L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Is it reasonable to expect my EVH Striped Series to do everything my Kramer Focus 1000 did? Tonally, musically, playing, etc?
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
I'm going to say it should or better; esp. if it was a stock F1K.
I'm going to say it should or better; esp. if it was a stock F1K.
Kamanda~SD
New member
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
Yes and No. I do own a Focus, and have played a handful of EVH's
In terms of build quality, your probably looking close to the same. The ESP - Made Focus' are quite amazing, but the Mexican EVH's are no slouches either. Factor in age / condition and your probably fairly close.
Differences:
-Body wood on EVH is Basswood, Most Focus' were Alder / Poplar. It's Preference here.
-OFR on Focus (assuming it hasn't been parts out or abused) is superior to the EVH one. Once again, assuming good condition.
-Apparently pickups were pretty crap in the Focus' and the EVH's arn't too shabby. But were dropping Duncans in anyway, right!?!?
-If you like maple boards, its a hell of alot easier to get an EVH with one.
-Neck profile...I haven't had my Focus too long, but from what I remember about the EVH's they are a bit fuller feeling, and of course fairly raw feeling. Preference here. I like both but I'm also not super picky/ specific.
-Pickup angle...it's a difference. Subtle of course, more for the looks.
-Different Body shape. The EVH is more traditional strat vs the focus 1000, so if you found it super comfortable while sitting etc...once again, subtle and comes down to preference.
Similarities:
-More bare bones guitars, single pickup, no bull****.
-floyds that will stay in tune
-you'll look just as cool rocking out VH tunes on either...paint job aside.
So yeah....yes, and no.
Yes and No. I do own a Focus, and have played a handful of EVH's
In terms of build quality, your probably looking close to the same. The ESP - Made Focus' are quite amazing, but the Mexican EVH's are no slouches either. Factor in age / condition and your probably fairly close.
Differences:
-Body wood on EVH is Basswood, Most Focus' were Alder / Poplar. It's Preference here.
-OFR on Focus (assuming it hasn't been parts out or abused) is superior to the EVH one. Once again, assuming good condition.
-Apparently pickups were pretty crap in the Focus' and the EVH's arn't too shabby. But were dropping Duncans in anyway, right!?!?
-If you like maple boards, its a hell of alot easier to get an EVH with one.
-Neck profile...I haven't had my Focus too long, but from what I remember about the EVH's they are a bit fuller feeling, and of course fairly raw feeling. Preference here. I like both but I'm also not super picky/ specific.
-Pickup angle...it's a difference. Subtle of course, more for the looks.
-Different Body shape. The EVH is more traditional strat vs the focus 1000, so if you found it super comfortable while sitting etc...once again, subtle and comes down to preference.
Similarities:
-More bare bones guitars, single pickup, no bull****.
-floyds that will stay in tune
-you'll look just as cool rocking out VH tunes on either...paint job aside.
So yeah....yes, and no.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
I had an F1K in '88. I can't think of anything it could have done that any other Floyded, 1-hum, Strat-shaped, solidbody electric guitar could not do.
I had an F1K in '88. I can't think of anything it could have done that any other Floyded, 1-hum, Strat-shaped, solidbody electric guitar could not do.
metalchurch79
New member
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
The Focus is made in Japan by ESP, so its probably made better, but thats just my opinion.
The F1000 especially cause they had a 3pc neck just like offered on the Kramer Americans. Now the Focus 1000 has the non tilted neck, but they were phased out by 1987 when the F1000 took their place.
Focus 1000 and F1000 are two different models, just to clear that up. Same as the Focus 3000 vs F3000, and the Focus 6000 vs the F6000. The Fxxxx were introduced in 1988 and produced until the end of 1989. The Focus series were made from 1983-87, and had Chrome hardware, the Fxxxx had black hardware. (Most of them.)
I have an '88 F3000 and its right on par with my '87 Pacer Deluxe. Only difference is the F3k has a recessed trem and didnt come with Seymours, Schaller tuners, or Schaller strap locks, other wise same guitar.
The Focus is made in Japan by ESP, so its probably made better, but thats just my opinion.
The F1000 especially cause they had a 3pc neck just like offered on the Kramer Americans. Now the Focus 1000 has the non tilted neck, but they were phased out by 1987 when the F1000 took their place.
Focus 1000 and F1000 are two different models, just to clear that up. Same as the Focus 3000 vs F3000, and the Focus 6000 vs the F6000. The Fxxxx were introduced in 1988 and produced until the end of 1989. The Focus series were made from 1983-87, and had Chrome hardware, the Fxxxx had black hardware. (Most of them.)
I have an '88 F3000 and its right on par with my '87 Pacer Deluxe. Only difference is the F3k has a recessed trem and didnt come with Seymours, Schaller tuners, or Schaller strap locks, other wise same guitar.
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L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
My Kramer was a pointy-beak Focus 1000, all original from what I could tell. Chrome hardware. Decked Floyd. It was one of the best guitars I've ever owned. There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found. I'm trying to figure out how badly I need one. More or less than a D'Angelico hollowbody?
My Kramer was a pointy-beak Focus 1000, all original from what I could tell. Chrome hardware. Decked Floyd. It was one of the best guitars I've ever owned. There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found. I'm trying to figure out how badly I need one. More or less than a D'Angelico hollowbody?
metalchurch79
New member
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
Get another Kramer man, theyre all over reverb for decent prices. Could almost get 2 for the price of a new guitar.
Get another Kramer man, theyre all over reverb for decent prices. Could almost get 2 for the price of a new guitar.
ken361
New member
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
I had a focus a few years ago it was dead mint I changed the pup to a custom custom but it didnt sound good loud! I left the stock pup in the neck. Kinda thin and that so i sold it and never got into floyds that much ever again. The striped series kills it, thicker dynamic tones thats close to ED's tones. I always played les Pauls or a SGs I was surprised how good it sounds and the neck is the best.
I had a focus a few years ago it was dead mint I changed the pup to a custom custom but it didnt sound good loud! I left the stock pup in the neck. Kinda thin and that so i sold it and never got into floyds that much ever again. The striped series kills it, thicker dynamic tones thats close to ED's tones. I always played les Pauls or a SGs I was surprised how good it sounds and the neck is the best.
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
My first eBay purchase and first Kramer was in 2004; a Focus 3000 Mutt in Candy Blue with a homemade one hum flat black pickguard ala EVH sporting a regular spaced DiMarzio Super Distortion, a B.C. Rich NJ Maple Fretboard Neck and the Original Floyd still on it. It was a listed as "a player that has been gigged consistently and had plenty of beer spilled on it along the way". Kept it for a while and messed around with it long enough that I was hooked on Maple Fretboards, OFRs and Floyds to this day. Built out a few Kramer Mutts and was fortunate enough to have an '86 Stagemaster Custom in Dayglo Pink, 89 Sustainer in Pearl White, SC3 Tele Mutt, Custom Fully Bound Maple Board Tele Mutt, Elliott Easton Pacer Custom II Mutt, and a number of others. Only one I've got now is the '83 Maple Board Sunburst Pacer Imperial.
Kramers aren't as cheap as they use to be but you can still find deal on them now and again if you're patient and quick on the draw when you find 'em and the make great "mutt/parts-o-caster/Frankenstein" builds IMHO!
My first eBay purchase and first Kramer was in 2004; a Focus 3000 Mutt in Candy Blue with a homemade one hum flat black pickguard ala EVH sporting a regular spaced DiMarzio Super Distortion, a B.C. Rich NJ Maple Fretboard Neck and the Original Floyd still on it. It was a listed as "a player that has been gigged consistently and had plenty of beer spilled on it along the way". Kept it for a while and messed around with it long enough that I was hooked on Maple Fretboards, OFRs and Floyds to this day. Built out a few Kramer Mutts and was fortunate enough to have an '86 Stagemaster Custom in Dayglo Pink, 89 Sustainer in Pearl White, SC3 Tele Mutt, Custom Fully Bound Maple Board Tele Mutt, Elliott Easton Pacer Custom II Mutt, and a number of others. Only one I've got now is the '83 Maple Board Sunburst Pacer Imperial.
Kramers aren't as cheap as they use to be but you can still find deal on them now and again if you're patient and quick on the draw when you find 'em and the make great "mutt/parts-o-caster/Frankenstein" builds IMHO!
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
Focus' are just bad a$$... Funny, back in those days we snubbed em cuz they were.... **GASP** Made in JAPAN!! But, they are stellar axes.. Stock pickups are a weak link, but otherwise, great guitars!
Guess it boils down to the look you want and the small details as Kamanda noted
Focus' are just bad a$$... Funny, back in those days we snubbed em cuz they were.... **GASP** Made in JAPAN!! But, they are stellar axes.. Stock pickups are a weak link, but otherwise, great guitars!
Guess it boils down to the look you want and the small details as Kamanda noted
dotsdad
Well-known member
Re: Kramer Focus 1000 vs. EVH Striped
I had an MIj Focus 3000 beak neck from new in 86 til I sold it around 08-09 The striped blows it away IMO.
The Focus neckalways made my hands hurt after a while. Also the sticky neck finish. Blech. The EVH neck fit my hands better and plays FAST. The EVH trem os very good, though the D Tuna is a pain in the @$$to set up right. The Wolfgand pickup rawks. hard. It is, IMO, what we all wished for when we bought our Kramers...
I had an MIj Focus 3000 beak neck from new in 86 til I sold it around 08-09 The striped blows it away IMO.
The Focus neckalways made my hands hurt after a while. Also the sticky neck finish. Blech. The EVH neck fit my hands better and plays FAST. The EVH trem os very good, though the D Tuna is a pain in the @$$to set up right. The Wolfgand pickup rawks. hard. It is, IMO, what we all wished for when we bought our Kramers...
