She's arrived!

[Pro-ace]

Finally my Baretta reissue was delivered today. After browsing the board for months I was pretty curious to try this (in)famous model, and I wasn't disappointed.

Two surprises, one good and one bad, the bad one was that the case is a TKL but not original (:arrg) as promised, at least, it's not branded Kramer. The good one is that she was supposed to come with a SD custom custom but when I checked out it was the original 91T. It's supposed to be a JB clone but at least in this guitar it sounds different, of course, I'd have to have a JB to install on the Baretta and listen to the difference...some observations:

1)Weight: the guitar is heavy, but not the anchor some say it is, I measured 4.300 kg, more or less like a Les Paul.

2)Sound: interesting, I like it very much on the clean channel, it's not too harsh or brittle, it's bright but not uncontrollable, which is important is a single pickup guitar without tone control. Overdriving the amp with a DOD 250 gray box I get a good tone for rhytm but soloing the notes result a little...mono-dimensional, that's the only aspect that doesn't make me 100% happy.

3)Finish: the guitar is used but looks brand new, it's a slick black little Baretta, the quality of the maple of the neck is pretty high, I didn't find it super thin like some said, for sure it's not thinner than my Proaxe, the lack of finish makes me feel it pretty raw, I tried to oil it but it still feels strange to me. The rosewood fretboard is nice but Id' have preferred ebony. I set up the guitar is a pretty low action, no buzz.

In conclusion, I'm pretty satisfied of the guitar, perhaps I'll try another pickup but she's a fabulous guitar even in the stock parameter. Of course, a custom pickup and brass block are on their way...:)

[bongano]

:worthless

[jumbowolfe]

If the neck feels too raw, take some lemon oil and 2000 grit (you can get it at walmart in the automotive section) and wet sand with the lemon oil until it feels more smooth. You can work it down with alot of elbow grease to where its slicker than a baby's butt. Then follow up the lemon oil after drying all of it off with some gunstock oil (won't color it) or tung oil (will color it), then hit it with another peice of 2000 after it dries.

Go back and take some birchwood casey gunstock wax after doing the above steps and I think you'll like the feel a little better.

AND, most importantly, take the neck off the body to do this, so that you don't jack up the body while sanding.

Hope that helps.
Mike

[Pro-ace]

If the neck feels too raw, take some lemon oil and 2000 grit (you can get it at walmart in the automotive section) and wet sand with the lemon oil until it feels more smooth. You can work it down with alot of elbow grease to where its slicker than a baby's butt. Then follow up the lemon oil after drying all of it off with some gunstock oil (won't color it) or tung oil (will color it), then hit it with another peice of 2000 after it dries.

Go back and take some birchwood casey gunstock wax after doing the above steps and I think you'll like the feel a little better.

AND, most importantly, take the neck off the body to do this, so that you don't jack up the body while sanding.

Hope that helps.
Mike

Thank you Mike, I already tried the lemon oil but still it's pretty "raw" to me, I'll try your complete procedure, although I don't know where to find gunstock wax and oil because in this country (Italy) gun owning is not socially acceptable!:lol

Anyway I want to add that your decision to re-issue the Baretta with a maple body was a good call!:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

Other stupid questions: did the Baretta come with a COA?I noticed that some of you have a certificate, I also noted that there are some reissues that have the pyramid logo like mine and others have the older logo. Also, anybody know the specs of the 91T?

[bongano]

I also noted that there are some reissues that have the pyramid logo like mine and others have the older logo.

Pyramid logo?!?!?! :scratchhe
85s Baretta didn't have a pyramid logo and I never saw an 85 reissue with a pyramid logo....

[_xxx_]

91T lacks bass frequencies and that's why you don't like the lead sound that much. Now I'm not a fan of JB myself, but it indeed does fit this guitar better than any other pickup since it perfectly matches the basic acoustic tone of the wood. I'd recommend you to try that, it makes a big difference.

And then of course I can relieve you of that 91T which I can need in one still pickup-less mahagony guitar where it fits way better :)

[bongano]

And then of course I can relieve you of that 91T which I can need in one still pickup-less mahagony guitar where it fits way better :)

:happy1:happy1:happy1

[Pro-ace]

91T lacks bass frequencies and that's why you don't like the lead sound that much. Now I'm not a fan of JB myself, but it indeed does fit this guitar better than any other pickup since it perfectly matches the basic acoustic tone of the wood. I'd recommend you to try that, it makes a big difference.

And then of course I can relieve you of that 91T which I can need in one still pickup-less mahagony guitar where it fits way better :)

Actually I find that the 91T has a lot of bass frequencies, it just sounds a little "flat" onthe upper register, but for riffs it's ideal. I found this "flatness" in other pickups of the 80s like the Jackson 50BC without preamp, so if the goal was to replicate a PU of that era I assume they got it right!:D

Anyway, it's not the horrible PU that I heard from some reviews, my EVH clone is on its way, I'll try it but I'm relatively happy with the 91T, perhaps swapping the magnet with a A2 would help.

[bongano]

Actually I find that the 91T has a lot of bass frequencies, it just sounds a little "flat" onthe upper register, but for riffs it's ideal. I found this "flatness" in other pickups of the 80s like the Jackson 50BC without preamp, so if the goal was to replicate a PU of that era I assume they got it right!:D

Anyway, it's not the horrible PU that I heard from some reviews, my EVH clone is on its way, I'll try it but I'm relatively happy with the 91T, perhaps swapping the magnet with a A2 would help.

I like the 91T much. I had a SD SH5 on my 85R before but I swapped it with the 91T and I actually prefer it.

[Pro-ace]

I like the 91T much. I had a SD SH5 on my 85R before but I swapped it with the 91T and I actually prefer it.

I'm not a fan of the Duncan Custom and I think that the 91T is better, but I'm curious to hear the difference between the stock pickup and the CC, I'm an alnico 2 fan...

Here there are some pics of the guitar, taken with my crappy cell, sorry about that!

http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/122/13082010468.jpg

I replaced the ring with a cream one, looking for a cream knob too...the guitar is TOO black for me...closer pic:

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/213/13082010471.jpg

Electronic cavity, is the shielding stock?

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/8518/13082010466.jpg

Oh, the neck is SLIGHTLY flamed...

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/3220/13082010467.jpg

[bongano]

Mine has no shielding in the pot cavity.
Can you have a closer pic of the h/s?
And please, REMOVE THAT CRAPPY RING!!! :happy1

[Pro-ace]

Mine has no shielding in the pot cavity.
Can you have a closer pic of the h/s?
And please, REMOVE THAT CRAPPY RING!!! :happy1

First, the ring looks great, I'm not a EVH feticist who believes everything that Ed says about how humbuckers should be mounted...;)

Secondly, what's h/s?

I bought the guitar from a EVH nut who also had a real '85 with maple neck, of course 5150, therefore it's possible that he modded it according to his specs, soldering isn't good so I assume he experimented a little.

Now the neck is disassembled, trying the fingerboard cure as prescribed by Dr.Mike, and I found some interesting numbers in the cavity

1206 and 51 on the neck
1206 and 30 on the body

I assume that 1206 was the model number at nashville and 30 and 51 the serial of the neck and body.

[bongano]

First, the ring looks great, I'm not a EVH feticist who believes everything that Ed says about how humbuckers should be mounted...;)

Secondly, what's h/s?

No, I mean, put back the black one! :D
h/s stands for headstock.

[RockinJim]

Actually I find that the 91T has a lot of bass frequencies, it just sounds a little "flat" onthe upper register, but for riffs it's ideal. I found this "flatness" in other pickups of the 80s like the Jackson 50BC without preamp, so if the goal was to replicate a PU of that era I assume they got it right!:D

Anyway, it's not the horrible PU that I heard from some reviews, my EVH clone is on its way, I'll try it but I'm relatively happy with the 91T, perhaps swapping the magnet with a A2 would help.

Agree, I'd much rather have the 91T than the JB. Mine rocks ass...I do play through a Bugera so it's all gain and then some.

[Pro-ace]

No, I mean, put back the black one! :D
h/s stands for headstock.

No the cream one looks lovely!I'm also looking for a original schaller with three holes for side, like the old Barettas.

For the logo, I noticed that this one:

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110567432702&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

has the old logo, while mine has the later logo, that I incorrectly called pyramid, but anyway it's the 3D one...so I was wondering why the difference...:scratchhe

[Pro-ace]

Agree, I'd much rather have the 91T than the JB. Mine rocks ass...I do play through a Bugera so it's all gain and then some.

Well, I hate the JB therefore I assume that any pickup is an improvement, however more I played it more I liked it, although I'd like to try something different just to experiment...the Axis clone that I asked to SIN pickup is not arrived yet, but since I like very much Alnico 2s I'd like to try something like that in this guitar, the problem is that I want to leave the reverse zebra look that I consider emblematic of the Baretta, and reverses are relatively rare, I'd like to try the Warren DeMartini, which sounds what I'm looking for but I've never seen one zebra, they're all black...


...and bloody expensive!

[bongano]

mine has the later logo, that I incorrectly called pyramid, but anyway it's the 3D one...so I was wondering why the difference...:scratchhe

That's very strange to me. :scratchhe
Any closer pic?

[Pro-ace]

That's very strange to me. :scratchhe
Any closer pic?

This is the pic of the Baretta on ebay:

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7716/barettahead.jpg

[bongano]

This is the pic of the Baretta on ebay:

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7716/barettahead.jpg

Yes, I know. It's like mine.
I meant a pic of your Reissue's headstock.

[Pro-ace]

Yes, I know. It's like mine.
I meant a pic of your Reissue's headstock.

This is mine:

http://img.iwascoding.com/1/2010/07/29/D0/0817BF8B11ED4148914DEE3C53FCB371.jpg

MOST of the reissues I've seen around have this logo, anyway you're a lucky bastard because I prefer your old style!

[bongano]

I just discovered Reissues came with two different logos... It would be interesting to know the story behind that.

[bongano]

I just discovered one more thing I just checked... that I'm so stupid that I never noticed my Reissue has same 3d logo as yours! :happy1
Now it would be interesting to know why I've always thought mine had the old style logo... :stupid

[Pro-ace]

I just discovered one more thing I just checked... that I'm so stupid that I never noticed my Reissue has same 3d logo as yours! :happy1
Now it would be interesting to know why I've always thought mine had the old style logo... :stupid

Ahahahaha I noticed that yours had the same logo as mine, like most of them...while the one I posted is the only one I know with the old logo...anybody have more info about that?

[Rick S]

Simple really, Kramer ran out of the proper logo. Tossed on what they had handy at the time.


anybody have more info about that?

[Pro-ace]

Simple really, Kramer ran out of the proper logo. Tossed on what they had handy at the time.

And which is the proper logo? The old design or the block 3D?

[jumbowolfe]

Long story short, they ran out of the block/3D logo, and went with the old because some were in stock and still around. Richard wasn't too happy about it, nor was I, but I think the 3rd run featured the classic logo on those. Since they are a reissue of an 85 Baretta, it should be the 3d block logo.

The earlier red ones had a black outline gold logo, whereas the black headstocks were all gold.

Once again, living up to the Kramer name and keeping things inconsistent, it wouldn't be a reissue if they did it any other way.

For the record, I didn't make the decision on maple, the people I talked to on the forum at the time thought it was the best choice for the moment, since the old maple Barettas back around 2003 were in higher demand. I just reported to the Yo guys what the forum generally thought was the best body wood. Looking back, I kind of wish it had been poplar, given how good that 91T sounds in a Pacer Reissue.

[Pro-ace]

Long story short, they ran out of the block/3D logo, and went with the old because some were in stock and still around. Richard wasn't too happy about it, nor was I, but I think the 3rd run featured the classic logo on those. Since they are a reissue of an 85 Baretta, it should be the 3d block logo.

The earlier red ones had a black outline gold logo, whereas the black headstocks were all gold.

Once again, living up to the Kramer name and keeping things inconsistent, it wouldn't be a reissue if they did it any other way.

For the record, I didn't make the decision on maple, the people I talked to on the forum at the time thought it was the best choice for the moment, since the old maple Barettas back around 2003 were in higher demand. I just reported to the Yo guys what the forum generally thought was the best body wood. Looking back, I kind of wish it had been poplar, given how good that 91T sounds in a Pacer Reissue.

Interesting story, I personally prefer the old logo, and a little bit of inconsistency in teh production doesn't bother me at all.

For the maple body, I'm pretty satisfied with the sound, although the distortion that you get from the 91T is a little harsh, and I'm curious to try an alnico 2 pickup like the CC or the superexpensive RTM. I also think that the Baretta in poplar would have sounded too similar to the 1984 and detracted a little from the "speciality of this guitar", AFAIK beside the reissue the only guitar with maple boyd is the ESP Kami, which is a little more expensive.

Finally, I found the cream knob and I'm posting the pic of my customized Baretta to please Stefano!:happy1:happy1:happy1:happy1

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/5057/dsc00001l.jpg

[Pro-ace]

Update: in this days I received all I needed to hot rod my Baretta:

1) EVH D-tuna (black)
2) 37 mm brass block
3) The (in)famous SIN pickup

I spent most of the evening soldering, screwing, assembling and disassembling, and although my back is broken, I'm a happy man!:)

Big block: there was a discussion about the correct size of the block to use on the Baretta, 37 or 42, in the doubt I ordered what Stefano told me, but I found out that there's an additional 5 mm shim under the spring plate, therefore I assume the correct size is 42. It DOES have a influence on the sound and the feel of the bridge, now diving is harder but it seems that the Floyd moves less when you're bending, which is a good thing.

D-tuna...I've been told that D tuna sold separately don't work well and the material is not so good, I must have been lucky according to my digital tuner the D-tuna does what is expected to do. The black finish is a nice touch but it's pretty delicate, it's already fading away in some spots.

SIN pickup: supposed to be a Dimarzio Axis clone, it arrived today after a loooong wait. I don't have an EBMM Axis at hand but I can tell you that there's a huge improvement from the stock T-91, perhaps I should write a separate review...anyway at a price of 45 dollars shipped internationally, I'd recommend it even if it sounded half as good as it is.

[dan]

sounds sweet:thumbsup

[BamaKramer]

updated pics or it didnt happen :lol