kramer guitars - thoughts?

That's where the Kramer fanatics go, myself included.

For some reason - and it might just be the EVH association - I always thought Kramer guitars were great 'working-man' guitars.

Mind you, my only experience is with '80's models (I only have a Ferrington these days) and stuff like Pacers and Barettas.

I'd rather own one of those than many of the other Strat copies.

However, I don't know about these 'new' ones and what has happened with the company leading up to these...

Hi. I've got an older Kramer Striker model, S,S,H. It plays as nice as most Strats I see. I did change out all the pups though. Everyone I play with likes the sound of it the best. The Floyd works great, electronics otherwise are original, Pups are Samick, Fender, Duncan JB. White/Rosewood I had noticed that the new Kramers are coming stock with Duncans now. If they are as well built as the old ones, your friend should be pretty happy with it. Please post a review, I'd like to know what other Kramers are like.

They used to be deadly guitars back in the '80s ....i didn't think they were still being made!!!

Good info on contemporary Kramer, as I thought their disappearing act in the '90s had something to do with being bought out or bankruptcy. I own an early '80s Vanguard V, and I do like it better than a lot of other Kramers I've played (personal taste perhaps), and yes, I would pursue some of the older Kramers than the newer

The new 'Kramer' guitars are but a shadow of the former ones. The 1980s Kramers were very solid guitars with decent fit, finish, hardware, and feel. The new Kramers are cheap, entry-level instruments.

And even when Kramers were made (or assembled) in the USA, they were mainly a shredder guitar. They never felt as nice in my hands as a good Fender Strat

They're not, really.

Somebody just bought the name and is producing guitars under it. Some of the models do look like the original Kramers, but the quality is not likely to match that of the USA-made models from the '80s.