[Guitar74]

So five years ago my nephew asks me if I want to buy a basic shell of a guitar for $75. I ask him what it is and he just brings it over. It’s a Kramer Beretta that someone tried to mod into a two pickup guitar, add switches, and put a Gibson style jack and plate in.

I buy it, and it sits for about a year. I finally go to the wood shop at work and make a basswood plug for the neck pickup, switch holes, and jack. I paint it flat black, put in a cheap Kent Armstrong branded pickup, and a used Floyd given to me with another purchase. But now I think it’s time for a full resto. I still have the factory metal flake red on the headstock, so I think a quart of urethane enamel would be just fine. My dilemma is the pickup.

From the small bit of research I have seen, these came with the Duncan JB. I am not a fan. Especially not in a guitar with no tone control. So any suggestions?

Oh yeah, she’s getting a brand new 1984 style Floyd that wood screws into the body, just like they left the factory with.

I will try and post status updates and pics along the way.

[gtrjunior]

Try to find a Schaller Golden 50.
I believe that is what was used in Kramer’s early on and later the JB.

[Guitar74]

Will do. I just hate the high end and upper mid spike of the jb.

[gtrjunior]

I read on the Duncan forum that the Perpetual Burn is supposedly a slightly lower output JB without that upper mid spike....
I have no direct experience myself however.

[Guitar74]

I might give that one a try. Especially if Jason is getting some of the proceeds.

[darkbluemurder]

Would love to see a pic of that guitar.

If I remember correctly the model name was "Baretta".

Cheers Stephan

[Guitar74]

I will get it out and post some pics. I think that since the original metallic paint is long gone, I am going to repaint it. AGAIN......I left the headstock the original color. I have a guy that can computer match car paint, so I think I am going to pay him a visit and just do a real restoration. I will look into the Schaller pickup. If I can't find one or find one that is decent enough, I will probably either go for a Tone Zone due to it being wired straight to the jack, or the Perpetual Burn.