Web interview with Paul Unker, talks EVH and Kramer

[Christopher Caruana]

For those interested, Paul Unker talks working with EVH and building his guitars and necks at Kramer in the early 80's

Paul says ALL of Eddie's guitars made at Kramer WERE POPLAR (at about 50:00 into the top video) (including the 5150). Only the first Kramer Frankie Ad guitar was Maple and that Eddie liked very low action on his guitars. Other very fascinating tidbits on his Kramer builds.

Enjoy
:wave:
-CC

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Web interview with Paul Unker, talks EVH and Kramer

The second video, Paul says that they used Duncan 59's (not JB's or Customs) and even possibly some neck pickup models of the 59 in Ed's guitars, as well as original Gibson PAF's from Paul's collection at the Kramer factory

 

[jmh151]

Re: Web interview with Paul Unker, talks EVH and Kramer

The poplar body was probably why he or others felt the big brass block was needed on the 5150 to compensate for the brittleness of tv poplar/ Floyd combo- which is why he switched to basswood later. Just my 2 cents

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Web interview with Paul Unker, talks EVH and Kramer

The poplar body was probably why he or others felt the big brass block was needed on the 5150 to compensate for the brittleness of tv poplar/ Floyd combo- which is why he switched to basswood later. Just my 2 cents

Ive never owned a poplar guitar before. Is it a softer wood? I just remember those pictures of the 5150 from a few years back where it has all the holes in it from different strap button spots and cracks where the posts are for the floyd rose

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Web interview with Paul Unker, talks EVH and Kramer

Poplar is about the same density as Alder, but typically has green streaks in it, making it more suited for solid finishes or figured caps.

As for EVH liking "very low action", I'd have to see measurements, because the Frankie I got to fondle at Summer NAMM in '08 had what I consider to be "too high", and these were supposed to be the most accurate replicas to date and approved by Ed.

 

[jmh151]

Web interview with Paul Unker, talks EVH and Kramer

I had a poplar Japanese Squire strat that I put an EMG 81 in, and it was very tight, bright and aggressive - not warm like mahogany or basswood. It's pretty solid and dense, the ones I've played have been harder than Alder.

If there are multiple holes from strap buttons falling out, or Floyd trem posts coming out, it sounds more likely the guitar was made of basswood,since I've had that problem with basswood bodied Ibanez- or the buttons and trem posts weren't tightly installed in the first place (maybe EVH amateurishly installed them himself).

The Floyd on Franky was said to be incorrectly installed, and Tom Anderson corrected it in the 90's

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Web interview with Paul Unker, talks EVH and Kramer

thank you for sharing these. I'll have to check them out tomorrow.

 

[devastone]

Re: Web interview with Paul Unker, talks EVH and Kramer

I'll have to check those out, looks like 3 - 4 hours of video, I'll have to pop some popcorn and sit back for a night ;-) Thanks for sharing!