Kramer D200-S

D-200S. Solid Spruce top, laminated mohagany sides and back. Mohagany neck with rosewood board. Grover tuners, rosewood string through bridge, pvc nut. Very thin finish in top much like an Epiphone Masterbuilt. Mine is a Korean made 2002. This is a great entry level acoustic guitar. I will rate it for that level of guitar. To rate it against Martins or Taylors is ridiculas.

With the stock strings it was horrible. Absolutly dead sounding. With a quick change to some Ernie Ball Hybrids the sound came. Excellent sound. Nice deep bassy sounds and fantastic highs thanks to the hybrid strings.

Absolutly perfect setup as it came. Excellent action. The finish is way nicer than one would think for a guitar of this price. The top is gorgeous in the sunlight.

Well, I've had this guitar for a long time. Its still in excellent condition. Its not used for gigs or anything like that. Its basically a great practice/campfire guitar.

Never need it.

This is a great guitar overall. Remember, I'm NOT comparing it to Martins and such. It is way more than one would expect. I wish Kramer would start making these again. Maybe add some different options and stuff. But keep it in the line up.

This review is for a MusicYo (Kramer/Gibson) D200SCE flat top guitar. This Kramer instrument features a cutaway design; Shadow EQ and gold plated color grover machine heads.
I have had this instrument for several years now. If you are into the "aesthetics" of a guitar you will enjoy this instrument. However, if you value the sound quality of an instrument this one will leave you severely disappointed when used in the unplugged/acoustic mode. As an earlier reviewer stated I believe the soft, unfinished wood (Kramer marketing department has a rather quieting name for it-which I promptly have forgot) plus the guitar's light weight body contribute greatly to its lack of projection IMO. I have no idea regarding the bracing structure, but it does claim to have a "solid" spruce top.

It suits my musical style - doodling at home so no complaint here. When amplified I am using it with a practice amp - 10" speaker, 30 watt amp with some reverb in and am ususally playing pick style. The amplified sound improves the performance level (at least the volume) quite a bit - Shadow comes through with a nice, flexible five slider EQ placed in the customary spot along the top side. As usual warning light comes on when battery level gets low. I am not overly impressed by the "string through" bridge or the sensitivity, fidelity of the bridge piezo pick up. As I play primarily pick style I have the action set rather high (may effect volume output from bridge pickup - wider saddle).

Guitar was set up of from the factory. MusicYo may obtain these from various manufacturing "culls" i.e. blems, etc. I have purchased two of their instruments and both exhibited very erratic fret work and almost unplayable fretboard irregularities. The first instrument I purchased had a fret probem at the 10th fret (sounded the same as the 11th) and this one has a fret misalignment at the first fret - high E string hard to play cleanly without second fret buzzing - frets not properly installed in the fretboard.

I don't know if this guitar will withstand live playing as I only use it for at home practice/playing. The hardware seems like it will hold up and the "unfinished" finish may last several hundred gigs. The strap buttons are solid. I believe it is a dependable instrument (beyond the flaws already noted). It is usable on a gig, but it wouldn't be my first choice over a myriad of other brands that are now available.

Expect none, get none.....

I have been playing off and on for 45 years (occasionally for money, sometimes for adult beverages). I have seven other instruments (all low priced). Featurewise this guitar is very good for the price, BUT construction (fretboard)/acoustic tone wise it leaves much to be desired. I enjoy the aesthetics of the instrument as I am a low priced guitar "collector" rather than a regularly employed, dedicated player. For the money it was a good deal! I am not a fan of MusicYo, but they do enable beginning/intermediate players (like myself) on limited budgets to get their hands on fairly playable instruments. As an aside, Korea is really cranking out great instruments now so beware - there are many good choices out there - the Pearl acoustic for one is a good deal for a bit more money. The weak spots of this Kramer guitar is the acoustic unplugged sound - weak and lack of projection and the erratic fretboard work. You might try other strings - their may be some magic combination that brings the acoustic sound to life (once the frets are properly aligned). The instrument comes with medium D'Addarios....Get the fretboard reworked if necessary - it may not be possible, otherwise play away.....

2004 Made In China. Average/basic features. Finish is a bit thicker than the earlier Korean made ones. Nothing fancy; no preamp, cutaway, etc. Solid spruce top, mahogany sides & back (laminated), 20 fret rosewood fretboard, and string-thru rose wood bridge with PVC bridge and nut.

For the price, a guitar under 200, it's not bad. Compared to the guitars that cost a bit more though it lacks tone and projection. The lack of sound probably comes from the poor quality control and poor construction. The sound is better than the bottom line $99 dollar guitars though.

Very poor set up and finish. Anyone who's been playing for at least a few years will immediately be able to feel the difference in these guitars compared to other brand guitars, even their lower priced guitars. I also ordered an Epiphone AJ-1 for $99 and even though the sound quality severely lacked at least the finish was flawless, it looked absolutely beautiful, and the set up was very nice. Though I returned that guitar. This guitar sounded much better for 50 bucks more but gets very low points in this category. There were some finish flaws on the back and a small scratch. A machine head/tuning peg was damaged (which I can replace myself but would cost more $$$), there was neck bow (which I also know how to adjust) and in the bottom lower right corner of the guitars top was a pretty bad chip. This is unacceptable.

Not sure about the string-thru bridge or how well it's glued on or how long this guitar would last.

They're quick on exchanges/refunds and when they respond to email they're fast about it. Other than that they suck imo. Ignored two of my emails. I asked for a replacement machine head/tuning peg for the damaged one. They shipped one out fast, but it had the same flaw. So I asked them to ship another which they did and the part still isn't good. So I left that one in and gave up. They really have poor quality control.

This is the second guitar I've bought and the third guitar I've received from musicyo and all I can say is you can take me once, you can take me twice but I will not be ripped off a third time. This is the last time I order anything from them. From my experience, I do not recommend Kramer's acoustic guitars at all. I cannot stress enough their poor quality control. You'd be much better off spending 50-100 dollars more and getting a better quality instrument. I cannot believe such a company is allowed to operate like this. You'd think a subsidiary of Gibson, like Epiphone, would make better stuff than this. It's as though Kramer sells the reject guitars that Gibson and Epiphone cannot sell. I've been playing guitar for over 10 years and these are some of the worst guitars I've ever played.

The instrument is a Kramer D-200SCE cutaway flat top guitar with natural finish. I purchased the instrument online from MusicYo for $159+s/h. Blems are currently available for $149 (I missed out on this). The guitar is quite feature laden (Grover gold tuners, solid spruce top, Shadow 5-band piezo pickup). Additional information on the features of the instrument can be obtained from other HC reviews.

I play some finger style acoustic folk music at local gigs/craft fair dates so wanted a decent instrument that wouldn't be a financial disaster if stolen/destroyed. This guitar more than fulfills my needs - good Shadow pickup,apparently very good workmanship and materials. I use the guitar with a Trace "acoustic" amp and it has plenty of tonal range when amplified. The main drawback to this instrument (somewhat serious) is the acoustic sound which lacks projection and any character. This lack has been mentioned in another review. For a price of $159 I wasn't expecting anything exceptional in acoustic(unamplified) sound so I am not disappointed.

The guitar played just fine out of the box. The workmanship/materials appear to be excellent. The action was a bit on the high side, but an alternate thinner saddle is furnished if you want to adjust it down lower. The guitar has a natural (unlacquered) finish which I really like. Some people may find it too dull for their taste. Fretwork was good (no buzzin') anywhere on the board. I purchased a different instrument earlier (2002) from MusicYo and had expensive ($50) fretwork problem, but this instrument appears to be okay. An earlier review mentions a strange fret buzz in the upper frets - fret 12 same note as fret 14. I had the same problem earlier purchase, but not on this guitar.

I have no reason to believe this guitar will not hold up for playing local jobs, everyday practice. Again this is an inexpensive instrument and naturally isn't made from expensive materials. The workmanship appears to be excellent and it certainlly isn't at all flimsy. An Ovation would probably be more durable, but not at $159...

As previously mentioned I did have a bad experience with MusicYo on a acoustic guitar purchase in 2002. The guitar (YO-100S)developed an "expensive"($50 - my repair cost) neck warp after a year of use, and the Yo'ers attitude was "wood warps and can't be guaranteed" - end of story. Other than the neck it too was an excellent guitar value - great action and very good tone quality. In all fairness to them it was a $100 guitar, so costwise we aren't talking big money. I have had no problem with MusicYo orderwise in either transaction. I would not expect any customer service - but I really am not paying for any. They are affiliated with Gibson so that might be of some help and they do have an excellent website. Regardless, I am really happy with this instrument and would certainly purchase another if it was stolen/lost etc.

I have been playing guitar for 45+ years. Most of my other gear - Fender, Ovation, DeArmond, Essex, MusicYo is low/medium priced. My three favorites are my Fender MIM Telecaster, Ovation Celebrity and a DeArmond X155 archtop. This Kramer D-200CES may turn out to be number four. I chose this instrument because of the great features. I can't think of anything else I wish it had (except maybe to sound like a Martin/Taylor acoustically LOL).

6 string Dreadnought. Solid topped--spruce. Satin finish. Surprisingly good looking top. Made in Korea---in 30 years we'll be in WONDER about the cheap/good solid top guitars made in Korea just befor and after the year 2000.

Nice rosewood bridge. Decent tuners. Neat string trhu bridge---not sure it's an advantage structurally, but it is neat.

The outfit we ordered included a tuner/gigbag/stand/Guitar

I play a Taylor 810, a Gibson L130, a Seagull Grand, and an Epiphone AJ18s. This guitar is incredible for the price and quite a lot better soundwise versus alot of what is out there in the price range--Fender DG7's/8's, Epiphone AJ15's, etc---the competition is laminate topped.

The guitar sounds decent--I'll grade it on a curve, but it's right there with Washburn D10s and the like. Surprised by the depth and range right out of the box w/ the original strings. I'd give it a true 5.5-6.5---for the purpose of comparing it within it's price range it's a TEN! The curve brings it to 7. My friend's prewar Martin is about a 10, and it's worth 30 grand. My Taylor is just about a 9---just to give you a frame of reference. I'll give it a 7

Decent setup--good fretwork below the body join....top appears bookmatched(huh??!!!). NICE NECK!

My question would be with long term stability. My exposure to the KOREAN guitars is that they are very good---I suspect that this guitar will be a tremendous long term bargain.

This guitar is very nice looking! Very clean finish work, in and out.

The hardware and fit are good--looks well built.

Ordered from musicyo.com---no direct phone support---good response to order(fast turn around)

This is a starter and a very good very cheap starter at that. It was bought for a friend's kid---he had a $150 budget. Sure, I might spend more if I was buying it for my kid, but you should know that this is a dandy instrument at a great price---if this is your budget, don't hesitate. It's better that most of what is available at $225 and under---and it really does sound better than alot of what's available at $350 and under. It's truely a good little instrument---a great beach guitar!!!

As was said above, this is a solid top acoustic from Kramer (made in Korea) The one I ordered was "Scratch and Dent", but honestly, I can't find a scratch on it. Ended up only paying $149 and I am VERY happy and surprised with my purchase. It has a 5-Band Shadow EQ...

I found this guitar to be very bright sounding, but I personally love the sound of it, especially plugged in. I play anything from country and blues to rock, and it seems to suit just about any style fine. It really is an amazing buy....

The guitar itself plays great, the action is very low, and I really like the feel of the neck. However, the guitar I ordered came with a problem; on the 13th and 14th frets of the high E string, it is the same note. It's a fairly significant problem for a new guitar to have, I haven't contacted MusicYo about it, but if it turns out to be very expensive to fix I will. Other than that problem, it is a very nice guitar as far as how it plays....

This guitar is very light, but it seems like it could stand up to use for quite awhile, it doesn't really feel like it's gonna break in my hands when I'm playing it....The hardware does the job, nothing to complain about. I really like the string-thru bridge, much less of a hassle than end pins which wear out over time, and seems to be much more gentle on the guitar....

I've bought things from MusicYo before (two guitars before this one), and they've always been pretty helpful, but I guess trying to get this guitar fixed will be the true test.

I have been playing for about 3 years....If this guitar were stolen, I would without hesitation buy another given the chance....
I REALLY am liking this guitar, but the flaw it came with is pretty big, and can't just be completely overlooked. Had it been without that flaw, I'd be tempted to give it a 10, because it is such an amazing guitar for what you pay, but taking the defect into consideration, I'll have to give it around an 8 or 9.

2001 Korean-made solid top dreadnought guitar (25.5" scale length). For the price you'd probably expect a cheap laminated plywood guitar, or something to that degree. However, the Spruce solid top and mahogany body/neck is pretty impressive for the price. The rosewood fretboard and die-cast (gold) machine heads are decent too. At first, I liked having the string-through bridge a lot, but it's not that big a deal. Actually, one disadvantage of this guitar is that it doesn't seem to project nearly as much as most solid-tops I've played. I don't know if the string-through bridge is a factor in that or not. It may be attributed the the EXTREMELY light body. This guitar practically floats -- no more sore shoulders. I give an 8 for features, because I'm still amazed that you can get a new solid-top guitar for well under $200. That's unheard of.

I play mostly rock and blues-based stuff on this acoustic. It suits my amature recordings much better than my deceased Takamine laminated top. Again, the sound is amazing for the price, but it still can't hold a candle to more expensive solid-tops. If went with the Kramer mostly because I knew I'd be playing a good deal out at summer camp around a bunch of little kids -- didn't want to ruin a *nice* solid-top acoustic. If it weren't for that reason, I would have gone with a Seagull. I highly prefer the sound of their cedar tops to my spruce. Overall, the Seagulls are just better made too.

Nevertheless, I'm still satisfied with the sound of my $125 purchase. It's bright and clear. With a good set of strings, you can get a respectable sound.

I had low expectations in this category. However, I was fairly surprised at the guitar's setup. The action was a bit higher than I'd like, but it's still playable. The finish isn't anything special. Actually, the top looks pretty cheap, but the sound makes up for its look. Doesn't seem to be any flaws in the bracing or hardware. Frets were surprisingly well-filed -- even better than my $200 Takamine.

Tuning sucks. I have to retune a lot more than I'd like, but that partly is a cause in the change of temperature and humidity at camp(like standing next to a fire, then moving away to the humid air, then the next day it rains and temperature drops 20-degrees). Who knows about the finish. It may last a while, but your guess is as good as mine. If I was doing real club gigs, I'd get a better guitar. However, this is just what I'm looking for in a camp guitar -- sounds good, inexpensive, and isn't the end of the world if it gets dented/rained on/etc.

I'd give it a 6.5, but that isn't possible... I'd say more a 7 than a 6.

Had some difficulties with MusicYo communicating with my credit card's bank. In the end, MusicYo cleared it all up. I don't think they were at fault either. MusicYo was a little difficult to deal with at first, but they ended up being fairly helpful and getting their job done.

I'll give it an 8. It's a 6 or 7 as far as guitars go, but it's a 9 or 10 in the way of value.

Wish it had a cedar top and better tuners. I'm happy I bought it. If it were lost or stolen, I'd have to do some serious thinking... I'd probably end up going with a Seagull or whatever I could afford.

I had (broke- long story) a Takamine G-series Acous/Electric. I like the Kramer better for the fact that it ISN'T A LAMINATED TOP! My Solimar Custom electric from Route 101 Guitars still reins as my favorite guitar. Got a Electar tube amp at the same time as the Kramer. It was even a better buy. I also have a few cheap solid-state amps, and that's about it for guitar gear. As for other instruments... I won't go on.

Dreadnought style acoustic 6 string. laminated mahogany back and sides but SOLID spruce top. Made in Korea sticker on back of headstock. String-thru bridge. Gold medium quality tuners.

I'm a beginner so I needed a guitar with easy action which this one has. Since I am so new at this, it's hard for me to judge its
sound compared to others, but it's right for me, especially at the price. Seems to stay in tune. I know because I check it every time I play, with a Korg electronic tuner.

No flasw that I've found yet. Finish of the top was uneven. Looks good, but feels smooth in most places but gritty in some others as if the finish was sprayed on carelessly. Finish is very light not even satin in sheen, almost like no shine at all. Action from factory was light and right for me.

Again, for the price, it seems to be a good value in terms of holding up. Only had it a month, so time will tell.

No contact with support. Not even clear what the warranty is.

With a solid spruce top for $129 and good action, reasonable finish and overall good looks, it's a great value, I looked at many used 6 string acoustics and most of them were more expensive than the D200-S and did not sound any better.