Who knows Kramers?

[Bengal]

I bought a Kramer at a shop yesterday and I think I have it nailed down but wanted to ask you guys if you agree...

It's a S-S-H with a non-slanted humbucker. 1 volume and 2 tone knobs. 5 way switch and a small 3 way coil tap switch between the volume and first tone knob. Non recessed Original Floyd Rose. 22 fret rosewood freboard with a reverse headstock. The sharper headstock, not the banana one. Serial number is FXXXX. A F with 4 numbers. Black "Neptune NJ" backplate...

So it could either be a Pacer Custom II due to the non slanted humbucker. Or it could be a Focus 6000 due to the pickup layout and the reverse headstock. The Kramer logo is the diminishing one but there is nothing after the logo. Just Kramer. There is no model number ingraved on the truss rod cover either, just plain black. it's finished in a multi-color Firecrackle...

Either way, I got a steal. It's a sweet guitar. I'm just wondering if I call it a Pacer or a Focus. Anyone???

[guitarzan2]

Fxxxx would be a USA serial number. Kramer diminishing logo with no "American" would be a Focus neck or a Korean neck. Sounds like you got a mutt. Does it have the original pickup? USA models of the period would have a non-logo'd Duncan, look on the back for a sticker with 3 letters. Focus models would have a cheapo Japanese pickup.

Oh yeah, and to know for sure, a "American" body would have a round Switchcraft jack where the Focus body would have a 4 screw square jackplate.

Either way, "American" or Focus, it's the same thing, both made by ESP in Japan. The only difference was the "American" on the headstock, the pickup, Schaller tuners on the "American" and the jack.

[Bengal]

guitarzan2,
Thanks for the info. I don't think it's a mutt, some of the paint on the body rubbed off on the neck heel. I pulled the neck to see if it had any markings, the body had a few numbers something like 12-13? And the neck had something written on the heel but I didn't write it down before I shimmed the neck and put it back on...

The imput jack is a flush mount round jack. It doesn't have a plate that screws in...

The humbucker is a Schaller humbucker. Has the Schaller logo on the back...

Did some American Kramers not have any American logo after the Kramer logo?

Thanks for the help!

[xbolt]

Sounds like a nice mutt...

No pointies came with Schaller PUs.
Pacer body and Focus rev neck maybe?

Could be a later Schaller built Kramer but I think they often came with Schaller Floyds. They did come with non-American logos...

Pics will help...

[Frigo89]

Call it a "Pocur" lol

Sounds like PC2 with a random neck on it

[Joelski]

A PCM II shouldn't have a Schaller pup. Still, overall it sounds like one that's been modded. I'd like to see what the end of the neck said. That pretty much settles whether it's a Focus neck of it is an American that had work done and was just re-logoed.

F plate PCM II = JB bridge and Classic Staggered singles.

[Bengal]

Let me get to work on the pics and I'll post them in a bit...

Kramer history seems spotty at best. At least what I've been trying to find out. Vintagekramer is pretty good, but there are some gaps in the info...

Either way, according to the serial number it's either an 87, 88 or 89. Hadn't they moved the Pacer production to Japan in those years? So even if it's a Pacer, it's Japanese, right? Seems like it to me...

OK, I'll get some pics here in a bit and post them for you guys. Mutt or not, this thing plays pretty sweet...

[fuel0707]

I had a Focus 6000 and all of the 6000's I've seen had slanted 'buckers.

[Bengal]

I had a Focus 6000 and all of the 6000's I've seen had slanted 'buckers.

And that's why I'm thinking it could be a Pacer Custom II made from 88-89. Those come with a non slanted Humbucker. There were some Pacers made with reverse sharp headstocks, but the one they show on VK has binding...

Plus another problem with that. By that time wasn't Kramer recessing all their trems? The fact that this has a non-recessed Floyd baffles me as well...

Camera batteries are charging. When done, I'll post pics...

[Bengal]

Here are some pics.

[xbolt]

I have a feeling that may not be a Kramer body...
That electronics cover is oddball..

Aria Pro, Series A maybe or something?

[Bengal]

I have a feeling that may not be a Kramer body...
That electronics cover is oddball..

Aria Pro maybe or something?

Maybe. Like I said, the neck pocket had 2 sequencial numbers in it. I'm pretty sure it was 12-13. But the controls nail a Kramer, down to the location of the coil tap switch...

I'm sure the humbucker is not original. But I have no idea about the singles. Didn't take them out...

Edit: It sure looks like a Focus to me. That's the closest to the shape and layout. Check out the bottom guitar on this page...

http://www.vintagekramer.com/catalog/1000c.jpg

But mine has the non slanted hum and the non recessed floyd. But other than that, it's almost an exact match. It even says on Vintage Kramer that the 6000 came with the opition of a reverse headstock...

[xbolt]

Well the body type, Floyd and control locations do look like an 88 Focus F6000. I've never seen that crackle type finish on any Kramer though.

I have seen that type of rear cover before but I can't recall where...
Most of the Foci I've seen had this type...

[Bengal]

Xbolt,
Makes you wonder. But Kramer has done the crackle finish before. Here's a pic of one, not a Focus but a Kramer somethingorother...

http://www.vintagekramer.com/collect/doc4.jpg

Everything I've been able to find says that in the late 80's Kramer was doing all sorts of oddball stuff as they were heading into bankruptcy...

[xbolt]

Tha crackle is a much later 90s Yo Kramer Voyager...I think...
The neck is Yo era anyways.

You are right about the late 80s pre & post kramer era...lots of US firesale and later European Schaller buit Kramers that did apear.

That body is a headscratcher to me.