Kramer American Showster Savant II

[ncelectric]

Got it up and running yesterday and wow
Neck: Very similar to my other showster neck, a shallower c shape. R2 nut, med jumbo frets, and pearl dots.
The TRC is much smaller than my other savant neck which leads me to believe this savant is an 88model...more on that to follow.

Body: CAR paint (very clean, small blem by bridge pu) Very nice contours, thin edges. All hardware is black (chrome was on the
metalist) Duncan singlecoil in neck, bridge is replaced with a screamin demon Vol and tone control with 3 way switch, no
coiltap (supposedly coiltap added after 88). Imput jack on the back, backplate recessed, not controlplate The metal bar
IS still there, no signs of removal (or attemps )

The 1988 models had non recessed floyds and no coiltapped bridge pu's both changed the following year

I am extremely pleased with it, by far my best sounding and playing Kramer.

If anyone else has one of the Showsters post some pics!! I know Moku has a couple

[sixstring]

Nice!
Was gonna ask about the bar....

[sprocket226]

Sweet looking guitar.
Looks like it's in fantastic shape

[moku]

good memory nc....

they play so well... on par with any of my more expensive guitars.



another one...



sold this one a couple of years ago... not a showster but close to it in my opinion.

[joelson6]

very nice !

[geetar10]

Looks clean as a whistle! Nice score!

[ncelectric]

I love mine, and your two are sweet. That's a hundred series the black one?
The shapes of these things are great

[moku]

i really think it's the balance of the thin body, pickup config, the piece of metal that make the tone of these so great....

the black one above is a 220? came stock with real floyd rose, too. here's my black savant 2... got it for an arm and a leg (paid way too much but i had to do it):

[KenHeartsKramer]

Very nice, love those Savants! Congrats!

[Breizman]

You're a real Showster-addict Moku !!
I understand, I love the shape of this baby.

[moku]

i'm just a kramer head i like to have multiples of diff models... in case something goes wrong with one i have a backup... and have a backup of a back up...

[ncelectric]

nothing wrong with Kollecting

[Breizman]

in case something goes wrong with one i have a backup... and have a backup of a back up...

You should work in Insurance dude !

[ncelectric]

You're a real Showster-addict Moku !!
I understand, I love the shape of this baby.

That's real nice

[Breizman]

I love that shape. If I could put my hands on more Showsters I would pull the trigger without thinking.
I really love the 620 as well.

It's a bit like a quest

[ncelectric]

I understand, I have seen more as of late but they are really scarce. VK stated the actual number of the showsters is unknown and perhaps not all models made it out

[0 Xero 0]

That looks like a great axe. I love the archtop styled kramers. That red one Breizman posted reminds me of the rga body sizes or rather the rga body sizes remind me of the showster since it came first.

[moku]

found this excerpt here about the showster series:

"The Showster Series guitars were a guitar built with metal enhancements into the body of the guitar. These guitars were designed by Rick Excellente, the designer of the ¦57 Chevy (Tail-fin¦ guitar that was offered in 1986. He had found out that this metal attachment actually enhanced and contributed much more to the guitar¦s sound by retaining the natural motion of the string. In other words, what the metal was to try to produce was a better sustaining guitar with a more natural sound through organizing the vibrations through the guitar body. The Metalist XML model had an external metal (wing¦ attached to the lower right section of the body, near the guitar¦s controls. The Metalist had an external rim/internal plate to provide its metal loading. Then the last model was the Savant. The Savant had a metal bar internally loaded through the bottom of the guitar. Another interesting feature of these guitars was the addition of a rear mounted cord jack. This was to try to eliminate, or at least reduce the event of a cord (pull-out¦. The bodies of these guitars were basically a strat shape, but they were (density contoured¦ for better resonating quality. Most guitars resonance is a random thing and Kramer was hoping to organize it to build a better sounding guitar. There were two Showsters available without the metal-loading for a cost alternative, yet still have the sleek new shaped body and the rear mounted cord jack. These were the model 260 and the model 360. It was also throughout this year, that Kramer continually fell deeper into financial problems, despite their efforts through new guitars and technologies. There is the possibility that they were just trying to get too technological in their guitars, and guitarists are not usually the ones to stray far from traditional values. Kramer tried to keep their heads above water and tried to regain the market share that they were beginning to lose from endorsers going to other manufacturers, but they were losing ground quickly."

this is the link: http://www.vintagekramer.com/story.htm

[ncelectric]

Model 260 and 360? I haven't heard of those two models. Kramer mystery never disappoints! Thanks for the interesting read moku, it's a shame Kramer was down the tubes as they were making this series. If they were still stable I bet these guitars would have been a huge success. I remember reading that some models may never have made it out with the showsters

[Full Crib]

Those are great lookin fiddles....
Dan....didnt you have a candy blue one at one time?

[Breizman]

Great looking, great balance, great sustain.
Very comfortable to play.

[Slash2147]

What kind of Floyd Rose did the Showster Savants have (Special, OFR)?

[moku]

What kind of Floyd Rose did the Showster Savants have (Special, OFR)?

OFR or OFR low pro.