Possible early 5150 Production

[BGSU1989]

Looking for some verification of what this is.
I bought it in Japan.
The pickup is definitely not correct.
The body I question.
The neck looks legit.

https://i.ibb.co/LzLq21h/20211013-161833.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/zJNkbnn/20211013-161841.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/h9MBX9T/20211013-161848.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/ZHG172d/20211013-161903.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/f128p4y/20211013-161912.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/KqWHtxg/20211013-161926.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/d2NhstZ/20211013-161942.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/RSqtMNf/20211013-162031.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/wh9rDBW/20211013-162322.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/5s5NwX2/20211013-162345.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/8x3xTcQ/20211013-162630.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/ChMDk58/20211013-162645.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/b3jK2kP/20211013-162653.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/BtNDvD0/20211013-162715.jpg

[KickstartMyHeart]

Ehm, first of all, welcome to KF and second there's not much Kramer here. If any at all. Cumbersome to get to the pics that way.

BTW, there's no 5150 Kramer production model. Ed assembled the guitar himself at the factory from a hand made Unkert neck and something resembling a Kramer Pacer Special (not a Baretta).

The only production model with a resemblance to the provenance of Ed's famous 5150 would the the "84" from MusicYo days or the revived "84" or "The 84" respectively depending on where and when they've been produced.

[sixstring]

Welcome.

As stated, no Kramer pictured here. This is a parts replica. That Floyd costs more than the rest of it combined.

Hope you didn't pay a lot for it.

[2112]

Can only verify that it is most likely not a Kramer. Nice Floyd.

[Takemebackto84]

The Floyd Rose isn't from Ed's Kramer era either. It's a much later model.

[shwayman11]

I'd guess that's most likely a ESP VH-250 https://alienxnation.com/vintage-1980s- ... t-5150-evh

That said, the Gibson-branded pickup makes me think Music Yo-era Kramer 1984.

[SWANTECH]

IIRC.
Gibson made the Music Yo 1984 in a flat white finish so people could copy an EVH finish if they wanted to.

I have seen some Kramer Japanese made, 5150 striped looking guitars without the 5150 numbers and they were all a gloss finish, and slanted single humbucking pickup. My memory is foggy but I seem to remember these were very short lived because EVH put the squash on that really fast.

I have very little knowledge of the Music Yo 1984 model guitars. So I could be really wrong in thinking this is a 1984 Music Yo painted to emulate the EVH guitars. It does not however resemble the 1980's Japan made Kramer's EVH striped guitars that I have seen.

[shwayman11]

Looking at it more, it's most likely that ESP I linked above or something assembled from parts. The tuners are wrong for the 1984 (should be Schaller M6Ls), Floyd posts are wrong (should be the more modern allen-style bushings), and the neckplate is wrong (should say "Kramer 1984.")

Do you feel anything under the paint on the back of the headstock? A Yo-era 1984 will have a serial number stamped into the back of the headstock just like Gibson. It'll also have holes from the Floyd allen wrench holder.

Do you have a full shot of the guitar put together?

[BGSU1989]

Thanks for the input.

Johnny from AlienNation was kind enough to confirm that it is an ESP made in Japan Kramer VH-250.

I don't have it together yet. I'm currently looking for a period correct JBJ pickup.

[SWANTECH]

I am no expert on this particular guitar.
I also am not someone who isn't an expert, but has anointed himself to be a Sensei. LOL.
Grain of salt my friend. People who proclaim they know every thing often are the least knowledgeable.

The last time I saw a supposed ESP Kramer 5150 style guitar from Japan that was supposed to be authentic and made by ESP in the 1980's for the Japan market. It had a really nice strip job and had a clear coat on it. I think I read somewhere that was one of the clues to finding one. They looked too nice. I cannot remember where I saw that info so I might be completely wrong.

As for striped EVH look a like guitars. There a hundreds of people who make these copies, and there are thousands of copies of any of his striped guitars. Some are absolutely amazing in quality and detail.
Heck I own a copy that is a mirror image of an EVH striped guitar.
I wouldn't bet money on that being an ESP without more proof. Even if it is a copy who cares. Play it, enjoy it, rock out.
I definitely would not take AN's word for it. And that is about as nice as I can say that.

Looks like a cool guitar. Put it together and let us see pic's. Rock out on it and don't sweat where it came from.