LeftyBassist.com

Unique design. Saw one of these righty version in a guitar shop. The tech there was working on it and said it was a pain to adjust:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-70s-KRA ... 2a198c4c96

I love these!

Here's how my morning conversation went with my wife when I saw this:

Me: NICE! Check this out. I want it.

Wife: Don't you already have one of these?

Me: Well, yes but mine only has one P style pickup and this one has TWO humbuckers! It would be even better.

Wife: (staring with blankly with hands on hips)

Me: Really. It would be totally different.

Wife: So you'll sell the other one with only one pickup thingy?

Me: (staring blankly)

Wife: That's what I thought.

Me: Hhhrrrumph.

Seriously. These are piano tone sustain monsters, and are great for the right music, style and player.

That's one of the worst control cavity routing jobs I've ever seen, which is especially evident in the picture with the white cavity cover installed. Hard to imagine the factory would have allowed such a bad route to pass quality control. Plus I've never seen such a spotty job of shielding... does this seem the norm from Kramer back when this was built?

Still, I've always admired the marriage of wood and metal in these basses. As an art object, I'd like to own one, but as a played bass, don't think I'd take it out much. I'd own it more for the uniqueness, rather than a player....

Sometimes you have to use a hair dryer to warm up the neck - I'm not kidding!

These basses really are more versatile than you think. Are you likely to use one to do a Motown review gig? Absolutely not. But, I've used my DMZ4000 - two piece maple body with one EMG PX pickup - on several recordings and many live rock gigs. It has an undeniable ability to cut through the mix. Really powerful lows, bright highs and awesome mid punch. It's almost like it has a compressor built in. Very even player with no dead spots whatsoever. Not to mention it sustains for...
...
...
...
...
...
...ever.

With a touch of something like a Bass Big Muff Pi, it becomes Rockzilla the Sustainor!

I will concur - as a denizen of the Great White North - that you wouldn't want to leave this bass in your trunk when the temperature dips. (If you do leave it out in the cold, make sure you NEVER touch your tongue to it before it warms up.) I don't even put it in the trunk period if it's cold. It stays in the heated passenger area on the way to the gig. The neck is super stable though, and - as long as the action suits your particular playing style - you'll never have to adjust it. If it doesn't suit your playing style... then... um... sell it to me?

I triple dog dare ya! (Name the reference).

Any idea when this one was made? I'm not sure how to date these aluminum Kramers.

I concur, these have a great piano-like ring to them, endless sustain, and great for playing choirds since each note's got a bright cutting clarity to it. Dave Hope of Kansas is one notable player of Kramer aluminum basses. (Not sure what model, however).

Regarding the one on ebay, the electronics have definitely been tinkered with. The cover is non-original, though I guess an adventurous person could acquire a sheet metal aluminum and cut it to shape.

This model is a "450B" - walnut/maple body, dual humbuckers. I'm not sure how to decode the serial number - or if you can - but they were only made from '76 to early '80. They started making the DMZ models in '79, which signaled the end of the original line up.

It does look like the electronics were messed with but don't lose sight of the fact that the tonal qualities of these basses have little or nothing to do with the electronics. Even as a collectible, I'm not sure the "original pots" are a big concern. I would look at it as an opportunity - or good excuse - to put some proper electronics of your choosing in there. The missing original cover is more concerning but not un-rectifiable.

As for the "double dog dare ya quote", A Christmas Story!

NOW it was serious. A double-dog-dare. What else was there but a "triple dare you"? And then, the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare