ok, so out of all your Kramers which one has the best tone? [Archive]

bkeen

03-20-2007, 10:44 AM

If I could only have one of my guitars. I believe I would pick my 83 Deluxe for it's versatility.

http://www.keencentral.com/music/Guitars/100_1170.JPG

That being said, the last guitar I would ever sell is my 83 Special because I bought it new and gigged it through the 80s.

http://www.keencentral.com/music/Guitars/100_1188.JPG

:thumbsup

Mac

03-20-2007, 10:50 AM

As most of you know

it WAS my signed RS with 3 duncan JB's :D

now its my js but my retta with a zebra sd comes close 2nd

amerturk

03-20-2007, 10:55 AM

My Imperial maple/beak non-finished neck is by far the best.

2nd would be my pointy Imperial.

3rd would be my Imperial/Foci Hybrid

4th would be my Mint beak/maple deluxe :drool

5th would be my Foci 1000

6th: Believe it or not, Striker 100 with a Duncan

All the others sound great, but don't make the list.

PacerMedic

03-20-2007, 10:56 AM

It's widely known that Kramers were parts bin specials with the advent of their all-wood guitars. They were made from many different suppliers, all with different quality markers for things like wood quality and humidity at time of manufacture. The consistent things like the OFR and Schaller bits helped to assure a quality sound, but tone and playability varied from guitar to guitar in teh same model line. No educating here, just rehashing things that have been said many times before.

Most people's fave is their first one, or one that means something sentimentally. It could be a guitar that you just knew you were getting laid if you brought it out and not necessarily a pure tone thing. It could have been a present from a parent, wife, boyfriend, whatever. These things are a pipeline to our history, and that's what makes them special: we loved them then and we love them now.

I love all of my guitars (or else I wouldn't have shelled for them), but the one that does it for me is Stella (She's yella; see avvy). She's not skinny and delicate like a stagey or a soloist, but she doesn't leave marks when she climbs on either. She's the right combination of wood and wire that instantly felt like it was made to be in my hands. I can get any sound I want without a bunch of fiddling, and paired up with a Mark IV simul-class can shatter plate armor. The lady's got balls.

Shwayman11

03-20-2007, 11:12 AM

1984?

do you have older Kramers as well??

My 1984 sound damn good as well.

Come on people tell us what your favorite is!

yup- i have an 89 proaxe too
Have to say I preffer the 84 over it most of the time

warbrill

03-20-2007, 11:19 AM

For me, which Kramers I use for a particular gig depends on a number of factors, one of which is indeed tone. But tone is not at the top of my list of parameters. All of my Kramers have a large number of tonal variations, so "tone" is relative. So many factors affect tone, as well. I've got several beak Pacers with the original Schaller pickups, and the difference in tone is related to the body wood. My Imperials are fairly light, my Deluxe heavier. I have a nana Imperial that weighs about 30 pounds! LOL! But it has non-original zebra pickups, so it's not pure "Kramer tone." Then, I have the PCIs, that have a much thinner, more brittle tone. A lot of that is the SD pickups, of course.
If I have to choose one Kramer that has the best natural tone, it would probably be my DMz4001 bass, but for the wood neck guitars, I'd probably have to go with my black 1983 Deluxe. It just sings, in any pickup combination. It's not quite the silkiest/smoothest player (that would be my candy red 83 Imperial), but the tone is unmatched. I hope this helps!:thumbsup

KramerUK

03-20-2007, 11:38 AM

Like Bruce its my Deluxe (1986), versitility of tone just makes it my guitar of choice everytime.

mrcrazyhimself

03-20-2007, 01:16 PM

Mine is hands down My 86 flat top Stagemaster. It's a heavy super-''soloist'' and the JB, its just so warm....Best player and Sound...

atomicholiday

03-20-2007, 01:34 PM

Tough call but I have to say it's either my '85 re-issue or (believe it or not) hundred-series pro 220 loaded with jb in the bridge.
Both are maple bodies w/ rosewood boards. I love the tone of those maple bodies.

unchained1984

03-20-2007, 02:09 PM

For tone a maple neck/board with alder body combined with a JB & floyd does it every time so for me it's my 86 lady liberty retta but those 84's put out great tone. Off topic but for sentimentality it'd have to be the R2 nana Imp.

Sandy

G.A.S. Ackward

03-20-2007, 02:26 PM

The black one. She is an Ebay rescue/restoration, but definitely has the award winning tone of my current herd.

http://www.voguehost.com/ims/u/giarc/My%20photos/twins5.jpg

KramerTamer

03-20-2007, 02:44 PM

C series '84 Baretta. The vintage maple makes the best tone I've ever had in a guitar.

Lightningdan

03-20-2007, 02:51 PM

LP Custom all the way. The '84 might be a better shredder but for overall great tone my LP Custom armed with Pearly Gates just sings like an angel.

PacerMedic

03-20-2007, 03:59 PM

LP Custom all the way. The '84 might be a better shredder but for overall great tone my LP Custom armed with Pearly Gates just sings like an angel.

Yer s'posed to say which Kramer, and be all gushy..

Nevermind...:banghead
:stupid

:jump

I blame the 80's for hampering my ability to pay attention!

KramerLeftyFreak

03-20-2007, 04:45 PM

I'm going to have to agree with Unchained on this one. My Alder Baretta with maple board/maple neck is just incredible. That's my favorite tone hands down. It takes me back to the Ratt/Jovi/Motley sound right away everytime I play it.

pel666

03-20-2007, 05:27 PM

I don't own any original Kramer, but my Korina ClawRetta beats my custom $5000+ soloist.....nuff said :headbang I don't need any more....well one more then ;)

mmmtacos

03-20-2007, 05:47 PM

:headbang 1984 is by far the best sounding:headbang

SamboraRocks86

03-20-2007, 05:56 PM

My JS hands down!

Wait.....that's my only Kramer...

pel666

03-20-2007, 05:57 PM

We warmed up with Always on the run....excuses for my colleagues missing the interlude for the solo!

Kramer Clawretta in action straight into a little 15W solid state Fender amp...Normally I would use my Lester for such a song, but I bring only one to practice and it is the Clawretta!

http://www.xs4all.nl/~pelvis/Kramer/always%20on%20the%20run.mp3

marsmountain

03-20-2007, 06:52 PM

85 Baretta. It is the king of the lot.
K.

Rick S

03-20-2007, 06:55 PM

Without any doubt my '84.:drool I love playing around with the audio taper tone knob.:poke My LK2 with a Ping Floyd is also increadible. 3/4 sized poplar body, maple neck, rosewood board. That brass block Ping completly changed it into a guitar with the most lucious, wide, gorgeous lp type tone that I have had yet. Absolutly fantastic!:thumbsup

Shelby

03-20-2007, 06:59 PM

85 Baretta. It is the king of the lot.
K.

WOW, beautiful! Very classy looking.

KramerTamer

03-20-2007, 07:59 PM

85 Baretta. It is the king of the lot.
K.

Looks like mine. Mines an 84 though. Tried to attach a pic. but won't fly for some reason. It's registered with a picture though. Mines c5574, whats yours?

puddy

03-20-2007, 08:14 PM

:banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead ....

OK, probably my early C plate Carerra with the Kent Armstrong bridge pick up.

xbolt

03-20-2007, 09:06 PM

Well for overall bridge tones the Mahogany Nightswan is just great and my go to axe these days.
I love the R1 Neck!
I have a white one on the way from Swanutt and can't wait to see it :banghead

My 84 Maple bodied R5 Imp is no slouch either and is at the opposite end of the neck scale
but a great solid feel and wicked tone front and back.
:guns Two different beasts :guns
http://solarwinds.ca/tunz/87_89K28.jpg
http://solarwinds.ca/tunz/84Kram10.jpg

Mxzx

03-20-2007, 09:32 PM

I think it depends on what you are playing through and the volume. At lower volumes on a Marshall JCM 800, my Kramer Foci sound good, both with a Dimarzio Tone Zone pickup. When you crank the amp up, my maple neck Pacers with the stock Schallers sound really good, better than the Focus. I think the "hotness" of the pickup has alot to do with the sound of the guitar, especially between high and low volume/gain settings.

marsmountain

03-21-2007, 07:17 PM

Looks like mine. Mines an 84 though. Tried to attach a pic. but won't fly for some reason. It's registered with a picture though. Mines c5574, whats yours?

My 85 is serial number C6849. Your right, they are twin brothers.
K.

Tone?

03-28-2007, 07:34 AM

anyone else?

Mike from your huge Kramer collection which one would you keep for tone?

_xxx_

03-28-2007, 07:54 AM

My DMZ-1000 has the best sound of all the guitars I've ever played, absolutely no competition out there, Kramer or else. MY ex 84 was great as well, but nowhere near the DMZ.

Tone?

03-28-2007, 08:00 AM

DMZ-1000, aluminum right?
interesting.....

_xxx_

03-28-2007, 09:19 AM

DMZ-1000, aluminum right?

Yup, but only with DMZ Super Distortion. I tried many different Pickups in it and these are the only ones which sound "right".

nightwatch

03-28-2007, 01:15 PM

This is a tough question because I really do love all of mine and rotate and play them regularly. Actually, the one I love now, once I got it rewired and passive pickups put in is my late '80s holoflash pacer below - just awesome sounding. (click to enlarge)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/th_DSCN0681-1.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN0681-1.jpg)

Then, I'd have to say, my FF blue Baretta and crack pacer special are tied for second. The pacer has the EVH "brown" sound built in.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/th_DSCN0314.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN0314.jpg)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/th_DSCN0172.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN0172.jpg)

spade2you

03-28-2007, 02:06 PM

Honestly, my Pacers sound extremely close to the next one, with the maple fingerboard being a shade brighter. My Swan IIs also sound pretty much the same.

PittJitsu

03-28-2007, 04:03 PM

If we are talking TONE, which I beleive is actualy a misused word lots of the time.
Tone Is not resonence, sustain, pitch or loudness, but a some of all those parts together. A guitars Tone is actualy terermined with your ear to the horn, and no ampplifacation added to asses the subelties in the soung qualities..
Out of my dozens, this is the winner. It shows its secrete in the wear.

PittJitsu

03-28-2007, 04:06 PM

This is a tough question because I really do love all of mine and rotate and play them regularly. Actually, the one I love now, once I got it rewired and passive pickups put in is my late '80s holoflash pacer, the one in my avatar, and below - just awesome sounding. (click to enlarge)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/th_DSCN0493.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN0493.jpg)

Then, I'd have to say, my FF blue Baretta and crack pacer special are tied for second. The pacer has the EVH "brown" sound built in.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/th_DSCN0314.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN0314.jpg)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/th_DSCN0172.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h131/gtrgeek/DSCN0172.jpg)

Gale I know this is off topic, but have you seen the P. specials and what they are closing at? Your $350-450 has Tripled!

bkeen

03-28-2007, 04:25 PM

With the DiMarzios in it though!

http://www.keencentral.com/music/Guitars/customA.JPG

:thumbsup

PittJitsu

03-28-2007, 04:33 PM

With the DiMarzios in it though!

http://www.keencentral.com/music/Guitars/customA.JPG

:thumbsup
Really Bruce? I just asked Jake if he had a hard time not cheating on this thread since he is a fellow vintage Les Paul owner, and as you can see, one is peeking out of his picture... You Got around the Rules! I got mine for a steal this week, less then a standard would cost, and its not here yet.. If its really a tonally nice guitar, I will be very happy.

bkeen

03-28-2007, 05:41 PM

Really Bruce? I just asked Jake if he had a hard time not cheating on this thread since he is a fellow vintage Les Paul owner, and as you can see, one is peeking out of his picture... You Got around the Rules! I got mine for a steal this week, less then a standard would cost, and its not here yet.. If its really a tonally nice guitar, I will be very happy.

Yeah man! It sound good when I got it an set it up but when I dropped the DiMarzios in there the thing really rocks! Check out my current tune in the recording section. I used it on that tune...

:thumbsup

John Maden

03-28-2007, 06:47 PM

I know this is not exactly what most Kramer lovers want to here. With my " limited " ability to play I like
my Savant III and secondly I have to say the Elliot Easton has a great tone. Every time I sit down to
practice I always pick up my Metalist II. Habit maybe , I don't know ! So there's my over rated two cents.

John
_____________________

flyingvfreak

03-28-2007, 09:44 PM

:scratchhe Hmm good thread Bro, very interesting, their alot more folks here that can add to this and im curious which ones they wil pick. For me i havn't been playing much lately :-x just doing alot of building and painting so I have no Idea right now :D