Fixing my Striker HSS: Kramer Quality Control Issues Solved!

In this video, I tackle the quality control issues that have been plaguing my Striker HSS guitar from Kramer. I had to address a range of issues, including a neck that needed shimming, loose and uneven tuners, an improperly installed tremolo claw, and pickups that were hitting the strings. I show you how I fixed each issue and demonstrate the improvements that were made.
Although this is the first Kramer issue that I have had, it is not the first time that I have encountered quality control issues with Gibson products. I am happy to share my knowledge and expertise with you to help you fix your own guitar if you encounter similar issues.
If you're a guitar enthusiast or looking to fix your own Kramer Striker HSS, this video is for you. Watch as I show you how to address these common quality control issues and get your guitar playing like new again!
Additionally, I want to give a shoutout to zzounds, where I purchased this guitar from. Although it came with some quality control issues, they were understanding and provided a partial refund for my troubles. It's great to know that there are companies out there who stand by their customers and are willing to make things right.
Amazon affiliate link to this guitar with hassle free returns amzn.to/3LX8NRG
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[@dirtyholt]

The video thumbnail was one of the best I have seen

[@johnramsey2480]

I found and grabbed one of those Kramer Striker HSS FR this past weekend. It was marked down scratch and dent sale from Guitar Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Still had the plastic everywhere. Just needs a restring and cleanup....$260....🤘🤘

[@professionalbodger]

Love this review, I've just bought a left handed Kramer Striker and i think its awesome! full of very similar QC issues. my pickups are all wobbly, even when tightened up, neck needed adjusting, bridge isn't quite straight. The saddles are off centre too! pretty much paid for the name! you got it bang on though! Il be keeping mine and upgrading too now they are discontinued at least in lefty form

[@mercem3272]

just bought my lefty striker yesterday, are they not being made anymore?

[@professionalbodger]

@@mercem3272 Bax music listed them as discontinued. I'm assuming a big company like them must have been given the info direct from gibson

[@edwinstovall3334]

Thank you for the update, Mike. That Kramer was truly atrocious! I would encourage everyone who can to inspect their guitaristic (and all other!) purchases carefully, making sure that what you got was what you THOUGHT you bought! For those who don't know, I encourage YOU to learn how to work on your own guitars and maybe even build a kit or two. Doing at least the first thing will open the door to TOTAL CONTROL of your guitar and kill your fears of damaging it. Trust me, it's WAY worth it!

[@FultonStreetBeats]

100% truth

[@wallyinthebox1]

Its a Good thing you document everything. Have a Good weekend Mike!

[@FultonStreetBeats]

You do the same my brother!

[@Kumiko7734]

Just received mine and it also has some QC issues such as sharp frets, but it sounds (and plays, despite the sharp frets) incredibly well, much better than my Baretta Special. Intonation is pretty much perfect as well

[@RivieraOrthodontics]

Even though I'm gradually trying to move away from the budget tier guitars, this is excellent content. Subbed!

[@FultonStreetBeats]

Thanks brother. Much appreciated 🙏

[@RivieraOrthodontics]

@@FultonStreetBeats My pleasure and if you ever review a "Chibanez" Steve Vai Jem copy that would be much appreciated

[@FultonStreetBeats]

I did one quite a while ago when I was first diving down the Replica road and the channel was fairly new. It didn't get many views. I did some simple modifications, and it ripped. Here's the video. Its Terrible recording, but this thing stayed in tune for over 10 mins of hard picking and whammy work. It was a ibanez jem fp2 copy. Don't judge my playing it was an improvisation. Lol. I just went for it. Lol. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpLGpqOYgK-rrqMsi=mHN6ItesfMrH4loB

[@RivieraOrthodontics]

I didn't do my research; you have several videos on fake Jems! Any fake 90's Petrucci's in your collection?@@FultonStreetBeats

[@athathoththegreat3901]

Dude I was getting depressed listening to how Kramer botched this guitar. I would have sent it back honestly. That's too much work to be putting into a new guitar. I'm pretty sure they would honer you with a proper guitar. Good video as always.

[@FultonStreetBeats]

I was fortunate enough that Zzounds offered me a big discount for the issues. They are a good company and found it unacceptable also. Luckily, I knew how to fix the problems with some time invested. Thanks for watching brother.

[@sweezyjackson4935]

To anyone who doesnt want their Kramer guitar; feel free to send it to me. I will lobe it and fix it

[@anthonymiller3970]

I bought a Kramer Pacer Classic in 2014 brand new from Sweetwater. I had a lot of the QC issues as your Striker does even back then. I kept the guitar and fixed all the qc issues myself. Sharp fret ends, unleveled frets, intonation was a joke. I also put a Floyd Rose Original on mine because the Kramer brand double locking tremolo’s fine tunes only traveled half way. The threads on two of the fine tuners were bad. The guitar was a 50th birthday gift from my wife (that I picked out) and I’ll never get rid of it.. I still haven’t changed the pickups or the pots. Even though I do have some used Guitar Fetish EVH zebra humbuckers that I think would be a perfect match for the guitar. My guitar body is mahogany and weighs a ton. It’s my heaviest guitar. Oh my guitar was made in Indonesia not China. I think Kramer/Gibson should up the quality control considerably. Doesn’t matter where the guitar is made. But like your guitar, my guitar is awesome now. I love it.

[@kennyayala6189]

Can't believe that made it past QC -- ESPECIALLY with that neck alignment issue. Everything about those issues speaks to it being rushed -- the tuners being loose, the neck screws being loose AND having paint on them, etc. makes me think they were putting it together as fast as possible before the finish was even fully cured. Funny how the Epiphone SG you found that was THROWN OUT didn't have nearly that many problems. meanwhile, a brand new Kramer..... Just goes to show you that one inspector not paying attention (or, I would think, didn't have proper training) can ruin what could be someone's favorite guitar if not for all the problems.

[@retropuffer2986]

I returned my Striker. I had the same inspector you showed in the video. My problems were a crooked mounted floyd, g string buzz, poor solder connections and some problem with the tone dial.

[@FultonStreetBeats]

Sorry to hear that. The Worst part is I called Gibson, and they couldn't care less. Unbelievable. Didn't want pictures, the inspector, or anything. Not even a "we are sorry". Nothing.

[@ripley7t429]

For 349 there are a lot of other brands competing. The new Ibby AZ series, several Jacksons, and numerous Amazon choices such as Firefly, etc. So sad, my MusicYo Striker from years ago was a total loss as well. By the time I was well after an illness, it was too late to return when I got to it. I sent it to Valhalla.

[@gnarshred1239]

Thinking about ordering one of these , need a guitar with a floyd and for 29$ a month i figured ill check it out! Wish me luck!

[@FultonStreetBeats]

Let us know how the qc is when it arrives. Thanks for watching !

[@whatizreality0124]

Holy shit , I just bought one of these new , but I only paid 300 for it because of these issues . I brought it to the owner of the store and showed him all the problems w/ QC and he was horrified. Even he realized there was some problems but not to that extent . I told him either fix these before selling it to me or lower the price . He chose wisely , and now I can upgrade this whole guitar and still be under 600 .00. But it was embarrassing for him .

[@bass-hiroshimanick2534]

Mike, good work getting that Kramer in working order, I was expecting you to send it back but it's actually gratifying getting a guitar fixed properly by ourselves. At about the 6:30 mark you mentioned the brand and type of pick ups you were going to use as replacements, I couldn't catch what you said, what's the name and brand?

[@FultonStreetBeats]

They are Fleor pickups. The are really awesome. Sound like Seymour , but super cheap. They just came in today actually.

[@bass-hiroshimanick2534]

@@FultonStreetBeats , thanks for the info Mike.

[@2bikemikesguitartopics145]

I worked too hard to fix the vt-211 that I gave away and I'll never buy another

[@FultonStreetBeats]

I think I'm with ya. I Called Gibson. They did care at all.

[@guitarmage0072]

I just purchased the Striker Figured HSS and it has similar quality issues. The single coil pickups were mounted off center and the treble side is rubbing on the upper cavity opening and the bass side is rubbing on the lower cavity opening. The pickup screw heads were all stripped. The Floyd Rose was so badly adjusted the the top of the treble side was below the cutout, while the bottom of the bass side was well above the cutout. The truss rod has way too much relief and there is buzzing. The high E string on the sixth fret is flatting out so there must be high or low frets. I can’t understand how you can ship a guitar with stripped pickup screw heads and the pickups don’t adjust up or down.

[@FultonStreetBeats]

It's becoming a common theme, unfortunately.

[@guitarmage0072]

@@FultonStreetBeats I think this one is going back.

[@FultonStreetBeats]

@@guitarmage0072 I don't blame you at all. It's a shame because they could be so nice if the QC inspector did their job properly.

[@guitarmage0072]

@@FultonStreetBeats Well I liked the color wild ivy, neck and style of the guitar so I ended up keeping it. Had to buy new direct mount screws and reposition the single coils. Full setup and neck cleaning and conditioning. The tuner nuts were all loose as well. It was also missing one of the pickup spacer blocks. I did contact Gibson / Kramer and they stated they would try and send me the spacer block. I also questioned them on their quality control and mentioned there are videos on KZbin from others with similar issues. The rep just stated to send the guitar back. I told him it was already my second new guitar and I was tired of playing “musical guitars” and since I have already performed most of the work that Kramer should have done I may as well keep it. He really didn’t sound very concerned.

[@FultonStreetBeats]

Yeah, they could care less. It's all an act when they say they do unfortunately.

[@wante3202]

Man i just ordered mine 3 hours ago. This makes me so sad. Im in Guadalajara Mexico (got it from mercado libre wich is the ebay overhere) Should i contact the shop and concern them about this before they send it?

[@FultonStreetBeats]

Hopefully, the QC is better. I was told by Gibson Brands that they would fix the QC issues. I never had an update.

[@therocknrollguitarlounge7057]

I had very similar issues with mine, the neck was not aligned right with the strings either, had the first 2 frets higher then the other ones, the floyd rose was rubbing on the edge of the cavity, and the neck single coil pick up was drilled in crooked . . i called and they are sending me a new one . its just to many problems to deal with. No its not a high price guitar but it shouldn't come built like a toy guitar. I hope my new one comes in better then the old one or im returning it too.

[@FultonStreetBeats]

Zzounds ended up giving me a partial refund for my troubles. The seem to be a good company. But man the Gibson company just didn't care at all when I called. I hate to say it but it seems like they are gonna destroy the Kramer brand. I've been hearing lots of stories about Gibson from people close to the brand. Not looking good. But I must say I love it now that it's right. But the choice between the striker and a Leo Jaymz Tempest. I'd take the Tempest all day personally. Thanks for watching brother.

[@danfrye4289]

Just picked one up at guitar center on sale. 279 I think. No issues so far.

[@larsingbersmusic8378]

Yeah, I bought one. Mine was horrible too.

[@Scott__C]

To me it's more of a question of the leadership of Gibson being ok with that. The electronics are good because the companies demand that, where Gibson doesn't.

[@banced1]

Did you notice the cover plate was beveled and cut backwards making the access holes offset. Had they hired people with some experience they would have caught the mistake and fixed it. The worst guitar inspection ever or just too young to know what they were doing. I'd say that the screws loose were the key to the builders being young children incapable of turning the screws. My original from the 80's still rocks! This one will hang around a while.

[@Bigsecksie99]

Man that's bad luck. I have 3 of the newer kramer guitars and I've had no crazy issues. I have this striker and all I had to do was smooth out the fret ends. It wasn't cutting my hands but it just wasn't smooth enough.

[@FultonStreetBeats]

Stay tuned. I have an update in Gibson brands coming soon!

[@othermyke]

I just bought a scratch and dent unseen version of this guitar online 😂. I figured this guitar would be bad because of the price I paid and I planned on using it just for a husk basically. Anyways gibsons quality control is way better with the actual Gibsons. I bought a les Paul 60s aaa top standard last year and it’s perfect Epiphones are better but still hit and miss seems Kramer is getting the shaft as far as qc.

[@tomhathaway4941]

Was too scared to put the gotoh post in btw!!

[@Danthehorse]

So has Gibson/Kramer responded to anyone over these concerns ?

[@FultonStreetBeats]

I received an email from the Community Manager at Gibson Brands. He stated that they were now aware of the issues and the video has been passed onto the Kramer brand mgr to keep them in the loop. That's the last I've heard.

[@Danthehorse]

@@FultonStreetBeats thanks dude. I hope they improve.

[@jayteesgear]

I looked at these and was like “Pass” 😂

[@eclipsetheraindanbutler2478]

DANG! That sounds more like NINE strikes, which loses the whole inning! Bye bye!!!! WOW

[@bluwng]

Why didn’t you ask for your money back or an exchange.

[@FultonStreetBeats]

I contacted Zzounds and they gave me a big discount and I fixed the issues myself. They offered replacement or refund. I choose to fix it.

[@bluwng]

@@FultonStreetBeats fixing is more beneficial cus you get to create a video and we watch and In return I hope that creates some can flow for you.

[@timmy4539]

🤔 the frets should have been an easy fix all you had to do was run a belt sander with some 40 grit paper up & down the neck ! LMAO you should have just sent it back instead of trying to fix it !

[@FultonStreetBeats]

Zzounds knocked off quite a bit for the trouble.

[@Seven7Pain1]

Our asmuse are china guitars and they are better than that

[@FultonStreetBeats]

I agree. With the Two Asmuse guitars I have . They are very nice. I was impressed.