NBD: Vintage Kramer XL-8 Content

[ThuzzleFump]

I am working on building out my collection. For a while I was going for quirky shortscales and now I am into glammish axes of the 70s & 80s. Here's my most recent. Kramer XL-8.

Maple and walnut construction. Sounds like a nice ice cream flavor. Aluminum neck with wood inserts. Dimarzio pickups, BadAss bridge, Schaller tuners top and bottom. Synthetic fretboard, aluminum dot inlays. This is some prime 70s hardware.

It's surprisingly easy to play and sounds huge. Depending on controls and how you attack the strings, can sound like a guitar, a bass being doubled on guitar, or even a piano/guitar or piano/bass combo. Lots of fun. Perhaps not an everyday axe, but definitely a smile to play and very nicely made. Glad to have it in the collection.

Main view. Doesn't fit my regular guitar stands.

Body detail, pickup selector switch/coil taps (I think). Knobs are paired vol/vol tone/tone.

Back view. Good look at the secondary tuners and the control plate cover, as well as the back of the neck construction.

Better look at the secondary tuners.

A closer look at all those knobs and switches. And of course that Badass bridge.

Here's a close look at the tuning-fork peghead.

And that synthetic fretboard.

Thanks for looking. Hope you have enjoyed this blast from the past.

 

[spufman]

That's in very fine shape, keep her well. Must sound awesome. Those early Kramers are so cool.

Great pics by the way.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

That's in very fine shape, keep her well. Must sound awesome. Those early Kramers are so cool.

Great pics by the way.

Thanks. I think it's pretty neat. Nobody does excess like that nowadays.

 

[stealth94rt]

I have one - bought it in the very early 80's and used it in a traveling band along with an Ibanez Musician MC924, which I also bought around 1981. I'd say the weakest part of the Kramer bass is the bridge setup - I wish each string had its own saddle instead of the octave string being shared with the main string. I think it makes it hard to get precise tuning on the octaves.

 

[warbassick]

if it’s still available id love to buy it

 

[ClassicJazz]

Very cool bass! I love those old Kramers. Back in 1984 I had a DMZ4001 fretless that sounded incredible. Fast forward to today and I have a ‘79 DMZ4001B fretted. It’s pretty much my main gigging bass. It sounds incredible no matter the venue and always cuts through the mix better than any of my other basses. And being in Florida I never have to worry about the issues with the Aluminum neck in colder climates. (I lived in NY when I had my fretless). My only worry being in Florida is …. Lightning! Lol. Yea it’s a giant lightning rod you wear!