In 1976 Dennis Berardi established Kramer company’s facilities in New Jersey. The collaboration with Eddie Van Halen brought the brand’s reputation to the world’s level. Kramer Guitars started its business in the 1970s to oppose the iconic competitors Fender and Gibson. The musicians which creativity got inspired with Van Halen - Richie Sambora, Tom Morello, Vivian Campbell, and Mick Mars among them - helped Kramer to turn into a widely-known leader in manufacturing electric guitars and basses, as well as custom designed models and custom features including brand pickups, hardware details and the famous Floyd Rose tremolo system.
Aluminum necks and Ebanol fretboards became the distinctive features of the company’s early designs. While Gibson and Fender didn’t rely on or simply didn’t want to use other manufacturers’ parts, Schaller tuning keys, bridges, DiMarzio pickups and Petillo fretwire were applied by Kramer. Bodies were made from high grade Walnut or Maple, though some early instruments also featured rare woods not typically used in guitar manufacturing such as Koa, Shedua, and Bubinga.
The 1980s kept on moving Kramer to the top. The brand made their “beak” headstock the new company’s specialty and the Rockinger tremolo system – the real Kramer’s schtick. The upgraded tremolo system allowed for extreme tremolo bends while still maintaining the guitar’s overall tuning. 80s was also the era of successful cooperation between Kramer and Van Halen who became the major endorser. He was already into producing guitars and details himself assembling the bodies using parts of different manufacturers – so to say Van Halen’s customized guitars. That’s how the tremolo system brought one of the greatest rock guitarists in the world together with the lucky and quality upstart on the music market. In 1983, Kramer’s original Rockinger tremolo system was replaced by the Floyd Rose tremolo system, which would remain a Kramer exclusive throughout the decade. Later Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe and Vivian Campbell of Whitesnake filled up the ranks of endorsers. Seymour Duncan, a respected custom pickup designer, joined Kramer’s team to equip the company’s instruments.
The 1990s weren’t so happy for Kramer. Fender and Gibson – who would acquire Kramer - came back fighting every weak or strong market rival, alternative rock acts such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam shone with glory (and with their own guitar preferences) and production issues occupied the minds and ate the money of New Jersey and overseas factories. In 1991 the activity ceased to operate.
Being a division of Gibson’s Kramer serves faithfully the fans of heavy metal. Kramer is still the home of cutting edge ideas in guitar design creating most badass instruments ready to blow your studio or fire up the stage.