NAMM 1985:The ORIGINAL VIDEO of the Eddie Van Halen Kramer Guitar Giveaway

In autumn of 1984, Kramer Guitars and Guitar magazine (formerly Guitar for the Practicing Musician) announced a "dream come true contest." The dream prize: one of Eddie Van Halen's personal Kramer guitars, presented to the winner by Edward Van Halen himself at the 1985 National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show in Anaheim, California.

In January 1985, Michael Gutierrez of Sacramento, California, awoke early one morning to a phone call that nearly 100,000 other entrants had only daydreamed of: Kramer President Dennis Berardi informed Michael that he was about to become the only Van Halen fan on the planet to own one of Ed's classic Kramer stage guitars. (And the lucky sucker did it with just one entry!)

When the big weekend event arrived in February, a film crew on hand documented the event. As excitement and enthusiasm grew in the form of a large crowd circling around Edward and Michael, NAMM officials decided it best to play it safe by whisking Eddie away in one direction and Michael in another. The two met up later that night at a NAMM-hosted party; however, the private guitar lesson and autographing of the guitar, scheduled for the following day, never took place for a variety of reasons.

Edward and Michael have spoken on many occasions throughout the past 20 years, and Michael plans to have Edward finally autograph the instrument when the current Van Halen tour rolls through Michael's hometown in late November.(UPDATE - THE NOVEMBER 2007 CONCERT HAS PAST AND NO SIGNING AGAIN)
IF ANYONE COULD HELP MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

To read more about this one-of-a-kind guitar, hunt down the out-of-print issue #13 of The Inside magazine, or read the feature article online at: http://www.vanhalenstore.com/page/VH/PROD/magazines/M13

Check out some of Mike's work below;

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=276419415&...

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=276656249&...

www.visadrecords.com

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[TNMinuteMan]

Dude I got to ask you a technical question: Did that guitar have a clear coat finish? I mean I know it was probably smoothed out but was it real shiny or was it just paint like some of Ed's other guitars? By the way, congrats brother on the guitar! lol

[5150tv]

@TNMinuteMan No clear coat, straight on paint. Thanx for the note, take care.

[ADoseofReality1]

What were the reasons that this lesson never took place and it's been over 25 years and still no lesson? Wtf? Why didnt he just sign the guitar right there and then?

[5150tv]

@ADoseofReality1

Crowd separated us and Dennis Berrardi never allowed Mike to meet up with Eddie as requested by Eddie himself. The guitar was also to be signed at this little private jam.

Thanks for your post

[atomicfile2]

so what was it like meeting ed?

[5150tv]

@atomicfile2

Was an amazing time. Thanx for the comment

[dokken555]

kramers forever!!!

[terranuup]

wow, thanks so much for sharing!

[MrHideyoursheep]

Ed,It must feel nice to sit and sign and smoke and drink and Rock n' roll Baby!

[TheHockeyfreak1964]

@dokken555 awesome guitars they made men i cant believe this guy was so lucky got a original eddie v.halen kramer e guitar wooooowwwww no fucking copy shid

[5150tv]

@juanparty  facebook.com/michaelmyko.gutie­rrez

[juanparty]

@5150tv hi Michael!! do u have a facebook account?