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Kramer bass reversed headbstock

#21
I can tell you that those basses have in inherent flaw - the nut has forces on it from the strings (mostly pulling one way) that want to move it sideways (this is one of those things that Leo got right). If those forces win in the middle of a gig, the nut sips sideways, and you now have a horribly out of tune instrument, where the E string (it's probably an E flat string at that point) runs off the neck near the nut.

But you'll look cool in your pink spandex pants. Yes, that's required to play that bass. Oh, and hair. Piles of permed hair.
 
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#23
nilorius said:
Which one of the headstocks do You mean - reversed ?
Click to expand...
No, he's talking specifically about the fact that the strings break off the nut at an angle to the tuners instead of a straight-through pull. Those old pointy headstocks like Kramer used, and B.C. Rich, and Charvelle, and I think some Jacksons, all had that problem no matter if it was reversed or not, it just pulls in the other direction.

Frankly though, I don't put much concern on it. You either like those old pointy headstocks or you don't. And if you don't, you'll find reasons why they are bad. I've literally never had a nut come loose on me so I don't worry too much about it, nor have I ever heard of it happening to anyone I know. YMMV. :thumbsup:
 
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#25
micguy said:
I can tell you that those basses have in inherent flaw - the nut has forces on it from the strings (mostly pulling one way) that want to move it sideways (this is one of those things that Leo got right). If those forces win in the middle of a gig, the nut sips sideways, and you now have a horribly out of tune instrument, where the E string (it's probably an E flat string at that point) runs off the neck near the nut.
Click to expand...

If you look at the picture I posted in post #9, the E,A and D are wound the wrong way and they all go pretty straight from the nut. The G string is wound the correct way and also goes back fairly straight. The G string tuner should be a reverse type(it isn't) and then it could be strung in a way that wouldn't pull the nut out of alighnment. As it is, strung as it is in the picture, tuning it can be a bit confusing.
 
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#26
That's a crazy cool bass. I had a Stryker back in high school. All the Kramers I've ever owned have really quick necks. And they sounded pretty good. I still have a Focus from same era and it rocks. If it's a decent price set it up and put on your high boots and go stomp.
 
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#29
bpc said:
If you look at the picture I posted in post #9, the E,A and D are wound the wrong way and they all go pretty straight from the nut. The G string is wound the correct way and also goes back fairly straight. The G string tuner should be a reverse type(it isn't) and then it could be strung in a way that wouldn't pull the nut out of alighnment. As it is, strung as it is in the picture, tuning it can be a bit confusing.
Click to expand...

I did the same with my 89 Warlock with the reversed headstock. That extreme angle of the string break drove me crazy. I left the G string normal, just did the other three. Now, I just have to remember that when I tune!

BnB
 
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#30
TerribleTim68 said:
No, he's talking specifically about the fact that the strings break off the nut at an angle to the tuners instead of a straight-through pull. Those old pointy headstocks like Kramer used, and B.C. Rich, and Charvelle, and I think some Jacksons, all had that problem no matter if it was reversed or not, it just pulls in the other direction.

Frankly though, I don't put much concern on it. You either like those old pointy headstocks or you don't. And if you don't, you'll find reasons why they are bad. I've literally never had a nut come loose on me so I don't worry too much about it, nor have I ever heard of it happening to anyone I know. YMMV. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Understood, well, actually if it happens always, don't know the solution, maybe some special strings.
 
#31
It seemed as if Kip Winger and so many others played a different bass or guitar every six months back then one after another in various cycles, especially those hair band days! Everyone had a poster or three or more and advertising in magazines even I made some ads and posters :cool:
Kramer was constantly changing their guitar & bass line designs in both the American made Pacer and Imported lines that changed first Japan then Korea and later Indonesia.
 
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