Pickup for a Kramer Baretta.

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pkailas

New member
I'm building a "Kramer" Baretta using a body and neck built for me by KnE Guitars and trying to decide what pickup to get. It has a mahogany body and a maple neck. It will have a locking tremolo and a single 500k pot. I'd love to get people's opinions.

I like to play the classic hair metal songs of the 80s.

I do have a Kramer Baretta Special, which I've converted to using a Gotoh GE1996T. It has a mahogany body and maple neck with a Granadillo Fretboard. I put a Duncan JB in it. I love how it plays, but the JB is a bit "thin." I'd like something warmer, but can still get the harmonics like the 80s demand!

I also have:
  • Fender Player strat HSS with a Schaller Lockmeister that I put a Duncan Custom Custom.
  • EVH Wolfgang USA Signature
  • Les Paul with Duncan Pearly Gates pickups
  • Les Paul JR with Kent Armstrong P90s
  • and a couple of other kit guitars.

I play through a Line6 Helix and a 50-watt EVH 5150III 1x12 combo. [h=3][/h]
 
Surprised the JB sounds thin. Is it close enough to the strings? The Invader is a great option for bright guitars, and you can keep that one backed away from the strings a bit more, if you're using a tremolo.
 
The JB came stock in them back in the 80’s after they started fitting them with Seymour Duncan’s. Then again, they are not mahogany. Mostly alder or poplar. Maple was used very early in its lifecycle and not for very long so there’s not a lot out there with maple bodies. With mahogany, you might still be ok with the JB. Try it and go from there.
 
I recently picked up a 1986 Baretta that has an unbranded zebra pup in it - It looks like the original JB that the Baretta would have had but unfortunately there’s either something wrong with it (soundwise)/or it’s just a POS generic pup lol

The Baretta is actually a Kline, so I’m trying to get this one back as close to its original state as possible. I’m currently on the hunt for an 80’s JB for it, but in the meantime I’ve been trying a few different extra pups I had laying around.
A few weeks ago I stuck a Full Shred in it just to see what it would sound like, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.. I probably would have just left that pup in there for now, but its one of the nickel covered versions and looked pretty hideous in the middle of Klines graphic lol

I do have one of the newer Kramer Baretta Vintage models, so I’m prob just gonna take that pup out to temporarily swap into the 86 until I find the right one.

Definitely going to follow this post to see what you end up going with/and to see what other ppl stick in their Kramers!
 
Brobucker would be close enough to what you have where you'd definitely like it, but different enough to be a good tool to have in your stable
 
Lou22 said:
I recently picked up a 1986 Baretta that has an unbranded zebra pup in it - It looks like the original JB that the Baretta would have had but unfortunately there’s either something wrong with it (soundwise)/or it’s just a POS generic pup lol

The Baretta is actually a Kline, so I’m trying to get this one back as close to its original state as possible. I’m currently on the hunt for an 80’s JB for it, but in the meantime I’ve been trying a few different extra pups I had laying around.
A few weeks ago I stuck a Full Shred in it just to see what it would sound like, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.. I probably would have just left that pup in there for now, but its one of the nickel covered versions and looked pretty hideous in the middle of Klines graphic lol

I do have one of the newer Kramer Baretta Vintage models, so I’m prob just gonna take that pup out to temporarily swap into the 86 until I find the right one.

Definitely going to follow this post to see what you end up going with/and to see what other ppl stick in their Kramers!
Click to expand...

I have a Screamin' Demon in my '88 Kline graphic Baretta. When I got it in the mid-1990's, the JB was long gone. Not sure what was in it. I've restored it some with some fresh bits on the Floyd Rose, new locking nut and such, but I'm not a fan of the JB these days. I did put one in it back in the day.
 
I had a maple bodied original Baretta (sold years ago to my brother in law who still has it), stock JBJ in there and I never was tempted to try anything else, I would guess a Distortion, Exciter or an RTM would all be great, but Mincer's suggestion of the Antiquity JB would definitely be "doing it right"..
 
Custom 5 was an alternative to the JB

Speaking of

The JB wants to be exactly 1/8 inch below the strings
3 mm

That's where the magic is

Too high and it ice picky and thin
 
i Have two Barettaspecials w/ the stock pups ..I like them. They make everything sound 80's :laugh2:

But yeah...imo nothing beats the Custom 5 for the squeelies & it's great for 80's tone & just tone in general :bigthumb:

 
In my LTD 200 w/ Gotoh 1996t, mahogany body & maple neck, I have a JB with RCA5 magnet in the bridge and a Gravity Storm in the neck, sounds glorious.
 
Mahogany and 80s? I would try a Super D in that bad boy. I always think of JB, Distortion, and Super D as the holy trinity of 80s bridge pickups.

I'd also try a PATB-1 in there, because it seems to sit in a cool space somewhere between the JB and C5, but maybe that's a little outside the box for what you're looking for. And I'm not sure how the "poles" would line up on a Baretta. But it's a great sound that cuts while still being warm.
 
Last edited:
pkailas said:
What is the difference between the antiquity JB and the regular JB, except for the relicing and price?
Click to expand...

The Antiquity sounds like a 45 year old pickup, being slightly demagnetized. To my ears, it translates to having slightly less high end.
 
Before we change out the JB - are you playing in the bedroom, or in a band/mix. JB can be notoriously ice-picky in mahogany and on it's own. Try it in the mix before you hate on it.

Next, before we lose the JB, I'm gonna suggest trying a mag swap to an A8 or an A2. Super easy, and cheap. Either will do what you want, just warmer/rounder/Evener etc. A8 keeps the hotness in better.

Then, after that, I'll suggest a Custom Custom. That's EVH circa 1984 style. Works great with a Floyd.

Then I might go to a Super Distortion...

After that...you are on your own.
 
JB would have been stock, but never seen a real Beretta with a Mahogany body. Agree on the Antiquities JB being the right vintage fit though.
However, I keep thinking a Dimarzio Gravity Storm bridge would be very interesting in that guitar.
 
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