage tones in mind. Models like the 500T & Dirty Fingers don't get sold by the truckload unlike their Burstbucker counterparts. Gibson being a business entity, strives to have a share of the higher output pickups market which names like Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio & Bare Knuckle have no problems dealing with. So you see here an Eruption pickup under the Kramer monicker which fits in easily into the high octane overdrive front like its aforementioned brand name counterparts. Is anyone else doing this - ie, riding on a sub-brand - to actually propel their primary interest? Of course - Fender - Charvel. You don't see Strats with Floyds & locking nuts plus high output pickups at the helm these days, yes? These are all Charvels now. Gotcha.

And we bid farewell to the first month of 2024 👋

Pics: Kramer

Hale Voyager

Pic: Kramer

A new one from the Kramer camp - a Lzzy Hale signature model called the Voyager. It's extra pointy & will invite knocks & dents very easily. Bridge is an FR1000, coupled with the in-house Kramer 85-T humbucker, should not make this an extravagantly priced instrument. Single pickup, 22 frets - my kind of features. FR bridge - not interested. Keep in mind that Lzzy has a signature Epiphone Explorer as well.

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Erupt-bucker?

Pic: Gibson / Kramer

There's always a gainful return with any Van Halen associations - amplifiers, pedals & guitars, obviously. Looks like Kramer (to a larger extent, Gibson) would want a share of the proverbial Eddie pie. They are working closely with VH's ex-tech, Jim DeCola to manifest brown sounding humbuckers, to put it loosely. The way I see it, bearing the Kramer name is an easy excuse for a VH association as the late man himself embraced Kramer along the way. It's like, Eddie did some Kramer time back then & we should know better because we are Kramer. It's a semi-perilous endeavour because VH never sought after Kramer's expertise back then for his pickup needs, he tinkered & it paid off. 

Anyway, EVH has good pickups to deliver the brown sound. My rather recent experience with the '78 Eruption (Striped Series) can attest to that. Also, Seymour Duncan did well with the '78 humbuckers. Gentle reminder - these are the various manufacturer's interpretation of what makes a good VH-like tone. To say one manufacturer stands out above all else in this engagement is a little myopic.

The other Mustaines

The Epiphone version of Daove Mustaine's V is finally released. Would be a hit with the fanboys, definitely as this costs way lesser than the Gibson counterpart. Good thing - Seymour Duncans are retianed.

If you wish for a sharper set of body horns, then the Kramer version might be your thing. Seymour Duncans also retained here. To me, the Kramer version is unnecessary, Mustaine did it for Gibson, Kramer is virtually riding the hype. Then again, they are all in the same brand family. 

Pics: Epiphone / Kramer

Strikers!

Kramer recently launched a trio of affordable, Floyd Rose equipped guitars seen above. If they are available here, they would be in the sub-$500 price bracket. Then again, they won't be available here any time soon. Buy them online & have them shipped over, you say? Not worth it considering the shipment charges are about $100+/- (DHL / FedEX). 

Pic: Kramer online

Price watch (36)

Wow... a custom built Kramer going for under $1K. I'm unaware Kramer has a custom order division currently for us to spec our dream guitars. The Pacer C II that I know of was manufactured in the late 1980s, it was discontinued in 1989. Kramer was bankrupt in 1990. It is currently under the ownership of Gibson & the Epiphone arm of the business is handling production. Then again, 'custom' here is loosely used & probably refers to self-assembled guitars with the liberty of having well-known brands at the headstock. 

There are currently no serial numbers to be found at the rear of the headstock / neck bolt plate.

I certainly have issues coming to terms with details highlighting costly replacement parts, which are proving to be an implied bargain, as the highlight of any sale as opposed to an assurance of authenticity.

On the other hand, there is another Pacer C II listed for much more.

Unlike its counterpart, there is a serial number on the neck bolt plate & the Kramer logo there is more convincing. On that note, if you know of any other Pacer Custom II with a maple fretboard & a reversed headstock, please link me to it; I wouldn't want to disrepute anyone out there with misinformation. So friends, if you are interested in the blue version, please exercise some caution before parting with good money.

SM-1H

I'm seriously GASing for this new one by Kramer - the SM-1H. They already have the SM-1, it's an HSS guitar but this one is a simple beauty. Mahogany (body / neck) & ebony (fretboard) is a good combo. This one's a neck-through design & sports a slim taper neck profile so it's primed for shred but maybe that gloss finish might get in the way but it's not a deal breaker. A FR1000 bridge also means it's not quite a beginner model then again, it's not mid-priced as well. Pickup - Duncan JB. The only make / break consideration here is, I believe, is the inlay. Personally, I hate them. OK not to say too much because Kramer is a brand under Gibson & the Gibson status here in this country is still very hazy - what's really happening? Your guess is as good as mine

Pic: Kramerforum

Vin Man @ Kramer

This pretty much ends Vinnie Moore's relationship with Dean. We wait with bated breath as to the coming Kramer enticements.

Pic: VM @ FB

Graphic

Darn cool release - Kramer's Custom Graphic series. These just scream 80s.

This Baretta example is one of the best representative of that era. We can, in the mean time, hope these will make it here because even the non-custom graphic ones are nowhere to be seen despite the updates (current status - unavailable, acquisition upon request). 

On that note, despite being unavailable (online store status), the VT-211S is available in-store @ Swee Lee's Bras Basah branch (correct as at 10th July 2021, Saturday). Yours for $199 but bring / get your own bag.

Pics: Kramer

Kramer @ SL

Alright folks, more Kramer guitars are starting to be available at Swee Lee. These are re-emergence models; nothing new but the '80s guitars brought back into production.

Also, they are introductory / mid-priced instruments, nothing costly.

Hoping more models will trickle into availability here. 

T - B: Pacer ($549) / Baretta Special ($259) / Focus VT ($199)

Pics: Kramer

Dave's

So this was the anticipation - Dave Mustaine's Gibson models. Despite the official announcement, no details were disclosed pertaining to specs & tier offerings. As you can see above, despite the custom options, the design formula was based on existing Gibson models; the Explorer headstock & V body that scream anti-climax. The Mustaine-preferred control layout & signature Seymour Duncan pickups were retained. The fretboard inlays look kinda out of place but those should be Mustaine approved.

The other two models on show are the Kramer version & that acoustic oddity. I see the Kramer as a more deserving design due to the sharper V corners. Now, that acoustic is really unnecessary because we know that Mustaine's time with non-solid body guitars are limited but I guess it's the signature fanfare in the mean time; sell it while it's still hot. The Vic graphics on the headstock & scratch plate are, in my opinion, juvenile. 

While the Kramer version represents a positive outlook in terms of affordability, it's a possible headway for the brand name acting as a slave reference for its parent company. It's a first. Which other Gibson model has a Kramer version serving as a lower tier offering? Giving this the benefit of the doubt, for all we know, there might be a separate Kramer line of Mustaine guitars. Time will tell.

Edit: Was informed that some of the Kramer versions are made in the USA & won't be as mid-priced as they were thought to be.

Pics: Guitar

Snake Sabo

Something new from the Kramer camp - Dave Sabo's Baretta. The newer generation of players are definitely not familiar with the name but Sabo, together with Scotti Hill, are the guitar duo of Skid Row. This is a late 80s - early 90s outfit, an extension of the hair metal music without the hair, if you will. I managed to follow the band's first two albums before being distracted by the grunge scene. Anyway, if you know me well, I'm always into single pickup guitars & this one has my attention. The lone humbucker is an 85-T designed by Gibson's Jim DeCola. The FR1000 bridge is equipped with an EVH D-Tuna for some drop tuning moments. The deal breaker is definitely that snake graphic; a love-hate affair. Listen to the snake man himself as he talks you through things:

Pic: Kramer