Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

walt

walt

New member
Which model would be best suited for a 59/jb combo (focus, pacer, strikers etc). No barettas as I can't afford them unless its for parts). Needless to say, I'm on a musicians budget and have pickups that need a home. I don't want to spend more than 500 dollars so I thought I would ask here to start my research.

Thanks for your input.
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

I wouldn't bother with focus or Strikers. The 80's American or ESP-made models can be had for under $500 and are real nice guitars.
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

Strikers are plywood.....I found that out the hard way. Focus' are real wood at least....dunno what kind though.
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

The Focus models are not bad at all, I'm talking old Focus models, not the MusicYo stuff. Look for an old Focus 2000 or 3000 which are the import models of the Pacer Imperial and Pacer Deluxe respectively.

In the American Series, look for an old Pacer, Imperial or Deluxe. The Imperial is H-H, the Deluxe is H-S-S. If you can find one, the Pacer Custom and Carrera (both H-H) are excellent as well.

Barettas came with 1 humbucker only so they wouldn't work for what you're wanting to do anyway. And I would personally slap the person who would route one for a neck humbucker. That's why they made Pacers. :D

The Pacer Deluxe and Focus 3000 might be routed H-S-H under the guard so all you'd need to do is get a replacement H-H guard, though it may be a custom cut job.
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

I bought one new in about '86....won't tell you what I traded for it but it's the dumbest move I ever made. It was plywood, really........maybe future models weren't, mine sure was!

BUT...the neck was great!
 
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Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

A lot of Focuses were made by ESP, as well. I've got an old 6000 that I'll probably keep forever. My older son covered it with Star Wars stickers, and he won't let me sell it :)
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

JB_From_Hell said:
A lot of Focuses were made by ESP, as well. I've got an old 6000 that I'll probably keep forever. My older son covered it with Star Wars stickers, and he won't let me sell it :)
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I can only condone that kind of Kramer abuse if there's at least one sticker of Yoda in the mix.
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

Oh yeah. I say Imperial or Carrera by far. Even a Focus 2000. I regret selling my first Imperial and I finally have another w/ a custom made body that's tweaked to my spec.

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Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

I remember when my buddy got a Kramer Pacer Carrera.

That was like 85/86 and that was a $1300 guitar back then. A few years back I saw a store with a clean one for $400 and a beat up one for $200.

Keep in mind, that $1300 was a lot of money back then- even more for a high school kid with a high school kid job. Hella guitar player though.
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

The Golden Boy said:
I remember when my buddy got a Kramer Pacer Carrera.

That was like 85/86 and that was a $1300 guitar back then. A few years back I saw a store with a clean one for $400 and a beat up one for $200.

Keep in mind, that $1300 was a lot of money back then- even more for a high school kid with a high school kid job. Hella guitar player though.
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I've seen 2 lefty Carrera's and they both went for a lot more than I could afford and that was 4 years ago or so. I can't imagine for they would go for now. The only Kramer that I think I would really nuts over for at this point is a Kramer Liberty and I don't think they made any in lefty.
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

What was the USA neck-thru models the guys in Queensryche were using in the late eighties? I was G.A.S.ing for one of those big time back then!
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

You're thinking of the Stagemasters! Cool Guitars, I'm just not a neck through fan.

BlueStagey.jpg
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

Mattt said:
Aye, i think mine was made around 2000-2002... can't remember. Mine's alder.
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Yours is a MusicYo Striker, not one of the 80's era Strikers. The old ones were plywood, the new ones aren't. I've worked on one of the new ones. Really nice guitars for the price. Surprised the heck out of me.

Mephis said:
Try to find a used baretta, that's what I did!
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He said he doesn't want a Baretta and there will be no hacking up any Barettas to install neck pickups! ;) :)
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

I have an 85/86-era Focus 3000 that I recently started bringing back to life, and I think when it's done it stands a good chance of being my #3 -- possibly my #2.

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- Keith
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

The Golden Boy said:
That was like 85/86 and that was a $1300 guitar back then. A few years back I saw a store with a clean one for $400 and a beat up one for $200.
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Yes there are some great deals out there on those 80's Kramers. I passed up a very clean Pacer American at MGR like 7 years ago for $275. It was in this cool blue/purple flip flop pearl finish too.

I snagged an archtop Stagemaster a couple of years ago. Really nice guitar.
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

Mephis said:
Try to find a used baretta, that's what I did!

krameryb0cn8.jpg
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Nice axe!! I saw a Baretta that was unfinished made from a kit for $200.00. I was going to buy it but it doesn't have the angled bucker.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PROJECT-ELE...ryZ47067QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I may endup getting a body, buying a neck and putting it together as I deep down would like a baretta, but I'm not willing to pay the thousand dollar price tag for it.
 
Re: Which Kramer Guitar model do you prefer

Walt, the reissues are $1000 or more but you can find 80's Barettas for a lot less if you look hard enough. Just remember, "Thou shalt not route Barettas for neck humbuckers." LOL :)

Mattt, I agree, the electronics and trem on the new Strikers aren't the greatest. With a little TLC and fine adjustments, I was able to get the thing set up and keep in tune really well. It actually belongs to the other guitar player in my band.
 
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