Kramer Guitars Baretta Vintage

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TOTAL GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2020

E G

KRAMER ORIGINAL

COLLECTION 2020

Words: Amit Sharma / Photography Olly Curtis

The 80s shred machines made famous by EVH and Sambora

get brought into the modern age under Gibson ownership...

TGR336.gear_test.indd 88 13/08/2020 11:27

Summary of content (6 pages)

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T H E GA S STATION 88 Words: Amit Sharma / Photography Olly Curtis KRAMER ORIGINAL COLLECTION 2020 The 80s shred machines made famous by EVH and Sambora get brought into the modern age under Gibson ownership... TOTAL GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2020 TGR336.gear_test.
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THE TG TEST 89 T hough the company dates back to the mid-70s when it was mainly specialising in aluminium neck basses, it was a chance encounter between co-founder Dennis Berardi and Eddie Van Halen’s management on a flight in 1981 that led to the virtuoso teaming up with Kramer. It is rumoured that the guitarist promised to make them the biggest name in the trade – if he didn’t succeed, he certainly came close.
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T H E GA S STATION PACER VINTAGE £699 Cause I saw tiger, now I understand… JERSEY STAR £1049 Bad medicine is what you need That’s quite a finish… Isn’t that Richie Sambora’s old signature? You certainly won’t go unnoticed with this hanging around your neck, decorated with the same kind of stripes seen on George Lynch’s 1986 signature. There is also a Pure White version for those wanting something less outrageous. Pretty much – and it continues to be one of the best-selling Kramers out there.
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THE TG TEST SM-1 BARETTA VINTAGE £949 The Kramer Stagemaster makes its return… £649 The ultimate 80s throwback… The most metal axe in the Original Collection? That’s another striking headstock… It certainly is – and even comes in a finish called Maximum Steel. The tremolo is recessed which means you can pull more in pitch – you can get close by tilting the bridge on a non-recessed guitar, but having less physical space to play with will always result in less range.
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THE TG TEST Take a walk on the wild side with his Tiger Graphic finish HEAD TO HEAD A question of preference rather than value A 92 s far as build quality goes, there is very little in difference between these models. They all feel rugged and reliable, with the same dependable double-locking Floyd Rose system to ensure tuning is held no matter how much use or abuse it receives.
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T H E GA S STATION FINAL VERDICT Which model stands out to you? I t’s interesting how Kramer – a company that took a sizeable chunk out of Les Paul sales over the 80s – now find themselves being brought back to life by Gibson. This latest collection is certainly worthy of the brand’s heritage, with wild finishes and no options for fixed bridges. It is, after all, what Kramer were famous for – and they still are, looking how much the American-made originals go for second-hand.