Kramer American Series Information

[Lucid_Lunatic]

I have a Kramer American Series Pacer that I am thinking of selling. I would like to get as much information about it as I can before I list it. I have did some research on the web and found some things, but I'm not sure if all are correct. From what I have gathered it is an 86 model, made by ESP and assembled by Kramer here in the States. I have read a few threads about the stock pickups and I have found they used a few different makes and models. I think mine has a JB in the bridge and I have no idea what model the single coil mid and neck are. On the back the mid is stamped SD 2 86 and has a small white sticker with the letters "I R" the neck is stamped with SD 2 84. I dont know if that is a model code or maybe a date code. Everything on the guitar is original, so maybe some of you guys know what they are. Another thing I would like to know is what kind of wood the body is made of and how many pieces? The SN is E 6590 if that helps.

I'm gonna put a couple of crappy pics I just made of it up also. If I am wrong on any of my information, I would apreciate some one correcting me.


Thanks.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

More likely an 87/88. Pickups should be a JB and 2 SSL 1's. The pointy pacer deluxes don't bring in as much as the nana heads or beaks. I'd say best guess would be around $350/$400. But the market is soft right now so it's hard telling. Could be more or less.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

I should also add that I am not 100% sure the bridge is a JB. It has the metal back with the SD logo and a small sticker that has "JBJ" on it. I am also guessing it is potted because it has wax on the back of it.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

More likely an 87/88. Pickups should be a JB and 2 SSL 1's. The pointy pacer deluxes don't bring in as much as the nana heads or beaks. I'd say best guess would be around $350/$400. But the market is soft right now so it's hard telling. Could be more or less.

Thanks 9! Is there any way to find out what the year is for sure? I had read it was done like fender. E for eighty and the first degit, which is a 6. Thats where I had came up with it being an 86. Also, any idea on body wood?

I'm familiar with the bananna head but what is the "beak"? Got a pic of one you could post?

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

Def. a JB. Body is wood is more than likely Alder and is 2 possibly 3 pcs. Didn't see that part when I first replied.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

Beak.

There's no definitive way to tell what year it was. Kramer didn't use a sequential system w/ their SN's. They just grabbed one out of a box and went w/ it. Most definitely an 87 early 88. Later than that it would have a recessed floyd and not a flat mount. Could be a transition model 86 but I doubt it. The serial # is too high. Most of the transition models I've seen had a lower # E plate.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

Man, I have always thought that headstock shape (beak) was one of the cheapies they made in the 80's. I never knew it was one of the more desireable ones. I have passed up so many of those guitars in pawn shops for $100 just because I wasn't in the know...........


I'll keep my eye out for them now.

Thanks

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

Some of the beaks are worth a lot of money. Some not so much. There's a couple variations of the beak headstock as well. As long as is doesn't say striker on it you're pretty much in the good. Some of the Focus models had a variation of the beak, but they're easily distinguishable by the original Floyds on them.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

Some of the beaks are worth a lot of money. Some not so much. There's a couple variations of the beak headstock as well. As long as is doesn't say striker on it you're pretty much in the good. Some of the Focus models had a variation of the beak, but they're easily distinguishable by the original Floyds on them.

Cool! Thanks for all the info bro!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

The new pacer reissue has a beak! Lucid, 9 hit it.. Kramer's numbering system is absolute chaos. For such a mighty company in those days, they were so out of control..

Anyhow, Im wondering if that neck is an R5? The neck on my Imp is about the best neck Ive played.

yeah, the market is soft. good for buyers tho.. These Kramers and charvels were peaking hard about a year ago..

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

furious 9 really knows his Kramer.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

Agrees with the 9finger dude!
87-early 88...mine is an 88 and is recessed, plus my springcavity is like a normal fender in looks, while yours is recessed, and you have a chrome neckplate, mine is black....
Actually it looks alot like mine....to bad it is so far away

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

it should be a jb since kramer started using jb's as their stock bridge pickups in the mid 80's all the way the late 90's. try looking at "www.vintage kramer.com" it might help

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

^Like we did not know

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

The new pacer reissue has a beak! Lucid, 9 hit it.. Kramer's numbering system is absolute chaos. For such a mighty company in those days, they were so out of control..

Anyhow, Im wondering if that neck is an R5? The neck on my Imp is about the best neck Ive played.

yeah, the market is soft. good for buyers tho.. These Kramers and charvels were peaking hard about a year ago..

What is an R5 neck?

I have always been more of a Les Paul guy and I like the bigger 50's style Gibson necks. The neck on this Kramer is a bit different. Seems a bit wider and flatter, but is still comfortable to me. Not as thin as alot of Ibanez and Jacksons I have tried. It's a fast neck and is actually awesome for shredding. Problem is, I can't shred............ I have a buddy who can play all the 900 notes per second stuf and he makes it wail. I use it for pretty much the same stuff I play on my Lesters and throw in an aweful dive bomb here and there just for kicks.:friday:

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

One other question I forgot to ask, What does the little 3 way toggle switch do? Does it reverse the phase or maybe a coil tap? I can hear a bit of a difference when switching it, but have no idea what it is actually doing.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

Seriel, split and parallel...

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

Seriel, split and parallel...

Thanks!

I have hooked up all the pickups in my Pauls myself and they are just standard wiring. Care to explain exactly what series, split and parallel actually do? I am guess that split means that only one coil in the bucker is going, like a coil tap, right?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

Yep the split is the frontcoil(the one closest to the neck) of the bucker only, the parallel sounds alot like the split, but uses both coils in parallel, the impedance drops alot, and the pickup becomes very open and less fat, in seriel which is normal "bucker" mode it is back to its usual configuration.
Love my own Pacer Deluxe...never going to part with that one...I want more Kramers

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Kramer American Series Information

R5 is what we Kramer lovers call one of the necks they used to use. The R5 neck on my Kramer is so comfy to me.. If Im not mistaken, it is determined by the nut width used. If you look on the locking nut and it says R5 under the lock blocks.
someone correct me if Im wrong.. I bought my kramer from a fellow member of the Kramer forum.. He told me it was an R5 neck. I didnt know how that was determined, and then one day I saw that on the nut.. Some are R2