LeftyBassist.com

Very rare, aluminum neck, MIA:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LEFT-HANDED-KRA ... 2a3f2a6202

The Kramer link the seller speaks of.... scroll down a-ways to find the "Duke" info.... http://www.vintagekramer.com/alum.htm

With the short-scale aspect, this would certainly qualify as a great travel bass... and that case is Too Cool!

Sorry to be a died-in-the-wool 5-stringer, but did Kramer ever make a 5-string aluminum-neck bass, lefty or righty?

I had a Duke back in the day. Wasn't crazy about the tone or the feel of the aluminum neck. Living in Jersey in the winter that aluminum took a long time to warm up . The tuners on the bottom accommadate regular strings ,no double ball end required. I eventually got a used Steinberger XL. The Kramer would be a decent travel bass but tonewise nothing compares to the Steiny.

I LOVE the Kramer aluminium stuff! However, I too have tried a couple of Dukes over the years and find them a little empty in the tone department as well. You wouldn't think that on an instrument with an aluminum neck so much of the tone is contributed by the body but it is. I have a DMZ4000 with a maple body and full headstock. It definitely does NOT lack in tone. (Well, okay, if you're going for a James Jamerson Motown vibe, don't use this bass. But if you are looking for rock and roll thunder and sustain, this is it!)

I live in Canada and the neck is.... ahem..... unfortunate when it gets cold. But, it's one of my go to basses in the summer and for travelling with - again, when it's warm. It's actually living in Germany right now at our backline company's warehouse until we go back in August. (I miss her soooo much..... )

There's a DMZ for sale at Groovy Guitars in So.Jersey. No price and this dealer is kinda known to be a little expensive. http://www.groovyguitar.com/

Yeah, I've been seeing that one for what seems like a couple of years now. I think he's a little out to lunch on the price. I love 'em. But I ain't crazy...........much.

Here's his Ebay listing for the Dmz I think he's tripping on the price http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-KRAMER-DMZ ... 2ebde5a35f

I own an old Kramer DMZ 4001 aluminum too. Heavy as hell, but you won't find a bass with more sustain. Really unique, bright piano-like tone. here's John Deacon of Queen playing one, though I don't know if he ever actually used it in any of their recordings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cqn2MBulcw

Mine:


BTW, I tried one of Steinberger's wooden Spirit XT-2 basses recently. I was pleasantly surprised how good it sounded, given the lack of mass. No, it doesn't compare to a graphite Steiny, but for the money and perhaps a few mods it makes a very decent travel bass.

Awesome! I love those with the trapezoid PUP. I'm curious how it might differ in tone from mine.

Ha! Cool video PJ. And nice 4001. I don't think there's too much difference in the tone between the 4000 and the 4001. The only big difference is that the 4001 has those cool laminate strips running down the middle of the body. The 4000 is just a one piece maple. The PUP in the 4000 isn't actually trapezoidal. That's just a little tiny superfluous pickguard they put on there because...... I don't know. It just has regular P PUPs in it. Mine weren't the original Dimarzios when I got it so I put an EMG PX in there. And, the bridge was rusted and toast so I replaced it with a Hipshot A style. Still, the differences would probably be only attributed to the PUP difference. I'd love to get another one some day.

Regarding the Duke, do you think a pickup change would help tonewise?

I doubt it. IMO there's just not enough mass or density to it to get a good bass tone. As PJ said if you're looking for an economical travel bass the Steinberger Spirits or Hohner headless basses sound much better and can be had for less $$. The only way I can describe the Duke I had was it just sounded "tinny" (don't know if that's a technical term??)