In The Company Of Gary Kramer - Part 1 History Of Kramer Guitars

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Back in November of 2018 I was contacted by someone (who is now a friend) and was informed that Gary Kramer (founder of Kramer Guitars) was interested in my show.
He mentioned Gary would like to be a guest on the show, but over the years and because of the nature of the internet I tend to not believe everything (or everyone) that comes my way without checking into it further.
I eventually spoke with Gary on the phone and confirmed his interest in appearing, however he suggested it would be better to do the interview in person, rather than a webcam.
3,000 miles of travel later and 3 days as guests of Gary & his wife, this is our story.
I hope you enjoy!
Stay tuned for Part 2 where we pick up at Gary Kramer Guitar Cellars: garykramerguitarcellars.com/
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[@Vaccaroland]

Great interview with a class guy ..Found memories of Gary back in the day when Kramer started .

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you so much Sir. I have so much respect for you gentlemen. Honoured to have you catch our video and will look forward to chatting with you as well. Thank you so much once again. 🙏

[@lautaromarcoporleylopo8349]

Many thanks for this... Kramer reinvented the guitar industry

[@gavingibson7471]

I know it is kind of off topic but do anybody know a good website to watch newly released series online ?

[@warrenparker7312]

I remember signing that guitar. That's my signature right below Dino Nardelli. I also made the body for Gary's 5150 replica. Great job Eric.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Way cool and thanks so much for sharing!

[@essten94]

Brings back memories I was just off camera for the entire interview

[@arrowheadtelecom6561]

Thats hilarious! This was epic. Gary was mainly interested in tellinng you about him and his other successes. Youre a good sport.

[@classicaxe1]

My grandma lived in Sun Valley by Vineland ! As Kramer about all the Auto junk yards out there ! Pick your parts and many others ! I really miss my old stomping grounds ! When Kramer is talking it bring back old memories ! Did not know Kramer was so close to me ! Who knows I could have seen him !

[@Craiglyhead]

I recently bought a new Kramer (Indonesian Gibson) I loved the look of Kramer’s always and this video was a natural progression of finding out about all I could about the Kramer name and business. This interview is legendary in not only the content but the relaxed way it was presented. I felt like I was there. One for the books.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Huge thank you, glad you not only enjoyed the video but also got a new Kramer. Please feel free to share this video with your friends!

[@chrisgrabowski2678]

Awesome invite; glad you loved it!

[@theamericanoff-roadrc]

Thank you Eric! Amazing time and stories at Gary’s house

[@gtf2648]

Having worked at Kramer for almost a decade beginning in 1982, .I've said a million times, Gary Kramer had absolutely nothing to do with the "KRAMER" of the 80's that everyone knows and loves. Not a slight to Gary but he was just a namesake and a founder of the company, He was literally gone within 2 years. In all honesty, the Company and the guitars should have been called "Berardi". As a side note. I knew Travis Bean and he was one of the coolest guys I ever met in my entire life...

[@leesystems]

Back in the fall of 1982 I met a guy who worked at Boykins music in Richmond Virginia. And he said come on by my place and record some songs for me. He had written some songs. He played guitar, but he needed a bass player. So when I got to his apartment on Monument Avenue, he handed me a base and said I want you to play my music with this bass. It was a Kramer with an all aluminum neck. It did not have the quarter round wood scalloped on the back of the neck. Years later reading in one of the Kramer user groups, I have read that it said the first five prototypes had solid aluminum necks. I remember it very clearly it had the chrome pick up covers with the Kramer name on the pick up covers to pick ups. The base was great. I loved it. But what I would have to do is tune it, play it for 10 minutes, warm up the neck, and then tune it again. Then it would stay in tune all night. I now have two Kramer bases with the wood scallop quarter rounds on the neck, and they stay in tune, not only the whole day, but a whole week or two between having to tune them. Can you confirm you made 5 solid aluminum neck prototypes?

[@chrislink6846]

This was so cool! Thank you Eric ❤🎸

[@classicaxe1]

Can not wait to see this video !

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you! There are some things discussed in our interview that have never been publicly shared. It's very cool!

[@jjcollins]

Absolutely Awesome! Amazing Video - can't wait for part 2!

[@musicgearnetwork]

Huge thank you!

[@modscientist9793]

This is awesome Thank you! brings back so many memories!!

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

Great interview! Thanks for sharing one of the most interesting interviews I recent memory!

[@classicaxe1]

I absolutely love this video and immensely enjoyed Kramer and his history !

[@leonmohan1708]

A great interview, he was very relaxed and was spilling the beans. Priceless. What a dream come true for you and Jr. I bet you saw some wonders! Bring on part 2, I need it, the UK needs it!!

[@musicgearnetwork]

Huge thanks, it was an incredible several days that's for sure! PT 2 coming soon!

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

I own an original Kramer 450G, and I can attest to the claim that the headstock rings at 440 Hz. The guitar records wonderfully.

[@ian2lorimer]

This is gold Eric. You just keep on turning it out. I think the interviewees just vibe off your chilled out personality and you can just tell you're a great honest guy.

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

Absolutely fantastic interview. You have a great channel Eric. I love watching your videos!!

[@richardmckenney9434]

Some great history & amazing stories, found it funny when Gary Mentioned Mailboxes Etc., that was my frist real job here in New England. Looking foward to part 2. Thank you Gary & Eric for these!!!!!!!!!!!

[@musicgearnetwork]

Very welcome and thank you as well for watching!

[@DavesGuitarChannel]

The company in Canada was LaSido that made some Kramers and that eventually became Godin.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Very good to know. I can see how Gary could have easily confused Lado with LaSido. Thanks much!!

[@limbuprakash7986]

Beautiful interview,pure gold.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you!

[@ironeddie9917]

Great video 👍I have a 2019 Kramer Nightswan on order.... can’t wait!🎸🎶☝️🎸🎶

[@stonkpuppets6393]

I just got my first Kramer guitar. I traded a pedal board with four Boss pedals for a Assault Plus and it’s awesome!!

[@littlehookerjam407]

Great stories! Thanks for sharing!

[@domg7616]

What a great history for Kramer. Picked up a used pacer. And it plays amazingly beautiful.

[@TavaresProject]

This was great Eric!

[@headstockharem4]

This will be so cool!

[@Ibaneddie76]

Amazing story, kind of bitter sweet I remember when it was easier to do things like that in America, dream up a great idea then work your tail off to build something substantial! It's getting harder to do things like that now with so much government interference and corporate monopoly! I still think those early 80's Kramers are some of the best guitars ever!

[@rockinron59rl]

I been watching your productions, & really impressed with your work.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you Ron, greatly appreciated! Always trying to improve for you guys as well!

[@kravensoda6038]

Very kool Eric! can't wait for part 2 cause I'm hooked haha. Cheerios like 45

[@musicgearnetwork]

Many thanks!

[@kravensoda6038]

@@musicgearnetwork No thank you!

[@Nukeboy93]

Another good one!

[@mlaforce]

The very first guitar I owned was a Kramer Striker back in 1989, I miss that guitar. I own the Kramer Assault now and love it.

[@orion681]

I live in NJ. Dr Phil Petillo passed but his son David is still on the shop and is still working...I have been there and have met Phil. Phil was a brilliant man. Also, Dennis Berardi was a neighbor of a family friend. Said friend once hosted Dennis, Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli on his boat in the Shrewsbury river.... awesome history.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Man, I remember buying my first Kramer. It was used, but it was a Sustainer. White with Duncan's or Schaller pickups. I don't remember which. Then later I bought a Kramer stagemaster which was a far superior guitar. ♥️🤘♥️ Great video. Thanks so much. ♥️🤘♥️

[@giftedplanksify]

GARY KRAMER!!!!! Was that so fuckin hard to learn your first name I owned two Kramer guitars ( one Red Vanguard with an outtasink trembar its gappy) but I'm over it!! And the New guitar is Baretta special ( I finally own a gun lol) I'm just grateful that I'm still a fan of your guitars and FINALLY learning your first name ( about fucking time!!! ) Thank you very much!!

[@GuitarHack66]

I really enjoyed that Eric. Mr Kramer is a fascinating guy. Cheers

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you so very much my friend. Part 2 of 2 comes out Friday and sadly completes my chapter. Some fun stuff yet to see. Best part? Eric Jr can tell his kids about meeting the man that started the greatest guitar company that once took the world by storm.

[@jakejohnson7714]

I own a Cherrie red 80s American pacer custom II w/original wooden w/leather case my favorite.

[@cappy781]

All three of my lado kramers are by far the best guitars I own. I have esp made kramers they are also great but. Those lasido forgetaboutit

[@musicgearnetwork]

I don't know if I ever played a Lado built Kramer. I would love to if I had the opportunity.

[@daikuone]

I remember seeing those Travis Beans in San Rafael at Bananas at Large when I was 12 years old. Very cool, but very heavy! Now I live right near Gary in Templeton. Have to stop in and say hello!

[@jefffritts68]

my first guitar was a red kramer with matching headstock and white pickguard ...1985

[@jakejohnson7714]

I still have my 80s American pacer II cheery red

[@keithhenson9788]

I own 4 Kramers love every one of them. I've always had a hard time tracking down any Information on them. Would love to find out more about my Focus 3000. I have a pacer as well ,and one that I don't know anything about.

[@machupikachu1085]

Hey Keith. IIRC, your F3000 was made by ESP in Japan. Yup. That ESP. Cheers!

[@VixCrush]

Of course any Grateful Dead fan knows Travis Bean as Jerry Garcia famously played one in the mid 1970s....I grew up in Italy so I find it interesting that Gary was born there.

[@MrAletube]

Nice stories, never knew he was Italian born in Naples!

[@musicgearnetwork]

I know, cool right? Thank you for the positive feedback!

[@stephentanner9767]

I just bought a beretta ,flawless

[@clarencejones2397]

Awesome music business anthology

[@Kammoflars]

Great stuff. Would be even cooler if he bought Kramer back before Gibson fuck it up once again.

[@chrisferrara190]

🤘😎 Awesome.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thanks for watching!

[@jjshouseofjams522]

All i can say is WOW .Awesome guys

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thanks so much man!! Appreciated!

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

"Lado." Pretty certain the company was called "Lasido," from the ol' "do re mi fa sol LA SI DO."

[@musicgearnetwork]

No... there was a Canadian guitar company called "Lado". I owned some myself. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lado_Guitars

[@bigalb8935]

That was cool Eric that guys a legend Kramer telling his story

[@allenhaller2406]

I wonder what he was bought out for$ ?

[@frankcorcoran9619]

Just ggggrrrreat

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thanks Frank!

[@wilburwokeii8298]

What happened to this show?

[@MisterTee]

You should have asked him about the werewolf problem on the central coast of California

[@musicgearnetwork]

For some reason that was not on my itinerary

[@x2mars]

So he defaulted on the first $350000 orders?

[@iceWaterProductions1]

I was wondering about those first orders also. Plus it’s vague about how he and Travis split.

[@essten94]

He was so sick that week.

[@Allguitarinfo]

Made a ton off a strat

[@larrybrown7273]

Legendary Company Eddie VanHalen Rick Nilsson KK Downing

[@neutralgod300]

46:39 WHY ARE THEY NOT TAKING THOSE TREE AND MAKE INDESTRUCTIBLE GUITARS WITH THE WOOD????