Is My Kramer Focus Worth Souping Up?

[ErikH]

Re: Is My Kramer Focus Worth Souping Up?

Lots of folks have been recommending a variety of pickup changes. Can y'all tell me why you recommend the pickup(s) you posted?

- Keith

'78 Model - pretty much the perfect overwound PAF, IMO. Can cover a lot of ground style wise.

APS-1's - with the recommended bridge pickup being an Alnico 2 magnet, the natural match in the single coils to me are these. They'll give you that vintage single-coil feel and sound for those clean tones and light drive, good blues tones. However, since yours has a rosewood board, if you want a little more chime the SSL-1's might be better and they'll still match up great with the '78.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Is My Kramer Focus Worth Souping Up?

What are you trying to go for musically?

For this guitar, I'm going for the classic VH tones from Van Halen I through Fair Warning.

- Keith

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Is My Kramer Focus Worth Souping Up?

^ok with that...I would also go with the 78( just tried it yesterday...wow great pickup for that great oldschool rocktone)and a like my Kramer, APS-1's...sweet singlecoils, my friends Kramer Pacer from 86 had the same setup, EVH/78 and APS-1's.
Sharp guitar you have there, the body is a tad more slender than the American series, looks great.
Niels

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Is My Kramer Focus Worth Souping Up?

Here ya go (needs a good dusting, I know):

- Keith

That is the exact model and finnish a buddy i knew in Toronto in the 80's sold his Les Paul for.. i have not seen him since the 80's but i bet he regrets selling an LP for one of those!!! Brings back memory's.... I like 80's guitars like these alot...

I have never tried the 78 pickup the other guys are talking about.... but i generally stick with JB's in guitars like this as the JB has a fair bit of mids to compete with the bright tone of a Floyd and the body woods used in these...

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Is My Kramer Focus Worth Souping Up?

The 78 have plenty of mids...it sounds big and fat really, like a PAF on some funny pills!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Is My Kramer Focus Worth Souping Up?

Nice. :bigok: Sharp color.
Some new pups and a good cleaning/setup and she'll be read to rock for another 20 years.

Yep!! If you like how it feels, and Im sure ya do, you will be blown away by how it comes alive with new pups..