Kramer Focus 3000 replacement pickups

[Bucko]

Hey friends, I need help selecting a set of pickups for this new acquisition of mine. The stock Kramer pickups are terribly weak and lifeless so they must go.

The sound I am looking for:
I play a Gretsch PowerJet with FilterTrons and a 2013 SG with Gibson '57 classics. I LOVE the sound of both of these guitars because they work well in clean, low and medium gain amps. My rig includes a MesaBoogie Maverick and a Vox AC15 both run fairly clean so my El Capistan sounds clear. I also use an EP booster and a DLS MKII on my board. You can image I like some dirt, and occasionally high gain, but not too much and not that frequently.

Special needs:
The bridge is cut for a full sized HB that needs to be split (Kramer uses a two-way toggle) This HB needs to sound balanced with the SC's and not drop too much when split. I hear the Air Norton splits very nice but what Duncan SC's would compliment it? I've heard the Duncan Custom also sounds great for classic rock tones, but doesn't split so great.

For the middle and neck SC's I need something that sounds straty but can keep up with the bridge HB. I've played a vintage Hot Rails in the neck and LOVED it, but is it too hot? The Li'l Screamin' Deamon might be cool or a STK.

Thoughts?

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Kramer Focus 3000 replacement pickups

Put a JB in the bridge...thats what was in the top of the line Kramers back n the day.

Plan on swapping the pots and switch too. They are Scheisse

 

[Bucko]

Re: Kramer Focus 3000 replacement pickups

Put a JB in the bridge...thats what was in the top of the line Kramers back n the day.

Plan on swapping the pots and switch too. They are Scheisse

Absolutely the go-to pup for those. I had a flip flop blue Pacer with the JB. It could really rock, but the tones at lower gain and clean didn't appeal to me.
The Stag Mag looks interesting, so does the 59/Custom Hybrid. What's the general consensus on those?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Kramer Focus 3000 replacement pickups

Absolutely the go-to pup for those. I had a flip flop blue Pacer with the JB. It could really rock, but the tones at lower gain and clean didn't appeal to me.
The Stag Mag looks interesting, so does the 59/Custom Hybrid. What's the general consensus on those?

59/C- An amazing pickup. It takes all the best parts of a 59 and a Custom 5 and mashes them all into one pickup without any of the weaknesses. It can be fairly scooped, but an A2 or A4 magnet can fix that.

StagMag- Take the classic question "can two single coils be put right next to each other to make a humbucker?" but do it properly with a purpose wound humbucker that will sound good in series mode and still sound Stratty when split. It is more suited for cleans as it lacks bass even in series. It is however very articulate.

A note on the JB. These pickups are fairly polarizing. Some people like them with 500k pots and some use 250k pots to tame the midspike. This all depends on how you play. If you play in front of a band very often, go with 500k pits. If you don't need to worry about being buried under the rest of the mix, go for 250ks.

 

[Bucko]

Re: Kramer Focus 3000 replacement pickups

I am really digging sound on this demo of the 59/C. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHrCd_Wp-m0
What single coil would compliment it in the neck?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Kramer Focus 3000 replacement pickups

The STK-S4n is a good noiseless option, the STK-S7n is also nice if you want a slightly hotter neck pickup tone.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Kramer Focus 3000 replacement pickups

The STK-S4n is a good noiseless option, the STK-S7n is also nice if you want a slightly hotter neck pickup tone.

I agree with this. The STK-S4, especially. And make sure you wire the 59/C to split- it is great!