new member with an XL-7

**ttilford** · 02-23-2012, 12:59 PM

Hello,
I'm a new member and I've had this guitar since 1986. I believe it's a 1980 XL-7 from the research I've done. Glad to have found this site along with "Vintage Kramer" as it's allowed me to finally identify what I've had all this time. This guitar was purchased (used) from a LMS in MN along with an amp to replace a 79' Gibson SG and amp that I had to sell in order to make rent during some tough times back in 84'. I'm sure we've all been there once or twice in our lives. I vowed after selling that instrument that nothing would get me to part with my next guitar, no matter what it was. It's all original except for the 6 way selector knob which I replaced with a barrel style knob. There are plenty of nicks in the clear coat as it's been mishandled and moved too many times over the last 26 years. If I only knew what I had! Now she proudly hangs on the wall in my office, along with a nice Gibson Studio LP. Just thought I'd show her off. So here's the silly question of the day - is getting it refinished / restored a dumb idea or should I just leave it as the "survivor" it is?
Ok, now back to lurking and learning...Kramer 2.JPG

Kramer 1.JPG

**popvamp** · 02-23-2012, 01:29 PM

Wow, you don't see those everyday!

Great story & welcome to the forum.

You definitely know how to introduce yourself and I'm glad you decided to "show her off"!

Restoring, refinishing is a personal choice but if I had a vote, I'd say leave it as-is.

**withoutasound** · 02-23-2012, 01:38 PM

That looks really cool!

**serdontos** · 02-23-2012, 03:03 PM

Welcome to the forum, that sure is a sweet and rare one you have there

I say leave it as is, those battle scars are it's personality.

**sixstring** · 02-23-2012, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by popvamp

Restoring, refinishing is a personal choice but if I had a vote, I'd say leave it as-is.

+1 Killer looking axe!

Welcome aboard!

**Lockheed_Tvr** · 02-23-2012, 03:17 PM

I've never seen one of these in the wild and these are probably the best pictures I've seen of one online! I think it's beautiful guitar - kind of early BC Rich-ish. Nice guitar and nice post. a few more pictures would not be unwarranted!

Also, that's some serious switching going on there, what are the electronics like on those?

**ttilford** · 02-23-2012, 04:02 PM

Thanks to all for the kind remarks and warm welcome! Glad I could bring something of interest to the board. Here's another pic of the back and a advertisement copy I found on VK that explains the active electronics better. The sound on this guitar is amazing. Brite or grunt, it does it all with incredible warmth and richness. Depending on where you set the switches you could get anything from crystal clear to full on distortion - all onboard It took a 9v battery to operate. A pain to change out and needed to be done daily when played. If I left the battery plugged in it would drain overnight on it's own. There's a stereo plug on it as well as mono. Never could get the stereo plug to work but after doing some research I think I just need to try different switch settings. Will be a fun experiment to see if I can get stereo out of it. Even in mono it was always the favorite sounding guitar in the room. Kramer 3.JPG

xlad2web.jpg

**gstring85** · 02-23-2012, 08:21 PM

Welcome to the forum! Beautifull axe you got there!!

**DethConsumer** · 02-23-2012, 11:52 PM

I love it!

**moku** · 02-23-2012, 11:57 PM

beautiful. yeah, i'd leave it as is. the scars will remind you of all the years that you've owned her. and each scar has its history...

welcome aboard.

**_N_** · 02-24-2012, 03:17 AM

hi,

i also think: leave it as it is. as already said by moku: any scar is part of the history...

besides my lumies i also own a gibson sg that is really battered... and i bought it new a long time ago...
looking at this guitar (or better: playing it) reminds me of what happend those days...;-)

best

H

N-1511.com

**mmmtacos** · 02-24-2012, 03:29 AM

What browser is this posted with? I only see "NAME, JPG. SIZE.........etc"

**mrwhipper** · 02-24-2012, 05:18 AM

Beautiful axe! I would leave it as is. Welcome to KF!

**ttilford** · 02-24-2012, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by mmmtacos

What browser is this posted with? I only see "NAME, JPG. SIZE.........etc"

I used IE8 I think as a browser

**ttilford** · 02-24-2012, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by moku

beautiful. yeah, i'd leave it as is. the scars will remind you of all the years that you've owned her. and each scar has its history...

welcome aboard.

Thanks to all for the input and advice. It's official, she stays original in all her glory and battle scars. You're right, if those scars could talk they'd weave an interesting web.

**Kramer23** · 02-25-2012, 12:08 PM

Cool looking guitar. It looks like it may have been the inspiration for the Floyd Rose model!

**Kramer23** · 02-25-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by popvamp

Restoring, refinishing is a personal choice but if I had a vote, I'd say leave it as-is.

Agreed. Fwiw, whenever I see an old guitar in mint condition I usually think either it sounds like shit, or it's owner isn't a player!

**Louthedog** · 03-02-2012, 08:09 AM

I want one......

**droz76** · 03-14-2012, 07:22 PM

I want one too!

**fenderislife** · 04-06-2012, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by Louthedog

I want one......

Originally Posted by droz76

I want one too!

+1!

**kremark** · 04-06-2012, 07:24 AM

Welcome aboard sir!!! Your 1984 blues I felt in about 2005. I bought high in 2001 and sold way low to make rent. Anyways, I believe you'll enjoy being amongst brothers in axes.

**MCB67** · 04-06-2012, 01:45 PM

Welcome to the forum, ttilford. Very nice axe you have there and I'd say the consensus is to keep it original. Thanks for sharing!

**Metalsmith** · 10-06-2012, 07:26 PM

Whoa! I have the twin to yours!!! I bought mine new in '80, and have kept it totally original. I will never get rid of it. I have never seen another XL-7 like mine until I saw your pictures. The only XL-7's I have ever seen pictures of have the dot inlay neck and not the "crown" inlays. I thought I may have had the only one with crowns. Really, really cool...... We are very lucky.

**Cygnus X1** · 10-06-2012, 07:40 PM

VERY cool.
Agree on the BC Rich similarity...which is great in my eyes!

**Metalsmith** · 10-06-2012, 08:55 PM

The guitar has two outputs, and they are both "mono" jacks. The battery is only connected when there is a cord attached, so if you are having to change batteries every day, I would check to see if the primary jack is shorting out. I only have to change batteries in mine a little more frequently than my stomp pedals. You should be also able to plug headphones directly into the guitar output and play through them. That helped me with learning the tone capabilities available.

With all the various switches and the preamp settings, the tones available are almost endless. I use mine mainly in the studio and run one output to a Marshall, and the other output into a Vetta. It sounds unreal "live" also.

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