• 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.

Kramer "Duke" Deluxe bass

#41
sylvanbass said:
A few decades ago, a buddy of mine had one of those and I laughed at it when I first saw it. Both our bands played at a little hometown festival thing (flatbed trailer setup), and I used it for soundcheck cause the guitar player was bringing my bass. I know that in its own is blasphemy, but we played the night before till around 3AM and most of our stuff was in his Astro Van lol. That being said, I was BLOWN AWAY at how good it sounded and played. Was no longer a laughing matter.
Click to expand...
I know right ?! Very underrated and unappreciated bass. I wish more people knew about them because I’m very impressed with mine. Staggering looks
 
#46
mikewalker said:
Those stock Schaller pickups are AWESOME, I advise you not to part with them. Louder, Hotter, and Brighter than pretty much anything you can replace them with.

Here's how mine came to me:
Invalid Link Removed


However, I didn't like the side jack, nor the three position switch, so I rewired mine and put in a pair of dual-coil humbucking Bartolini pups with a top-mounted jack, and the tone control is a pull-pot to put the two humbuckers in parallel or in series. (Four coils total) It does provide a very strong "two-basses-in-one" functionality and the Barts are really noiseless. But it's overall a touch milder-sounding now, I still miss the in-your-face qualities of the original pickups.

Invalid Link Removed

I have to say this bass guitar has kicked dozens of much more expensive basses way out to the curb, and was my #1 bass right up to when my custom shortscale BassLab arrived last year. I love the tone and playability of this 1984 Kramer Duke but I am sold on the uniquely organic tone of the basslab, which is even more interesting - so it's getting the lion's share of roundwound work nowadays
Click to expand...
I know right ?! Crazy. I’ve been playing it much more then my Fender ‘63 p Bass
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker and dkelley
#47
Altitude said:
When I was in high school in the 80s, I was one of two bass players in the jazz band. I had a P-bass, the other guy had one of those. We both left our instruments in the band hall so that each of us could play either as we wanted. So I played one of those quite a bit - loved it!
Click to expand...
They’re very easy to play. Especially if you have smaller hands ! The higher frets are very manageable. I have a Fender ‘63 p bass and I’ve been playing this one more LOL
 
#48
Hummergeist said:
WOW. Nostalgia time. I used to want one of those so bad, almost as much as a Steinberger (which I did get later). Never got the Duke, though. I remember reading a review in a UK music publication at the time, and the guy who wrote it slagged the Duke, slagged the Steinberger, and I remember thinking even then that he was not really getting it. I was all over those things.
Click to expand...
It seems like many people have mixed opinions on headless designs. But I’m all for them. They’re just very space age looking and with cool ergonomics :cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hummergeist and dkelley
#49
GIBrat51 said:
Okay...
Yes, I own one of them; a left-handed one, made in (probably) 1982. I've owned a couple of right handed ones, too; another Special (Kramer also called them a "Deluxe" for a while), and a regular version - with a regular humbucker pickup - as well. A local music store has that one - and, surprisingly, records with it quite a bit. A right handed friend of mine has the other one. So, what can I tell you about them?
- The body is - or should be - mahogany, and it ain't as light as you think, from looking at it. Mine weighs 7.95lbs.; yours is probably close.
- Yeah, it's a short scale bass - 31". Mine currently wears DR SFL Legends (45-105); the silk at both ends is not a problem. It came to me with short scale GHS Boomers on it. I liked those a lot, but when they died? The Legends went on. I prefer flats, anyway, so the fact that they sound a lot like the Boomers did is a nice bonus...
- Hardware? American Kramer's almost always used Schaller stuff, and the Duke is no exception. I've had no problem with the 3D-4 bridge - even though it's backwards - and the Schaller guitar tuners have no problem with bass strings going through the holes. Mine tunes up/intonates just fine...
- Pickup? That's also a Schaller - their "Twin-J". Here's where I have to talk about older Kramers. I own several of them, and none of them exactly match the description in the catalogs or reviews. Especially the American ones; I think they just came to work, and more or less just built what they felt like building at the moment... Anyway;
A Duke Special is supposed to have the "Twin-J" pickup; fancy knobs; and a small 3-way switch. The one my friend has, has a 2-way switch; all it does is split the coils. I'm not exactly sure what the 3-way switch is supposed to do, but here's what mine does, pretending the pickup is two back-to-back Jazz Bass single coils;
1. Switch up - back (bridge) pickup on;
2. Middle - both of the pickups on;
3. Switch down - half of each pickup on, in a split-coil P-Bass configuration. In case you're wondering? Yes, it does sound a lot like a P-Bass - with flats...
Talking with other Duke Deluxe owners, I get the impression that the pickup isn't intended to do that - but mine does. And, yes; it's small control cavity is a nightmare mess of small wires. I took the cover off when I got the bass, years ago. I looked at that mare's nest of wires; carefully put the cover back on - and it hasn't been off since... Maybe yours does what mine does; maybe it doesn't. I suppose it just depends on how ambitious they felt that day...
- Balance. My personal view of a bass's balance, is that a large part of it depends on who's playing it. I own a bunch of basses that people here constantly complain about being neck heavy. On my shoulder? I don't think they're the least bit neck heavy... As for the Duke? On my shoulder, my Duke is actually "Butt" heavy; I have to hold the neck down - just a little bit - when I play it. It's not a problem at all; but, it is noticeable - and took some getting used to.
So... bottom line? I quite like mine; it's quirky, but it's easy to play, and sounds and feels good. My only real complaint is that, like a lot of left handed basses? You could have any color you want - as long as it's black.:meh: Enjoy your Duke. :thumbsup::thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Thanks ! I’ve been loving it so far. Probably my favourite bass yet! Just so cool.
 
#53
One thing I would add... Really I ONLY changed out the pickups on mine because I didn't find one of the three switch positions useful - I was planning just to rewire, but when I saw the amazing mass of spaghetti in there I decided it would be prudent just to pull the whole thing and put in something simpler. I did resell the original pickup for a hefty amount on Reverb. Definitely an 'interesting' job to rewire one of those!
 
  • Like
Reactions: alx_lem
#56
dkelley said:
I'm a huge fan of headless designs... particularly like this bass with normal tuners on the right side. steinberger tuners are actually kind of a pain sometimes as they can sometimes be a spec hard to grab... I prefer this regular tuner style on the body.
Click to expand...
I’m actually really liking the design of this bass a little more. They’re really easy to play and the tuners aren’t really in the way either so you can’t knock them about ! Great for small rehearsal rooms or small stages!
 
  • Like
Reactions: dkelley
#57
mikewalker said:
One thing I would add... Really I ONLY changed out the pickups on mine because I didn't find one of the three switch positions useful - I was planning just to rewire, but when I saw the amazing mass of spaghetti in there I decided it would be prudent just to pull the whole thing and put in something simpler. I did resell the original pickup for a hefty amount on Reverb. Definitely an 'interesting' job to rewire one of those!
Click to expand...
I just looked at some pictures online and WOW! Does it ever look like a mess in there
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker
#59
frankie5string said:
It depends. The Hondo Alien was the same bass - but it had a Schaller pickup in it. That pickup was pretty "meh" and on mine got swapped for an EMG 81 and I built a little plastic surround for it. If anyone finds it, my ex-brother-in-law stole it and probably pawned it in South Georgia/Northern Florida in the early 2000s...

Maybe only the Kramer had the DiMarzio.
Click to expand...
So I just did a bit of research and hondo is very different. The components are MUCH lesser quality on the hondo alien were as the Kramer has schaller or dimarzio pickups, schaller roller bridge and schaller tuners. Hondo has a wood fretboard and Kramer has ebonol which was the same material bowling balls were made from… aluminum neck on the Duke as well. I’ll keep my eyes out for your bass. Sorry to hear :( I attached another one that was stolen
 

Attachments

  • E619855F-58D1-4FEB-9CD1-2283B1F0CBEA.jpeg
    E619855F-58D1-4FEB-9CD1-2283B1F0CBEA.jpeg
    16.5 KB · Views: 27
Last edited:
#60
space_age85 said:
So I just did a bit of research and hondo is very different. The components are MUCH lesser quality on the hondo alien were as the Kramer has schaller or dimarzio pickups, schaller roller bridge and schaller tuners. Hondo has a wood fretboard and Kramer has ebonol which was the same material bowling balls were made from… aluminum neck on the Duke as well. I’ll keep my eyes out for your bass. Sorry to hear :( I attached another one that was stolen
Click to expand...

Actually, it's interesting you mention that. While mine said "ALIEN" on it, and not "DUKE," it had all Schaller parts. Yes, it had what looked like a wooden (not ebonol) fretboard, and it had an aluminum neck. At one point I had a Duke and the Alien at the same time, and was surprised it had the roller-ball bridge and tuners that were both branded Schaller on both basses. The Duke I had was in far worse shape, so it went went to someone else who was a tinkerer. I paid $150 for each of them.

Thank you!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back