I need to stop going to GC

[trevorus]

The used wall keeps getting me. Recently I bought a Squier VM 70s strat, and it's been the best strat I've owned. Every time I play it, it just nails the tones I want from a strat. My only mod being CTS pots. The stock Duncan designed pickups are really nice!

Second, just the other day, there's a Kramer Pacer series super strat. Yet again, cheap ass guitar that just kills. The tech guy didn't like that I adjusted the truss rod, but it needed it badly.

The pickups are what interested me. It appears to be an EMG 57/66 set. Not sure yet. Once I restring it, I'll check. But the thing has a kill switch, and a 24 volt mod as well. Someone made this an interesting project!

I've been really appreciating how much better cheap guitars are now than when I started playing guitar. Real, professional quality instruments can be had for a couple hundred easy, now!

 

[Mincer]

That's a very cool Kramer. I really like their take on a Strat shape...thinner and lighter!

 

[ErikH]

I'm not sure about lighter. Those Pacers are still pretty hefty. My Frankenstrat and Warmoth builds both feel lighter. The GC closest to me has 2 of them on the new rack price crazy low but I just can't gel with them. To me they don't feel right. Then again, I have an '88 Baretta, had an '87 Baretta some years ago and also had an '83-'84 Focus 2000 (essentially a Pacer). The new Pacers do look good, don't get me wrong, and they are a vast improvement at previous attempts to rejuvenate the Kramer name.

 

[8eezrule]

I had a Kramer Focus 3000(?), had a pickguard and OFR, can't remember what pups. Body was an ESP. Pawned it for $40 bucks to take a girl on a date and never went back for it. Aaahhh the wisdom of a horny teenager....
Sweet guitars man, and I agree with the cheaper guitars getting better. But it also depends on where they were made.

 

[GuitarDoc]

I totally agree...many "cheap" guitars are really good, especially with just a few tweaks.

 

[soulforger]

I had a Kramer Focus 3000(?), had a pickguard and OFR, can't remember what pups. Body was an ESP. Pawned it for $40 bucks to take a girl on a date and never went back for it. Aaahhh the wisdom of a horny teenager....
Sweet guitars man, and I agree with the cheaper guitars getting better. But it also depends on where they were made.

I also had a Focus 3000, also ESP built, the first ones with the beak neck. Candy Apple Red, OG Floyd (buying a Kramer was the only way to get a Floyd Rose then!). Covered the pickguard (and the single coil holes!) with Rattlesnake skin that I bought in a shop in Jackson WY, put a JB in the bridge wired to a single volume, swapped the neck for a maple fretboard USA Pacer neck (also beak style) and it was my favorite guitar for over 30 years! I finally sold it to go towards the purchase of a used ESP Jake E Lee sig in '07, wish I still had both of them!

 

[Mincer]

I remember the many cheap 80s Kramers were plywood.

 

[soulforger]

Those cheaply built ones came later, mid to late '80s, early on the Focus series was made in Japan by ESP (before they started selling in the USA), I think the first release were Poplar, original Floyd Rose that was the only one at that time! Seymour Duncan pickup in the bridge, I think it was called a "Jam"? These were great guitars, I bought a USA Baretta in '86 (these still used ESP maple body and neck but assembled in the US). OG Floyd and JB, the Focus was the same quality, though being an early one still had a gloss neck unlike the satin Baretta one, which was also wider and flatter, the Focus felt like a Strat neck. I only swapped the neck because I wanted a maple FB, other than the name on the headstock the US Pacer neck was identical from the same production line, the only difference between the Focus and USA at that time was Japanese assembly at ESP vs USA assembly at Kramer in NJ, they used the same parts.

 

[zionstrat]

Had an original poplar Pacer... Heavy, but one of the best Floyd Rose experiences ever.. it's value held and it sold for a bit of a profit couple years back. Always nice when you get a free rent experience

 

[trevorus]

Checked the pickups. Genuine 57/66 set. Hot damn.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I have one of the new Pacer's (SD Custom 5 br./59 neck..though it came w/ nice sounding stock pup's as well) ..it's a hell of a guitar :bigthumb:

 

[GuitarDoc]

I have one of the new Pacer's (SD Custom 5 br./59 neck..though it came w/ nice sounding stock pup's as well) ..it's a hell of a guitar :bigthumb:

Oh no! Not another sound clip.
Is that the only "song" you know?
Love that color. I think it would look better with a rosewood or ebony fretboard.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Oh no! Not another sound clip.
Is that the only "song" you know?

If you crave more...all you need to do is ask nicely

Love that color. I think it would look better with a rosewood or ebony fretboard.

Thanks, Yeah, maybe..but it looks pretty sweet w/the maple as well ..no complaints. It definitely does look a LOT better w/ the Black SD pup's & silver pup rings though :bigthumb:

 

[GuitarDoc]

Occasionally, in that first clip, I hear a note that is on pitch and in the right key...but not very often. Only could stand to listen for 30 seconds. Now my head hurts.

 

[beaubrummels]

The used wall keeps getting me. Recently I bought a Squier VM 70s strat, and it's been the best strat I've owned. Every time I play it, it just nails the tones I want from a strat. My only mod being CTS pots. The stock Duncan designed pickups are really nice!

Second, just the other day, there's a Kramer Pacer series super strat. Yet again, cheap ass guitar that just kills. The tech guy didn't like that I adjusted the truss rod, but it needed it badly.

The pickups are what interested me. It appears to be an EMG 57/66 set. Not sure yet. Once I restring it, I'll check. But the thing has a kill switch, and a 24 volt mod as well. Someone made this an interesting project!

I've been really appreciating how much better cheap guitars are now than when I started playing guitar. Real, professional quality instruments can be had for a couple hundred easy, now!

Those look like nice guitars. I love big headstocks on Strats. Bit better sound and sustain on every one I've had. Finding great guitars and really good guitar deals is mainly just having a goal in mind and having patience for the right one to come up. Can never go by name or price point alone.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Occasionally, in that first clip, I hear a note that is on pitch and in the right key...but not very often. Only could stand to listen for 30 seconds. Now my head hurts.

It's those fleeting moments that make it so special :laugh2:

Rub your head with a salve made of goat shit and honey...works wonders :bigthumb:

 

[GuitarDoc]

It's those fleeting moments that make it so special :laugh2:

Rub your head with a salve made of goat **** and honey...works wonders :bigthumb:

I'll try that. Man, I'll try anything that might help.