Who knows Kramers?

[nightrider340]

i want to say its a pacer body... i have seen another like it... the neck i would guess is a focus neck though... or it could be a schaller made one that someone swapped the neck plates... its sweet tho

[guitarzan2]

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!

You must have a 1986 model then. 1986 was the first year for the pointy headstock but the Kramer logo was small block letter. On those, there is no "American" on the headstock.

I am a bit confused by the serial number though. "F" series neckplates were from around 1988. The body does sound all American though. Schaller pickups were used from 1982 to 1985 or so. Around 1985 they went to Duncans.

[guitarzan2]

OK, just saw the pics. The control cavity plate is just a bit off to any of my Kramers from that era. I'm officially confused on that one. The jack is USA Kramer type though. The Schaller pickup is from an earlier Kramer. The neckplate is from a 1987-88 model. What tuners are on the neck? Schallers and it's a USA model neck. Non-logo'd Gotoh's and it's a Focus neck. Either way, made by ESP in Japan.

[Robert Burns]

Looks like there are too many questions with this one Bengal... your going
to have to send it to me !! Reverse headstock is bad ass imo...

[Frigo89]

the real question is how does it sound & play, who gives a shit what it is if it plays good!

[Bengal]

Guitarzan,
The tuners look like Shallers, but they are not marked. I guess they could look like Gotohs too, they both kinda look the same...

I think the pickup is aftermarket. The Schaller uses 2 screws to move it up and down. The pickup ring used 1 screw at one time. Until someone modified it for 2 screws...

Robert,
I'll send it to you and you send me your Bad Horsie. Deal?

Frigo,
It plays very nice and that Schaller humbucker is a monster. I've never heard one. But it's very high output. The neck has been played and worn a bit. Makes it feel even better...

I'm confused as well. But I'm happy. I only paid $100 for it. It came with no case or trem bar or Floyd blocks, those small blocks that lock the string in the bridge. The previous owner had lost all 6 and just stuck the ball end in the trem and "locked" them with the screws. So I find 6 blocks and it's rocking...

Thanks for the help and kinds words. I think I'll just say its a Focus. Or a Pacer. Or a Pacus or Focer...

[Bengal]

One more question. Did the Japanese Kramer necks have the neck volute? I've only owned one other Kramer and it was a USA Baretta and it had the volute. Just wondering if that's a USA thing or just a Kramer thing...

[xbolt]

Man...for 100 bucks that was a steal.

The Schaller 2in1 is a killer pickup!
One of my faves for sure...

The 3-piece neck, pointy shape had the volute.
They do have a variety of nut widths though...from R1 to R5 depending on the model.
Most of the pointies were R2 or R4...

What a great snag!

[Spivonious]

I am loving that finish, regardless of what guitar is actually is.

We should start a petition to bring crackles back.

[Bengal]

Yeah, that firecrackle finish doesn't fly here in Iowa. If you can find one, they are dirt cheap. They don't sell at all here. That's why the great deal on this one. But then again, it was only marked at $119.00...

[charvelguy]

I've not seen a Kramer with that shape of control route before.

[fuel0707]

One more question. Did the Japanese Kramer necks have the neck volute?

My mid-'80's Focus 6000 did not have the volute.

[xbolt]

Yeah, that firecrackle finish doesn't fly here in Iowa. If you can find one, they are dirt cheap. They don't sell at all here. That's why the great deal on this one. But then again, it was only marked at $119.00...

My crackle...

[Bengal]

xbolt,
I could get that Jackson for about 75 bucks here. That's a nice one. Love the maple board...

I sent the guy who runs vintagekramer an email with the pics. We'll see what he says...

[xbolt]

xbolt,
I could get that Jackson for about 75 bucks here. That's a nice one. Love the maple board...

I sent the guy who runs vintagekramer an email with the pics. We'll see what he says...

If that's what a San Dimas goes for there...well I'm moving to Iowa asap.

I posted the pics at the KF and some people think it may be a PCII.
I've never seen that rear cover though...but I don't own a PCII either.