Modding the Kramer Baretta

[The Dali]

In the category of “can’t leave well enough alone” I’m in the process of again modding the Kramer Baretta.

The zebra pick up was nice but the way that the pole pieces don’t lineup with strings at all really irritated me and I thought the zebra color scheme made it more obvious. So now moving to an all black JB.

In addition I felt like while the guitar was fine with just the volume knob there were possibilities going un “tapped”, so to speak… So I figured I would add a tone knob and also on-on-on mini-switch so I can run the JB in series, north coil, and parallel. So far I’ve got the holes. Just waiting on the pots...

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[Mincer]

Love that color, and I would add a tone knob, too.

 

[Clint 55]

Gonna rawk

 

[Sirion]

This is almost off-topic, but I have to add it, and I have to restrain myself from not doing this in all-caps. Everyone: this is a modern Baretta; if you own a vintage one, please don't do irreversible modifications to them. I wish I didn't have to say this, but I've seen so many people do just this, and it always breaks my heart a little, since there aren't that many of the vintage ones out there.

 

[Mr. 80's]

This is almost off-topic, but I have to add it, and I have to restrain myself from not doing this in all-caps. Everyone: this is a modern Baretta; if you own a vintage one, please don't do irreversible modifications to them. I wish I didn't have to say this, but I've seen so many people do just this, and it always breaks my heart a little, since there aren't that many of the vintage ones out there.

I honestly couldn't even do it to a new modern one like this one myself. It's sad how many people butcher and part out vintage Kramers, so it's good someone like you tries to speak up to stop the madness. A concentric pot or just a push/pull and roll the vol back a little instead of adding tone knob and mini toggle. Would have looked much better but even that defeats the simplicity of the Baretta IMHO. 1 knob one HB, rock out. Anyways TS it's your guitar an I hope you like it once done. I do still love the color.

 

[Adieu]

It's a slant bucker, how did you expect pole pieces to line up with strings? Is that even geometrically possible?

 

[The Dali]

Relax. Its a $170 guitar.


Yeah I’ve never had a slant humbucker so didn’t realize how off the strings would look.


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[The Dali]

I appreciate the feedback though... I guess people really care about these cheap guitars (even the old ones).

I did consider concentric pots or push/pull, but then I saw this ESP on the internet and really liked the layout, and so I used it as a template.

 

[Mr. 80's]

Relax. Its a $170 guitar.


Yeah I’ve never had a slant humbucker so didn’t realize how off the strings would look.


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We know what it is and how much they cost, it's the principle of the matter. They slanted the buckers back then because trembuckers didn't exist and it made a standard space pup pole pieces line up better to the strings. It's all part of the design, don't fight it.

 

[The Dali]

Thanks - yeah I actually initially used a Duncan trembucker in this and it REALLY didn't line up! The standard JB lines up a little better, and the all black helps IMO.

 

[The Dali]

As an aside... this guitar is REALLY nice. Good Lord... how do they make a guitar like this for $170. Aside from the (tuners and bridge, which are usable, but definitely something to upgrade) this thing is really nice. I guess when you only have one humbucker and one knob it does cut down on the costs LOL

The neck is much much nicer than expected. And the COLOR is great. I had the red one too and that was more pinkish-red and looked kinda cheap. This candy blue looks like a much more expensive finish.

 

[formula73]

This is almost off-topic, but I have to add it, and I have to restrain myself from not doing this in all-caps. Everyone: this is a modern Baretta; if you own a vintage one, please don't do irreversible modifications to them. I wish I didn't have to say this, but I've seen so many people do just this, and it always breaks my heart a little, since there aren't that many of the vintage ones out there.

It’s his guitar; he can do as he pleases whether it’s a real 85 Baretta or 58 LP...

 

[Sirion]

It’s his guitar; he can do as he pleases whether it’s a real 85 Baretta or 58 LP...

Where did I say otherwise?

 

[ErikH]

Those inexpensive Baretta Specials can be fun but as an owner of a 1988 Baretta, they are night and day to each other. All they share is the name. Heck, original Barettas didn't even have mahogany bodies. If I snagged one of those Specials, I'd want to slap a Floyd Rose on it and change out the pickup. Good mod platforms for sure.

Share pics when it's all done. I like the replacement bridge you have. Certainly better than the stock bridge.

 

[Mr. 80's]

As an aside... this guitar is REALLY nice. Good Lord... how do they make a guitar like this for $170. Aside from the (tuners and bridge, which are usable, but definitely something to upgrade) this thing is really nice. I guess when you only have one humbucker and one knob it does cut down on the costs LOL

The neck is much much nicer than expected. And the COLOR is great. I had the red one too and that was more pinkish-red and looked kinda cheap. This candy blue looks like a much more expensive finish.

They are really nice for the money for sure and yeah you don't want to stick a trembucker in it the spacing is just to wide in a slanted config. I've been really wanting to get one and stick a Zebra SD JB or Distortion in it and ditch the 6 point trem for like a 2 point Wilkinson or do the full FR upgrade. At that point I'd rather just get the Vintage Floyd version since it's my prefered trem/bridge. I do keep trying to convince myself I could live without it. lol Anyways, I'm just messing around giving you a hard time and not meaning to be rude. After all it's your guitar and you make it the way you want it. It'll be a cool guitar either way.

Those inexpensive Baretta Specials can be fun but as an owner of a 1988 Baretta, they are night and day to each other. All they share is the name. Heck, original Barettas didn't even have mahogany bodies. If I snagged one of those Specials, I'd want to slap a Floyd Rose on it and change out the pickup. Good mod platforms for sure.

Share pics when it's all done. I like the replacement bridge you have. Certainly better than the stock bridge.

These new Baretta Specials (2019-2020) are now maple bodies like the Baretta Vintage, no more mahogany.

 

[ErikH]

These new Baretta Specials (2019-2020) are now maple bodies like the Baretta Vintage, no more mahogany.

Then whomever manages the web site needs to update the specs. It still states mahogany for the body (Luan probably based on where they are made).

 

[Mincer]

I don't think keeping Kramer's website up to date is a high priority for Gibson these days.

 

[The Dali]

They are really nice for the money for sure and yeah you don't want to stick a trembucker in it the spacing is just to wide in a slanted config. I've been really wanting to get one and stick a Zebra SD JB or Distortion in it and ditch the 6 point trem for like a 2 point Wilkinson or do the full FR upgrade. At that point I'd rather just get the Vintage Floyd version since it's my prefered trem/bridge. I do keep trying to convince myself I could live without it. lol Anyways, I'm just messing around giving you a hard time and not meaning to be rude. After all it's your guitar and you make it the way you want it. It'll be a cool guitar either way.



These new Baretta Specials (2019-2020) are now maple bodies like the Baretta Vintage, no more mahogany.

All good bro. The body is most likely not mahogany - I can def see it being maple. At some point with the mods you might as well go with the $650 model that has a Duncan and Floyd already

 

[The Dali]

The vintage Baretta's are maple/maple. And only $699 with FR special and JB:


The Baretta Vintage is a tribute to one of the most iconic and original designs in rock. Featuring a Maple body, Hard Maple neck, a single Seymour Duncan JB zebra-coil humbucker, and a Floyd Rose 1000 Series Tremolo with R2 Lock Nut. This guitar has the ability to retain great articulation and a dynamic tone whether played clean or with heavy distortion.

The Shredder’s Dream Guitar
The Baretta Vintage is inspired by the original homemade single-pickup electric seen on tour with Van Halen in the early 1980s that became every aspiring shredder’s dream guitar: fast, simple, and loud, with incredible articulation, sustain, and accuracy under the most intense stage conditions. The Baretta Vintage has a classic Kramer “Baretta” Maple body with no binding. The bolt-on Maple neck has a Maple fingerboard with a slim profile, 22 medium jumbo frets, a 25.5” scale, a 14” radius, and dot inlays.

Kramer Baretta Vintage Maple Neck Features

• Classic 1980s design with a Maple body and Hard Maple neck
• Legendary Seymour Duncan JB zebra coil humbucker
• Floyd Rose 1000 Series Tremolo with R2 Lock Nut

Seymour Duncan Humbucker
For over forty years, the Seymour Duncan JB zebra coil humbucker featuring Alnico 5 magnets and built at the Santa Barbara, California factory has been the ultimate hot-rodded humbucker. The “JB” is incredibly sensitive and gives players both power and articulation even at high volume. The “JB” is controlled by a single black volume pot.

Floyd Rose Hardware
The Baretta Vintage features a Floyd Rose 1000 Series Tremolo along with a R2 Lock Nut for rock solid tuning and intonation. For easy adjustments, two hex wrenches are fastened to the back of the headstock. Black Kramer black die-cast machine heads with a 14:1 tuning ratio make tuning fast and accurate. A hard case is available through Authorized Kramer Dealers.

 

[ErikH]

I appreciate the feedback though... I guess people really care about these cheap guitars (even the old ones).

I did consider concentric pots or push/pull, but then I saw this ESP on the internet and really liked the layout, and so I used it as a template.

That ESP is downright sexy! Wow!

How ironic that you're making your Kramer layout like an ESP. :laugh: