Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

[BloodRose]

Its no secret round here that Im an 80s metal fanboy and thus Kramers and Charvels are near and dear to my heart. I LOVE my Charvels and I LOVE my 80s Kramer Pacer. Wish I could find another just like it with the same neck and all. Back in the day, I always loved the stripped down look of the Baretta, with just the single slanted bucker. I had an old Baretta a few years back but had to sell it. Anyhow.... Anyone have any experience with the new Barettas??

No money, but window shopping and this caught my eye. Wondering how the new ones play and feel? I love the top mount Floyd. Anyone have any experience with the new ones? Preferred: Does anyone have experience with the new ones AND the old that can say how the new ones measure up? Thanks!

Here is the one of which I speak:
http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/21765/Kramer-Baretta-Vintage-Electric-Guitar-Candy-Blue/

Thanks

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

Dig the Blue,the Maple body not so much...

Maple neck would br kewl,tho!

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

not that new Baretta Vintage, but I do have some of the new Gibson-era Kramers. each of them had QC issues. 2 had to be sent back for replacement. there is word the QC has gotten better. if it were me, I'd want to lay hands on it first.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

Look snice but i think the pickup should be slanted the opposite way.

 

[phred]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

I had one of the first 85 Re issue Barettas and it was a solid guitar. No issues.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

It probably plays better than I do….

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

I had one of the first 85 Re issue Barettas and it was a solid guitar. No issues.

Those were maple bodied too right? I was very concerned with them being overly bright as Rand-o mentioned, then esp with the JB. But I never heard any issues.
Randy, when they first came out, I was thinking bright city.. But supposedly they use a softer maybe that cuts, but doesnt pierce.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

IME/IMO, they don't touch the originals. They are not horrible, mind you. They are solid guitars. Just not on par with the originals. And not all Barettas were maple. Some were alder as well. Something about these new ones being made in Korea just rubs me wrong. If they work for somebody, great. But as stated, IME/IMO, not on par with the originals.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

Those were maple bodied too right? I was very concerned with them being overly bright as Rand-o mentioned, then esp with the JB. But I never heard any issues.
Randy, when they first came out, I was thinking bright city.. But supposedly they use a softer maybe that cuts, but doesnt pierce.

The Gibson era ones that I have that are advertised as maple are definitely not what you'd expect from a maple body guitar. Tonal response a little more like alder than maple.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

This is very similar to the new BC Gunslinger discussion.


The bottom line is that cheap production capabilities have VASTLY improved in the past 30+ years. So while not 100% of the original, they are probably 90% or so. And of course, the price performance ratio is something to consider. What is an original REALLY worth? Performance wise…..

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

I like the color.

 

[devastone]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

I like the color, much prefer the original Kramer beak headstock though.

There is hard maple, like necks are made of, that can be really bright for bodies, and soft maple that isn't as brittle sounding, I'm sure these are soft maple. That said, I had a great sounding guitar with a hard maple body.

According to Paul Unkert, who build EVH's guitars at Kramer, Eddie's all had poplar bodies.

<$0.02 of only slightly related content.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Kramer guys..Opinions of the new Baretta?

According to Paul Unkert, who build EVH's guitars at Kramer, Eddie's all had poplar bodies.

<$0.02 of only slightly related content.

The guy who painted them (his name is George) who's also a member of the Kramer Guitars FB group, said they were all Basswood. Only giveaways were alder or poplar. He painted quite a fair number of them as well as other Kramers from the early 80's. He's shared pics of the paint booth with racks of bodies he was working on at the time. But that's all another thread/story.

I like the looks of these new Barettas, but I can't get past them being made overseas. Most guitars I could care less about that but these, it just rubs me wrong. It would probably be different if Gibson didn't own the name and it was resurrected by folks who worked there back in the day. This comes across to me as Gibson trying to lay claim to something they had nothing to do with when Kramer was at/near the top.