Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $288
Budget/Beginner
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 2 merchants for "Kramer Pacer Classic". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Revive the electrifying spirit of the '80s with the Kramer Pacer Classic, a formidable contender in the world of solid body electric guitars. This modern reissue of the iconic Pacer model melds vintage aesthetic with contemporary craftsmanship, offering musicians a dynamic tool for their sonic arsenal. Its alder body is paired with a maple neck, creating a harmonious blend of rich, resonant tones. Whether you're crafting searing leads or tight, rhythmic chugs, the Pacer Classic handles it all with finesse.
Designed for speed demons, this guitar features a maple neck with a 12" radius fingerboard and 22 medium jumbo frets, ensuring low action and effortless playability. The slim taper C-profile neck enhances comfort, making it a versatile choice for diverse playing styles. With a 25.5" scale length, the Pacer Classic delivers articulate lows and crystalline highs that cut through any mix.
The guitar's powerhouse comes from its double white open-coil Alnico Classic 5 humbucking pickups. These pickups offer high-output crunch and the ability to dial in your perfect tone with independent volume controls. Blend to your heart's content, whether you're after a bright bridge pickup sound or a full-bodied, thick output.
No shred guitar is complete without a tremolo system, and the Pacer Classic does not disappoint. Equipped with a licensed Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo, it enables divebombs and squeals while staying perfectly in tune. Complemented by premium components like die-cast tuners and chrome hardware, this guitar not only plays like a dream but looks the part too.
Key Features:
- Alder body and maple neck for balanced tone
- 12" radius fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets
- Slim taper C-profile neck
- 25.5" scale length for articulate lows and chimey highs
- Double white open-coil Alnico Classic 5 humbucking pickups
- Licensed Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo
- Independent volume controls for each pickup
- Premium die-cast tuners and chrome hardware
Product specs
| Brand | Kramer |
| Model | Pacer Classic |
| Finish | Purple Passion Metallic, Radio Blue, Scarlet Red |
| Year | 2020 - 2025 |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Alder |
| Body Shape | S-Style |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Locking Tremolo Bridge |
| Color Family | Blue, Purple, Red |
| Finish Features | Matching Headstock |
| Finish Style | Metallic |
| Fretboard Material | Maple |
| Fretboard Radius | 12" |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Offset Body | Non-Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | HH |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Wood Top Style | Opaque |
FAQs
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What kind of music is the Kramer Pacer Classic best suited for?
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The Kramer Pacer Classic is ideal for rock and metal genres, offering powerful tones and fast playability inspired by the iconic guitars of the 1980s.
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What is the neck profile of the Kramer Pacer Classic like?
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The Kramer Pacer Classic features a slim, fast-playing neck profile, making it comfortable for quick solos and complex chord progressions.
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Does the Kramer Pacer Classic have a tremolo system?
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Yes, the Kramer Pacer Classic is equipped with a locking tremolo bridge, allowing for dive-bombs and pitch shifts while maintaining tuning stability.
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Are the pickups on the Kramer Pacer Classic suitable for high-gain settings?
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The Kramer Pacer Classic features a dual humbucker (HH) configuration, providing a powerful output that excels in high-gain settings for rock and metal tones.
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Is the Kramer Pacer Classic a good choice for beginners?
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While the Kramer Pacer Classic is designed with features that appeal to intermediate and advanced players, beginners looking for a guitar with classic rock aesthetics and versatile tones may also find it a suitable option.
Videos
Steve from Boston
Kramer Pacer Classic
Reviews
PROS
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Stunning metallic finish resembles a sleek sports car
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Comfortable 80s-inspired body design with a unique headstock shape
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Surprisingly good pickups with versatile tones
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Thin, fast "shredder" neck is great for speed playing
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Durable build, suitable for rehearsals and gigs
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Great modding platform without fear of devaluing
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Consistent playability and doesn't feel cheap
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Adequate electronics with potential for further mods
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Not heavy, offering comfort during long sessions
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Eye-catching design with impressive maple flame on the neck
CONS
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Licensed Floyd Rose vibrato lacks pro-level quality
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Action requires adjustment due to angled Floyd setup
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Stock strings and tuners are of average quality
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Output jack positioning may be awkward when seated
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Limited tonal variation between pickups with stock setup
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Kramer Pacer Classic.
Build quality
Features and functionality
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The Kramer Alnico V pickups are praised for clarity and are often deemed unnecessary to replace.
Source
Setup and maintenance
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The bridge's volume knob is optimally positioned for volume swells.
Source
Mods and upgrades
User experience
Use cases and applications
3.5 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 7 Ratings
40997
I remember these, makes me go a big rubbery one for the 80s
Artist usage
Add artist
This was the only guitar that John had with him when he first joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers back in 1988. He only used it for a couple of gigs with the Peppers [Red Hot Chili Peppers John Anson Ford Theater October 8, 1988], and for some of the early concerts with HATE (sideband project with Flea).
This particular guitar is somewhat of a mystery. What we do know is that the guitar had 24 fret maple neck with dot inlays, long banana headstock, strat-style body with sharper horns, and an HSS pickup configuration. It also featured a custom paint job, perhaps something inspired by Eddie Van Halen who John looked up to in the early days.
As far as the exact model, the closest possibility seems to be the Kramer Pacer Custom II. As one of our readers pointed out, this seems to be the only model with an HSS config where the humbucker isn’t slanted like for instance on the Striker model, which features the same pickup layout.
What doesn’t fit with the usual configuration of Pacer Custom II model is the 24 fret maple neck featuring long banana headstock. By 1986/87 when the model was first introduced, Kramer already started using pointy headstocks, so John’s guitar must have been one of a kind. Even the few of the Pacers that featured maple necks all came with pointy headstocks finished in black, so again quite unusual seeing that particular setup on John’s guitar.
As far as to what happened to the guitar post-1988, we were able to spot it in the 1993 short documentary recorded at John’s place. This means that John kept the guitar for at least five years, even though by then he switched to playing Fender Stratocasters almost exclusively.
Eddie Van Halen is featured using the Kramer Pacer Classic in a Kramer advertisement, as shown in the image from Edroman.
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 Pacer Classic, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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