Kramer "Pioneer Series" experience?

Started by ack1961, May 03, 2015, 05:21:52 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

ack1961

Anyone here have any experiences with a mid 80's (non-Fenderish headstock) Kramer Pioneer Series JJ/JJ?
I have an opportunity to pick one up (sight unseen) pretty cheap, but don't know much about them.

Jazz bass with stacked (JJ/JJ) pickups.  3 pots (V/V/T??)
2 switches (pickup selector/phase??)
Schaller bridge (with "Kramer" stamped on it), Schaller tuners
Bolt on - Looks like Maple/Rosewood.

Thanks,
Steve
Have Fun.  Be Nice.  Mean People Suck.

Hörnisse

I had one years ago.  The body is much larger than the normal Fender type bass.  They are pretty rare so if you can get it for a good price it would be nice.  I've got an older 1981 Pioneer Imperial with the Fender head and the single Jazz pickup in the bridge position as opposed to the dual J setup that appeared shortly thereafter. 

Some good info on this page:

http://www.vintagekramer.com/pioneer.htm

ack1961

Thanks for that link and the info - the "Double J" is exactly the bass I'm looking at: $300 delivered - in good condition.
It's just odd enough to intrigue me a bit, and cheap enough to gamble on it and possibly lose.
Thanks.
-Steve
Have Fun.  Be Nice.  Mean People Suck.

Highlander

Good Grief...! an interchangeable fret-board...?
The random mind of a Silver Surfer...
If research was easy, it wouldn't need doing...
Staring at that event horizon is a dirty job, but someone has to do it; something's going to come back out of it one day...

ack1961

"Good Grief...! an interchangeable fret-board...?"

We're going to move all the songs that require that snappy Maple response to the end of our set.
At the transition point of the set, I'll just swap out fretboards during the drum solo.
Have Fun.  Be Nice.  Mean People Suck.

Highlander

The random mind of a Silver Surfer...
If research was easy, it wouldn't need doing...
Staring at that event horizon is a dirty job, but someone has to do it; something's going to come back out of it one day...

Hörnisse

Here is my '81 Pioneer Imperial.  Came with the original case and I bought it here in Austin a few years back on Craigslist for $200.  Someone had mounted a poorly cut pickguard on the body and that was the only bad thing about the bass.  I immediately removed and trashed the pickguard but the holes remain.........  It is a great player!


66Atlas

I've got one of the fender headstocked ones with a P/double J configuration. Its a well built bass, but I don't recall the JJ being that remarkable. Not bad by any means but I don recall using it much.

gearHed289

I remember lusting after a Carrera back in the day. With a Kahler... Never happened.  ;D

ack1961

Well, I own it now - it sat in a closet for many years, so it needed some care and adjustments (trussrod was stuck at first, then freed after after some patient work) - all in all, a pretty cool bass:




Have Fun.  Be Nice.  Mean People Suck.

Hörnisse

Oh man, I love that color!  (Green is my favorite!) 

Nocturnal

Congrats on the new bass!! I was always curious about those dual J pickups. Never had a chance to try a Kramer that was loaded with them.
TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE BAT
HOW I WONDER WHAT YOU'RE AT