NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

muttznmongrelz

muttznmongrelz

New member
Gary Kramer Guitars (GKG) Crusader Deluxe...MIK 2010. Does not look like it was played much at all. Super clean; no fretwear, dings or scratches at all. Showed up at a local shop and has been literally hanging around for about a month. Been playing it every time I go in and have been impressed with it on every level. Great feeling neck, nice solid body with Candy Apple Red Finish, Dual Hums that sound impressive and a Floyd Rose Original.

http://www.garykramerguitar.com/CrusaderDeluxe.html



DELUXE model is a flash back of the early ‘80s rock machines. This model features glossy finishes and non recessed Floyd Rose Original double locking tremolos. Deluxe all maple necks have strong mid range characteristics with a bit pronounced high end. Combination of light weight Alder bodies, all maple necks, Original Floyd Rose and well balanced alnico humbuckers make Deluxe perfect choice for any type of rock music.

CONSTRUCTION
Bolt on
25.5” scale

NECK
Satin Finished Maple
10” radius Maple
Black position dots
22 jumbo frets

BODY
Alder
Slanted Neck Heel Section
Available in Black, While or Candy Apple Red Finishes

HARDWARE
Non-recessed Floyd Rose Original
R-2 locking nut (42mm wide)
Chrome

ELECTRONICS
Pickguard mounted H/H Gary Kramer Alnico pickups
Volume, Tone, 3-way blade switch and mini switch (splits both pickups)
6 sound combination switching system






 
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Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

Sweet!

'Bout the only Red guitars that I can dig w/Blk & Maple...

Nice Grab!

:headbang:
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

Thanks! Really nice neck on it; just a pleasure to play. Alder Body has some weight to it, Top Mount/Non-Recessed OFR - which will get a 42mm Big Brass Block Upgrade as I have one laying around, and, surprisingly, the GKG Humbuckers sound awesome. Not surprisingly; the guitar is very reminiscent of it's namesake and feels like some of the old Kramers I've owned but with some minor refinement.
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

muttznmongrelz said:
Thanks! Really nice neck on it; just a pleasure to play. Alder Body has some weight to it, Top Mount/Non-Recessed OFR - which will get a 42mm Big Brass Block Upgrade as I have one laying around, and, surprisingly, the GKG Humbuckers sound awesome. Not surprisingly; the guitar is very reminiscent of it's namesake and feels like some of the old Kramers I've owned but with some minor refinement.
Click to expand...

Most welcome!

I didn't know they made their own pickups...or put the name on them. lol Glad they sound good!
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

I had read some good reviews about the stock humbucker on the old KF threads; although owners all eventually seem to replace them w/Duncans. The bridge pickup is dialed in perfectly and sounded great just as it was sitting so I'm not touching it, neck pickup is just about as good though it seems to lack a little definition - not muddy sounding but still not where I would like it to be tone-wise...I'm still playing around with adjusting it. That said; I've got an RTM TB laying around and could easily snag a Regular Spaced Jazz Neck if the upgrade bug hits as it usually does.

GKG was making some cool stuff for a bit... http://www.garykramerguitar.com/gallery.html ...Kramer revivals start off with a bang then fizzle out, whether it's Gibson's Brand or Gary Kramer, there doesn't seem to be the support and stewardship of the brand after they're introduced again.
 
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Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

That is awesome! I wonder if they are wound in-house or outsourced?

Some really cool guitars there! I always wanted to like Kramers, just never played one that made me bite the bullet on it.
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

I've had a few that were great guitars; '86 Stagemaster Custom in Day Glo Pink and '89 Sustainer in Pearl White specifically. Most of my Kramer's were Mutt Builds but the couple I purchased as complete guitars were pretty stellar.
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

First Kramer I played was a Stryker. Very cool guitar that played and sounded great! But my dad was a Charvel guy so my first real electrics were Charvels from him.
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

treyhaislip said:
First Kramer I played was a Stryker. Very cool guitar that played and sounded great! But my dad was a Charvel guy so my first real electrics were Charvels from him.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that; Charvel made some way cool stuff as well since they were really part of the original innovation of the Super Strat.
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

Nice score man!! Seems as though you were meant to go home with it after all...haha

Sounds like it is pretty much spec'd out like the Kramer of yore...does it have the Allen wrench holder on the back of the headstock? That would be a nice touch if it doesn't already have one..

In my opinion, I personally think this would look way better if it had a matte black pickguard on it, as opposed to the gloss black one. I think that would add a nice vintage look to the overall appearance.

I have a Candy apple Red 87 Pacer Deluxe and it looks to me like the color of yours really matches up well with mine. I always thought that the Candy Apple Red and Blue of Kramers were kind of their own color and I've never seen another guitar quite match them.
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

Thanks MC79! No wrench holder on it. A Matte Black Pickguard would take it back to the Vintage Kramer look for sure. I like the old Kramer Candy Apple Red but the Candy Apple Blue was far and away my favorite. The first Kramer Mutt I bought off eBay back in the early 2000s was a Candy Blue F3000 with a homemade one hum pickguard and a B.C. Rich Maple Board Neck on it. The Candy Blue, Pearl White and Day Glo Pink were my favorite Kramer Colors. Let's see that Pacer Deluxe.
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

that reminds me a lot of the Kramer Pacer from the 80's. I bet it will play great and have good tone. Gary knows a thing or two about production. just my 2 cents.
 
Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

It was actually quite surprised at how well it felt and played (neck really does feel/play awesomely) when I walked into the shop a few weeks ago and saw it hanging there. Had not run across a GKG previously but it was immediately comfortable and felt nice and solid (not a light weight alder body) and the build quality/finish was pretty much flawless. Add that an OFR and stock pickups that sound good and what's not to like? Definitely a winning combo.



 
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Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

I'm going say this is without doubt an underrated guitar. Possibly the Best "Bang for the Bucks" Purchase I have ever made. Absolutely ZERO complaints and no need to change out a single thing on it. An Overall Awesome Guitar - if you're an Eighties Super Strat Fan or just looking for a quality guitar that plays beautifully and you run across one...BUY IT!!!
 
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Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

Wow! 350? Those go for 8plus new dont they?? Ive looked at the GK guitars quite a bit over the last few years but for the most part, non of their models excite me. Esp for the price they ask. That one does. and they orig had one that had was killer too when they first launched. On the site, its mostly the ones with the "built in pickguard" (looks like a p/g, but just raised wood, and that strange wing looking thing.. I love old Kramers. My 87 Pacer slays. Had several Focus' come thru my hands and want a Stagemaster one day. My first real electric was a midnight blue Stryker. Was a nice player considering it was ply.. My first introduction to Seymour Duncans was with that guitar too. JB

Edit:
Illusionist and Turbulence are the models. look to be the only things they offer currently.
Like the Crusader, but not paying $3k and love the Cathedral, but not at $3200. ouch

You scored big bro!!
 
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Re: NGD: Gary Kramer Crusader Deluxe

Those are indeed limited options and high prices. Like I stated earlier; Kramer Revivals start off with great expectations then they fizzle out due to no stewardship after the start up period.

This Crusader Deluxe is the first GKG I've run across in person. I've seen some of the lower end EpiKramers at Guitar Center (Pacer Specials) and a couple of the Pariah and Pacer Classics and they were cheaply made and pretty rough.

That said; there is an Assault 220 Plus (Candy Tangerine, Maple Fretboard, Seymour Duncan '59 Plus/Alt 8, 25.5" Scale Single Cut LP) another used gear shop that I would like to try out.

Thanks! I feel like I got a lot of guitar for a low price with this one and I really am enjoying playing it pretty much daily since I picked it up and that's what matters.
 
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