Kramer Baretta

Good old american made! I can't believe I would be able to buy an American made guitar so cheaply. Anyways, a humbucker pick up (dunno what kind, it's black, and the "magnet part" look like screw holes). One volume knob, Floyd Rose tremolo system, 22-fret ebony overlay on a maple neck. A nice red color.

Nice nice nice metal sound. I can't stress this enough. If you love the sound of steel, or metal, it's great. This guitar is perfect for industrial sound (guitars in industrial music?! nay!). Whenever I put it through my overdrive, it picks up some weird radio signals, but it's damn cool for some of the songs. I only have one complaint, without the overdrive or distortion, it's hard to hear the high end, like the extreme high B to e. Some how I managed to get the A to phase shift, dunno how.

I got it used, so it had some body damage. I like it though cause it didn't affect the sound too much. I think I am the only one who likes the dings and nicks. It adds character.

The guitar will occaionaly go mute on me, but it's nothing too major. I'll be the first to ommit that I treat my guitars harshly. It's my test too see if they hold up in the long run. And this one will. I love playing it live (only did it twice, but it was fun none the less).

Never had to deal with them.

Great guitar. I this is my 3rd guitar (I got a Peavy Milestone Bass frist, and then an Ibanzes fender knock off). I love this puppy once I figured out how to set the bastard up right. I love the harsh sound, I love the look, so do the people that have seen it. It's going to take a lot to make me sell this baby!

Year? '85-ish? Serial E7522. 22 fret rosewood neck. One volume control & that's it! One pickup - humbucker that looks like a black and a white single-pole pickup taped together. Dark pink with blue metalflake (Hot Pink?). Lots of scratches & chips. Strat-style body with such a comfortable cutaways at the waist & wrist back. All the other edges are dead straight. Floyd Rose (rusty from beer & sweaty gigs). Black Schallers & a lock-nut. Lovely wide neck for big hands (I can't play a Tele - it's like a friggin banjo!). Allen keys (wrenches)held in a clip at the back of the headstock so you can't lose them at aforementioned drunk'n'sweaty gig. Neat! It has almost no features or controls to get me confused, so I give it a nine.

Loads of sustain. Just unbelieveable. Note bending is easy - 2 tones up no problem. I've used it for noise stuff, heavy dub/metal/industrial where I simply use it as a sound source. Through twin Marshall Club & Country combos (for stereo pans & delays) and a Quadraverb, Boss Stereo Delay, Flanger, Autopan, Roland JetPhaser, Colorsound Wah-wah, DigiTech variable pitchshifter (mainly using an octave down for a real manly sound), Mackie 200 mixing desk. Great for those extended solos. You can play it really expressive Hendrix-like and it sounds big, fat and soulful with just a clean valve sound. I've also used it for Funkadelic-style Eddie Hazel business and even Reggae! Such a joy to play! Totally versatile. Remember, anything more than one pick-up, one control knob is just too complicated.

Low, low action that plays right all over the fretboard without buzz and still manages to sound fat. Even with very light strings (I use Dean Markley 740 XL). Any flaws? Yeah, the body's mashed and all the metalwork's rusty! So?

This guitar bounces off the stage about three feet every time. It's solid & heavy and will take anything you (literally) throw at it. The finish is hardcore. You have to be careful to bounce it in the right spot though, cause the jack socket's right on the bottom and you can snap the jack. I always use it without a backup. It never goes far out of tune (even with *excessive* use of the Floyd Rose) and I've never broken a string since I bought it. I change them before every gig, though ... even if that's every day.

Sorry? Something could go wrong with such a simple, rugged device?

Playing 24 years. I also have a Burns Trisonic, Maton ElToro, Hofner Verithin, Epiphone Bass, Hammond B3, Yamaha DX7, sequencers, etc, etc. If it were stolen I'd definitely have to get another just like it. I love it! I wish it had the jack socket in the front, like a Strat, so I could bounce it better.

This is a 1987 Kramer "American" series Baretta. 24 frets, alder body ("Shocking Pink"), one volume knob, one original Zebra (JB?) humbucker (passive). The neck is sweet. 24 fret, maple w/ rosewood fingerboard and pearl dot inlays. Classic 80's heavy metal guitar. Sharp countoured double cutaway strat shape, Floyd Rose (original) double locking trem system (not recessed into body, but rather on body). Schaller tuners (black). I got this from the original owner off of e-bay for $350.00 who bought it for a backup but only used it on the couch. Came with original hang-tags and warranty card OHSC. I am only giving this beauty an 8 because the Baretta was a no-nonsense simple rocker.

This guitar was built to do one thing and do it well... KICK ASS AND SCREAMMMM. Not very versatile but extremely well suited to rock out. The JB humbucker in conjunction with the alder body gives a very warm EVH type sound when pushed through some tubes. I love the sound of this guitar and the babe plays like a dream. They were obviously thinking "Do one thing, and do it well".

The person I bought this from took EXCELLENT care of it. I had thought I would never get one being the year 2000 and I was one of the 18 yr olds who could'nt afford one in 88. The action is super low with just a touch of string twang (not buzzing). This is very minimal and I am of the school that a guitar should sound like breaking glass so it is perfect. The fit is excellent and so is the finish. This baby looks as though it came off the store room wall. Being 13 years old when I got it. Some people would balk at a "Hot Pink" finish but it is just beautiful and really anounces that the 80's were hot.

I talked to the guy who I purchased it from and he had played it on a couple of gigs. He loved the guitar but after 13 years it was simply time to say good bye. He was nice enough to put Schaller Stap-Locs on the guitar. I would use the guitar without a backup but really who would do that.

GIBSON SUCKS AND THEY KNOW IT.

Just when I thought I would never own an "American" series Rockin 80's Kramer I stumbled across two on E-Bay. This one and an 89 Pacer Custom II. Both are fabulous for METAL. These are both irreplaceable and I am very lucky to own two MINT guitars of this era/caliber. I never compare Kramer Barettas or Pacers to other guitars because for me there is none to be made.

I own a black Kramer Barreta I purchased when I was around 19 years old. I delivered a paper route for 6 months to buy it ($693!). I was being a musician thus the paper route. It was one of the best purchases I have ever made. I still have and it's still totally stock though I'm considering changing the pickups. It has a Floyd Rose and one single Seymour Duncan humbucker zebra colored (cream/black). I the papers with the guitar stated it was a Duncan but did not state the model. I have been believing for all these 14 years it was a JB HOWEVER from reading other reviews am wondering if it is a Duncan 59. If anyone happens to know what Kramer equipped their Barrettas back around 86-87 please let me know. The guitar is bare bones simple. ! humbucker and volume. The neck is 1 5/8 at the nut and maple. I got this width back then and it seemed wide but now it feels perfect. The salesman who ordered it asked me what neck width I wanted and I did not know, I said I wanted what Van Halen had (naive or wise depending how you look at it!) he said it was classic width. The only disappointment was when I received it, it did NOT have the hockey stick headstock which REALLY bummed me out. It has a sort of Jackson looking headstock. I don't mind anymore but back then it bummed me out. I purchased it strictly because of Van Halen who was/is my favorite guitarist. Once again nothing much fancy here. It's still totally stock however I'm considering changing the pickups to Lindy Fralins or sending him the stock to rewind to my taste. Will cover in next section. I would rate it a 9 since it's simple however very efficient and suited the need I purchased it for. Bare bones rock n roll 80's style. Also I forgot to mention I'm not sure what the body wood is I think probably alder. If anyone knows I would like to know as well.

The sound it classic 80's rock n roll. I love it. I'm a professional guitarist (guitar teacher and looking for a band) and it has served me well sonically speaking. It's not noisy at all. The body and neck feel like a part of my body now as I have been playing this guitar for 14 years now. I have no other real guitar although I own a cheapy Fender Squire I purchased because it looked like Yngwies and was actually a pretty good guitar for the price but that's for another review. Bottom it has been my workhorse for the last 14 years. The neck felt wide when I bought it it now feels perfect. The sound is great. I have played it through a Gallien Krueger 250ML and BOSS DS1 for years and it sounded great but would thin out when I lowerd the volume on the axe. I then ran it through a Peavey 5150 head and Crate 2 X 12 cab and it sounded a LOT better. I then ran it through my teaching rig which consisted of a small Crate GX20M and a SansAmp GT2 and got some REALLY GREAT TONES out of it!!! I used this simple rig to show kids not to really too much on gear but to spend their time practicing and learning how to play reall rock not this grunge/alternative crap. Currently I'm running through a Rocktron Taboo Twin mostly through the Eruption setting and I almost ABSOLUTELY NAIL the classic Van Halen tone. Un freaking believable!!! More on the Taboo Twin in a future review. The only thing I'm currently considering changing it the humbucker. I have been thinking it's a JB but now am thinking it might be a Duncan 59. It sounds great craked but when you pull the volume it tends to thin out and lose a lot of tone. Once again the guitar is totally stock with the exception of the strings of course. It sounds a lot better with the Rocktron amp but I'm still considering changing the pickups to Fralins. Maybe it's just everything I've read about Fralins has me believing my pu doesn't sound as good as it used to. Then again after 14 years maybe I need a change. I'm VERY attached to this guitar and would kill if anyone stole it. NOT KIDDING either! My attachment to the guitar and it being stock has me doubting whether to change the pickups. I might just send the pu to Lindy to rewire therefore I still have the "original" pu although it will be modded. Basically I just want it to sound good when I lower the volume on the guitar. Any suggestions anyone? Anyways I nail the VH tone and do pretty good on White Lion and Dokken circa Under Lock and Key type stuff. Good punchy sound, smooth and creamy but perhaps lacking some bite. Maybe a little TOO smooth. Then again maybe it's my hands. My students and some of their parents say I sound the same when I pick up and play other guitars so maybe the problem is my hands LOL!!! ANyways it sounds great to 80's style rock especially VH of course. It's hard but I think I will give it an 8 due to the sound being perhaps too smooth and not enough bite or growl too it.

The guitar has pretty good action and feels perfect for me, after all I've been playing it for 14 years. Pickups have not been adjusted. The only flaw is the low E string buzzes when I pick it. It does this at almost all the frets. It's pretty annoying but does not affect the sound. I'm used to it now but it doesn't bother me unless I play it un amplified. I also will probably be changing the springs and adding a WD Ent Tremsetter to avoid going fla when I bend. The Floyd itself is almost flat. It goes up but just very little, on some strings not even a half step. Other than the buzzing on the low E very good. I will rate this a 7 due to the bad buzz.

As for reliability obviously pretty reliable since I've been playing it 14 years and it's TOTALLY stock! It will definately last unless I land a gid with Ozzy or Dio a a guitarist and hit the road on a long excruciating tour. Fat chance of that though. Know anyone hiring an 80's rocker?! LOL!! Strap buttons are solid. Finish is still great would definately gid without a back up. Did for years NEVER had any problems. I would rate the reliability a 10 for hard core quality reliability and durability.

Never had too deal with Kramer as it has been a reliable and trusty part of my body for 14 years.

My overall rating would be a 9 due to the lame buzz on the E string and the current and recent desire for a slightly diffrent sound. It has served me well for 14 years and will have it till I die. If I lost it or had it stolen I really would not know what to do and it would be like losing a testicle. About the only thing I wish was diffrent was that I had gotten one with the hockey stick headstock and it the pickups retained tone when the volume is decrease. Also I would add the WD Tremsetter for the Floyd. I once owned a Washburn SS80 The Steve Stevens model and surprisingly it was almost identical to this guitar. The only diffrence was it had a neck pickup and the pickups were on the wood not on mounting brackets. The neck was the same and it had a 1 volume like my Barreta. It was a great solid guitar as well. I loved it and wish I had killed the bastard who stole it. He didin't even know what he stole. Then again he didn't take this one otherwise I would be serving a prison term right now. I love this guitar if you haven't noticed and the only changes I plan on making are adding the Tremsetter and probably sending the pu's to Lindy Fralin to mod it. If I could get rid of the buzz I would. Great and classice guitar.

This Kramer is an authentic Eddie Van Halen "5150" replica down to all hardware, paint scheme, cigerette burns and wear. The body is a sexy Kramer Baretta USA with a custom made Maple neck and enlongated hockey stick headstock. There is an original Floyd Rose Tremelo, Shaller keys and a Duncan '59 in the bridge.

Listen to Van Halens "Pamama" for this sound...it NAILS it through a Marshall amp. Top notch rock-n-roll machine. Sounds more like classic Van Halen than my 2 Wolfgang guitars. The trick is that the Duncan '59 is a lower output humbucker with a more "open" and dynamic sound. Plus, the pickup and Floyd Rose tremelo are mounted flat on the body of the guitar. Not a shread machine like a "Jem" like many might think. I've got lots of high end guitars..this one sounds AMAZING.

Looks like a worn out piece of $hit but plays like butter. Of course, this instrument mimics Van Halens own main player from 1993-1990 and it is authentic. This guitar is setup and plays better than original Baretta Kramers I have owned over the years. I found that off the shelf, original Kramer Barettas needed major action help and new pickup's. The original Schaller PAF pickups can get microphonic.

I have owned all original Kramers and they are durable.

Barettas are cool guitars and are a piece of history when rock ruled the airwaves. It is unfortunate that Gibson re-introduced Kramer as a bottom dwelleng instrument as I for one would buy a high end USA guitar with the Kramer name on it. If you want to see pics of this replica, e-mail me fl_799@yahoo.com

My Barreta is an '89 neck mated to an '86 body,shes candy blue with a Betty Boop graphic,1 Duncan Distortion pickup,mother of pearl spear inlays with Kramer stamped on 12th fret spear,Floyd trem,made in Neptune,NJ.I bought this guitar as parts and slapped it all together,the neck(new)$25,body(new)$12,pickup(used)$20,Schaller tuners (new)$10,Floyd Rose(had laying around,new).Shes left handed and i call her Betty Blue!

This is one solid ass instrument with alot of tone,alot of sustain,and alot of stories.I usually play her through a Zoom processor going into a Roland 50.Great for all the VH stuff,Motley stuff,Rhoads stuff,etc.etc............

I set this fucker up myself and shes perfect!

I would play this guitar anywhere,anyplace,anytime......without a backup!

My name is Rob Lindbeck,ive been playing for 13 years,totally pro now,i play alot of originals with chart potential as well as classic YES,OZZY,DEEP PURPLE,CRUE,VH,...all the good stuff.....and i really cant say theres anything i dislike about Betty Blue.......well,thats enough of that one!

I have always wanted a Kramer Baretta since High school, but I could never afford one. $900.00 was a bit to much for a high school kid back then(85-86). After all these years, I finally found one on the internet. The Baretta is an 85 model, cream colored, Seymour Duncan zebra hum, and volume knob. Very basic. Eddie VanHalen was and is my NO 1 influence, and this guitar IS the VH feel and look. Wood is unknown. It has a black orifginal Floyd Rose trem, with black Schaller tuners.

I bought the Baretta used, so it had to have some minor work done on it, like readjusting the neck, and the Floyd Rose, but other then that, it plays fine. The hardware has oxidised a little, but this guitar has obviously been played, and for good reason. It plays like butter. Smooth, and responsive.

The Baretta THRIVES in a live situation. Thats what these guitars were desighned to do. THe 80's were all about flash and dynamics, and the Kramers were at the top of their game. Anyway, the finish is still holding up, a little cracking on the hocksy headstock, but nothing major. Like I said, this guitar has been PLAYED. I would def use this guitar in a gig, and have, but its best not to use any guitar live without a backup.

Never dealt with Kramer....

I have been playing off and on for 15 years. I play the Baretta with my other 4 guitars a/b-ed thru a Marshall JTM 45 plexi reissue head, and a Soldano HR 50 + head thru a Marshall 1960B 4/12 straight cab. I use a few effect pedals(stomp boxes) and a Chandler rack mount unit(digital echo). I hope anything never happens to my Bareta, because it would be almost impossible to replace. Its one of my best guitars. I really really like it. I would love to find another one....

This is a late 80's Kramer Baretta, serial # F4922.This of course is an American made Kramer (actually American assembled)It features one of the most beutiful art work graphics I've ever seen. It has a picture of a guitar shaped flying saucer flying through space right at you! The hardware is excellent quality. An original Floyd Rose locking trem that has shown almost no signs of wear- physically or functionally.The tuners say "made in Germany" so I assume they're Grovers or schallers.They also are flawless. The neck is a 22 fret rosewood board that features custom bear claw inlay and I think medium jumbo frets or jumbo. The sound is provided by a single Seymor Duncan "JB" model in a slant position.It also features a single volume control knob and that's it! Another custom featue is neck binding which makes the guitar look better, and is still flawless with no signs of dulling or lifting.This guitar is/was a custom order/top-of-line Kramer in it's day.

This guitar was built for one thing- SHREDD SHREDD SHREDD! With a lack of tone knob(s) and only one Seymour Duncan pickup,this axe was built to play Glam rock or Metal. It pushes my Line 6 Flextone to great heights.It is well suited for my infatuation with Randy Rhoads,Warren Dimartinni,Jake E. Lee and George Lynch. When I select the high gain amps(Rectifier,Marshall,SLo,that's when this Kramer is definately in it's element!The sustain is just incredible.An extremely rich full sound.But once again it is totally limited to one sound.But if you are a shredder, that's a good thing.I really like the way it drived tubes but it's clean soynd is vertually nonexitent.

I bought the guitar used,but this thing plays better than most new ones. I don't think anything was altered and everything is still very tight,and in great functioning order.In this aspect, the guitar is perfect.

This guitar is solid as a rock. It is my new number one axe, however I would definately advise another guitar if you play a variety of styles live. I believe this guitar was built to take a beating and would fair very well in that situation.I can't find a loose screw or button or anything anywhere on this axe.

Kramer of course had gone under back in 1990. It's to bad becase this is the second Kramer I owned that I was just blown away by the quality and sound of. i have a feeling these things will be great collectors someday, and right now they are just a steal in the use guitar market considering all the custom quality options that came on them.(I'm speaking of the American models)

I've been playing for 9 years. This is the 33rd guitar I've owned.right now my second guitar is a '94 Foto Flame Strat. I'm playing exclusively through a Line 6 Flextone Duo.I would by another Baretta based on it's great options and playability.I love the quality,playability,and features.I hate it's lack of choices for pickups and tone adjustment.

Made in 1985, Neptune NJ. 22 Frets, Solid alder body, one volume, one slanted humbucker of unknown type, maple neck with rosewood fretboard. It has an nasty pale blue finish. I understand from a local custom shop thet this is a very very toxic to apply tough bullet prof finish. I plan on refinishing the body and am unsure of what type of remover to use?? The body is a strat style body with an original Floy Rose tremolo, Kramer tuners. The neck is nice. Has medium frets and a rosewood fretboard, slanted headstock with large KRAMER logo on it. Truss cover. I gave it a six because it only has one pickup.

This is my only right handed guitar. I am right handed but I play left handed strats. I use the Baretta as a spare, It is nice and comfortable. It has a Duncan '59 in it which MADE IT REEALLY SOUND BETTER THAN THE STOCK PICKUP!!!!

I bought the guitar used and in parts. All set up was done by me. The only flaw is that the Floyd nut is slightly off center. I found out that a lot were made like this and since it did not effect the instruments playablility, Kramer let it slide. Also, the Floyd came with pivot screws instead of pivot posts and inserts which I am replacing soon.

I'm sure the finish will be able to withstand a nuclear fallout and the abuse of playing on the bottom of the ocean.

CMI bought all of the rights to Kramer and I heard that there is a possibility of bringing the Kramer fame back. The original company made the dreaded mistake of going cheap overseas and loosing quality. Too bad.

I paid 95.00 for it. What can I say but YEAH!!! I am a very expirienced musican/ guitar builder and know my stuff well. This is the guitar Eddie VanHalen used. It's a nice piece of history. Buy one for the history value, and if you're into hard rock or metal...this is one to get.

This is Eddie Van Halen's guitar from 1983 to 1990. It was basically a copy of his original "Frankenstein" strat which was assembeled from parts in the 70's. The novel feature of this guitar is its simple layout in the traditional Van Halen tradition. . .one humbucker and one volume knob. The finish is a cremeish white with the hockey puck headstock. The guitar sports the original zebra pickup and it is of high output. The wood is of unknown origion, but it had a denseness which contributes to the tonal qualities and sustain of the instrument. Other features are the original Floyd Rose trem and locking neck.

Sound. . .If you like Van Halen, chances are you've owned this guitar, or wanted one to paint it up like Eddie's. The sound is sustaining due to the selection of the wood. Output overdrives tube amps pretty well although the pickups are slightly prone to microphonic feedback. The Original Floyd trem shows its age due to the development of the trem over the past 10-15 years. Through a 100 watt Plexi (read my review 100 watt plexi), this guitar will be in the ball park for the Van Halen sound. In fact, this was my main Axe for 6 years. Not for anything except Rock/Hard rock..

The action naturally stinks! It is hard to adjust the action across the neck due to the Floyd. Usually, the high E-string sits alittle too high and there are compromises through out the action. The neck itself is wide and comfortable. . an Ibanez wizard neck it's not though. Paint is excellent and the guitar still looks new. I still have the original hang tags from 1985. Given the millions of Kramers produced during the time, not too bad overall.

Well, just 1 volume pot in 10-12 years. . not BAD AT ALL. This guitar will always work.

When I bought this guitar many years ago, it was my pride and joy. . hell. . I HAD EDDIE"S GUITAR. Although a "performance guitar", it is overshadowed by other brands. Tactfully, it is no Sunburst '59 Les Paul. Nowadays, the guitar feels dated. . especially when compared to the EVH Wolfgang (read my review of the wolfgang). In their time, the Kramers were the guitar to own and their collector value is growing. This guitar is still not replaceable. . The prices on these original Barettas are on the rise. . pick one up is you can and own a piece of V.H. history.