They have a pretty nice used kramer at a music store for about 300 dollars i was wonderring. Are kramer basses any good?
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Kramer basses
- Thread starter bassman1969
- Start date
Based on what I've seen and heard, they really aren't good instruments at all. When compared to two other brands that share similar styles, Jackson and Charvel, those two just blow Kramer away on quality, at least the good ones. I've only played a Kramer guitar, but it was low-mediocre at best, which was why it had a $100 price tag.
For all I know though, some might be great. Give it a try, and if you don't like it, $300 can get you something pretty darn good.
For all I know though, some might be great. Give it a try, and if you don't like it, $300 can get you something pretty darn good.
I can only tell you about older ones. I have a 1987 100 Series that is AWESOME! I just rocked it this past Saturday night as the fill-in bassist for my old 80s cover band. Went straight into the board through a DI box and my reference signal came through my monitor. The thing sounded terrific. And the singer in this band requires tuning down to D. Not drop D, but completely to D. The neck withstood this drastic change like a champ. No fret-buzz or anything.
I can't say enough about mine.
I can't say enough about mine.
Well before yamaha, billy sheehan had an endorsement deal with Kramer. He said when he got the bass it was such bad quality, he gave it back and went to yamaha. They gave him a guitar as an apology i think, check out his gear page billysheehan.com. If you play it long enough and like it, go for it!
It depends. I've played several Forum I and II basses that were decent. Those are Japanese models. I also played a Pioneer Carrera(USA) that was an extremely nice bass.
As the owner of a '76 or '77 Kramer 650B I'll tell you the quality of Kramer basses varied wildly from price point to price point and from piece to piece. If you're looking at an entry-level instrument, it's a crapshoot. The higher-end basses were less of a gamble.
Mine was the top of the line for them at the time I got it and it's an extraordinarily beautiful piece of wood & aluminum. As far as playability I feel there was only one glaring design flaw, and that was the pickup placement. I got around that by installing a pair of EMG humbuckers and active tone circuits in it. I love mine and would never get rid of it.
Mine was the top of the line for them at the time I got it and it's an extraordinarily beautiful piece of wood & aluminum. As far as playability I feel there was only one glaring design flaw, and that was the pickup placement. I got around that by installing a pair of EMG humbuckers and active tone circuits in it. I love mine and would never get rid of it.
Where's the love for the early aluminum necked Kramers? I've got a 4001B (lefthanded too!). They definitely have their fans, and there was a window of time there around '79-80 when some top players were using them (or at least posing with them, LOL). Tim Bogert and John Deacon come to mind. They're heavy as hell, but they have there own unique, ever-sustaining piano-like tone to them. Great for pick playing.
I have plenty of USA Kramer guitars and a Forum I bass. They all kick ass. The imports, as with any import, are hit or miss.
Do you happen to know what model it was?? Was it one of the old aluminum neck basses?? A Pioneer (it would say on the headstock)?? A Focus?? A Striker?? Forum?? It is hard to tell you without knowing what bass it is. Kramer made everything from mediocre beginner basses all the way up to very fine professional basses.
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
I agree 100%. I even remeber Kramer offering a half fretless model. It was fretless starting at the 12th fret on up.
bongomania
Commercial User
+1
They made everything from the bottom of the barrel to some of the coolest basses out there. I loved my old XL7. If you post a pic of the bass, the complete model name/number, year, and condition (in detail) we might be able to steer you to the value of it.
I have an ST700 from 1989 that I got off the bay for 125.00, it was just restrung and sounds great. You might want to try this site to help identify the bass.
http://www.vintagekramer.com/
http://www.vintagekramer.com/
I had a Focus 7000 for a while and it was a good, solid bass. I believe they were actually made for Kramer by ESP in Japan. It had a pretty beefy neck on it, as I recall. I think it only cost me like $200 used---it was way beyond that level of quality.
I also had an old 450B metal-necked model, and it was a great bass---one of the few of my former instruments I really wish I had kept.
I also had an old 450B metal-necked model, and it was a great bass---one of the few of my former instruments I really wish I had kept.
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] I have what I believe to be a Vanguard Special Kramer from '80-'84 vintage. Flying vee aluminum neck with the split-fork head in black. I own many many basses and would rate this in the upper percentage of my favorites. Always gets lots of attention, comments and questions at gigs, especially from other musicians. So mine is a quality bass that I like a lot. Also has its own sound vibe, best described as how the Acoustic 371 rig made your bass sound in the day.
] I have what I believe to be a Vanguard Special Kramer from '80-'84 vintage. Flying vee aluminum neck with the split-fork head in black. I own many many basses and would rate this in the upper percentage of my favorites. Always gets lots of attention, comments and questions at gigs, especially from other musicians. So mine is a quality bass that I like a lot. Also has its own sound vibe, best described as how the Acoustic 371 rig made your bass sound in the day.
I had a 1981 Aluminum neck Kramer (bought new in 1981). I forget the model number. It was heavy, but it was the best balanced bass I ever played. Sounded really sweet too. It was a natural-creamish color with P-bass pups, the split headstock and two metal "skunk stripes" in the neck. I've never seen that color since on a Kramer, new or old. Very nice bass. If I remember correctly, I paid $400 for it with a case at Manny's.
My '79 DMZ-5000 is a beast, and sounds great. It's built like a tank. It's just the ticket if you're playing in one of those kinds of bars where you need to smash it over someone's head. Not only won't it break, it won't even go out of tune. 
My first bass ever was an '85 Kramer Pioneer JJ bass, made in Japan. It sounded great (two beefy double J humbuckers, with a series/parallel/single coil switch for the bridge) and was well built--Schaller tuners, bridge, and pickups.
My brother had a Japanese Kramer Focus guitar from the same era, and a friend had an American Kramer Baretta guitar from the late '80's. All were solid, good-playing instruments that sounded great for rock.
The Korean-made Striker series from the '80's and '90's were much lower quality, with plywood bodies and cheap hardware/pickups. Aside from a '70's aluminum-neck Kramer or two, and Kramer-era Spectors, I haven't seen many around in a while.
My brother had a Japanese Kramer Focus guitar from the same era, and a friend had an American Kramer Baretta guitar from the late '80's. All were solid, good-playing instruments that sounded great for rock.
The Korean-made Striker series from the '80's and '90's were much lower quality, with plywood bodies and cheap hardware/pickups. Aside from a '70's aluminum-neck Kramer or two, and Kramer-era Spectors, I haven't seen many around in a while.
I have a indonesian made Focus 420s its really solid especially forhard rock and metal. i personally like it but with such a budget im on its a steal for the money.
