Kramer 450B 1977-80 - Black Walnut

Original owner with original case.

Unique and hard to find Kramer 450B, two pickups, scale of 333/4 and Schaller M-4 tuners. The neck is 15/8 wide at the (aluminium) nut, fretboard has 20 frets, joining the body at the 17th fret on the bass side, 19th on the treble side. The 450B's dot markers start at the first fret.

Controls are guitar-like, with separate Volume and Tone for each pickup, and a three-way pickup selector toggle.

Kramer Guitars followed in the footsteps of builder Travis Bean, who used machined aluminum to make guitar necks starting in '74, Kramer's bolt-on necks felt more like a traditional instrument; consisting of an aluminum bar with wood inserts on each side, Kramer's approach reduced the much-maligned weight of Bean's neck-through instruments and provided a more-natural (wood) feel. Kramer fretboards were made of Ebonol, a substance similar to that of a bowling ball, and its headstock design - in the shape of a tuning fork - also set it apart.

Most of these Kramer bass guitars were made with a natural finish, the black ones are much less common.

In fantastic condition. Only missing the plate for the neck truss rod. Needs new strings. Light marks and normal wear.

Finish: Black

Neck Material: Aluminum with wood inserts

Fretboard Material: Ebonol

Fingerboard Radius: 12"

Scale Length: 34"

Nut Width: 1 1/2"

Electronics: Pots date to 1978

Hardware: All original

Weight: 12.645 lbs

Action: "E"= 8/64"  "G"= 6/64"

Fret Wear: Normal wear