Kramer Pacer Special USA 1983 Restoration Day

I've always loved the old beak-headstocks, moreso than the banana and later pointy ones, but lately I've come to dislike the body-shape a bit. It's like a Strat had a stroke (or a sore tooth) and its right cheek is swollen/hanging a bit... And the jack output placement is BS... the same problem on my Kramer SM-1.
 
Congrats to the OP, it's nice to see some vintage Kramer luv! I have what I like to call my "Vanetta" because it's the neck and tremelo from an 1983 Vanguard paired with an '83 Baretta body and guts. The story was me and my best friend back in the day (also the singer in our band) both bought new Kramers the same day. After some time I told him I was liking the way his neck played more than mine and he said he actually liked the way my head stock looked more than his (typical front man lol)...so bang, a little switcheroo and we each had what we wanted!!

Like others have said, these early Kramer necks are special, I can't put this down when I start playing it. Purists would cry and more power to 'em, but I love having at least some gear that's a little unique in some weird way and not so dime a dozen...plus, my friend has long since lost that other guitar (picture a hockey stick Baretta neck on a 'V' body from the Vanguard lol).

83-Kramer.jpg


83-Kramer-Case.jpg


83-Kramer-Head.jpg
 
Crunchity":sm35on1k said:
Congrats to the OP, it's nice to see some vintage Kramer luv! I have what I like to call my "Vanetta" because it's the neck and tremelo from an 1983 Vanguard paired with an '83 Baretta body and guts. The story was me and my best friend back in the day (also the singer in our band) both bought new Kramers the same day. After some time I told him I was liking the way his neck played more than mine and he said he actually liked the way my head stock looked more than his (typical front man lol)...so bang, a little switcheroo and we each had what we wanted!!

Like others have said, these early Kramer necks are special, I can't put this down when I start playing it. Purists would cry and more power to 'em, but I love having at least some gear that's a little unique in some weird way and not so dime a dozen...plus, my friend has long since lost that other guitar (picture a hockey stick Baretta neck on a 'V' body from the Vanguard lol).

83-Kramer.jpg


83-Kramer-Case.jpg


83-Kramer-Head.jpg
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Wow! That guitar is really legendary! I suppose u will never sell that beauty!
 
I have the opposite of you ! An early Pacer body with a Vanguard neck ! Someone gave me the body all messed up, I bought a Vanguard cheap, pulled the neck and Floyd off, had the body painted and slapped it together with a DiMarzio PAF Pro, but I still want a zebra Schaller pickup.
 
sotosprince":1joloz9g said:
Wow! That guitar is really legendary! I suppose u will never sell that beauty!
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Haha! Thank you!! Nah, she's a keeper, not just for the sentimental value but it really is a great playing guitar and I've always tried to maintain it, even the frets are still in great shape.

paulyc":1joloz9g said:
I have the opposite of you ! An early Pacer body with a Vanguard neck ! Someone gave me the body all messed up, I bought a Vanguard cheap, pulled the neck and Floyd off, had the body painted and slapped it together with a DiMarzio PAF Pro, but I still want a zebra Schaller pickup.
Click to expand...
Cool story too! I'd love to see it, share any pics and lets keep the vintage Kramer porn rolling! I remember now another, smaller reason he and I traded up a bit...I was (still am actually) a huge MacAlpine fan back then and he had that sweet looking white Pacer with chrome hardware and chicken beak head in some early ads, I always thought it looked cool and wanted that.
 
Crunchity":2fv5qb3i said:
sotosprince":2fv5qb3i said:
Wow! That guitar is really legendary! I suppose u will never sell that beauty!
Click to expand...
Haha! Thank you!! Nah, she's a keeper, not just for the sentimental value but it really is a great playing guitar and I've always tried to maintain it, even the frets are still in great shape.

paulyc":2fv5qb3i said:
I have the opposite of you ! An early Pacer body with a Vanguard neck ! Someone gave me the body all messed up, I bought a Vanguard cheap, pulled the neck and Floyd off, had the body painted and slapped it together with a DiMarzio PAF Pro, but I still want a zebra Schaller pickup.
Click to expand...
Cool story too! I'd love to see it, share any pics and lets keep the vintage Kramer porn rolling! I remember now another, smaller reason he and I traded up a bit...I was (still am actually) a huge MacAlpine fan back then and he had that sweet looking white Pacer with chrome hardware and chicken beak head in some early ads, I always thought it looked cool and wanted that.
Click to expand...
Me too ! The two maple neck Pacers on the back of Edge of Insanity !!! LOVE both of those !
 
There you go! Much better photos haha :rock: :rock: :rock:
 

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...and NOW this thread has my utmost attention...!

j/k :LOL: :LOL: love all the old kramer photos here. though i've not gone down that rabbit hole, too much, i've come close many times in buying a used one...they come up (sorta) cheap on CL every now and again. i've never cared much for the pointys, but the 'nana and beak heads have always been straight sexy.

as simple as they were, design-wise/color scheme-wise, really good looking guitars...screams '80's :rock:
 
This is me around 1991, playing one of the first Holy Grails. My guitar teacher bought it when the three exec from Kramer came to the store where he was teaching, after hours, to pitch the new model. He begged them and they took a check for $500 for it. He let me borrow it from time to time and tried to sell it when he needed money for a DUI. I think he wanted $600, but I was just about to go live in Germany for a year and needed the money myself. While I was away, it was stolen in a home burglary.

standard.jpg
 
I couldn't let you guys have all the Pacer fun. Here's a pic of my twins. 1983 C series Pacer Imperials. The one on the right I purchased brand new in 83 or 84 both are poplar wood bodies. It came from the Kramer factory with a heavy C almost U profile neck with absolutely NO POLY finish it was raw Maple, I have since sealed it with gunstock oil and gunstock wax like EBMM does, I have never seen another with no finish all these years. This was my number one for years, it been refretted a couple of times, 12K seymourizer II and a passive EMG single coil. The one on the left is another C series not far off in serial number, it's neck profile is close but more a C but a heavy POLY finish, Late80's early 90's Duncan 14K Custom p/u, stock schaller neck. I have been through a lot of high end guitars over the years and nothing has displaced my twins as my absolute favorite players.
 
Rick Lee":1gsd1e51 said:
This is me around 1991, playing one of the first Holy Grails. My guitar teacher bought it when the three exec from Kramer came to the store where he was teaching, after hours, to pitch the new model. He begged them and they took a check for $500 for it. He let me borrow it from time to time and tried to sell it when he needed money for a DUI. I think he wanted $600, but I was just about to go live in Germany for a year and needed the money myself. While I was away, it was stolen in a home burglary.

standard.jpg
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Sorry to hear that dude... Really cool looking photo!
 
harddriver":1u9geoyp said:
I couldn't let you guys have all the Pacer fun. Here's a pic of my twins. 1983 C series Pacer Imperials. The one on the right I purchased brand new in 83 or 84 both are poplar wood bodies. It came from the Kramer factory with a heavy C almost U profile neck with absolutely NO POLY finish it was raw Maple, I have since sealed it with gunstock oil and gunstock wax like EBMM does, I have never seen another with no finish all these years. This was my number one for years, it been refretted a couple of times, 12K seymourizer II and a passive EMG single coil. The one on the left is another C series not far off in serial number, it's neck profile is close but more a C but a heavy POLY finish, Late80's early 90's Duncan 14K Custom p/u, stock schaller neck. I have been through a lot of high end guitars over the years and nothing has displaced my twins as my absolute favorite players.
Click to expand...
:rock: :rock: :rock: :rock: More photos please!!
 
MrDowntown":19de0z9g said:
...and NOW this thread has my utmost attention...!

j/k :LOL: :LOL: love all the old kramer photos here. though i've not gone down that rabbit hole, too much, i've come close many times in buying a used one...they come up (sorta) cheap on CL every now and again. i've never cared much for the pointys, but the 'nana and beak heads have always been straight sexy.

as simple as they were, design-wise/color scheme-wise, really good looking guitars...screams '80's :rock:
Click to expand...
Hahaha yeah I know What can I say? My friend wanted to pose with my guitar!
 
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