Kramer Guitars Baretta Vintage
SEPTEMBER 2020 TOTAL GUITAR
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 ight 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. The following
decade led to some fruitful partnerships and a host
of high-quality instruments renowned for
uncompromised playability. By signing up the guitar
players in bands like Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe and
Whitesnake, in addition to Eddie’s endorsement for his
rst mass-produced signature, Kramer became the
go-to brand for loud guitars with equally loud looks.
It all came to an end in 1991 – annel was in, spandex
was out. By the turn of the millennium, the brand had
been sold out of bankruptcy to Gibson, who have now
once again revamped the range to ensure their ‘Made To
Rock Hard’ legacy remains intact at a more aordable,
Indonesian-produced price point. While the Modern
collection explores Kramer-style interpretations of
traditional Gibson body shapes, such as the Les Paul and
Flying V, the Originals are a bold resurrection of the 80s
Superstrats that typied an era of thrilling guitar
acrobatics. Read on as we pit Kramer vs. Kramer...
TGR336.gear_test.indd 89 13/08/2020 11:27