Kramer Gorky Park

In 1989, in the midst of the diminishing Soviet Republic and the falling of the Berlin wall, Russia was opening itself to more and more Western influences. One of which was rock and roll which had been an underground success there for many years. More American and British rock and roll bands were touring there than ever before and the USSR State political agendas, spearheaded by the fall of the Eastern Bloc, began to lighten up on the ever growing import/export of cultural exchanges. This led to several rock and roll bands growing out of the Soviet Union. One, in particular, was a band called Gorky Park, a five member rock unit that was managed by Dennis Berardi, the then president of Kramer guitars. (By 1989, Berardi had established a management company called the Berardi/Thomas Entertainment, Inc). In celebration of the union, Kramer guitars released the Gorky Park guitar. The GP's triangular body shape was based on the balalaika, a traditional Russian instrument . It sported a pointy/droopy headstock, rosewood board, single volume and humbucker and a Floyd Rose. The guitar also had graphics of the Russian and American flags along with the signatures of all the members in the band.

Berardi seen here with a Gorky Park at the 2003 Kramer Konvention

**There was only one model of the Gorky Park. This version is made-in-Korea vwith dot inlays, silk-screened graphics, Power Sound humbucker and Floyd Rose II. There were other models produced in Russia and in the Kramer custom shop for Alexey Belov, Gorky Park's guitarist. More information was obtained through their former guitar tech and former Kramer employee, Frank (last name witheld).

There are a total of seven non-Korean GP's:

1. Alex's original Russian Made Natural finish GP with a glue on neck.

2. Alex's Red Kramer/Spector made American Custom GP (the first American made GP)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5oo74RsTgY

3. Alex's White Kramer/Spector made American Custom GP (the second American made GP) shown in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EApJf7JXnwU

Then there are four unfinished Kramer/Spector American made GP's for a total of six Kramer/Spector made GP's. Frank purchased all four of the unfinished American GP's from Andy Leonord (not positive on the spelling) who he referred to as “The last man standing” at Kramer. Andy had to get approval for Frank to purchase them and asked which one he wanted. Frank responded that he would take all of them and since Kramer was going down in flames and they had gotten stuck with a bunch of the Korean GP's, they let him have them.

4. Unfinished Gold American GP.
5. Unfinished Gold American GP.
6. Unfinished White American GP.
7. Unfinished Natural finish American GP.

Gorky Park - Overseas Model	USA Gorky Park - never completed

As with Kramer itself, the GP did last long and went down with the company. It's known that many dealers never had to pay for the guitars because of Kramer's filing Chapter 11.

The band itself did not last long either as other musical influences began to dominate the American charts and hair bands began to demise. Editor's note: Most GPs today can be found for cheap online and otherwise. Most came without a case but there are some special hard cases that have appeared for the GP from time to time. Another interesting note relating to the Gorky Park, Dennis Berardi also should be commended on his work for bridging the gap between America and the then hated and feared Soviet Union. Dennis helped organize and see to fruition the Moscow Music Peace Festival, an event to help raise awareness for the drug problems not only in the USSR, but in the USA as well. Bands such as Gorky Park, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi and Skid Row were among the performers. Considering the mood of the times with what was going on in Russia, Dennis did a great thing by being one of the first to try to bring Rock and Roll to Russia, on a USA scale.