Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $754
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Kramer Nightswan". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Introducing the Kramer Nightswan, a modern take on a legendary 1980s classic guitar that has been designed for the true shredder. Made for performance, this electric guitar is a genuine workhorse with a unique aesthetic appeal, featuring a double-cutaway mahogany body with a striking polka dot finish.
The Nightswan's 3-piece hard maple neck, C-shaped for comfort, is unlike any other guitar you'll ever pick up. It's topped with a 16" radius ebony fingerboard, ensuring a smooth playing experience that's ideal for high-speed note flurries. The fingerboard also features a unique wave pattern of pearloid inlays, adding to its distinctive look.
This guitar boasts two Seymour Duncan JB humbuckers in the middle and bridge position, known for their hot-rodded tones and high output without sacrificing tone. The addition of a Floyd Rose 1000 series tremolo with an R2 lock nut ensures solid tuning stability, even when you're dive bombing, shrieking, squealing, or fluttering.
Key Features:
- Double-cutaway mahogany body with a polka dot finish
- 3-piece hard maple neck with a C-shape profile
- 16" radius ebony fingerboard with a unique wave pattern of pearloid inlays
- Two Seymour Duncan JB humbuckers in the middle and bridge position
- Floyd Rose 1000 series tremolo with an R2 lock nut for solid tuning stability
- Reverse banana-style headstock with a gold pyramid logo
- Deluxe machine heads with a 14:1 turning ratio
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Type | Solidbody |
| Body Shape | Nightswan |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Body Finish | Gloss |
| Neck Material | Hard Maple |
| Neck Shape | C |
| Neck Joint | Bolt-on |
| Radius | 16" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid Dots in Wave pattern |
| Number of Frets | 24, Medium Jumbo |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
| Nut Width | 1.625" |
| Nut Material | Floyd Rose R2 Locking |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Floyd Rose 1000 Series Locking Tremolo |
| Tuners | Kramer Deluxe, 14:1 ratio |
| Middle Pickup | Seymour Duncan JB Humbucker |
| Bridge Pickup | Seymour Duncan JB Humbucker |
| Controls | 1 x master volume |
| Switching | 3-way toggle pickup switch |
| Strings | .009-.042 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Sold Separately |
FAQs
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What kind of music is the Kramer Nightswan best suited for?
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The Kramer Nightswan is ideal for rock and metal genres, thanks to its dual Seymour Duncan JB humbuckers, which deliver powerful, high-output tones perfect for heavy riffs and solos.
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What is the neck profile of the Kramer Nightswan?
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The Kramer Nightswan features a C-shaped neck profile, providing a comfortable grip for fast playing, making it ideal for shredders and players who prefer a sleek neck feel.
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Does the Kramer Nightswan have a locking tremolo system?
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Yes, the Kramer Nightswan is equipped with a Floyd Rose 1000 Series Locking Tremolo, allowing for stable tuning even during aggressive whammy bar use.
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How many frets does the Kramer Nightswan have?
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The Kramer Nightswan has 24 medium-jumbo frets, offering an extended range for advanced playability and intricate lead work.
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What materials are used in the construction of the Kramer Nightswan?
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The body is made of mahogany with a gloss finish, and the neck is crafted from hard maple, providing a solid build and a resonant tone.
Videos
Robert Baker
The New Kramer Nightswan (Sweet Saturdays #16)
The New Kramer Nightswan (Sweet Saturdays #16)
Robert Baker
Kramer NightSwan Electric Guitar Demo
Sweetwater
Kramer Nightswan Jet Black Metallic
C. A. House Music
Kramer Nightswan - An Honest Review
vaiisking
2020 Kramer Nightswan Review
Totally Rad Guitars
Kramer Nightswan Electric Guitar Demo By Vinnie Moore - AmericanMusical.com
American Musical Supply
Kramer Nightswan Demo
C. A. House Music
No Talking...Just Tones | Kramer NightSwan Jet Black Metallic
Peach Guitars
Reviews
PROS
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Unique R2 locking nut offers better string spacing than the original
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Ebony neck with jumbo frets provides smooth playability and effortless shredding
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Seymour Duncan JB pickups deliver killer tones for rock and metal
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Floyd Rose system stays in tune well, even with intense use
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Compact body and comfortable neck shape enhance playability
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Excellent for achieving classic 80s tones
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High-quality fit and finish once properly set up
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R2 nut makes it a better player than original 80s models
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Attractive design, especially the polka dot finish
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Mahogany body with maple neck offers rich, warm tones
CONS
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Requires setup and potential upgrades out of the box for optimal playability
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Some components like tuners and volume pot are considered low quality
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Frets may require additional work to smooth out rough edges
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No case included with purchase, despite price point
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Middle pickup placement may be intrusive for some players
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Floyd Rose bridge pins may need adjustment to sit properly
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Kramer Nightswan.
Features and functionality
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The Nightswan features a unique middle humbucker that offers a FAT low end with clear mids and highs, preferred over the bridge by some players.
Source -
The guitar includes a "floating 24th fret," described as hanging off the neck for added string grip high on the fretboard.
Source -
The volume knob's action is concentrated in the first 1/8th turn, often going from silent to full volume quickly, limiting nuanced control.
Source
Comparisons
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The Nightswan's middle pickup provides less "mud" and more clarity than the Les Paul neck pickup, especially noticeable with chords.
Source
Setup and maintenance
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Owners mention the importance of learning Floyd Rose tuning methods to ease maintenance, especially for those with multiple guitars equipped with it.
Source -
Removing the red capacitor on the volume pot can make the volume knob behave more like a typical volume control, offering gradual changes rather than an all-or-nothing effect.
Source
Value and pricing
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Financing options at Guitar Center make the Nightswan more accessible, with some owners opting for monthly payments as low as $20.
Source
Mods and upgrades
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Owners have replaced the stock Seymour Duncan JB pickups with a DiMarzio Norton (DP160) in the middle and a DiMarzio Super Distortion (DP100) in the bridge for improved versatility.
Source
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 2 Ratings
579
This is a comfortable shred guitar with simple electronics and a cool look.
The neck is a compound radius ebony fretboard reverse hockey stick neck with dot inlays that curve from the sixth string to the first string back to the sixth string with 24 jumbo nickel silver frets. The bridge pickup is the Vivian Campbell Seymour Duncan Full Shred Humbucker and the middle position is a Seymour Duncan JB. This was the first guitar with a compound radius mass produced. The body is mahogany and the upper horn has enough carve to fret all 24 frets without issue. The body is smaller and this guitar is Gibson 24 3/4 scale unlike the other guitars that were Fender scale at 25 1/2 scale. The neck was shallow and the guitar had one master volume and one 3 way switch. The guitar was later phased out when they started to make the Pro-Axe which was actually less successful and less popular.
Artist usage
Add artist
The Nightswan was a signature model for Vivian Campbell, the current guitarist in Def Leppard, who also played for Ronnie James Dio, Riverdogs, Whitesnake, and a few other bands here and there in the 80's.
In this YouTube video Al Pitrelli can be seen using Kramer NightSwan. Pitrelli used this guitar during the Alice Cooper's Trashes the World Tour in 1989.
Throughout the video, you can see Tony play a Nightswan
In the image linked, Pete Friesen is seen playing a red Kramer Nightswan, identifiable by its distinctive "reverse banana" headstock and unique pickup configuration.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Kramer Nightswan, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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