Product: Kramer DMZ 1000
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
06/29/2007
at
04:00pm
by
Cody
Features
:
9
1978 Kramer DMZ 1000
Finish: dark brown wood gloss finish with two light brown surf board stripes down the middle of the body.
Body: bulky (not for those weak to HEAVY guitars!) Very sturdy wood with aluminum neck. Amazing fret board that seems to never ware out. The only problem with having an aluminum neck guitar is there isn't a truss rod in the neck so if the action goes bad in either bowed or slanting back, the only way to fix it is by getting a new neck.
Tuners: Kramer used Schallers on these babies and they NEVER go out of tune unless the peg is physically moved. If you want a guitar that will stay in perfect intonation through an entire show then this is it!
The original humbuckers that came with the guitar were amazing but i am into being REALLY LOUD so i had Gibson Bust Bucker Pro humbuckers installed professionally. OH MY GOD THE HEAVENLY SOUND!!!!
Sound
:
10
I play a very wide set of music from Heavey Drone like SUNNO)) to instrumental shoe gaze like Explosions in the Sky or Red Sparrowes and this guitar can do it all.
With the right amp and dialing in the guitar along with it you can get whatever sound you want.
Ladies and gentlemen you can make this guitar as muddy as your want to as clean as you want.
These peices of art have provided amazing sounds for bands like Ten Grand, The Jesus Lizard, Arab On Radar, Melvins and so many more.
The only thing that i don't like is that the bridge hardware be hard to ajust unless you have good experience in that.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Everything was precise on this guitar when it was created in heaven.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
All i can say is these things are built like a tank. Every single part is made to last.
Customer Support
:
10
I have never dealt with Kramer to do repairs or upgrades to this beast. I've always been able to rely on local shops having amazing knowledge on them because they are such a popular rare find.
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing shows for 10 years and I LOVE THIS GUITAR SO MUCH! I will NEVER sell it.
Product: Kramer DMZ 1000
Price Paid: US $450.00 used
Submitted
11/07/2005
at
05:34pm
by
Fred
Email: freddiej77 at yahoo<dot>com
Features
:
8
Just like it says above. Have the original case even.
Sound
:
10
This guitar is amazing. Has a very aggressive sound. I have a mid '90s SG Standard and the Kramer Smears it. Great Sustain with good power thanks to the DMZ pups. It has great low end and good cutting power. Very pleased with this guitar. I'm actually selling my SG now.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
I find the guitar to be at a higher quality than my Gibson. (which isn't saying much) Everything was prefectly set up when I purchace this guitar, so no complaints here. The finish seems to hold up well being 20+ years and still in very good shape.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Like I said 20+ years and not a problem. Everything is original and works very well. Built like a tank. I do have a back up guitar but I wouldn't ever worry about it.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
I was a little worried when I purchase this guitar but it's everything I would hope for and then some. For the price I paid I wouldn't be able to touch another guitar with this kind of quailty. I've been playing for 15 years and played a bunch of different guitars and I really like the sound of this Kramer the best. If you can get your hands on one, buy it! The weight doesn't bother me because I have a lucite guitar that's a few lbs heavier.
Product: Kramer DMZ 1000
Price Paid: 500 (DM) used
Submitted
10/18/2001
at
03:56am
by
Robert
Email: depuit<at>depra dot de
Features
:
8
Kramer DMZ-1000, made in U.S.A. 1978, SN# 01063. Two piece maple, double cutaway body. Aluminium, 22 fret, bolt on neck with maple inserts, forked headstock. Schaller tuners, 0-fret, ebonol fretboard. Two creme Dimarzio distortion humbuckers. two volume, two tone controls, toggle switch. Schaller badass fixed bridge (thank you Terry for the information).
Sound
:
9
The Dimarzio's combined with the maple body and aluminium neck, deliver a very agressive 70ies rock/punkrock sound. Lots of 'bite' combined with a great sustain. Clean settings are useable as well, the seperate tone and volume controls for both humbuckers make it pretty versatile. I use an Ibanez TS10, Digitech DSP256, Laney GH-50 valve amp, a marshall VS40 and Pod II.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
I bought this guitar used, but it was/is in factory new condition. The paint job is very impressive, very thick. The maple has a nice grain, but without any kind of figuring. Except for the action the guitar was set up properly. I could only get the action low enough by filing down the bridge at the high E (I don't like using shims on these aluminium necks). Hardware is top quality.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Built to last, no doubt about it. 23 years old, no hardware problems, no electrical problems, looks like new.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
The company went belly-up in 1990, so no rating here. If you are looking for this type of guitar and you can't find a decent used one than have a look at www.vaccaroguitars.com, they seem friendly enough.
Overall Rating
:
10
Great guitar with a very destinctive sound thanks to the alumium neck.
Another big advantage of the aluminium neck is that the heel starts at the 17th fret, so there is great access to the upper frets even on the lower E string. Big disadvantage is the weight of this guitar; 10 lbs. But I am 6'5" and weight 230 lbs so for me it is not a big problem.
