READ BEFORE YOU BID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR SELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!       (Pictures below!)

After dealing with a few "unscrupulous" and "dishonest" sellers and seeing more and more Kramer guitars identified wrong I thought I need to post some facts! I will break it down into what you need to know before you bid or buy or sell a "80's" Kramer guitar. There are some sellers that really and honestly don't know what they have! and there are sellers that know full well what they have and are scamming and committing fraud By taking advantage of uninformed people that don't know what to look for! If you read up a little you will know what you are buying (or selling) before you pay out the nose or mislead someone into buying a low to mid end Korean made guitar or parts, or any other guitar you were told and was listed as a USA Kramer model!

                                                    <EVH STRIPED GUITARS>

EVH owns the rights to (ANY) guitar sold for profit that is painted/striped like his, Charvel and Fender are the only brands that I know of licensed to sell guitars with the EVH stripes and EVH logo. The companies importing the cheap EVH Kramer copies were sued or threatened to be sued so no one is importing cheap EVH copies any more. But there are many FAKE Kramer striped guitars floating around. Ebay has been threatened also, so don't try and sell a cheap import copy as a EVH model or it will be pulled! IF it doesn't have a registered SL# and a certificate of authenticity it is not the real deal!

Just because someone took a couple cans of Krylon to paint  a guitar like (you know who's guitar) does not add to the value, most of the time will make it worth less money, and  all you  get is a guitar with a crappy paint job. There are so many people selling EVH scab job "mutts" with crappy paint jobs it's almost a joke. $50 junk guitar and $5 in paint does not = $400 guitar! Some of these "mutt" builders have used quality parts, but most are just junk!

                 < "1984 Kramer EVH Kramer"     IMPORT EVH STRIPED GUITARS >

These were imported from Korea, China and many other places overseas, these have nothing to do with KRAMER or EVH!! Kramer at no point in time EVER made a striped EVH model EVER!    These are cheap knockoffs with cheap parts same, basic quality you would find in a $89 Fender Squire.

                                                <GENERAL KRAMER GUITAR INFO>

The VintageKramer.com web site has more info than any other, when in doubt, ...... read!! Look on the net, search... it takes 5 minutes!

First, All Kramers that have a cast neck plate have "Neptune NJ USA" on it, that does not mean it was made in or is a USA guitar! It doesn't say "made in" anywhere! it just has the location of the (Corporate Office)      To find out where the guitar was made you must go off the SL#!    Smooth flat neck plates are a different story, most will either be US or Japan models but only a few will be Korean, and most Korean Strikers have the model of the guitar (Striker) stamped on the plate. The SL# is the easiest way to identify the guitar, then you have to look at other things. There are "mutts" out there that are built out of different parts, some sellers don't know, others do! I will state some of the easy ones to look for, plain and simple! I will spend more time on the lower end STRIKER/100 series..... XL models....Aero Star, ZX, all of which are Korean  models. and fill in the rest later. 

                                  FOCUS  Guitars (Made in Japan starting in 1983)

IF it has a cast plate and it has a SL# starting with a "B" it is a Focus series made in Japan, but still a quality guitar. The older models have a flat smooth plate with just numbers and no letter. These had solid wood bodies and some had quite good necks, REAL Floyd Rose locking trems. The necks can vary in shape but will always have the locking nut screws counter sunk in the back of the headstock, not in the back of the neck! The tuners most always will also always have a screw in them, however a small few don't. Focus models had a two different brands of pickups, Schaller and ones made by Seymour Duncan. Focus models however do not have a solid black cover that says anything "Designed by" 

There is also the " Focus Classic" line, these are 70's spec guitars with Fender style trems and hardware.

The focus series are quite a good guitar, However! make sure it has the real Floyd Rose trem! There are a lot of Focus guitars being sold that have had the real FR swapped out with a cheap copy. FR copies are nothing like the real thing, most all are junk no matter what the seller says! 

 

        STRIKER/Japan Marketed (JK)/100 SERIES  (Made in Korea starting in 1984)

If it has a cast plate and  has a SL# starting with a "AA or AB" or "S" followed by ANYTHING   letters or numbers it is a Korean made guitar, plain and simple. These models as a whole have plywood bodies, Fender style trem OR cheaper cast  Floyd Rose II trems, some are the locking style (you have to cut and clamp the strings) While some are string through (you don't have to cut the string, the ball holds the string on) It might say Floyd Rose on it, but it isn't a (Real) Original Floyd Rose!  The necks on these models are mostly pointed, however there are other shapes. Most Strikers had the name "Striker" on the headstock or the neck plate.  These models have the locking nut screws "flush" mounted in the back of the neck (It is clear to see the difference in these and the USA/JAPAN necks) The Tuners on These models are lowend and most will not have any screws! However, again...some will. These models came with "Designed by Seymour Duncan" or other lowend pickups.

There are also the (Japan market) Kramers (JK) These have a headstock Kramer logo like a Focus model but most have a Striker plywood body. Some however are USA Focus models re logoed to the KJ for sale in Japan. They are easy to tell by the SL#, they have a 8 digit number with no letter prefix.

While the striker/100 series are on the lower end of the Kramer line some play ok, but they are nothing like the USA and Japan models. Some parts will interchange between all Kramer models, but these models parts do not swap with the USA and Japan models very well. The Korean models have a narrower and thinner heel so the necks and bodies don't swap very well with other models. Most of these models also have lower grade parts.

 

                    AeroStar/ZX series.....XL series...&...KS400  (Made in Korea)

 

These are the very bottom line of lowend Kramer imports,  Misc. neck shapes. Trems used were, Fender style and cast Floyd Rose II, plywood body, "Select by EMG" " Duncan Designed  pickups, ect..  These  models are not high quality instruments, maybe a (ok) starter guitar thats it. These are not rare and were not played by you know who. Lowend starter guitar, nothing more, nothing less. The KS400 is the bottom of the Kramer line, these have a pointy head stock with 21 frets, with very cheap parts.

 

                              FERRINGTON      ACUSTIC/ELECTRIC   (made in Korea)

A lot of sellers are claiming these are USA made guitars, while there are a few that were made in the USA most were made in KOREA. The few USA models I have seen were top of the line models, full binding on the neck, and body, Claw inlays, Kramer inlay on the 12th fret. There are a few that claim that they have the SL#'s of the USA models which was a low number total.  I have yet to see a plain jane Ferrington that was a USA guitar, maybe there is? with paper work to prove it I'll believe it. Sellers also think that because these have the "Neptune NJ USA" on the neck plate like all cast Kramer plates have, that it is a USA guitar. Most Kramer Ferringtons have a SL# starting with a (F) followed by  a (A) so FAXXXX. Vintage Kramer has some good info on these guitars under the Overseas tab.

 

                                          Music YO/Gibson       Import Kramers

 

Striker Models    FR-424CM, FR-424CR, FR-424SM, Acrylic body's, ect.  ect., to many to list!

Focus models.... 111s, 211, ect. ect.   $89

Pacer models.... to many to list!   $89

Imperial..... S-404S, FR-440S, ect. 

Vanguard models...... FR-440S, S-440S     

Neck trough and bolt on neck Baretta models.......FR-404 SD....ect. ect..to many models to list!   

SG and LP styles........Gibson guitar copies..... why would you even buy one????

To many models to list, they go on and on............................

Music Yo Kramers........................

There are basicly 2 lines...The USA/ART series..........and the rest!

The USA/ART series are high quality guitars that cost a good penny.  While some are (re-issues) that look like, and were built to or close to vintage specs they are not the real deal!, yet very nice quality guitars! The 84 RI Baretta is a guitar that never was made in 84, just a copy of what everyone wanted in 84 but was never built. Most of the guitars in this line have real Floyd Rose trems, if they don't it was swapped out.

The Rest !.....I do not know the year for sure they started making these, however they all have a few things in common.( If ) they have a bolt on neck.......The neck plate does not look like the standared vintage 80's Kramer neck plate. Most have "Made to Rock Hard" on the neck plate (dead give away of a Music YO guitar)    The early models...1999-2000?? are neck through models and have a large oversized (hockey stick) headstock. It is easy to see that these heastocks look nothing like a vintage Kramer (hockey stick) headstock, the shape is all wrong and way over sized. Some of the lower end models have a (beak) or strat shaped headstock. Most came with 24 fret necks, however some have 21 and 22 fret necks (cheap Pacer and Fucus line). One thing they all have in common...99% of the time are the Quad Rail pickups! No 80's Kramer ever came with these! The new Kramer imports if they have a Floyd Rose/Schaller style trem have "Kramer" stamped on the side of the trem. See info below on tuners for these models.

While some of these models are under rated they are not anything like  the 80's Kramers as some seem to think! Some are just junk! (Focus/Pacer line)

 

                                    Things to look for on 80's Kramers BEFORE YOU BID!!!!

If you are looking at a guitar or parts that are, have or look like the following parts they are not off USA  Kramer Models.

                                                                  

                                                                       *PARTS*                                       

 

                                           <NECK PLATES & SERIAL NUMBERS>

 IF the neck plate is cast (has raised lettering) with a  SL# starting with a    ( S ) followed by ANYTHING! LETTER OR NUMBER it is a Korean made STRIKER/100 SERIES!

IF the SL# starts with 2 letters (AA) (AB) (BB) (SB) (SE) (FA) (XL) ect. it is Korean. 

Most all Japan models have a SL# starting with a B, a few started with A, but unlike the Korean models the Japan models only have one letter prefix in the SL#

IF it has a letter  (S is the most common) followed by 7+ numbers with "Made to rock hard" on it, it is a Music YO Korean import.

If it has a cast neck plate with the "Neptune NJ USA" logo and 8 number SL# with no letter prefix it is a Japan market guitar that was sold in Japan. These are really Striker  guitars with plywood bodies and lower grade parts. 

Neck through Music Yo models have the SL# stamped in the back of the headstock, Music Yo Korean imports will have a letter followed by 7 numbers. Most Mosic Yo guitars also have a "Made in Korea" sticker/logo unless it was removed.

 

                  NECK PLATE SCREW PATTERN FOR KOREAN MADE GUITARS

Striker/100 series also had smaller cast neck plates with a smaller screw pattern! IF IT HAS A NECK SCREW PATTERN OF 1  1/4" x 2" IT IS A KOREAN IMPORT!!   Some early Strikers have a flat smooth neck plate with *Striker* stamped in it. These had standard fender screw spacing 1 1/2" x 2" The later models have a cast (raised lettering) and a SL# starting with a (S)  

US and Japan models have the same neck plate screw pattern.

Music Yo cast plates with the "Made to Rock hard" logo are a narrow off size and really only fit Music Yo models.

 Music Yo Korean model neck plate on the left, Cast 80's Korean plate on the right. Notice there is no MADE IN on the 80's plate anywhere! Just Neptune NJ USA

                                                                   <NECKS>

  This shows the rear neck profile, screwless tuners and locking nut screw style of a Korean model. If the neck looks like this it's Korean, plain and simple! Some early 80's Japan and USA models will have necks close to this but the screws are counter sunk deeper in a hump in the the wood. Most all Korean necks with a locking nut will look like this no matter what Kramer logo style is on the headstock.

IF the neck has locking nut screws flush mounted in the back of the neck (not the headstock) with rounded heads it is a KOREAN made Striker/100 series or some other Korean model. If it has a locking nut that is a top mount (screws do not go through the rear of the neck) it is either a newer Kramer/Music YO import or the locking nut was added. ALL factory 80's Kramers that had locking nuts were rear mounted! including the imports. At no point in time did Kramer (EVER) make a neck with "shark fin" inlays. Some of the USA models had "claw" inlays (they kind of look like chilli pepers) but they look nothing like Jackson/Charvel/Import Copies, with  shark fin inlays.

Kramer only had a couple models during the 80's that used 24 fret necks and they will have other features that show what model they are. Kramer logo inlay at the 12th and/or 24th fret, Diamond shaped dots, ect.  Most Music Yo guitars have a 24 fret neck, but will be simple dot inlays nothing fancy.

                                                               <TREMOLOS>

 These are cheap cast Floyd Rose trems, they are not the real deal!! They might not say LICENSED on them but they are not a Original Floyd Rose! They don't even look like the real deal.

 IF it has a thick cast Floyd Rose II trem it is a KOREAN made Striker/100 series! IF it has a SL# starting with a ( S or A ) and a FENDER style trem it is  KOREAN made! IF the trem has "Kramer" stamped on it, it is a Kramer/Gibson Music YO Korean made guitar. Some early Korean guitars and Focus line had the first gen (NON fine tuner) Floyd trems. These trems are not (ultra) rare and most people do not want or like them!  Just because it says "Floyd Rose" on it doesn't make it the real deal. The early cheap FR II trems only had "Floyd Rose" on them but they are not the real deal. The early FR II trems also were non locking (you don't cut the string end off and clamp it in the block) 

 

                                                                   <BODIES>

 This shows the layers in the plywood, if you can see anything like this in the neck pocket, trem cavity or control cavity it's a plywood body. Only the Korean models used plywood bodies, there is no such thing as a Baretta with a plywood body!

Most all 80's Korean imports have plywood or laminated bodies! There were a very few that did have solid wood, but that doesn't make them rare, just the owner lucky. The lower horn on a Striker will jut out and angle away from the body, like your thumb on your hand. If you know what to look for  you can tell 99% of the time.  Most of the Music Yo imports are solid wood, low grade import wood! but solid wood. The 80's Japan  Focus line bodies are also solid wood.

                                  <REAR TREMOLO AND CONTROL COVERS>

 Only Korean models have trem covers with the center screws straight across from each other! On Japan and USA models the center screws are offset.

A dead give away for a Korean made body is the rear trem cover screw pattern. All Korean made bodies rear trem covers have the 2 center screw holes straight accross from each other. On All Japan and USA models the 2 center screws are off set from each other.

The control covers for all three models (USA, Japan, Korean) are different sizes!!! They are the same basic shapes but do not interchange! Korean models are larger and have a different screw pattern. The Focus line are smaller than the Korean models and have a smaller screw pattern. The USA models are real close to the Japan models but I have yet to see them interchange. There is just enough difference between the USA and Japan models that they don't interchange.   

 

                                                              <TUNING PEGS>

Most 80's Korean imports used cheap tuners with no screws and had "Kramer" stamped on the back, there are some exceptions. Japan models used Schaller and copies with screws, M. Y. Korean imports used, Gotoh, Grover, no name, ect. Some  (Korean Barettas) have Skull tuner knobs, these are not rare or add ons,, this is how they came.

                                                               <PICK GUARDS>

 Kramer guitars that have a pick guard (Fender Strat style) should only have 8 screws, if it has more it is either not the right pick guard or it is a Fender or other brand Body. Either way most all Kramers only had 8 screws (KS400 has 11 screws).

 

                                                                  <PICKUPS>

Only Korean made Kramers used *Duncan Designed* pickups, these are lowend pickups that sound nothing like the read deal Seymour Duncan's. These pickups have a solid cover (that can be removed) that have the *Duncan Designed* logo. There were a couple of lowend pickups used in the  Korean made models, *Select by EMG* was another. These are passive pickups that were a cheap copy of EMG pickups used in many lower end guitars for years.  Japan made Focus models used Duncan copies with a brass colored base with no info anywhere, while not the real deal some sound rather good.

Korean import Music Yo guitars used Quad and Dual rail pickups These are the only guitars I know of to use these pickups.

The links are not to just any web site, Vintage Kramer is the largest web site for Vintage Kramer Info!

 Buyers..........Do not go off what it is being sold as, ask questions, look real hard and then read all you can! anywhere! There are some things with Kramers that are odd, but with the info above you should know what you are buying before you pay 4 times what it's really worth!

Sellers........If you are selling a 80's Kramer, look on the Vintage Kramer web site and search the web for the info you need ( and will be asked ) when you sell it. If you don't know what it is and you list it as something it's not with a big BS story ( claiming it's a USA model, ect. ) how does that make you look as a seller if you were looking to buy??             I'm just being honest here!

I'm not going to go into USA models, the above info and whats on Vintage Kramer and the web should tell you everything you need to know before you buy. However the above info clearly explains what are NOT USA models. USA Kramers all used name brand hardware, Schaller and Gotoh tuners, real Duncan or Schaller pickups, Real Floyd Rose trems, Solid wood bodies, ect. they did not use noname or lowend parts.

                      

I hope this info helps some of you become more informed!    IF you are selling or just bought one of these models and think/thought it was a USA model I'm sorry, these are just the plain facts! I own quite a few of these models myself, however I would never try and sell one claiming it was a USA model to take advantage of someone for more money.

There are sellers taking angled shots and/or no pictures of things that will give away what the guitar or parts really are. Most list the main name of the parts (Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncan, ect.) when the parts are really (Floyd Rose II or a cheap copy and cheap Duncan Designed pickups) If you can't see it clearly or see it at all, ask for a better picture! You have the right and need to know what you are buying!

IF you are selling one of these guitars do your self and everyone else a favor and list it for what it really is! There are hundreds of Kramer collectors that watch Ebay. If they see a Korean model listed as a USA model you will hear from one of them! If myself or someone else contacts you we are just trying to keep the facts straight, don't get all mad or take it in a bad way.

IF you found this info helpful feel free to click the button and vote to make it known make it known! :)