As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Do you think this Kramer is worth the money??
- Thread starter Lunatic_Pandora
- Start date
I own one of these...love the Spector pickups in it. I would say its definitely worth $300 with the case (wouldnt pay any more than that)... if pointy headstocks are your bag...if you want a great Kramer though, save your dough and get a Kramer Spector from this era...the difference is night and day.
Yeah, despite what the back plate sais I think it was made in Japan, in the ESP factory.
Japan or Korea. I believe all of the Kramers of the era read "Kramer USA", which doesn't necessarily mean made in the US by any stretch.
I was checking out that bass and there were a lot of questions. Although I'm not a Kramer expert by any means, I couldn't find anything in their literature that looks like that bass.
The seller says it's an '85, but the logo on the headstock didn't appear until '87 or so. The body radius is very tight and it reminds me of the Stagemaster guitars. Is it a Stagemaster bass?? Does anybody know what it is?
Edit: The seller changed the info from '85 to '89 and says it's a Forum IV.
The seller says it's an '85, but the logo on the headstock didn't appear until '87 or so. The body radius is very tight and it reminds me of the Stagemaster guitars. Is it a Stagemaster bass?? Does anybody know what it is?
Edit: The seller changed the info from '85 to '89 and says it's a Forum IV.
Yeah, I checked all the information and it seems that was made in the Japanese ESP factory in 1989, and is a Forum IV, one of the last basses Kramer made before it broke.
If ya dig the look (not my cup of tea) I'd say sure. Looks like $300 isn't a bad price at all on it.
Decent deal, although there's a Forum I for sale that looks good but obviously needs a new nut. I'm not affiliated with either seller, but I'd probably go with the Forum I. I own one and they absolutely positively NAIL the Spector NS-2 tone, which isn't a big stretch as it was supposed to basically be an NS-2 with a Kramer headstock.
I believe it was meant to ignite a flame war, although with Kramer, it's kinda/sorta true-ish. The US models were amazingly consistent while quality of the imports was hit or miss, although due to the age care can really enhance the quality/junk factor.
This looks a lot like my 88 or so kramer. It had the same pickups but a simple volume volume tone tone layout instead. The body is presswood and the E has been dead no matter what I've done to it.
It's got active emg's in it now and it's my at home beat on bass. I just used it at practice last night. I've got tapewounds on it now so it's well, a little dull sounding.
I love it to death only because I've owned it since new in about '89. But I certainly wouldn't go paying 300 bills for one.
That model isn't exact so it's possible it's a slightly better version, I don't enough about the models then.
It's got active emg's in it now and it's my at home beat on bass. I just used it at practice last night. I've got tapewounds on it now so it's well, a little dull sounding.
I love it to death only because I've owned it since new in about '89. But I certainly wouldn't go paying 300 bills for one.
That model isn't exact so it's possible it's a slightly better version, I don't enough about the models then.
geez, someone needs to tell me how hard it is to square up replacement tuners, because I've never had that problem...must be doing it wrong. Nice bass practically ruined for me because of that botch job.
