Big ‘80s attitude, high-speed playability, and a price that feels illegal.
Quick Verdict: All Killer, No Filler
The Kramer Baretta Special is a no-nonsense, high-speed, hair-metal inspired beast of a guitar — and it comes in at under $200. But don’t let the price fool you: this thing shreds.
With its sleek, single-humbucker setup, lightning-fast neck, and iconic ‘80s vibe, the Baretta Special is perfect for beginners who want to rock or veteran players looking for a fun, affordable mod platform.
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🎯 Key Features
| Feature | Why It Rocks |
|---|---|
| Slim maple neck with satin finish | Built for fast licks and smooth bends |
| Single Alnico-V humbucker | Raw, high-output tone perfect for rock and metal |
| Top-mount hardtail bridge | Solid tuning stability and sustain |
| Simple layout | One pickup, one knob — just plug in and go |
| Cool color options | Ruby Red, Ebony, Purple, Neon Green, and more |
| Under $200 | Insane value for the build quality and tone |
🕹️ Playability: Speed Demon’s Delight
The Kramer Baretta Special plays like a guitar twice its price. The 12″ radius fingerboard, 22 medium jumbo frets, and maple neck with slim taper profile make it ridiculously easy to fly up and down the neck.
Whether you’re tapping, sweeping, or just banging out palm-muted chugs, the Baretta is ready to rip.
🔊 Tone: One Pickup, Infinite Attitude
The single Alnico V humbucker might look limiting on paper — but it delivers a bold, clear, high-output tone that’s perfect for rock, punk, grunge, metal, and even blues with the volume rolled back.
It reacts well to pedals and amps, and has surprising range for a lone pickup. This guitar begs for a distortion pedal — think RAT2, Boss DS-1, or Pro Co Turbo RAT — and a tube amp like the Monoprice 5W or Bugera V5.
🎸 Who’s the Kramer Baretta Special For?
✅ Beginner guitarists who want a great-playing instrument under $200
✅ 80s rock/metal lovers who dig the shredder vibe
✅ DIY modders who want a solid platform to upgrade
✅ Budget-conscious players who still care about tone and feel
✅ Anyone who wants a backup, travel, or studio guitar that plays great
🧪 Real-World Use: Surprisingly Stage-Ready
While it’s marketed as a starter guitar, many reviewers and YouTubers have gigged with it, modded it, and even recorded with the Baretta Special.
- Upgrade the tuners and pickup, and you’ve got a boutique-level shredder for under $300
- Even stock, it’s more than enough for jamming, gigging, or recording heavy riffs and solos
🤘 Fun Fact: A Legacy of Shredders
The original Kramer Baretta was used by Eddie Van Halen, and became the blueprint for many single-pickup, Floyd Rose-equipped monsters in the ‘80s. The Baretta Special pays tribute to that heritage, but keeps things simple and affordable for today’s players.
🛠️ Modder’s Dream
- Replace the pickup with a Seymour Duncan JB or EMG 81
- Swap the tuners for Grover locking tuners
- Add a kill switch or tone knob if you’re feeling fancy
The guitar’s minimalist design makes it a great modding canvas without needing to be a luthier.
🏁 Final Thoughts: It Shreds, It’s Cheap, It’s Kramer
At this price point, the Kramer Baretta Special is one of the best bang-for-your-buck guitars on the market. It’s fast, fun, and focused — with no fluff or filler.
If you’re a fan of high-output tone, hot-rodded design, and effortless playability, this one’s a no-brainer.
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