Kramer Korner EP12 - Kramer History With Dennis Berardi

[@JPDC624]

Dennis never stopped paying it forward after the machine shop experience. I worked for Dennis for 7 years at Kramer and he was BEYOND generous to me in so many ways. Once I was trying to lose weight, and Dennis said “You hit your goal weight and you can use the Ferrari for the weekend.” The one Floyd gave him. I reached that goal, and he came to me and said he was traveling for the weekend, and handed me the keys. Seriously.

[@theamericanoff-roadrc]

Thank you Eric & Sandra

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you as well!

[@chrislink007]

Great interview Eric thank you so much I can't get enough classic Kramer stories. I am Kramer Korner's #1 fan ❤🎸

[@musicgearnetwork]

I promised I was going to ramp up Kramer Korner this year and so far I think we are off to a good start. Thanks for watching!

[@richard.berardi]

This was great, it brought back a lot of memories for sure. Dennis is my uncle - I drove in that Ferrari, I jammed with Gorky Park in my father's studio (Chalet Sound in Wall NJ), hung out with Bon Jovi during their recording sessions at Chalet, etc. I remember Richie's birthday very well - Les Paul and Clark (his manager) showed up at the studio. They didn't know where Richie lived, so my Dad asked if I would drive over with them. Here is a pic from that day: facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1179468616578&set=a.1179467736556&type=3&theater Me, John and Stas Namin: facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1179468656579&set=a.1179467736556&type=3&theater and everyone at a party at Dennis's house: facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1179468856584&set=a.1179467736556&type=3&theater great times.

[@len21966]

Great show. Great memories. I worked at Kramer painting guitars. in both factories. Had some great times and met some great people. Dennis is a great guy.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Oh very cool that you worked there!! Thanks for sharing, and thank you kindly for watching!

[@len21966]

@@musicgearnetwork Paul Unkert (the guitar guy) is another person that was big at Kramer also.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Oh indeed I am very familiar with his work!

[@TheRick517]

They had two factories?

[@5150show]

Awesomeness

[@musicgearnetwork]

Huge thank you for watching this evening!

[@5150show]

We want more !

[@musicgearnetwork]

More to come!

[@Ibaneddie76]

Back when everything was still cool!

[@lesbois53]

I have been playing Kramers from day one. I have an 850G, right up to 1986 Barettas, Stagemasters and Pacers. I still gig them, in France, at 80 years old! I love the mystery around these guitars! Denis is a legend!

[@classicaxe1]

What amazing stories ! Dennis I wish I were in your shoes ! Meeting rock stars , Les Paul , Gary Kramer and owning music stores ! What a totally awesome life ! Thanks Eric for having Dennis Berardi on your show it was excellent ! Thank-you Dennis Berardi for sharing your great past with us ! Rock-on guys ! This is my generation with the best rock decades ! 1960s , 1970s , 1980s and 1990s !

[@musicgearnetwork]

So glad you enjoyed my friend!! Cheers and thank you for watching!

[@dannymoran3513]

your show is great. i worked at kramer from "83 to "85

[@musicgearnetwork]

Very cool, that must have ben an awesome job. Thank you for the kind words!

[@tommythompson9609]

Wow! What a great interview! Thank you! 🤘🏼🎸

[@cappy781]

Eric you have a heart of gold sir. Its rare to see such a great human being. Thank you for a the hard work and great shows.

[@musicgearnetwork]

You are very welcome and I thank you in return for the kind words. Humbled!

[@michaellaplaca3094]

Great interview!

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you Michael, appreciated. Question, are you related to Pete LaPlaca?

[@Trajan_2.3.5.41]

This is an amazing interview! I have been fortunate enough to know Dennis, and he is by far one of the nicest, most humble individuals I have ever met. The story of Kramer Guitars is truly fascinating. A big THANK YOU to all involved in bringing this interview to fruition. Absolutely AWESOME!

[@musicgearnetwork]

He truly is one cool individual! Thank you kindly for the positive feedback on this episode and for watching! Appreciated!

[@GuitarHack66]

Terrific show Eric. I really enjoyed it. Cheers

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you so very, very much!!

[@brad-guitar-miller813]

This was another great history lesson. Have loved Kramer's since the 80's and still own one. Keep up the great work Eric. 👍 🤘😎🤘

[@musicgearnetwork]

So glad you enjoyed it my friend! Thank you!

[@1truechamp46]

My first name guitar was a Kramer. It was my dream to have a RS model or a Nightswan. Haven't managed that yet but Kramer is special to me. Thanks for this interview, thanks for this channel

[@musicgearnetwork]

You are very welcome and I thank you kindly for your time and watching!! Hope to see you around here!

[@dnlhlmlnd]

This is gold, thank you!

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you as well!

[@ttestates1]

Fantastic! Of My 20+ guitars including Anderson, Suhr & Valley Arts, my 1984 Pacer Deluxe is still my main guitar

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

This is such a great interview Eric. The way you conducted it was brilliant, and Dennis was an outstanding guest as well as brilliant businessman. Well done 👍

[@kirkk3861]

Hi Eric, WOW! This was amazing! Thank you. Those stories took me back. I remember writing to Kramer for their info info package in '85 and then going to Steves Music in Toronto and ordering a USA Kramer Pacer Deluxe lefty with custom options. It was crazy, after many trips to Steve's, it took like 8 months to get it and not exactly what I ordered. They called Kramer in front of me many times to get a status but they were so busy they just gave estimated dates. It arrive by Fed Ex on the actual day I went to Steve's to cancel (1986) after putting down $800 cash from the $1200 total. I ordered it lefty, candy apple red with gold hardware and Strat style banana neck (skunkstripe) w/rosewood. They sent me it in trans. red w/black hardware & w/custom numbered black neck plate. When I saw it, I was so happy because it looked even better! I still have it to this day in mint condition with all the paperwork & case. Out of the 30+guitars in my collection, I will never sell it. I fell in love with that Kramer after seeing a similar one on MTV video of "Make me do anything you want" by Helix. Cheers again.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Oh man thank you so much for sharing this story with me. Totally awesome story. Glad you enjoyed the episode as well!

[@srobert1838]

The thing with these guys is they said yes and took chances. They made things happen. Vaccarro, Dennis, Eddie, they said let's do this! Bravo!

[@ian2lorimer]

Absolutely brilliant Eric. Love this intelligent interview process. No bullshit and like 2 guys in a room with a beer. Love it man. What a great interview....5 stats brother.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Can't thank you enough. I appreciate your feedback for sure. So glad you enjoyed the show.

[@efilnikufesin2069]

Wow thank you! You knocked it out of the park with these Kramer series but this one with Dennis is very cool. Dennis is a stand up guy and has that blue collar outlook on life and very down to earth with all he has achieved and very humble someone that would be cool to sit down with a couple of beers and not just talk about guitars but about life in general. Kramer Korner keep it up!! Thanks Eric 😎👊

[@musicgearnetwork]

Really glad you enjoyed this episode and this series. It was a great deal of fun to produce and I look forward to taking Kramer Korner to even new heights this year. Truly appreciated!

[@efilnikufesin2069]

@@musicgearnetwork Definitely and looking foward to more!! You're welcome Brotha!!

[@lesbois53]

I started playing the aluminium necked Kramers in the 70’s. Then moved onto Barettas and Stagemasters. I am still rockin’ live with them to this day!

[@5150rob]

Awesome bro. Awesome

[@balligood]

Fantastic show Eric....truly appreciate your efforts!!!

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you so very much! Truly appreciated!

[@barefootmode]

Epic conversation, Eric, hats off to ya and Dennis, and not leaving out yer better half for some really good moderating. 11/10!!

[@musicgearnetwork]

Aww thank you so much!!

[@georgebaader9817]

What a great show Eric. I was drawn here as I have a mid-80's Pacer with the hockey stick headstock which I love to play and have a big interest in the vintage Kramers of the 80's and learning more about them. Looking forward to checking out the videos with Gary Kramer and Henry Vaccaro Sr. I have happily subscribed to your channel!!

[@Scott__C]

Eric, great show! Loving these guys who built the business of Kramer Guitars. Can't wait until you can get some of the guys who actually built the guitars themselves, especially if they have any specs, etc. I also think it's interesting that what they built Eddie back then hasn't changed that drastically to what he uses now. The real foundation of what his guitars are now was built at Kramer.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Huge thank you and indeed we will be featuring some of these people (builders and more) soon. I promised fans a huge kick of adrenaline for Kramer Korner this year, and I think we are making some great strides towards that. Your support is truly appreciated. Thank you!

[@lesjuly]

Great interview Eric. Sorry I missed the live stream. Dennis and I go waaay back. According to HIM, I sold more Kramer guitars than any one salesman...EVER. Please check your Facebook inbox.

[@melvynobrien6193]

Missed you live, but another excellent interview. Adam Mitchell (The Paupers) wrote some KISS songs with Ace.

[@toddmorrissey8372]

Yeah. On "Creatures of the Night".

[@_Fair_Warning]

So I know this interview is 3 years old, but I wanted to comment to Eric that I have one of the original prototype striped top loader Kramer bodies painted by Paul from the very early Eddie days. I purchased it 6 months ago from someone that was about to list it on eBay. I had it checked by several people in the know and they’ve confirmed that the body is authentic. The body was definitely played for many years and shows in the wear. It’s my intention to rebuild the guitar to the original spec of the rest of the giveaway guitars. The body is a twin brother to a very well known early guitar, the blue headstock guitar. Would love to hear from you Eric and would share some photos

[@smashdalde9713]

Smashing interview,mate.Another reason why I no longer watch TV.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Thank you so much! That is an awesome and humbling compliment. I promise to keep working hard to earn that!

[@smashdalde9713]

@@musicgearnetwork No probs,Eric.Best of luck to you in your future endeavours.Subscribed!

[@dannymoran3513]

bring kramer back!!! in eddie's words, simply the very best guitar you can buy

[@sneifert1968]

During these interviews, was there any reference to the guys over at Bolt Guitars? I met Wayne Bolt who lives in a small town Northeast of Philadelphia. His company was one of the first to use C&C machines back in the 80’s. He told me about his work with Kramer milling bodies and necks for them.

[@musicgearnetwork]

I cannot recall Bolt guitars coming up, but I have heard that name a few times.

[@RagdollOC]

I met Wayne Bolt in California in the early 80's. Is he still around making guitars?

[@garyhundsrucker7771]

Sweet water sold me a great new Charvel but they wanted $100.00 more for a set up and that would have wiped out the 10% discount they give you so thank god for You tube that taught me how to adjust a Floyd rose.It’s weird to change with the times but it just takes a little more effort.I know this is Kramer corner but that’s gonna be my next big purchase on my birthday present to me day!

[@kbar3612]

I saw the interviews with Gary and Henry, about to watch this one in a few minutes. Was just wondering if any of them mentioned to you how Gibson aquired Kramer? Henry explained his trouble with the Jackson's. Did the courts decide to sell it to Gibson?

[@dannymoran3513]

its not paying fwd, its playing it fwd!!

[@toddmorrissey8372]

How difficult was it to restrain yourself from correcting Dennis when he repeatedly called it "Slippery AND Wet"? I know it made me nuts!!

[@rockinron59rl]

So out of over 50 guitar shops on a street, gene simmons walks into yours. A fate of the dice.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Pretty awesome!!

[@MrAletube]

these guys had all the stars aligning at the right moment,right place,i think its karma,if you are good people it eventually pays off in the long run,hopefully.

[@musicgearnetwork]

Agreed! Thank you for watching!

[@shredhed572]

Had it not been for Kramer ESP might not be what it is today.

[@CCerwin]

Filthy mechanic’s on east beast coast huh 🤔. 😉 🤣. He wanted to see you win

[@jakejohnson7714]

remember when Trump didn't pay the 45k he owed Gary Kramer!