Kramer

Kramer Electric Guitars — The Guitar That Ruled the '80s Is Back

There is a moment in early February 1982 that changed the guitar industry forever. Kramer Guitars cofounder Dennis Berardi was on a flight to Anaheim for a music industry convention when, by pure chance, he found himself seated next to Eddie Van Halen's tour manager. A meeting was arranged. A deal was signed. And within three years, Kramer had become the best-selling guitar brand in the world, outselling both Fender and Gibson at the height of the 1980s rock explosion.

Eddie Van Halen's partnership with Kramer was the catalyst, but the guitars themselves were the reason it lasted. Kramer had already been building high-performance instruments with innovative tremolo systems, premium Seymour Duncan pickups, and fast, slim neck profiles that suited the technical demands of a new generation of players. With Eddie Van Halen as the face of the brand, and the Floyd Rose tremolo as its defining weapon, Kramer owned the decade.

Today, as a division of Gibson and fully relaunched in 2020, Kramer is back with a lineup that honors that golden era while meeting the demands of the modern player.

What Makes a Kramer

Kramer guitars have always been built around a specific philosophy: maximum performance, minimum compromise. Fast necks, hot pickups, and tremolo systems that hold pitch through the most aggressive playing imaginable. That philosophy runs through every model in the current lineup, from faithful vintage reissues to thoroughly modern high-performance machines.

The Floyd Rose tremolo system remains central to the Kramer identity. Kramer was the first production guitar company to offer Floyd Rose tremolos as standard equipment on its instruments, and that legacy continues today with Floyd Rose 1000 Series and Original units fitted across the lineup. Paired with Kramer's own USA Eruption humbuckers and Seymour Duncan pickups depending on the model, these are guitars built to perform under pressure.

The Collections

Original Collection — Faithful reissues of the classic 1980s designs that made Kramer a household name, with era-correct headstocks, vintage-accurate hardware, and the look and feel of the instruments that dominated MTV and magazine covers throughout the decade. For players and collectors who want the real thing, as close to the original as modern production allows.

Modern Collection — The Kramer philosophy applied to the demands of today's player. Lighter body woods, asymmetrical neck profiles, compound radius fretboards, and updated electronics give the Modern Collection instruments a contemporary edge while keeping the high-performance DNA that has defined the brand since the beginning.

The Models

Pacer Classic — The model most closely associated with Kramer's golden era, and the shape that Eddie Van Halen made famous. The Pacer Classic brings the iconic superstrat silhouette back with a poplar body, maple neck, and Floyd Rose Special tremolo, finished in a range of colors that pay direct homage to the flashy aesthetics of the 1980s hard rock scene.

Pacer Carrera — A long-lost cult classic from the original Kramer lineup, back after three decades in the vault. The Pacer Carrera pairs a satin-finished maple neck with a shred-ready ebony fretboard and Seymour Duncan SH-2N neck and JB bridge humbuckers, all mounted on a Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo. Available in supercar-inspired Ebony and Defender Red finishes, it is, in Kramer's own words, an axe built to be played fast and mean.

Baretta — The single-humbucker icon. Originally used on stage by Eddie Van Halen, the Baretta helped define the minimalist superstrat aesthetic of the 1980s and remains one of the most instantly recognizable guitar designs ever produced. Fast, focused, and built for players who believe one great pickup is better than three average ones.

Kramer 84 — Built to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of one of the most influential electric guitar designs of all time, the Kramer 84 is the most faithful reproduction of the original 1984-era instrument Kramer has ever produced. A rear-mounted locking nut, headstock stinger, direct-to-body USA Eruption T humbucker, and Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo make this the definitive vintage Kramer experience.

Assault — Kramer's modern take on the single-cutaway solid body format, featuring a mahogany body with AAA flame maple veneer, a three-piece thermally aged maple neck with K-Speed SlimTaper profile, a 24-fret ebony fretboard, and a pair of USA Eruption humbuckers. The Assault is the choice for players who want classic looks with thoroughly modern performance.

Nite-V — The ultimate shredder's flying V, celebrated for a distinctive body carve that makes it genuinely comfortable to play standing up. The latest version features mahogany body construction, a thermally aged maple neck, bound ebony fretboard with Thorn inlays, and a pair of USA-made Eruption pickups. A favorite among prominent metal players worldwide.

Jersey Star — A triple-humbucker design inspired by the iconic Richie Sambora signature Kramer of the 1980s, the Jersey Star is for players who want maximum tonal flexibility, maximum output, and a stage presence that commands attention from the first chord.

Played by Legends

The Kramer artist roster across the decades reads like a who's who of hard rock and heavy metal royalty: Eddie Van Halen, Mick Mars of Motley Crue, Vivian Campbell of Whitesnake and Def Leppard, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, and Elliot Easton of The Cars all made Kramer central to their sound during the brand's commercial peak. Today, a new generation of high-performance players has rediscovered what those artists already knew: there is nothing quite like a Kramer in your hands when it's time to play fast and play loud.

Browse our full selection of Kramer electric guitars, and reach out if you'd like help finding the right model for your playing style.