Kramer SM-1

G

GIJoeJarhead

New member
I just ordered a new Kramer SM-1 in Candy Blue this AM, hopefully it will be here on Saturday, we'll see.

Anyway, this thing comes loaded with a JB in the Bridge and a set of cool rails in the middle and neck. The Kramer also has a mini-toggle for coil splitting allowing the bridge to be added to whichever combo, a 5 way blade switch and a Treble Bleed option on the master volume.

I did a search and did not find anything on this Ax. Does anyone on here have any experience with this or opinions about how the JB and the cool rails might work together in this platform?

I currently have a JB/Jazz Hotrodder setup in my LP and I cannot rave on the JB enough, so I'm excited to hear this new set up.
 
Thanks HSB, appreciate it. The Candy Blue was my first choice . . . I almost switched over to the Orange Crush, but they are out of stock until Mid-April time frame. My first Kramer and my very first true 80's style shred machine, so I'm pumped to get my hands on it. Never had an FR before, so I'm kinda anxious about really bending on this thing, but all reviews state it can handle it.
Do you have any experience with SD Cool Rail pickups?
 
Cool, thanks. Yeah, I love the 80's style Kramer's, EVH was my guitar playing inspiration. I don't know if that is where the SM comes from (possibly), nothing on the SW Site where I ordered it says anything about "Stagemaster."
 
Very cool . . . I was on Kramer's site and didn't see anything about specific older models, but that is some cool reading. Yeah, I would say the SM is definitely Gibson/Kramer's hail back to those older Stagemaster models, makes sense! I'm excited to get the new ax!!
 
You won't find anything about vintage Kramers from back in the day on the current site (Gibson owned). Not even MusicYo Era stuff. Everything on there now is from when Gibson relaunched the brand to present.

The SM-1 is nice. Not my cup of tea from the lineup but I see the appeal.
 
The Cool Rails is like the single coil-size version of the Jazz. So, thinking like that, it is like a JB with 2 Jazz pickups. It would be a classic setup. It is ready to rock. Can't wait for the pics and review!
 
Really cool! I played an Indonesian-made Jersey Star in a store two days ago, and whilst the neck wood and finish obviously weren't as nice as they were on the vintage Kramers, the sound and the feel was there. Of course, these cost 1145$ in 2021 rather than 1245$ in 1987! Let us know what you think when you receive it.
 
The modern Kramers are getting good reviews for what they are. I don't know how they would compete with an actual USA late 80s Kramer, which were good instruments.
 
I've seen a couple of the 2015 Limited Edition Heavy Maple Body Pacers (Metal Flake Red and Metal Flake Green) and they were top notch quality, assembly and set up with Duncans and a Floyd and was very impressed...almot to the point of purchasing the Bassboat Metal Flake Red one. The new Nightswan...only had my hands on one but it was JUNK.. weighed nothing and felt like a First Act toy guitar, had paint flaws, strings were misaligned on the fretboard and the frets had severely sharp edges...I was not impressed in any way.
 
muttznmongrelz said:
I've seen a couple of the 2015 Limited Edition Heavy Maple Body Pacers (Metal Flake Red and Metal Flake Green) and they were top notch quality, assembly and set up with Duncans and a Floyd and was very impressed...almot to the point of purchasing the Bassboat Metal Flake Red one. The new Nightswan...only had my hands on one but it was JUNK.. weighed nothing and felt like a First Act toy guitar, had paint flaws, strings were misaligned on the fretboard and the frets had severely sharp edges...I was not impressed in any way.
Click to expand...

The Nightswans (and in particularly the early ones) seem to be the ones to garner the most negative criticism. It is strange, because you'd think that was the model they were the most concerned with getting right. If you are to judge from the online consensus, it looks like the newer ones are somewhat better, but that could just be a change in who are buying them. I doubt I'll ever have the chance to play one, as I don't think there are any more of them than the JS mentioned above available in Norwegian stores at all.
 
Thanks everyone, I appreciate it a lot, love hearing opinions and advice given in this forum!!
"The Cool Rails is like the single coil-size version of the Jazz. So, thinking like that, it is like a JB with 2 Jazz pickups. It would be a classic setup. It is ready to rock. Can't wait for the pics and review!" Mincer, this is AWESOME to hear, that gives me even more hope that this will sound much like my LP, but perhaps even better! Since my LP is a REALLY nice piece and sounds amazing, I'm even more anxious to get my hands on this Kramer!!
I will certainly give it everything I have and may even have a buddy, who is a MUCH better shredder than I am give it a try and see what he thinks. As soon as I have a few miles on it, I will post up some thoughts and reviews!!
 
Alrighty . . . I'm about 4-6 weeks into playing this bad boy and all I can say is WOW!!! I knew the sustain was going to be good, but WOW!! My warm up routine involves starting with my PRS SE, moving up and down the fret board sounding out my notes, then I play my Major Pentatonix Scales all the way up and down the fret board, gets my fingers warmed up.
I then switch over to the Kramer and play some chords . . . C, G, A#, D . . . play a little Rock you Like a Hurricane Intro, then I play the first 8 or 9 measures of Welcome Home (Sanitorium) and just revel in the incredible sustain. The harmonics just ring out for days, it is truly something to hear. After that I play through Runnin with the Devil which is what I have been working on. This SM-1 is really a great guitar . . . I highly recommend checking one out if you get the opportunity!!
 
Love to hear the review a few weeks in. That guitar should be able to handle any 80-90s rock with ease.
 
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