$350 SHREDDER SHOWDOWN: Jackson vs Kramer 

When she cut the cantaloupe with the Jackson i lost my shit. This video was so great Kayla! Thank you for this.

The contrast from you absolutely shredding back to talking about the guitars in the most gentle voice is fucking awesome. Also lost my shit when you cut the cantaloupe🤣😭

So dope cant wait til you replace zak wylde

Love you.. That cantaloupe cutting was epic! Great playing!

I had high hopes for the JS32 series too. That was very informative (and entertaining), thank you. \m/

The only Kramer I had was a FOCUS 1000 with a single EMG and a Floyd, back in 1987. Japanese made, excellent guitar. Got if for $150 in a pawn shop. It was only a few years old, not a scratch on it. Of course there was no internet or RU-vid to look up how to set up the tremolo, didn't even know the EMG took a 9volt until after about a week I pulled a little cover off the back. Our one local guitar store didn't even know anything about the EMG, they hadn't been out that long, just a few years and hadn't "migrated" to my town yet en masse. After i put a new battery in it, it came to life. Back in the 80's it might as well been covered wagons and horses compared to now.

I actually own a jackson Soloist SL3X DX X series blue and silver crackle paint job.i bought it as a Christmas present to myself. I love it , great guitar 🎸

Awesome review and I loved the added comic relief. Thanks.

Thanks for the great info! And your playing is exceptional!

Hats off to you for keeping your composure with THAT sort of customer diservice. Jeez, that cost them a sale and yet they won't see it... Anyhow, love your vid, subbed! 🤘

Hey, thanks for that, Kayla. I'll have to check out on of those Kramers.

Excelente review, muy honesta, y excelente sentido del humor, me encantó.

Great video kayla love what you do

Increadible playing and great video.

Awesome playing as always. Glad you found a new tool for your arsenal. Also your voice makes me want to give you a hug. 😂

This is so funny! I love the animation!

Thanks for the head-to-head!

Every single thing about you just tickles the living piss out me. GC employees in the vid are spot on. Really enjoyed this one!

The cantaloupe scene cracked me up 😆

This is exactly what i needed i was considering both of getting both of these guitars

I Luv Your Review. It's awesome to hear real talk. With a touch of Humor to make it entertaining . Thanks for this 😉

Dude, the canteloupe! That was hilarious! Seriously, very informative video. Thanks!

That was awesome. Using the neck to cut the cantaloupe was hilarious.

Love your amp tone

I love Zzounds. Just got a Helix from there. I also got a schecter PT hybrid ultra violet. Sick axe.

Thanks for the review Miss Kayla! 🤘🏼

The melon bit was hilarious.

Loved this video, the intro was hilarious. Was thinking about getting a cheap Jackson but after watching this I think I’m good. Keep shredding!🤘🎸

Looks and talent!

Zzounds rules. Glad you're working with them on the instruments you love. I'm the ESP/Jackson guy and I agree that the Jackson's don't get nice until you hit the Pro line at @1200+. Killer vid. Shit was funny.

It shows your honest opinion very good

Nice shreds as well.

This woman is a definite keeper! ❤

Very respectable musician

Great video..as always! Loved the cantaloupe part! 😅😂

wow youre pretty impressive my dear. your knowledge and skill is impressive. you have a new fan.

You went through what many of us have at GC! Generally atrocious customer service. I stopped buying from them a year ago and never looked back. Just got a Pacer classic reissue and am very happy! Great video!

your vibrato and bends are soooo smooth i need to practice more 😢

Great to hear that Kramer is still making killer guitars! Was looking at a Nightswan (that aztec one is beautiufl) but wasn't sure.

Thnx for the laugh! The can't-a-lope bit is hilarious!! I don't play no moes and have an '91 Rg 770 I would love to bestow upon thee

The Jacksons can be awesome if you get a good one but their quality control seems a bit shite. Mine also has fairly sharp frets, but I haven't noticed any of the other issues. Mine did come with a headstock that looks like it's been chipped and then poorly repaired so that's pretty fun lol. Tbh, I really like the "touching a bare piece of wood" feel of the neck, but I'm aware other people might prefer to use protection when touching wood.

I have a js32 warrior on the way to me. I've seen a few videos stating that they can have some issues out of the box. I just can't not be in love with the warrior body. Im planning to mod it over time and itll get sent to a tech to hopefully smooth out any frets and basically do what can be done to make it better. Your playing is insanely good too! You make it look so effortless!

Very informative video! I love the JS32 series solely as a decent mod platform, but seeing this video definitely makes me want to get an HSS Kramer Striker. Also, I've owned two Beretta specials in the past and loved them, so I already know I'll love how it feels. With an actual FR Special (not bad at all if setup correctly) and much better sounding electronics (in my opinion), the Striker looks and sounds very promising. Thanks for making this video! PS, the JS32's tuning instability is most likely because the nut is shifting on the nut shelf. To test this, just mute the strings between the nut and bridge, flick the strings between the nut and tuners, then use the bar. If the string areas between the nut and tuners change pitch, the nut is shifting and needs to be tightened down to the neck. If it can't be tightened any more, what I do is put some slivers of toothpick in the screw hole, then tighten again. It works about 90%-95% of the time. Hope this helps 🤘

That sucks, I loved the look of that Jackson. Good info❤

Hi, Im a new subscriber ... I know, big whoop lol. I've played guitar for 42 years and know my way around it okay, I have to say you are truly gifted to be that good at such a young age. I hope all the best for you.

I just recently bought the red Kramer too! I liked it for the narrow nut and I did have to set it up. I like it. I like it better than the Jackson I bought a little while back. Great clip!

Nice finish and body! Oh and the guitar ain’t bad either!

Great video !!!! 😂🤣😂👍🏼🤘🏼

Now that was funny , Subscribed !!!

Thanks for the review. Incidentally I've purchased a few Kramer's recently. The Pacers seem to have very sharp fret ends. No issues at all with the Nightswan, Nite-V, or Baretta specials.

Wow 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Kayla, I absolutely love your videos and your absolutely correct about the QC from the JS series. Even though that particular series is targeted toward the beginner level player they definitely could do a better job considering other brands are doing it at the price range. I have owned many Jackson guitars from the early 90s through the mid 2000s, Japanese and Indonesian and they were flawless shred machines. After fender purchased Jackson I noticed that you had to buy atleast an X or a pro series to get that level of quality and now your talking $1000 for an import when you can get that Kramer $700 cheaper.

Funny review :) I bought my Candy Red Kramer 120 back in 91 and it's been my "go to" axe ever since. It's had pickup changes, a replacement switch, and the frets have no more 'level & crown' left in them but I've yet to find anything else as comfortable or playable.

I have an ivy green kramer striker, but I changed a lot of stuff on it. I put in gotoh locking tuners, a gotoh 1996t tremolo, cts pots, gotoh knobs, and a neon green seymour duncan JB, also FU tone green springs and a fat brass block.But mine came with sharp frets so I had to file them down. I literally put more money into parts than for the guitar. But hey, I really liked the guitar and it had a lot of potential, I had been looking for a "green guitar" project so when I saw it, I fell in love. Plus the input Jack's on them are sweet. I'm use to ESPs and LTDs with normal input Jack's and jack plates.

"Wow" Kayla I must say that you're guitar technique is absolutely knock out it's as if you're hands have gotten some octopus reflex. Fab Playing. John.

Loved that Skyrim meme at the end ❤😂

The CFH solo on the Jackson was total badass!

yeyy cool vid!

Great video! I have 2 Kramers from the early 80s made in the USA and 2 Jacksons 1 made in Japan and the other is a RR V. Of course I favor the vintage Kramers but the Jacksons are very good with no sharp fret ends. It's been my experience in the past that most Jacksons have very good necks but I don't know about the new ones.

This is why Guitar Center is hurting for business because they don't give a shit about setting up guitars and having personal customer service! I'd rather buy a guitar online and have to wait for it to be delivered to my home and then I can set it up my way with my tools the right way.

Kewl, that licensed floyd is also a detuner. What a score.

My first guitar that I learned to play on was a Kramer 300st. man I miss that thing

I love em Kramers 😎🤘

How bout that Caged in a Rage sound bite!!! Badass riff!!!

My first Floyded guitar was an 80's Korean Striker, C.A.R. Lot's of fun.

Your analysis of the Jackson here makes me glad that all of my Jacksons and Charvels are from the 80's and very early 90's. I've got 20 of them, all with either Floyds or licensed Floyds. None of these quality issues existed back then. But don't forget the price point you're talking about here. My first "decent" guitar was considered a "budget guitar." I bought my beloved Charvel Model 4 in 1987 for around $750. That's 750 1987 dollars! She was worth every penny, and is still my favorite to play even though I have many that are regarded as "better." I envy the selection of quality guitars that young people just starting out have to choose from these days. When I started out, a $350 guitar was going to be a nightmare to play, and was still a lot of money in the 80's. I fought off the urge to pick up one of those Baretta Specials when they came out. So darn inexpensive but I just don't need any more guitars. Your demo of the Striker has me fighting G.A.S. yet again!

Very funny Sweet solo.

I've been thinking about going with one of these too and i borrowed my brothers jackson and have had the same exact issue with the floyd rose. I think you've sold me on the kramer

Girl you can shred. 🤘

I bought the Jackson Adrian Smith ( non USA model ) and the frets were sharp on that as well.

Now I miss my 90's music store again. AARRGGH! Whenever someone bought a guitar new or used from them, they would take you into the luthier room and ask you what gauge string, what action height you prefer, set the intonation to your prefered strings... ARGH! I MISS it so much now! Sorry to hear the music store hell story. Seems more and more common recently.

cartoon kayla is cool

the muppets reference had me rolling lol!

🤘

A Kramer Stryker was my first electric guitar, way back in the Paleozoic era (before Pantera was even a band, egad!), and back then it was a nice entry level guitar, I'm glad you get a better trem these days and you gave it a second chance. I'm sorry your Jackson Dinky experience was so poor. A Jackson PS-4 reverse dinky is my daily driver and although its been slightly modded over the millennia, its been solid. Keep up the great work Kayla, your chops are phenomenal.🎸

I just hope that you like the Kramer. It's not the black one you have but, you rock!!!

You play any guitar great 😉

Dang, the Jackson must be a lemon! I tried out four of them at the store and brought home a metallic purple one. One fret needs to be filed a little and a pickup is microphonic are the only issues, but the pickups I was going to replace anyway. No issue with the bridge holding tune.

Guitar Center is the Walmart of music stores. Great review. Kramer for the win.

I have the exact same kramer its flawless right from factory just had to tune it up and she SHREDS

I used to have a Kramer striker way back in the mid '90s. Second hand day glow pink. Painted it black, didn't like the neck, and gave it to my cousin. Jackson-Fender, Kramer-Gibson.

I have a JS32 Rhoads. Lefty of course. Got it off Amazon. Replaced the shitty stock Floyd with a Floyd Rose special and modded that with stainless steel parts. Had to take some of the sharp edges down a bit on the neck as you've mentioned. Put some Black Winters in it and replaced the tuners with Gotohs. It's now one of my favorite guitars. I will later upgrade to a Gotoh 1996t. Wood and wires. I did have a lefty Kramer similar to the one you demoed. I liked it just fine but the flat top bummed me out a bit and I had the same Floyd issue with the Kramer. I tinkered with it a bit and got it to return safely but wanted a bit more from the pick-ups. The price point was right but it wasn't for me. Killer video. Love the Johnson Millennium. Wish I hadn't sold mine long ago. Cheers.

I gotta be honestly, I’m not saying what you said isn’t correct but I didn’t experience the same thing. When I tried both out at my GC, the Kramer felt good but the Jackson just felt so great. The fret edges were so clean, and the whole guitar just felt amazing, FR was great too. However, considering what you experienced, I have a feeling that what I played was a rare one off chance. I plan on picking up a soloist in a year and those are just so beautiful. However, if it’s $1k or above, I’ll either go with an Adrian Smith signature, Japanese fender, Dave Murray Fender, or a Charvel. Oh btw, that Jackson cutting the cantaloupe was perfect! XD

Sharp fret edges can be several issues. It could be the frets weren't filed down properly. It may have what is called "fret sprout." If a guitar went from a more humid environment to a drier one, you may get fret sprout due to the neck wood shrinking and causing the frets to "sprout" out farther than the edge of the neck. Loved the video!

I had the same fret end problem with my purple Jackson JS34Q. The frets were also rough as a rock. After fixing both, it plays really great and I love it. Definitely check the fret work before you buy one of cheaper Jacksons.

Kayla you are so amazing and your videos rock.🤘🤘🤘

Kayla, I feel your pain with that Jackson fretboard. About 3 years ago now, I bought a JS22 DKA Dinky (the one in Natural Oil, because I wanted the nyatoh -- not "nato" -- body. I had fretwork that was the best I'd ever bought on top and the absolute worst on the sides. That axe still sings like it just got a fret job, but those fret edges were nearly lethal! I've emery boarded those fret edges no less than 3 times! I think it's the amaranth fretboard. My opinion is that it has a high water content that evaporates, which makes the wood shrink like crazy. Eventually, though, it will stabilize, so I'm not worried -- plus I have fret files now that I didn't have when I got this axe, so I'm ready for whatever. She rocks like the very hurricaine now ... but I would NOT recommend this baby to a beginner. Indeed, I don't know how far up the Jackson ladder one would have to go to get a guitar that actually WOULD be good for a beginner. This from a guy who knows at least two brands of guitar that he would so recommend! This is a great video. That Jackson reminded me so much of my first super Strat (long lost to theft☹) that I'm tempted to get one.

7:20 inconsistent spring tension. If the springs the problem, contact Jackson. If the wood of the body was not cured properly, the screw holding the spring in place might be shifting. Contact Jackson.

With the garbage floyd on the Jackson I would try replacing the springs. Love the video. I have a Jackson similar to the one you have and It plays great to me. P/U's are garbage but everything else is on point. Best of luck KramerFanHottie!

Little lady, imma like this video soley for you capturing the GC salesperson mentality.

I also prefer flat top guitars. This review was exactly what i was looking for.

So no joke I have an older Kramer Striker and absolutely love it. It needs some love but it plays so good. I came from ESP/LTD guitars but for about 8 years they have just pissed me off and got rid of everything I liked about them. Was very loyal to ESP/LTD but they did me dirty and so my recent guitar was a Kramer. Have to say I am in love with this guitar and the quality versus the price is amazing. Kramer is my go to now I just want them to re-release an Explorer model or EX model my lineup would be complete.

The only Jackson to own is an 80s neck through soloist SL1 from the original custom shop. They are absolutely fantastic.

Bought a Jackson King V about a year ago. As much as I loved how cool it looked, it didn't work out. It had an insane Neck Dive due to how far from the Neck bolts the Strap Button is. I'm not sure how much of a problem this is with other Floyd Rose guitars, but on the low E, the coiling around the string itself would strip away and be pulled off, letting the string slip out to place.

I love Jackson guitars !!! but good video anyway .... I'll try Kramer oone of these days :) greetings from El Salvador

Had the lefty js32 and completely agree. Jackson Floyd was usable but had stiff fine tuners. Put a Floyd original on it and realized the locking nut was slightly off center. Not enough to have a string hang off but still annoying. Always wondered if all licensed Floyd rose specials had that problem because my Floyd original is fantastic. Still have the Floyd and was going to buy another js32 to put it on but then came across the striker and the pacer and I think I’m going to go with pacer because the specs are better then the js32. For example the js32 has a poplar body vs the alder on the pacer.

That Muppet haunted me too.

Lol i love this video!! Hehe how good lol im laughing heaps at the start

I like the Jackson!

Woahhhh ohhhh so high and then I fell. Woahhh ohh cant stop the ringing of my funeral bell!