Show your grails!

[moku]

hi folks,
i've searched on the forum for a thread for the grails out there among forum bros/sis. didn't come up wtih any. i don't have one but, like many, i've been saving for one.
those of you who owns one (or more) would you pls post pics so i can pine over it
thanks!

[mackelchea]

Here's my littly Baby-Whoa-Whoa-Whoa

[mackelchea]

[metalchurch]

Nice guitar bro!

Please forgive my Kramer ignorance and lack of knowledge, but why do they call it a grail?

The first year for a Baretta?
Low production?
Is it because of EVH in any way?

Thanks

[Pacer Guy]

I'll take a stab at the Grail...
First year Baretta
The guitar Ed poses with in the "No Bozos" Ad
And the big thing... Non Tilt Banana Headstock Pretty rare

[metalchurch]

Makes sense to me, thanks
Thats the reason I dont like it as much is because of the non-tilt neck.
I like the tilted pointies out of everything, and most times they are the only guitars I care for.

There are some notable exceptions to that though.

[moku]

love it! thanks mackel. does anyone know if the quality of these grails? i heard that that during this time kramer was pretty inconsistant with the quality fo these.... is that true?
personally i love the look of these banana headstocks. btw, are all grails produced in '83? or are '84 non-tilt baretts also considered grails?

[kramerpacer]

"Grail" is a term that some folks on the forum developed as a 'quick reference' term to the '83 non-tilt Barettas probably because of the rareness of the model. I've always hated the name because that is not the same guitar Ed had in the ad. You can clearly see the headstock shape is different. And, no offense to non-tilt owners, but that 1 3/4" nut width is a real baseball bat. Kramer did make better guitars IMO.
All things aside, you want to see rare?......

[floydkramer]

I think this is the add.



there is this one also, but obviously not the no bozo's barretta add.

[billmill310]

"Grail" is a term that some folks on the forum developed as a 'quick reference' term to the '83 non-tilt Barettas probably because of the rareness of the model. I've always hated the name because that is not the same guitar Ed had in the ad. You can clearly see the headstock shape is different. And, no offense to non-tilt owners, but that 1 3/4" nut width is a real baseball bat. Kramer did make better guitars IMO.
All things aside, you want to see rare?......

just curious why this one is rare? does it have to do with the metal things?

[kramerpacer]

Ever heard of kramer "Vintage Series"?

[Pacer Guy]

Ever heard of kramer "Vintage Series"?

WTF... Vintage series??? Is that a Strat head?? Looks like it??

[kramer.geetar]

Dave you got any pictures of that whole guitar?

By the way, is it just me or is the pickup on the No Bozo's guitar at a much greater angle then a 'grail'?

[amerturk]

Unfortunately, the "grail" has turned out to be nothing more than, "look, I have a grail"

I've never seen one gigged and would venture to say they are reserved for mainly collectors.

I guess there should be a grail registery site. I'm actually surprized there isn't one.

[kramerpacer]

Here you go...



This proto-Pacer was found at a flea market a few miles from the old Neptune factory by Steve Z. Body appears to be a Walker body. To our knowledge it is the only one of it's kind and possibly the first Strat head Kramer.

[amerturk]

Strathead at a flea market....prototype??? Good God!

[bkeen]

There is a Grail museum. It is at mackelchea's house.

:happy1

Damn, sometimes I wish I would have kept at least one of my grails.

[billmill310]

Here you go...



This proto-Pacer was found at a flea market a few miles from the old Neptune factory by Steve Z. To our knowledge it is the only one of it's kind and possibly the first Strat head Kramer.

Wow! That is sexy. Cool, I didn't know that.

[xbolt]

Dave you got any pictures of that whole guitar?

By the way, is it just me or is the pickup on the No Bozo's guitar at a much greater angle then a 'grail'?

Yep... almost like a Focus body shape too, not to mention that neck does not look like an R5 and the nana head is much smaller than the production non-tilts which look more ESPish...

[xbolt]

Dave you got any pictures of that whole guitar?

By the way, is it just me or is the pickup on the No Bozo's guitar at a much greater angle then a 'grail'?

Yep... amost like a Focus body shape too, not to mention that neck does not look like an R5 and the nana head is much smaller than the production non-tilts which look more ESPish/Destroyer...

[Pacer Guy]

Here you go..

This proto-Pacer was found at a flea market a few miles from the old Neptune factory by Steve Z. Body appears to be a Walker body. To our knowledge it is the only one of it's kind and possibly the first Strat head Kramer.

WOW... At a flea market?? One of a kind... That is the grail of Pacers Wow...........

[kramer.geetar]

Unfortunately, the "grail" has turned out to be nothing more than, "look, I have a grail"

I've never seen one gigged and would venture to say they are reserved for mainly collectors.

I guess there should be a grail registery site. I'm actually surprized there isn't one.

I've been seeing it like that also. "Check out my 'grail'!!" *opens guitar case* "Its cool huh" *closes case*
I guess if you want a grail type and gig it then hell pick up a white Focus 1000. I know its not exactly the same thing but close enough and its not like it'll be the end of the world if theres a scratch on it while playing live.

...and I can't believe that Pacer was found at a Flea market. Unreal

Edit:

Dave, that black maple board Pacer looks familiar

[webbhead13]

The pacer "grail" would look a helluva lot better with out those ugly white knobs on it!
Well fellas I dont gig out anymore and didnt have a grail when I did, but mine gets enough play time!
I had it redone by Mitchel @ meanstreet so I keep it in the case most of the time!
I guess since I have my strat heads out of thier cases they arent as rare!
My kramer "grail" would be the maple board nana
Its been alot harder for me to get one of those then it did this one
And I agree with Bruce.. Mack should have his own friggin grail page
heres before and after shots of my baretta

[PacerPete]

Dino,

She is a beauty, even with those white knobs. That is the only other Pacer that I've seen in that color(burgandy perhaps). I've always refered to mine as black cherry in color. I've only heard of a couple stratheads in the low A 7000 range. Where does that one fit in as far as the numbers go? I wonder how many guitars went out with that Vintage Series on the headstock?

Here you go...



This proto-Pacer was found at a flea market a few miles from the old Neptune factory by Steve Z. Body appears to be a Walker body. To our knowledge it is the only one of it's kind and possibly the first Strat head Kramer.

I'm working on getting the original electronics up and running.

[kramerpacer]

No serial number on this one. Just a totally blank plate. Pots date late 1980 and early 1981. Trem is an early Flicker- The kind that rides on a hinge instead of a pivot bar.

Never seen or heard of another 'Vintage Series' before or after this one. "Vintage Series" must have been the working name before they came up with Pacer.

Dino,

She is a beauty, even with those white knobs. That is the only other Pacer that I've seen in that color(burgandy perhaps). I've always refered to mine as black cherry in color. I've only heard of a couple stratheads in the low A 7000 range. Where does that one fit in as far as the numbers go? I wonder how many guitars went out with that Vintage Series on the headstock?




I'm working on getting the original electronics up and running.