The 1980s Kramer USA Jersey Star in Black Pearl is a striking example of the high-performance electric guitars that defined Kramer's late-'80s era. Closely associated with Richie Sambora's signature Kramer design, its aggressive double-cutaway shape, triple-humbucker configuration, locking Floyd Rose tremolo and unmistakable star detailing make it one of the brand's most recognisable artist-inspired guitars.

Designed for the high-gain, technically demanding playing styles that dominated rock guitar during this period, the Jersey Star combines fast-playing Superstrat ergonomics with significantly more pickup flexibility than a conventional single-humbucker shred guitar.

This Pre-Owned example is offered in Very Good condition and finished in distinctive Black Pearl.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	Kramer USA
Model	Jersey Star / Richie Sambora Design
Era	1980s
Finish	Black Pearl
Pickup Format	Triple Humbucker
Bridge	Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good
Main Appeal	Iconic late-'80s Kramer design with star styling and HHH electronics
Best For	Hard rock, glam metal, classic rock, shred, lead guitar and collecting

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Very Good Condition

This 1980s Kramer USA Jersey Star is offered in Very Good condition.

Very Good condition reflects an older Pre-Owned instrument that has seen previous use while remaining well presented and suitable for regular playing, recording or live performance.

For a guitar from Kramer's original late-'80s era, this grade offers a good balance between genuine period character and overall presentation.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ 1980s Kramer USA Jersey Star Black Pearl
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This Kramer has been graded Very Good, reflecting normal evidence of previous ownership appropriate for an electric guitar dating from the 1980s.

The Black Pearl finish and distinctive star-themed design give it a particularly bold appearance associated with Kramer's peak hard-rock period.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Kramer Jersey Star has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks include:

• All three pickups tested
• Pickup selector operation checked
• Mini-switch operation assessed
• Volume control tested
• Output socket checked
• Frets inspected
• Fingerboard condition assessed
• Neck condition checked
• Tuning machines inspected
• Floyd Rose tremolo operation checked
• Locking nut assessed
• Hardware inspected
• Tuning stability checked
• Overall playability assessed
• Hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned electric guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes:

• Action checked
• Neck relief checked
• Frets inspected
• Intonation checked
• Tuning stability checked
• Electronics tested
• Pickup output checked
• Floyd Rose setup assessed
• Hardware checked
• General playability assessed

Please note that guitar setup can shift slightly during delivery because changes in temperature and humidity can naturally affect wooden instruments in transit.

Why Choose The Kramer USA Jersey Star?

Iconic Late-'80s Kramer Styling

Few guitars capture Kramer's peak hard-rock era as clearly as this design, with its pointed headstock, star detailing and unmistakable Superstrat proportions giving it immediate stage presence.

Triple-Humbucker Configuration

Three humbuckers provide a much broader tonal platform than the single- or twin-pickup layouts found on many period shred guitars, offering contrasting rhythm, lead and combined pickup sounds.

Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo

The Floyd Rose system is designed for expressive pitch effects while maintaining tuning stability, making it particularly well suited to dive bombs, wide vibrato and technically demanding lead playing.

Performance-Focused Neck Design

The bolt-on maple neck, long Fender-style scale and upper-fret access reflect the fast, precise playing requirements that drove Kramer's guitar development throughout the 1980s. Period Sambora models used a pointed headstock and distinctive star fingerboard inlays.

Genuine Kramer-Era Character

Unlike a modern recreation, an original 1980s example carries genuine connection to the period when Kramer was one of the defining names in high-performance American rock guitars.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Kramer Jersey Star vs Kramer Baretta

The Baretta is the purer choice for players who want Kramer's stripped-back single-humbucker hot-rod formula, while the Jersey Star offers far greater pickup versatility and a more elaborate artist-inspired appearance.

Kramer Jersey Star vs Kramer Nightswan

The Nightswan is another highly collectable late-'80s Kramer with its own distinctive short-scale feel and pickup arrangement, while the Jersey Star offers a longer-scale Superstrat platform and the unusual versatility of three humbuckers.

Kramer Jersey Star vs Jackson Soloist

A Jackson Soloist provides similarly aggressive high-performance ergonomics, but the Kramer carries a different 1980s identity with its bolt-on construction, triple-pickup layout and strong association with Kramer's artist era.

Kramer Jersey Star vs Charvel Superstrat

A period-style Charvel is ideal for players who prefer a more stripped-back hot-rodded Strat approach, while the Jersey Star is the more flamboyant option with expanded electronics and unmistakable signature styling.

Who Is It For?

1980s Rock Guitarists

This is a natural choice for players chasing the feel, look and performance characteristics associated with the golden era of high-gain rock guitar.

Hard Rock And Glam Metal Players

The combination of humbuckers, Floyd Rose tremolo and fast Superstrat ergonomics works particularly well for saturated rhythm tones and expressive lead playing.

Technical Lead Players

A locking tremolo, long scale and performance-focused layout make the design particularly suitable for fast picking, legato, wide bends and tremolo techniques.

Kramer Collectors

Original 1980s Kramer artist-era instruments have a very different appeal from later reissues, particularly for enthusiasts interested in the company's American Series period.

Richie Sambora And Bon Jovi Fans

The design is inseparable from the visual language of Richie Sambora's Kramer guitars during Bon Jovi's late-1980s rise, making it especially appealing to fans of that era.

Suitable Genres And Uses

• Hard rock
• Glam metal
• Hair metal
• Classic rock
• Arena rock
• Heavy rock
• Shred
• Instrumental guitar
• Lead guitar
• Rhythm guitar
• High-gain amplifier rigs
• Studio recording
• Live performance
• 1980s guitar collections
• Kramer collections

Why Use Three Humbuckers On A Superstrat?

Most high-performance guitars keep the electronics relatively simple, but a three-humbucker arrangement provides much greater variety without abandoning the thicker, hum-cancelling character rock players often prefer.

Combined with multi-position switching and additional coil-control options, the format allows one guitar to cover powerful bridge leads, fuller neck sounds and contrasting intermediate combinations. That versatility is particularly useful for players who want an unmistakably 1980s performance guitar without being restricted to one basic high-output voice.

Looking for advice on choosing the right vintage Kramer, Floyd Rose electric guitar or Pre-Owned 1980s Superstrat? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context: Kramer Jersey Star / Richie Sambora Signature

The story of this design begins in 1986, when Kramer president Dennis Berardi approached Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi about creating a signature Kramer. The resulting instrument appeared as part of Kramer's Signature Series during the period when Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet had helped turn the band into one of the biggest rock acts in the world.

By 1987, the Richie Sambora model was established in Kramer's catalogue. Its combination of three humbuckers, Floyd Rose tremolo, pointed headstock and star-themed detailing made it significantly more elaborate than the stripped-back Barettas that had helped establish Kramer earlier in the decade. The model is documented in Kramer's 1988 catalogue as the Richie Sambora KRS-1300.

Period American models featured the distinctive Kramer “American” headstock identity, star fingerboard inlays and the performance hardware expected from the company's top rock-oriented instruments. By 1989 Kramer was also offering additional hardware and fingerboard variations before the original Sambora model was discontinued around the end of that year.

Years later, Gibson-owned Kramer revisited the Sambora-inspired design under the Jersey Star name, helping introduce its unmistakable star graphics and three-pickup format to a new generation. That makes an original 1980s USA-era example particularly interesting: it comes from the period that created the design rather than from one of its later revivals.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	Kramer
Series	USA / American Series Era
Model	Jersey Star / Richie Sambora Design
Production Era	Late 1980s
Finish	Black Pearl
Body Style	Double-Cutaway Superstrat
Neck Material	Maple
Neck Construction	Bolt-On
Scale Length	25.5"
Number of Frets	22
Fingerboard Inlays	Star
Headstock	Kramer Pointed / Hockey-Stick Style
Pickup Configuration	HHH
Pickups	3 Humbuckers
Electronics	Passive
Controls	Master Volume
Pickup Selector	5-Way
Additional Switching	2 Mini Switches
Bridge	Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo
Locking System	Floyd Rose Locking Nut
String Configuration	6-String
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good

The defining period Sambora specification included three humbuckers, Floyd Rose locking tremolo, star inlays and a pointed bolt-on neck, although details such as fingerboard material and hardware finish varied during the model's production life.

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required for the guitar's passive electronics.

Connect it to a suitable guitar amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or audio interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying Pre-Owned is often the only way to access genuine instruments from Kramer's original 1980s era rather than later recreations.

Older Kramer models can vary considerably in specification and individual character, which makes the condition, setup and assessment of the actual guitar particularly important.

At Fair Deal Music, our Pre-Owned guitars are individually checked and assessed before sale, helping customers buy vintage, discontinued and less-common instruments with greater confidence.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The 1980s Kramer USA Jersey Star Black Pearl is a seriously distinctive guitar for anyone who loves the excess, innovation and performance-driven design of late-'80s rock instruments.

Its triple-humbucker layout gives it considerably more tonal scope than many traditional shred guitars, while the Floyd Rose and unmistakable star styling provide the visual and functional ingredients players associate with Kramer's most celebrated period.

Best suited for: Hard rock, glam metal and lead players, Kramer collectors and musicians looking for genuine 1980s Superstrat character.

Customers usually upgrade from: Modern Kramer models, conventional HSS Superstrats and more affordable Floyd Rose-equipped guitars.

Most commonly paired with: High-gain valve or modelling amplifiers, overdrive and distortion, wah, chorus, delay and rack-style effects.

Our tip: A Floyd Rose-equipped vintage guitar rewards a good setup. Once the preferred string gauge and tuning are established, keeping them consistent makes ownership considerably easier.

Showroom feedback: What makes this design special is the combination of unmistakable visual identity and genuinely useful performance features rather than nostalgia alone.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps players find the right equipment whether they're purchasing their first serious instrument, upgrading an existing setup or searching for something distinctive within the vintage and Pre-Owned market.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Decades of experience buying and selling guitars
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Secure online ordering
• UK delivery
• Friendly support before and after purchase
• Extensive experience with rare, vintage and Pre-Owned instruments

For an older performance guitar such as this Kramer, our team can also help with questions about Floyd Rose setup, playing feel and suitability for your existing rig.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, amplifier, keyboard, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of gear you no longer use while making your next instrument more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What string gauge works well with a Floyd Rose-equipped Kramer?

A 9–42 set is a popular choice for 25.5" scale Superstrats, while 10–46 provides a firmer feel. Changing gauge significantly normally requires the Floyd Rose spring tension and intonation to be reassessed.

Is a Floyd Rose difficult to maintain?

It requires a slightly different restringing and setup process from a fixed bridge, but once balanced correctly it provides excellent tuning stability. Keeping the same tuning and string gauge simplifies routine maintenance considerably.

Can this guitar work with modern high-gain amps and modellers?

Yes. Its passive humbucker output can be used with traditional amplifiers, modern high-gain heads, pedalboards, multi-effects processors and digital modelling systems.

How should an original 1980s guitar be stored?

Avoid rapid temperature changes, excessive heat and extreme humidity. Using the case when the guitar is not being played can help protect it from knocks, dust and environmental changes.

Is this suitable for lower tunings?

It can be set up for alternative tunings, but because the Floyd Rose balances string tension against tremolo springs, substantial tuning or string-gauge changes normally require the bridge to be rebalanced.

Can I request a closer look before purchasing?

Yes. For an individual older instrument such as this, our Request a Video Demo option is particularly useful if you would like to see and hear the guitar in greater detail before making your decision.