I Bought The New Kramer... and then this Happened! | Dave Mustaine Alien Tech Green Vanguard Review

[@davepage1151]

4:30 could you sound more Kermit the Frog? They’re just Green 😂

[@garthkolbeck8674]

All guitars $1000 up should have free cases included.

[@ilovebutterstuff]

I don't know about "free" but I kinda agree.

[@comment_below]

100

[@Jimborockthis]

They do have a free case lol..

[@comment_below]

@@Jimborockthis hes saying others should follow dope

[@sleevelessace]

i was shocked my 1000$ epiphone 50s standard les paul came with no case lol... my 500$ slash afd special ii came with a gig bag atleast!

[@hillcosparky1050]

I really dig the subtle Megadeth font style on the headstock KRAMER logo!

[@smeagle3295]

It’s my favorite part of the whole guitar.

[@El-Scorcho]

Considering that shop got Dave to sign your guitar, you should’ve called out the name of them.

[@dankkek]

Bro not gonna lie Jackson king V signature looks better than all signatures for appearance, tone and everything.

[@BiginBelgium]

I remember not so long ago a guitar of this caliber use to sell for $799. What I see happening is a consolidation of brands again as the prices are getting out of control with a soft buyers market with this inflation. Just picked up a 2017 Gibson Limited edition studio plus for 1200 with case. The guitar is absolutely beautiful and a limited edition

[@thisguy2973]

It’s also inflation created by the fed. Guitars have been going up for the past two years. For example you used to be able to get that Tele FMT for $699 ten years ago. Now, they go for $999 new because it was one of the most purchased guitars during the pandemic. Sometimes, things are just a supply/demand issue as well. Neural DSP’s Quad Cortex was so sought after that they have to raise the price by $150.

[@shelbyrockstar]

I got this guitar. And own some nice ones. Yes I was concerned about QC China. But was actually pleasantly surprised. It's a great guitar! Yes it's pricey and we all wish we were back to pre-pandemic prices. The way I justify it is. It's still a $899 guitar with a $200 case. Talked the music store down to 1100. Yeah it's from Epiphone factory 15 in China. But it's not a POS. If you're a Megadeth fan hangar 18 awaits.

[@1000poundsguitar]

@@thisguy2973yes end the FED!!! Inflation is what this is. Period. No supply or supply chain or labor bs…

[@RayRay-pg3fx]

Artist premium is easily $300 to $400 dollars and with a hardshell case, that is actually a pretty reasonable price. I am sure there will be a standard line of V's closer to the $800 range without the case.

[@DrKennyWang]

Wait until unemployment ticks back up. Unemployment is always a lagging indicator of economic growth. Labor market recession could hit Q1 2024

[@LazrsT]

Finally, Kramer does somethin

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

A 1300 dollar China-tar is not it. They gotta make a guitar that actually plays like an 80s Kramer. I guarantee you an 80s import Kramer plays better than this and you can find one for sub 300.

[@seanmckelvey6618]

@@TylerJohnstonGuitar Sure, they could make a guitar that is as good as the 80s Kramers, but how much do you think that will cost? It wouldn't be cheap and I doubt most modern players are going to choose a super expensive Kramer over an Ibanez or ESP.

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

@@seanmckelvey6618 Even the import (MIK, some Indonesian) built guitars Kramer put out in the 80s had incredible necks. The Striker line for example was not 1300 dollars in 1985 money.

[@larryburwell8550]

Well it's interesting guitar. I don't know this guy so his signature guitar doesn't mean anything to me and it's green.

[@86mstar]

@@larryburwell8550 Look him up. worth your 5 min.

[@sonicaids]

I'd get the ebony one. looks closer to his original jackson signature model

[@Septicshites]

yeah its nice

[@bucknasty69]

If these were neck through they’d be perfect.

[@charlesb7831]

I love my Kramer Dave Sabo signature model, I still have my 1989 Kramer Nightswan Aztec, I played the newer Stagemaster and it's on my list. The upper stuff from Kramer is super reliable. I do add Titanium saddle blocks and screws and Brass big blocks from Fu-tone to all my Floyd Rose tremolos.

[@SnappyJCM800]

It’s weird they call it a vanguard since every other vanguard they’ve ever released has been in a Rhoades V shape

[@workingorder2189]

More Kramer, Jackson, Ibanez, and ESP guitars please.

[@PeterMoore350]

I must have missed this one. I saw it coz of today’s episode where you say at the end about liking other videos. I quite like this one. The case is awesome too. Sounds pretty nice too. I’m a big Solar guitar fan so I’d probably get a Solar V1.6 over this but if the local Kramer dealer has one of these I’ll at least try one. I noticed the green guitar was challenging for your editing with the green screen behind you!! Cheers from NZ 😎🎸🤘

[@edwinstovall3334]

Austin, the SH-1N designation on that neck pickup means only that it's a regular '59 neck pickup, from the "Vintage Blues" set. Cool Alnico 5 neck pickup; I have a Duncan Designed version in my Hamer Sunburst Archtop. It's one of the best neck pickups I have. Actually, it's part of my very first set of Alnico pickups ever!😎

[@edwinstovall3334]

@@cataclysmicconverter You know, what you said reminds me of something from a long time ago. I used to get paper catalogs from music stores and the like before internet shopping was a thing. I used to get slightly bugged when I would read this one description of a particular Ibanez guitar. It read "The warm sound of an axe from the 50s..." There HAVE BEEN advances in the guitar world since 19 - freaking - 60, y' know, I would snark. So what happens decades later? One of my best pickup buys was a set of Epiphone Alnico Classics for about $25. I wired them into this cheap Ibanez RG220B, and darned if I didn't get one of the best sets of tones I've ever gotten from any guitar regardless of price. The irony is that Epi Alnico Classics are the Epi version of Gibson's 59 Classics, which themselves are a decent attempt at replicating the sound of PAFs. So what did my RG wind up with? You guessed it -- the warm sound of an axe from the 50s!😎

[@nokkibae]

I feel like the price would be more justified on these Kramer's/Epiphone's V if they were made in Korea or Indonesia. When they find their way to the used market I don't think they'll be a bad deal's though. Personally I'm more of lead player so I'm going to stick with my Kelly. Also I'm going to my first Megadeth concert in about a week and I'm so hyped!!!!!!!

[@Anjohl]

Agreed. I think for $1,000, a MIC guitar should have pretty much top of the line specs. So industry standard tone woods (aka, real mahogany, not some dodgy Asian sub species), name brand pickups, rosewood or Ebony board (for dark fretboards), locking tuners, and brand name hardware and pots. No dodgy pot metal. I feel like Epiphone in particular is trying to parley the good will the early IBG models gave the brand into higher price points, without giving you the spec sheet to match. I'm sorry, but in no world is there an "Epiphone headstock tax", and there never will be.

[@sleevelessace]

so im about 2 months into owning this guitar and im gonna share what i love and some of the cons (theres very few cons) , this is my first v so i had to get used to playing this sitting down but once i did its very comfortable in classical position u can also shorten the strap so its just balenced on ur leg and wont slide down. the thrash factor pickup is the best sounding pickup for metal i have ever played (before this my standard JB in my kramer baretta took the cake) the slightly scooped mids and brighter high end makes a big diffrence with high gain n distortion, ebony fretboard feels good to play on the graphtech nut and mini grovers stay in tune perfectly (i rarely have to tune it other then the odd micro adjustment) and the neck is very comfy for shredding and chords it has a compund radius like the gibson (Almost all specs are the same as the gibson which is sweet) Cons: with all kramers and guitars alike with no string tree the strings to vibrate around the headstock i put a string dampener on it n that solved it (its so minor u might not hear it), 2 the knobs, they are really nice but i love how the witchhats looked on the gibson so i swapped those out for witchhats) , and 3 the action was a little high from the factory , but not so high its unplayable , very minor, so much so i havent taken it in to get it professionally set up yet because i love playing it haha but it will benefit from a set up... for comparrison my 2020 inspired by gibson, 50s standard epiphone HAD to be set up was barley playable PS when troglys playing cleans i can hear the guitar screaming WHAT ARE YOU USING ME FOR!? I FEEL VIOLATED CLEAN?? country riffs whar are you doing??

[@seanmckelvey6618]

Man, that middle position sounds really good to me. I'm not a Megadeth guy really, but I think if I had a chance to play one of these I would have a hard time walking away from it🤣 The green paint job is a big plus as well, I like it better on the Kramer than the Gibson tbh.

[@Jimborockthis]

Bro it sounds amazing!! I love my Gibson’s but this guitar is my new favorite in my collection! Best pickups for Metal I ever played on..

[@Trog]

I agree - the middle position was quite nice on this one

[@SkyFire2112]

I missed out on the Gibson Alien guitars so I bought the Kramer one and oh my god it’s such a great guitar! Absolutely an amazing instrument. It’s just as good if not better than the Silver Gibson Dave V I have

[@elevenAD]

One thing i can tell you is that his Gibson V is one of the best sounding metal guitars i have ever heard, Ole Englund compared it to 10 other guitars and that Dave Mustain V just crushes, if this sounds even close im in!

[@danielbreaux1842]

Freakin' awesome with the signature!!

[@ShaighJosephson]

Yeah, the guitar is nicely constructed...but I would have to swap the placement of the volume knob...

[@kellykaiser6446]

I’ve got a Dean “Dave Mustaine V,” that looks a lot like that Kramer! It was made in Korea and had the original active pickups swapped out for EMG 85s. And from Troglys description and sound bites, it appears quite similar.

[@andybungert]

Man I think this one blows away all the others, and obviously has a look that's closer to the old models he had. I just wish so badly that it had something other than dot inlays.

[@xaphan8581]

Agreed, as someone who thinks Flying V guitars are gayer then aids I actually really fuck with this one. I feel like Amy guitar made for metal or rock shouldn’t have dot enlists though. We should be past that be by now.

[@richardflora7940]

Jackson King v he was using was awesome better design in more ways than many.

[@arustydodge2111]

So jealous, AUSTIN! Got this two weeks ago and love it, but not signed.. too lucky Dude! I’m with you on the case size… HUGE! The guitar itself is Fantastic, and I gotta say… nicer that the Epiphone. Specs on this Kramer are the Dave Mustaine specs. IMHO. Thanks for this one!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@robertlee8400]

I happen to own a Jackson King V pro case & all , I had it professionally set up like Dave,s at my local music shop . They guy behind the counter was a big Dave Mustaine fan & knew exactly how Dave had his King V Pro set up , now remember this was back in 1992 when I had this thing set up , at that time in my life I was 19 years old . My grandma bought it for me as a birthday gift & now that she’s gone it even means more to me now than it did back then . Bu the time I was 21 I had saved up enough money to buy a Marshall half stack & the same Marshall head & wireless cord set up as Dave played . When I was 25 I bought the same rack system Dave ran also . It took me a little over 6 years to get Dave’s whole set up . Most of the stuff I bought I purchased it from a shop call Musicians Friend , they had catalogs you could buy each month so that’s where I got most of all my gear . I still have everything & it’s all in great shape , I play every once in a wile & as of late I,m learning to play Night Stalkers . That is one of the fastest songs Megadeth has ever came out with , it’s like 190 BPM & it can get a little hairy at times & I,m a bit rusty . Trust my I,ll get it believe you , me .

[@traiviator]

5:20 they are made in the same factory. The "15" in the series number is the Chinese Gibson Factory (for electrics) I believe.

[@andrewbecker3700]

The neck profiles seem close to the 60s slim taper, just even more shallow. Glad I didn't bother with one. This was the only model with 25.5" scale and some decent paint. I've heard the cheap string through plate vibrates and buzzes like crazy.

[@Trog]

If it does, you just need to tighten the screws most likely. I didn't have any issues with this one

[@andrewbecker3700]

@@Trog adding some string ferrules to the plate would be best.

[@ReubenGuitars]

Great to see you diving into the more metal orientated guitars. Cant wait for you to review and disect some high end ESPs or something similar.

[@MaxRockatansky853]

I just picked up the new Scott Iann King V in Dimeslime. Epic af.

[@bdm3052]

That is a sweet guitar. I’d love to own one

[@lurklingX]

2:51 this alien green is one of my favorite colors. had a computer case this color once (built it). but i think these pointy ones look better, more aggressive, which works with that in-your-face green. : )

[@zigzagrz]

I think out of all of them, the Kramer is the one to get

[@1crunchy2]

i guess you have never seen a Jackson

[@SeanM-i7m]

Its kinda giving off a cool green glow to your chording arm and ne 15:01 ck pretty cool

[@freynedarlus-bm4km]

Have to agree the string-thru body holes are wide that together with them being gromitless makes the price for a Chamer rather than Stateside manufacture seem overpriced.

[@worksucksletsdrink6011]

I've been watching your videos for a couple years I'm a very loyal viewer and you're playing has gotten really good you kind of kick ass dude.

[@Ophiegasm]

Beautiful guitar, loved the use of Dave's spider chord during the sound demo. 😉🤘

[@charlesrocks]

What a great looking guitar. I absolutely love the design and the price point is great considering inflation, and it sounds amazing.

[@guitartim2128]

Perfect location for Daves signature

[@gregstimple261]

Does his signature make the guitar worth more? I got his signed poster from Gibson Garage. Couldn't afford the guitar. Waiting for his signature gibson Les Paul.

[@Trog]

It definitely gives it a +10 coolness factor

[@knightyyz]

IMHO that's the only spot to sign a guitar. The bevels on the Kramer really make it stand out. Looks better than the Gibson

[@robertopreatoni]

I hate how the strings pass through the body with that sharp corner against the body itself

[@richardmckenney9434]

Serial # for Kramer are the same as Epiphone. The 5 & 6th digits is the factory code and these have factory code 15 wich is the code for Epiphone Qingdao factory. Wich is the same factory and codes the Current mid to high end Epiphones are being produced at.

[@presmasterflash7555]

Saw Megadeth back in 94 with CoC and ended up with meet n greet passes. Pepper, Dave, and Dave E were some cool dudes for a 14 year old kid to meet and get to burn one with! $10 of canned food got me back to meet them. In hindsight it was F’n priceless

[@matthewotremba9230]

This is Officer Krumpky Are you stating that they smoked weed with a 14 year old ?

[@presmasterflash7555]

@@matthewotremba9230 ummm… it was a cigarette… yeah, a cigarette!

[@Jimborockthis]

I remember that tour! COC was promoting Deliverence! Had a blast seeing them in Dayton Ohio!

[@presmasterflash7555]

@@Jimborockthis yep. And every show they did the first 50 or 100 people to bring $10 of canned food got passes. I have mine in a frame signed by Dave with the ticket. Good times. We showed up early and saw a 10x10 tent with a table and two people on the side of the arena so me and my buddy Tim walked over and asked what they were doing. They told us the score and we asked if they had any left. They had giver 2 out so far. We ran to 7 Eleven or whatever corner store and bought whatever canned food they had ran back with the food and receipts and that was a heluva night.

[@presmasterflash7555]

@@Jimborockthis when Pepper stopped to talk to me he asked what other bands I was into. Down was the second band I named and he starts laughing and goes “oh you like Down? I’m in Down” I thought he said “into” until he clarified it again and prompted me to look at the liner notes a little closer because I thought he was joking around. Nope. He’s IN Down. Super cool dude.

[@LowEnd-DropC]

Hey, if the Green Gibson Alien V is limited edition why does Gibson still show it on their website with a button to press for notification when available? I wish they would make more.

[@Trog]

Those sold out instantly. They will never restock as with half the models still on Gibson's website

[@Meshughana]

@@Trog Ah so they're like a car dealership were they keep the sold inventory on their website for SEO hits.

[@LowEnd-DropC]

Why does Gibson display them? I don’t get it. It would better if they didn’t show them.

[@exq2er518]

What amp do you plug into for your demo's?

[@msaintpc]

Back in the 1980s I had a pink USA made Kramer Focus 3000 with MOP inlays on an ebony fretboard and the best sounding pups I've ever heard. It was one of the best guitars I ever owned. I sold it to a local bluesman named Eugene Morgan of "Eugene and the Nightcrawlers" in 2001. I wish I had held onto it.

[@shawnlennon1947]

are those hum buckers a little too bright or is it my speakers?

[@jasonwaltrowski2315]

I like how the kramer logo is written in the same script as the megadeth logo

[@rufuswhite4523]

the thrash factor kinda sounds like my duncan invader and similar output 🧐

[@markallen2984]

Sounds Kool in the middle setting on clean very detailed and melancholy

[@namelessanarchy]

Just picked up one of these in Columbus, pretty solid guitar!

[@cortarelva]

What the hell is that on the fingerboard at 6:57?

[@PunKtuRed_Jazz]

Love the colour, not sure how much I like the actual V, do more prefer offset V’s like the Jackson Rhoads and ESP Arrows but such an awesome colour

[@matt-770]

Sound review, Austin will you or a viewer please point out to me what the black ribbon is for that binds the 2 halves of the pups together? Thanks.

[@greghorn4820]

Sounds really good clean or distortion. Really like that bridge pickup.

[@dannybrock7026]

Looks like a Jackson king v to me . That was built long ago .. looks like they even sharpened up the Kramer headstock as well . Sorry not sorry .. but all the lawsuits Gibson has put out seems they need a taste of their own medicine .. jmo .. it's a nice looking Jackson Dave mustaine king v copy though . I really love that shade of green .

[@joelevato9524]

I love that Austin gave himself the green outline like DM's logo on the case. 😂

[@stegvonheintz2707]

Really want to try one, I've got a Jackson V and owned several, I had a great Kramer strategy years ao.

[@raptor22r25]

It’s awesome that you got him to sign it.

[@MercilessGuitar151]

He's with Gibson and Kramer is a subsidiary of Gibson, just like Epiphone. :)

[@Gordanovich02]

My 2021 Kramer Nightswan is made in Indonesia and it too has an Epiphone branded output jack.

[@martinkasper197]

I still own a Carvin Ultra V with reverse headstock and Floyd Rose - almost same colour as this Kramer. I bought it beginning of the 90s.🎸🤘

[@ΣτυλιανοςΤσαφος]

Does it neck dive?

[@JunkfoodZombieGuns]

"This combination might be illegal..." Oh man, that made me laugh so damn hard. 🤣🤣🤣

[@adamwarlock3530]

I have a Kramer Vanguard S-440S . Bought it about 20 years ago. It's pretty nice. I wanted a rhoads style guitar that didnt break the bank and played well. I got all what I was looking for.

[@GGM5150]

which floating guitar stand is that?

[@littleadventures2802]

Wonder why there is an SH-1N in the neck when it says its supposed to be the Dave Mustaine Signature Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor which is the same as the bridge pickup

[@sleevelessace]

i love how that guitar in the bridge is so metal no compromise dosent matter what amp how clean its set its gonna distort it hahaha thats so dave n metal as fck!!! thats a guitar for 1 thing n one thing only

[@mikeferris408]

They should have the Kramer banana headstock!

[@StarkJJ]

Guitar looks sick! Does anyone know if it has stainless steel frets?

[@DrMurdercock]

$1,300 is steep for that. You can get a Solar with a ever tune for that or with a floyd rose. Or a Schecter Multiscale. I guess 13 hundred for a signature guitar is pretty damn cheap though.

[@cortarelva]

I love how its basically a Jackson King V Copy but you act as if it were a total inovation.

[@NoUploadJustComment]

Nice sounding pickups.

[@robertscott3399]

my first kramer was a musicyo 84 red white bulllsye with black hardware they came with chrome so mine had a 2nd stamped on the back of headstock but it was a real nicde guitar everyone that oplayed it loved it. but sold and themn i bought a bertte specal 2021 unplayable but i was gonna put a flod on it any way and custom painted it to. only owned 2 in my life

[@blackmanx5845]

Dang Austin, watchu doing to me... and my wallet... This guitar fills a niche that needs to be filled, and I haven't really been a huge fan of the V's aesthetic or sound, until now. Looking at this after I get a "blue" Gibson ES-335, and after, a Gibson Explorer. A boy and his toys, as they say.

[@madalia1]

My one just arrived , it’s damn near perfect , finish is flawless but the high E is cut way to close to the fret ends which I’ve heard other say also but not all of them are like that

[@DebbieUnopopulos]

If i read that serial right it comes from the Qingdao Factory which would put it in the same production lines as epiphones, yessir..........

[@DeadCityJxro]

Damn! I might have to order one!! This finish too!!!

[@dethbucketghostparanormalg5042]

I have the holy grail VMNT signed by Dave Mustaine!!

[@DrMurdercock]

I remember being like 14, I hadn't ever felt a quality guitar before. Only my cheap plywood Harmony which i LOVED regarldess cause it was my first and I learned Iron Man and Smoke on The Water on it. Anyway, my buddies older brother some how managed to trade some smoke for a late 80s Kramer. I remember picking it up and thinking "Whoa, wtf, this thing just feels like a Bently or a Rolls Royce in guitar form" It was solid, it was smooth, it was sleek, IT HAD A FLOYD ROSE ON IT MAN. 3 PICK UPS!!! 2 single one Hum. Had the angled headstock....Man she was a beast. He didn't know what he had so it got tore up. If he had it now, prolly be worth a few grand.

[@tylersmith7534]

Jackson King V copy

[@SakhaGaming]

Thinkin about getting a flying v, love that this one has the output jack near the strap area.

[@Jm0417-s]

Mustaine switches endorsements every couple years. Its all a money thing I think. If I remember correctly, he has endorsed Jackson, ESP, Dean, and now Gibson/Kramer/Epiphone. I had a Dean V that was autographed by him that I won as part of a giveaway that I couldn’t remember entering. It was the cheapest one they sold with his name on it. Decent guitar, but it wasn’t worth keeping to be a wall hanger. If I can’t play it, I don’t need to keep it. It was a $300 guitar. I sold it on ebay for $400. Had a gig bag and case candy. Nothing special.

[@ios6605]

Damn Trogly 🎃 when that distortion kicked on 🔊 you were jammin sounds good brother 🎸🤟🏼🤟🏼 keep up the chops 🎸🎸🎸

[@christopheranderson2158]

Damn.....now I want one! When I first saw them released, I was “meh”.....but that green! I’ve been craving a Jackson King V.....but this one might just fit the ticket.......🤘🤘

[@MisterMacky]

Got mine signed on the front, I’m terrified to play it and rub it off. No one in town seems to offer clear coat finishing over a signature. Any advice?

[@jamesbough4752]

Auto body shop

[@marmelaki]

Austin... you have upped your game in metal guitar playing! I'm impressed! 🙂

[@carlbaumeister3439]

Would you say it’s similar to the Epiphones, quality, sound, performance, etc?

[@Trog]

yup - one of the nice epi's with upgraded pickups

[@Mephilis78]

My first guitar was actually one of those cheaper EVH one pickup Kramers

[@sargentd9226]

How dare you test a Mustaine guitar with a Hammett signature pick?!

[@imjustvibing2018]

Beauty of a guitar! Love the current trends of Kramer. Wonder if this guitar is worth $1299 though. His Dean guitars are selling for half that nowadays

[@elmienizam78]

Great looking guitar and great riffing too brother

[@GNXXRAY]

Where are the Kramer’s made now? My 2 Kramer’s are NJ models.

[@Darth.Shredder]

Reviewers need to go over these Chinese guitars with a fret rocker. Gibson's Epiphone factory are notorious for laying uneven frets. If you like low action, it matters. Indonesian guitars have stepped up their game after a shaky start but now are almost on par with Koreans. Chinese guitars look good, but it's what you can't see that often is problematic. I know someone will inevitably say their Epiphone or Kramer is better than a Gibson, yada, yada, yada. This isn't hate for the brand(s) it's experience. Before you attack, go run down your Chinese fretboard with a fret rocker.

[@m_zbrv3967]

I think that the dots inlays are not enough

[@southernpanda33]

I use those picks as well as James’ white fang picks.

[@kuitaristi3003]

That Kramer is closest to Dave's old Jackson KV from all of Mustaine signature models what comes to look. It looks like Jackson but there is just Kramer on headstock, and of course it's made in china. Just remove that stupid wing thing and put string ferrules to those holes and it will look better.

[@mjeh1]

The color, the shape...I hated it from jump but it sounds good enough to win me over.

[@BusyAir]

As much as I like the classic hockey stick head, no modern guitar should have strings making a 45-degree angle off the nut to the tuning peg.

[@Mottspockets]

Hello thanks for all the effort!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@derekhell666]

the top string through body set up looks super cheap and not well thought out

[@DrMurdercock]

HOLY SHIIIT I did NOT expect you take a brand new never played guitar for us. That alone earned a sub.

[@antoniodelarosa8850]

I have a Kramer Jersey Star guitar with EMG pickups. I love it!😁😁😁

[@rochacol2473]

Very nice review. Good job