A meeting between Eddie Van Halen and Kramer execs took place, and Eddie was sold.Īt the meeting, he reportedly quipped that he would help make Kramer the '#1 guitar company in the world.' Tremolo system and partnered with a German inventor named Helmut Rockinger, using his tremolos as precursors to Floyd Rose systems, on its instruments.Ī chance encounter between Dennis Berardi and the manager of Eddie Van Halen on an airplane flight set the foundation for Kramer's meteoric rise in the 1980s.Įddie was interested in a tremolo that stayed in tune, which the Rockinger system offered. Kramer execs saw that the guitar techniques of the early 1980s demanded a high-performance Tuners and vintage fulcrum tremolos and necks were made in Japan and shipped to New Jersey for fretting and finishing. Wooden-necked instruments represented Kramer's first foray into offshoring the production of guitar components to Eastern Asia. Instead, Kramer opted for a 'beak' reminiscent of 1960s Kent guitar headstocks. Kramer first released wooden-neck models in late 1981, following Charvel's lead on producing instruments that essentially copied the strathead headstock shape from Fender.Īlthough it isn't clear whether a lawsuit from Fender ever materialized, Kramer stopped releasing guitars with the trademark Fender headstock shape after only a thousand or so instruments were built. Partnered with German inventor, Helmut Rockinger and installed his tremolos, precursors to Floyd Rose® systems.Guitars assembled and finished at Kramer/New Jersey.Offshore production began in Eastern Asia.Wooden Necks - Offshore Rockinger - EVH LATE 1981 Switching to wooden-necked instruments both held the promise of keeping production costs low as well as being able to appeal to traditionally-minded guitar players. Generally, the ratio of basses to guitars produced was about 4:1, primarily because bass players were more willing to experiment.īy 1981, Kramer had the tools, and the experience, to take guitar mass production to a new level. Out of this early part of Kramer history were born some exquisite musical instruments truly a fine example of American lutherie. Kramer's 'alumi-neck' line lasted roughly until 1982. The hardware was top-notch as well: Schaller tuning keys and bridges Schaller and DiMarzio pickups custom-made strap pins aluminum cavity covers. The bodies were made of fancy woods such as curly or Birdseye maple, walnut, and koa. The inserts, set in epoxy, were usually walnut or maple. Instead, Kramer opted for wooden inserts in the aluminum necks. Unlike Travis Bean, Kramer went beyond the idea of a neck forged entirely out of aluminum, due to both its weight and its feel. Introduced in 1976, early models featured the trademark 'pitchfork' aluminum-reinforced necks with a fret board made of ebonol-material similar to one used in bowling ball production. Used exotic woods and hybrid wood/aluminum necks until 1982.Trademark pitchfork aluminum-reinforced necks - 'Alumi-necks'

Transition from Aluminum to Wooden Necks 1976-1981

Dean 1981 dean guitar history