KRAMER GUITARS

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KRAMER GUITARS The Legend Lives On! Kramer
Guitars was more than just a guitar company it
was an absolute influence on the rock industry
and rock guitar. Kramer had the very best players
as endorsees, such as Edward Van Halen, Richie
Sambora, Mick Mars, Vivian Campbell and countless
other high-profile guitarists in the era when
technique and speed demanded high performance
guitars
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KRAMER GUITARS THE BEGINNING
The company was founded in the late 1970s by
Dennis Berardi and Gary Kramer, a close friend
and associate of Travis Bean, to manufacture
aluminum-necked guitars. Gary Kramer, Dennis
Berardi, Peter LaPlaca (a Vice President at
Norlin, parent company of Gibson in 1974), and
investor Henry Vaccaro joined forces to open a
plant in Neptune, New Jersey. Soon thereafter,
Gary Kramer moved to Los Angeles, and his
connection with the company would become in name
only, long before the wooden neck era that began
in the 1980s.
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KRAMER TIMELINE

• 1976
• Trademark pitchfork aluminum-reinforced necks
  Alumi-necks
• Ebonol fretboard
• Schaller tuning keys and bridges
• Schaller and DiMarzio pickups
• Used exotic woods and hybrid wood/aluminum necks
  until 1982

• 1981
• Wooden Necks
• Schaller tuning keys and bridges
• Schaller and DiMarzio pickups

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KRAMER GUITARS WOODEN NECKS-OFFSHORE-ROCKINGER-EVH
81-83

• LATE 1981
• Headstock changed to the beak style
• Offshore production began in Eastern Asia
• Fulcrum trems were made in Japan
• Necks made in Japan
• Guitars assembled and finished at Kramer/New
  Jersey
• Partnered with German inventor, Helmut Rockinger
  and installed his tremolos, precursors to Floyd
  Rose systems

Rockinger trem (a.k.a. the EVH Trem)
A chance encounter between Dennis Berardi and the
manager of Eddie Van Halen on an airplane flight
set the foundation for Kramer's meteoric rise in
the 1980s. Eddie reportedly said that he would
help make Kramer the "1 guitar company in the
world. It indeed come true, as Kramer was the 1
selling brand in the world in 1985 and 86.
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KRAMER GUITARS The Legend Lives On! TIMELINE

• 1983
• Headstock changed to the banana style
• Floyd Rose tremolos become a standard feature

• 1986
• Headstock changed to the pointy style
• Floyd Rose tremolos become a standard feature

• 1985
• Headstock changed to the pointy style
• Floyd Rose tremolos become a standard feature
• Seymour Duncan pickups became standard
• Kramer becomes THE BEST SELLING GUITAR BRAND
  (continues through 1986)

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KRAMER GUITARS TIMELINE

• 1987
• Japanese made Kramer necks and bodies and
  assembled guitars in Neptune NJ for American
  Series
• Labor strike hits Korea creating massive
  backorders
• Falls behind on royalties to Floyd Rose

• 1990
• The original Kramer company effectively came to
  an end mostly due to financial problems.
• A notorious firesale of parts was held out of
  New Jersey.

• 1997
• Gibson purchases Kramer out of bankruptcy.
• Soon after opens on-line store Music.Yo to sell
  Kramer products direct to consumers
• Reissues classic guitars assembled in the USA
  (1984pictured above) as well as offers guitars
  made overseas

• 1989
• Dennis Berardi had started Berardi/Thomas
  Entertainment, Inc. and overextends on
  endorsement deals

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KRAMER GUITARS LEGENDARY ARTISTS
Former endorsers include Eddie Van Halen, Vivian
Campbell (Whitesnake/Def Lepard), Richie Sambora
(Bon Jovi) and may more!
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KRAMER GUITARS THE NEXT GENERATION
Todays endorsees include Paul Sidoti (Taylor
Swift), Satchel, Lexxi Foxx (Steel Panther),
Bruce Swink and Ari (Destrophy), The Arusha
Accord, Bury Tomorrow Johnny Galvatron (Galvatron)
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KRAMER GUITARS

• Todays new Kramer Guitars come with a variety of
  configurations to uphold the standards of todays
  guitarist at an affordable price!
• KEY FEATURES ON NEW MODELS INCLUDE
• ALL KRAMERS 25.5 scale
• Jumbo frets
• Kramer Volume Bleed Mod (except on Bass)
• High Quality Pickups (based on USA designs)
• Strung w/.10-.46

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KRAMER GUITARS 2010 NEW MODELS!
2010 Kramer Pariah

Features
22 fret
25.5 scale
Mahogany body
Flame graphics
Dual Humbucker
Volume bleed mod
Thorn Inlays
3-way toggle switch
Coil tap
Available in 2 finishes
Candy Red w/black flames Pewter w/Silver Ghost Flames (shown)
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KRAMER GUITARS 2010 NEW MODELS!
2010 Kramer Assault 211 FR
The Assault is not your typical single cutaway guitar. It is a completely different beast than traditional single cut designs. The Assault features a much thinner and lighter body, a thinner neck and longer scale length. This is the single cut guitar that finally offers what has turned away some guitarists from the heavier and more bulky traditional single cut designs
Features
Recessed Floyd Rose
1 Humbucker 2 Single coil
Volume bleed modification
24 Fret
Thorn inlays
Black Nickel Hardware
5 way selection switch
25.5" scale
Mahogany body
Available in 2 finishes
Pearl White, Candy Red
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KRAMER GUITARS 2010 NEW MODELS!
2010 Kramer Assault 220 FR
 
Features
Recessed Floyd Rose
Dual Humbucker
Volume bleed modification
24 Fret
Thorn inlays
25.5" scale
3-way selection switch
Binded body, neck and headstock
Mahogany body
Available in 2 finishes
Black w/Red Binding, Alpine White w/Black Binding
Kramers new headstock and logo design with thorn
fretboard inlays!
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KRAMER GUITARS 2010 NEW MODELS!
2010 Kramer Assault 220
Features
String through T.O.M.
Dual Humbucker
Volume bleed modification
24 Fret
Thorn inlays
25.5" scale
3-way selection switch Coil tap
Binded body, neck and headstock
Mahogany body
Available in 2 finishes Red Blackburst Coppertop
Kramers VOLUME BLEED MOD eliminates treble loss
that occurs when rolling back pickup volume!
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KRAMER GUITARS 2009 NEW MODELS!
2009 Kramer Nite V
Features
22 fret
Dual Humbucker
String through T.O.M.
Thorn Inlays
25.5" scale
3-way toggle and push/pull coil tap
Black Nickel hardware
Available in Satin Black finish
Also available as String Through w/T.O.M.
Kramer pays homage to their classic pointy
headstock
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KRAMER GUITARS 2010 NEW MODELS!
2010 Kramer Striker
 
Features
REDESIGNED FOR 2010!!! Recessed Floyd Rose
Humbucker with 2 single coils
Volume bleed modification
24 Fret
Thorn inlays
Black Nickel Hardware
5-way selection switch
Alder body Flame Maple top
25.5" scale
Available in 3 finishes
Fireburst, Trans Black, Trans Purple
Also available in string through in the same 3
finish colors as the Floyd model!
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KRAMER GUITARS 2010 NEW MODELS!
2010 Kramer Pacer Classic
 
Features
Floyd Rose
Dual Humbuckers
Volume bleed modification
22 Fret
Dot inlays
Black Nickel Hardware
 25.5 scale
Available in 2 finishes
Pearl White and Candy Red
Classic Logo Historically accurate beak
headstock with classic Kramer logo like those
found on Pacers from 1982-1984
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KRAMER GUITARS 2010 NEW MODELS!
2010 Kramer Disciple Bass
 
Features
34" scale
24 fret
EMG MMHCS pickup
EMG BTS preamp system
Asymmetrical - 3 piece Maple neck
Light weight
perfect balance
 
Available in 2 finishes
Black and Red Pearl White
EMG BTS SystemFeatures a master volume with the bass and treble on separate pots. Approximately 12db of cut and boost are available for bass and treble and all controls are center dented to assure quick return to normal tone settings. It is extremely quiet, and require very little current from a 9v battery
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For more information please visit
www.kramerguitars.com And www.kramerguitars.com/pr
ess To see product photos