All The Basses 002: Kramer Duke Headless Shortscale Bass // Serek Basses

[@AllbeeHivezChristianAllbee]

I actually like how the parallel setting sounds

[@Dwarfloeter]

You should make a Serek nice traveler!

[@sonofzorro1]

Those basses were kind of a mini Steinberger, using Kramer aluminum braced neck tech. In lieu of the Steinberger folding leg brace (for seated playing), they glued a rubbery lined strip onto the bottom bout of the body, which worked great until it fell off. Steinbergers also have a plastic plate that rotates out from the back, with a strap button on it, which helped eliminate neck dive. But my Kramer balances out on the strap OK even without such a device (that button is on a neck plate screw).

[@djlotussutol]

I dig the bass and the tones!

[@tomchamberlain9190]

As a 13 year old I sold my '73 Fender Musicman to get the Hondo made version of this bass known as the "Alien." I still have crying jags 39 years later over this tragic event from my gangly adolescence. I feel one coming on now.

[@serekbasses]

Ouch that stings! 😂

[@eidetecker]

I had a black one; bought it in 1982 had it until 1986. I like this video because it sounds exactly like mine did and I haven't heard that sound since 1986. You may not like it but I liked it for its clarity, while fascinatingly it had decent warmth. Nostalgia: it ain't what it used to be.

[@Derrikbulginheadin]

I would argue that this bass sounds great. First off the original pickup is very bright and punchy though without that really nasal stingray sound, so you have no trouble cutting through the mix. Secondly, all 3 positions are humbucking because this is actually a Schaller quad-coil pickup with the "single coil" position being wired like a precision pickup. Playing with your hand closer to the neck gets close to a Fender P-bass tone. It's true that the parallel and single settings lack some low end, but you can EQ that easily on your amp or with a pedal. If I had to criticize something, I thought these did come with rubber pads, but I guess some did not or it deteriorated because mine didn't have one either. I'd also add that the bridge and tuners are much easier to swap out or source parts for than a Steinberger or custom headless bridge.

[@russob64]

I dig the sound I used to play one in the 80s

[@DanSanChannel]

I changed the electronics out for better more sensitive pickups and insulated wiring so now this is my best sounding bass. Also out of the 3 1980s black dukes I owned I never seen finish cracking like that.

[@jkiddiv9137]

What pickup(s) are you using on your Kramer Duke?

[@DanSanChannel]

To be honest i sent it off to a guy in California years ago. He has a youtube channel here. He did all the work for me. Costed me $1600 total, but this bass sounds amazing and is my favorite one. And yes, i know this is a $400 bass, but i dreamed of owning this since i was a kid.

[@DanSanChannel]

The guy is pmjank on youtube from Janktone guitars. He makes the pickups from what i remember now and they sound awesome.

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

I get the feeling that if Kramer had moved that dual-j towards the middle into the Stingray "sweet spot" position that the tone would be a lot better

[@serekbasses]

You are 100% correct. The aluminum neck and small body don't do the tone any favors either.

[@dajandosmith4509]

💯

[@jmattmccormack]

I guess I have weird taste, cuz I'm into these tones.

[@CaseyVan]

It's fine you can fix any tone using EQ. It's the sustain that might be the problem.

[@lex3729]

Very cool, Originally (the first 100 Kramer dukes) were made from the center section from a Kramer 8 string bass with the wings and the headstock cut off, Two DiMarzio pickups and a Leo Quan Badass bridge. Not the same body shape as The Duke

[@CaseyVan]

What was the problem with the sound? Just use an EQ, or use tone knob. Unless sustain is the issue. Short scales kind of lack sustain but you can use a compressor and it's fine.

[@CaseyVan]

@Michael & Nancy Mitchell he said it looks cooler than it sounds.

[@andre5855]

With a nice strap is very fast to play and slaping. Ad a great two 15" and a valve power amp an blow the stage with a ver particular sound... Am very happy with my rowing

[@elahem6940]

Talks about how it doesn't sound good and then plays the best sounding Duke demo on the internet. This didn't help me get over my GAS for one of these

[@jomamma1750]

Cool find! Is that the one that was 4 sale on craigslist up in NYC for the last year or so? I'm Curious.

[@serekbasses]

I got this on Reverb a few years back

[@jomamma1750]

@@serekbasses Oh, hey Thanks! I was wondering about that as I hadn't seen the White Kramer for sale on CL in a bit and then shazam! Jake Serek, bass builder extraordinare, puts out a video of one so I thought perhaps it was the same bass. In any event, that is a nice piece of history you have there, congrats.

[@johnsleeger6328]

I had one new. It may have lasted 3 months before I traded it.

[@insolacion1978]

hello, are the tuners guitar?

[@Joetime90]

I keep seeing one pop up on Reverb and I'm tempted

[@simaojoseph]

Sound pretty good actually "

[@theatremusician]

With proper signal processing, this bass would likely sound great.

[@LazyWaterZ-YT]

Tbh I like headless basses but the body for these types of headleas basses look bad too me.. I like the ones with regular body's

[@Wintermute0168]

1981-1985

[@Jaggerbush]

That looks SO AWKARD

[@danielirvine7468]

The old cricket bat bass!

[@danielirvine7468]

I thought it sounded ok almost stingray sounding

[@Retrotech_nerd]

My school has one I’m trying to purchase because I’m the only one who plays it nowadays and I’m about to leave it has been given the nickname Mr Slippy and I just love him I get odd looks and asked why when I opt for him over the schools now squire but he has charm

[@sira.scottascot8865]

Sounds like the 80s to me!

[@sira.scottascot8865]

There's more than enough room for a pickup in a more useful spot on that thing.

[@andy.pitcher]

weirdo headless? yes speaking my terrible, terrible, language.

[@matthewcurtiss7557]

I think it sounds cool idk