Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

[BOONIERAT]

Lost a deal on a Strat I was looking at and was bummed. Crusing through the local Pawn Shops with a friend and spotted it. Not familar with Kramer guitars, but it played good even though it was "well used". So i though it would be a good guitar to put this JB4 I've had laying around for a long time.
After purchased it (still on a hold for 10 more days. Pawn Shop rules?) the guy told me it was not a Focus and I got a good deal. According to this Kramer web site I found, it's a 86-87 USA Baretta, and probably already has a JB in it. The floyd is slightly recessed and the back of the trem rest against the body. Not too crazy about the color (candy red) but it plays and feels sweet.

Got it for 99.00/w case.

Was this a score, or did I get loved without the kiss?

 

[51501984]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Pics! We need Pics!

 

[jmh151]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Need pics. A Kramer Focus is worth nothing. If it's a Baretta it should have an Original Floyd Rose, Schaller tuners.

For $99 with a case, even if it was a Focus you got a good deal. If it's a Baretta you got a killer deal

 

[BOONIERAT]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

According to the VintageKramer web site if found, it is a Beretta. The Neck plate was cast with the Kramer , something NJ USA and the SN was an F 0xxx. The Tuners had what looked like an S on them and the Trem was a FR. The neck was well used, but straight with no string buzz on any frets. What really surprized me was how resonate and clean it sounded unplugged.

I will get some pictures posted as soon as the waiting period is up (after 08APR07).
Also I can get the back cover off and see if the pickup is in fact a JB4. Oh yeah, the pick up was Zebra Stripped and set at an angle, close to the bridge, so I don't know if it was a JB or Schaller.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Heck a Focus with a Floyd is worth that.

 

[BOONIERAT]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Forgot to mention, the tuners, locking nut and Floyd were chrome. The Floyd and the Nut were chrome, but had alot of ware on them.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

sounds to me my friend like you got a hell of a deal! I'd have paid $99 for a Kramer Focus in a heartbeat! a guy I play with plays one of those things and when I've used it, it plays like butter!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Sweet deal for sure. Focus' (or is it Foci? LOL) catch up near $300 in good shape. It would say "Focus" on the headstock. Without pics, and with the info you've given, I'd say it's a Baretta. Don't just go by the neckplate. There are other identifying factors. There are some floating around out there that are not USA made/assembled with those plates on them.

The pickup by that time would be a Seymour Duncan JB model, reverse zebra and angled like you said. Original Floyd Rose, Schaller Tuners, maple or alder body, ESP made neck and body. Headstock would be a tiltback pointy in black and say "Kramer American" with "American" in smaller letters. With your serial number, it could be closer to an '88.

No pics? I'm disappointed. I guess to satisfy everyone's desire for pics, I'll snap a few new ones of my '88. That'll hold the lions back for a while...LOL. Gimme a few.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Baretta pics (mine, not his) I just got the reverse zebra JB this week off eBay for $36. It's from a Hamer Chapperal and was verified by MJ that it is an 80's JB. The original wasn't in it when I acquired it and I've been wanting to get it back to stock and here it is.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Go to the pawn shop and get some pics.

I have an 84 or an 85 beretta. It has a warmoth neck though and doesn't have the stock neckplate so I can't tell much about it.

But what strikes me odd is that the trem sits against the body, mines fully floating and non-recessed. I want to see pics when you get it.

I put a screamin demon in mine, didn't like how the JB sounded with the maple body.

 

[BOONIERAT]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

I went back to the VintageKramer site and double checked on "identifying a Beretta. Seems like it's the real deal. I noticed when I plugged it in, the jack was alittle loose, so I did a hand tightening. Noticed there was no jack plate, as the jack just was sticking through the wood. The site said this is one of the surest was to tell if it's a USA Beretta...no jack plate.
Plus, it has the tilted machine head. I understand that the Focus did not.

I will get the picks as soon as I can get the guitar from the PS. Still have to wait is killing me.
Thanks ErikH for keeping the LIONS at bay for a few more days.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Yup, that's a Baretta jack alright. It's a barrel jack that tightens up from within the control cavity. Mine loosened up too. Real easy to fix.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Mine hardly has anything stock except for the body and the bridge, so it's a little hard to tell what year it is.

Anyone have any idea how I can?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Mephis, is there any date stamp in the neck pocket? What does the back control cavity shape look like? Based on the body shape, it looks like an '83-'84. I'm leaning more towards an '83.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Man i paid $99 for a Striker without a case last fall... sounds like you got a deal... In my case the 87 Striker was worth $99 as it had an Ibanez Edge trem stuck on it as well as a new Dimarzio F spaced bucker in it

 

[BOONIERAT]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Funny how things work. Went to get the Strat I was looking at, someone else got it and then this pops up. The guy at the PS said he only put it out the morning before I went in there, so I guess fate was on my side.
By the way, those are some nice looking Berettas! Mine looks like it was used for shows in Baghdad. But it plays and feels nice and that, weither it was a Beretta or not was what made me get it in the first place.

Mephis: The body for the Floyd was recessed just alittle bit. The back of the trem was resting against the recess. I was reading that around that time, Kramer was using that as a stop so you couldn't pull "up" on the trem. But it could just need some love and be adjusted. I have a Squire Stagemaster 7 with a FR but its a "licensed" version and really dont know too much about FR trems. Other than that, I'm not real familar with trem guitars. So once i get it in my hands, besides pictures, I will be back asking for setup advice.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Mephis, is there any date stamp in the neck pocket? What does the back control cavity shape look like? Based on the body shape, it looks like an '83-'84. I'm leaning more towards an '83.

It has a plexi glass rear control cover, identical shape to yours. Missing the spring cavity cover, exact same hole patern as yours.

I've never taken the neck off, and if you saw the condition the neck pocket was in you'd agree that that neck should probably never be removed lol.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

It has a plexi glass rear control cover, identical shape to yours. Missing the spring cavity cover, exact same hole patern as yours.

I've never taken the neck off, and if you saw the condition the neck pocket was in you'd agree that that neck should probably never be removed lol.

Ok, cool. Is there a little notch at the neck pocket under the strings where it looks like the truss rod adjustment would have been for the original neck? Is your jack a barrel jack or does it have a jack plate?

Seems to be for sure an '84-'85 and not an '83 like I had thought. Chrome Floyd was an option then but it wasn't in '83.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

Ok, cool. Is there a little notch at the neck pocket under the strings where it looks like the truss rod adjustment would have been for the original neck? Is your jack a barrel jack or does it have a jack plate?

Seems to be for sure an '84-'85 and not an '83 like I had thought. Chrome Floyd was an option then but it wasn't in '83.

Yep it has a notch.

Not sure about the jack, the wiring was butchered before I got it and things were NOT stock. It does have a jack plate but it looks like someone cut black/white/black pickguard down to make a plate.

 

[tone?]

Re: Kramer Beretta Score...(I think?)

99 bucks for a Baretta????!!!

Geez......................right when i am gassing for one!

Amazing score man!