Kramer Baretta(?) photos

BOONIERAT

BOONIERAT

New member
A couple weeks back I mentioned finding a Kramer in the pawn shop for 99.00. I finally got it out and told you guys I would post some photos.

I have the photos on photobucket, so how do I transfer to here, so they show up. New to this photo thing, so have patience please.


kramer005-1.jpg



kramer025.jpg



kramer033.jpg



kramer023.jpg



kramer005.jpg



kramer031.jpg


kramer028.jpg


kramer023.jpg



See if this works
 
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Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

I don't know all the details of how to post links to individual pics but the simplest way is to just post the URL to your photo album.
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

Here's two pictures of the headstock:

The first is how it looked when I found it. The second is after some gental rubbing with some acitone.


kramer010-1.jpg



kramer028.jpg


Still needs some work, but I'm glad that whoever had it before, didn't take off the Kramer logo.

Also, check out the string saddle on the 5th string. Looks different form the rest but it isn't broke. Any clues as to what this is?

kramer030.jpg
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

Sweet. You got a steal of a deal. That is in pretty darn good shape actually, at least from the photos. It's an early Baretta I which puts it in the 87-88 timeframe.

Now, that saddle....it's not a real Floyd Rose replacement. Get the correct saddle for that.

The pickup will mostly be a JB. Keep it in there. The JB is very much at home in those.

It looks like it just needs a good cleaning and setup. Man, I still can't believe the deal you got. I'd be laughing all the way home with that one.
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

Thanks EricH!
I was feeling pretty good about it, but wan't sure until the ACITONE started revealling the "Kramer American" logo. I'm just glad the Acitone didn't take the logo off also. Now the grins begin, especially the way it plays and sound:headbang: Needs some new strings and some adjustments, but overall its a sweet guitar.:yes11:
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

Awesome! That's a great deal on a sweet guitar. It needs a little TLC, but that's half the fun.
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

I may be nuts, but that 5th saddle looks a lot like a saddle from an early/prototype Floyd Rose bridge. I have 2 at home, and can't check against it right now, but here's a shot from Vintage Kramer of the original literature - you can see the hump in the saddle:

floydliterature.jpg
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

Thats what threw me. At first, I though it was broken, but after looking at it closer, I saw that it was machined that way (the saddle). It seems to intone well, but didn't look like the rest, so that is why I though maybe you guys more familar with older original FRs could give me some input as to what might be going on.
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

gpenguins could be on to something. It does look a lot like the very early FR saddles in that photo. I haven't seen one of those in so long I forgot what they look like..LOL.

It's interesting that yours has chrome hardware when on the VK site, it lists Baretta 1's as having all black hardware. It definitely is one of those oddities that came out during the late 80's Baretta transition period.
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

Yeah EricH, that too was an oddity. But after reading alittle more, they did say chrome was an option. I kind of like it (the chrome) now that it's cleaned up some. Kind of goes well with the Metallic Cherry paint.
The VK site stated that the only standard back then was there wasn't any...so to speak.
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

Anyway to tell what kind of wood the body is? It feels fairly heavy, not real heavy, but definately has some "heft" to it.
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

Maple or Poplar most likely. My bet is maple. That's what a majority of them (Barettas) were made of back then. My '88 Baretta weighs in at 8 lbs.

I actually prefer chrome hardware but when it came to my Baretta, I didn't care. I just wanted it. All my other guitars have chrome hardware.
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

sweet axe for $99..... a steal! I'd figure it was a 1989 or so just for the fact the floyd is routed into the body.. most late 80's Baretta's still had the floyd sitting flush mount until 89/90 i thought
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

WhoFan said:
sweet axe for $99..... a steal! I'd figure it was a 1989 or so just for the fact the floyd is routed into the body.. most late 80's Baretta's still had the floyd sitting flush mount until 89/90 i thought
Click to expand...
By that time the body shape changed and most had the horn scoop and the recessed trem. His just has the recessed trem so that says right there it's a transition body.

BOONIERAT said:
The serial number is F 08XX if that helps date it.
Click to expand...
The Fxxxx-Fxxxxx ranges from late '87 - late '89. With yours having the transition body, that's why I put it in 87-88. Mine is also in the F+4 digits serial number range, but what appears to be a later number. Thing is, you can't always go by that because they just grabbed a plate and slapped it on. They aren't chronologically sequential.

The biggest difference in the body between mine and yours is mine does not have a recessed Floyd. And it's a Baretta, not a Baretta I. For all I know, mine was assembled in '87 but painted in '88.
 
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Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

Just got back from the VK site and it is definately a "transition period" guitar. Mine has the recessed route for the FR, but doesn't have the scooped lower horn that is supposed to be on the Baretta I's. Kind of cool having one that is a little different than most.
 
Re: Kramer Baretta(?) photos

That is sweet, id love to stumble upon a deal like that. Now go and play some Van Halen!
 
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