Kramer JK8000 Replica: What the Manufacturer Couldn't Do, Fans Catered for
After rumours spread that Kayla Kent would become a member of the revived Pantera, Kramer invited the guitarist to collaborate with them. Kayla has been playing an older Kramer JK8000 from the 80s for quite some time, so she asked the company for a replica of this rather rare piece. However, the company's management, which belongs to the Gibson group, turned down the idea and offered her one of their ready-made models. Another option was a design combining the neck and body from different product series.
However, Kent had a different idea: "People started to take notice that I had only been seen playing this guitar and it became associated with me in a way that was almost like having my own signature guitar. I told Kramer I wasn't interested in any money but I just wanted them to make me one single backup of this guitar."
Fortunately, the information reached the Kramer fan forum and a year later the followers decided to have this model custom-built for Kayla, which she appreciated with thanks and with words: "When Kramer themselves decides to turn down my idea and their own fan base decides to pick it up and do it anyway, that's pretty freaking remarkable." After her breakthrough, the player also mentioned that a number of brands tried to entice her to play their guitars, but these offers usually came with exclusivity clauses, which meant she would have to put her beloved Kramer JK8000 on hold.
The custom-made JK8000 "Kapybara" has an alder body, Baby Blue lacquer finish, original Floyd Rose tremolo, Bill Lawrence XL 500L bridge humbucker and Seymour Duncan Hot Rail slant neck mini-humbucker. The neck comes from the Kramer Baretta Snake Sabo model that Kent used to play, which was suitable for this project due to its reverse headstock and profile replicating the JK8000. The instrument also features special mother-of-pearl inlays and engraving, a unique hard case made by a forum user, and other accessories.
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