Kramer Guitars Baretta Vintage

BODY: Mahogany
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE: 25.5”
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
FRETS: 24
PICKUPS: Seymour Duncan Cool Rails
(neck and middle), Seymour Duncan JB
(bridge) with push-pull coil-split
HARDWARE: Floyd Rose 1000 Series
Tremolo, Die cast machine heads
FINISH: Candy Blue, Orange
Crush, Maximum Steel
AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE
BODY: Maple
NECK: Maple
SCALE: 25.5”
FINGERBOARD: Maple
FRETS: 22
PICKUPS: Seymour Duncan JB
zebra-coil humbucker with
coil-split switch
HARDWARE: Floyd Rose 1000 Series
Tremolo, Die cast machine heads
with pearloid buttons
FINISH: Alpine White, Candy Apple Red
SEPTEMBER 2020 TOTAL GUITAR
THE TG TEST
91
The most metal axe in the Original Collection?
It certainly is – and even comes in a  nish 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. And while we’re on the subject of range, you might have
noticed 24 frets instead of 22.
That headstock looks pretty nifty…
Introduced in 1986 when Kramer were upping production, the
That’s another striking headstock…
Indeed it is – very similar to the pointy headstock on the SM-1 but
rounded at the end, originally introduced in 1984 and commonly
known as the banana or hockey stick headstock. Hey, if it was
good enough for Eddie...
The one angled humbucker is also quite the statement…
You may have already guessed what it is. As with the Pacer Vintage,
pulling out the volume control o ers a coil tap on the JB, so there is
some tonal variety. Again, the Van Halen connection is strong here
pointy headstock is among their most classic – also appearing in
the form of pearloid inlays. The 14-degree angle is said to provide
more pressure at the nut for sustain, which – when you factor
in the all-mahogany neck-through body – makes this the
thickest-sounding guitar of the collection.
What about the pickups?
While it’s a JB once again in the bridge, the two Cool Rails bring a lot
of power in the middle and neck positions – arguably some of the
most deceptive humbuckers ever made thanks to their single-coil
size. It also features a coil-split switch and a  ve-way selector.
– much like the single-pickup 5150 guitar he himself assembled at
the Kramer factory and his original homemade Frankenstrat with
the angled Gibson PAF – it’s a thunderously uncomplicated
workhorse.
What are the advantages of a slanted bridge pickup, then?
In most cases, clearer highs and more power from the thinner
strings while retaining the right kind of warmth for the higher
gauges – e ectively giving you more note articulation across
the board. Typical for Strats and Teles though less common for
humbuckers, the idea goes all the way back to Leo Fender himself.
SM-1
The Kramer Stagemaster makes
its return…
BARETTA
VINTAGE
The ultimate 80s throwback…
£949
£649
TGR336.gear_test.indd 91 13/08/2020 11:27