My first Kramer! Focus 3000!

[dr_time]

So the Foci 3k I snagged on Ebay last week showed up today! Packed well, and in a TKL case (nope, not the original, bummer!) I already love it.

Already set-up nicely, the neck feels like home, and STILL IN TUNE! The bridge pickup is super hot, maybe original MMK? Check her out:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d143/seth50k/DSCF0172.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d143/seth50k/DSCF0173.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d143/seth50k/DSCF0174.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d143/seth50k/DSCF0175.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d143/seth50k/DSCF0176.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d143/seth50k/DSCF0178.jpg

[halo71]

Nice score! Congrats! Call me stupid, but other than the neck, neck plate. Whats the difference in yours and a Pacer deluxe? :scratchhe

[dr_time]

Nice score! Congrats! Call me stupid, but other than the neck, neck plate. Whats the difference in yours and a Pacer deluxe? :scratchhe

Not much. Focus' were made in Japan. But many speculate that alot of them were made out of parts from Kramer in America.

It's solidbody, not ply. Really underrated high-quality guitars, i'm sure many would agree here.

[halo71]

yeah I'd love to pick one of those up. Hell, never even had my paws on a Foci before! What'd ya give for her if you dont mind my asking?

[floydkramer]

nicce score man,... and im glad halo asked that question about the pacer and focus 3 k.
i was wondering the same thing :D

[halo71]

floyd....how many times we talked bro....and you still call me halo? Names Gary! :thumbsup I'm just kiddin'.....the Guniess Extra Stouts are telling me what to type tonight. :D

But yeah, been curious about the differences between the two.... :scratchhe

[dr_time]

yeah I'd love to pick one of those up. Hell, never even had my paws on a Foci before! What'd ya give for her if you dont mind my asking?

$255 after shipping. Pretty good deal if you ask me!

[dr_time]

floyd....how many times we talked bro....and you still call me halo? Names Gary! :thumbsup I'm just kiddin'.....the Guniess Extra Stouts are telling me what to type tonight. :D

But yeah, been curious about the differences between the two.... :scratchhe

Yeah, i'd be interested in knowing the ACTUAL differences between the Focus' and the Pacers, etc. When seemingly they're the same quality, and sometimes, even the same parts??

[Keen Anthony]

Congrats on the great find. I love the Focus, and would have paid more for it. :D

As I remember, there was no difference between the Focus and the Pacer Deluxe except origin. Since the Focus cost less to build, there was the presumption that the Focus was somehow lesser; but really those Focus' were spot on quality-wise.

I am pretty sure they did share parts in the sense that ESP made necks and bodies for both the Focus and the American Kramers; at least from '87 on.

[dr_time]

Congrats on the great find. I love the Focus, and would have paid more for it. :D

As I remember, there was no difference between the Focus and the Pacer Deluxe except origin. Since the Focus cost less to build, there was the presumption that the Focus was somehow lesser; but really those Focus' were spot on quality-wise.

I am pretty sure they did share parts in the sense that ESP made necks and bodies for both the Focus and the American Kramers; at least from '87 on.

Quality wise, the only thing i've noticed so far, is that one part of the pick guard is starting to warp/raise off of the body. I'm guessing this is just from age and climate changes, etc?

[DethConsumer]

Looks nice and in original condition! :thumbsup

[nightwatch]

Yes, weather change, age. Fender strat pickguards do that too over time. There really is not a whole lot of difference except the foci have different pickups. Today, with alder body, maple neck, etc. a new guitar like a Focus would go for a lot more. Very nice!:bananahea

[dr_time]

Yes, weather change, age. Fender strat pickguards do that too over time. There really is not a whole lot of difference except the foci have different pickups. Today, with alder body, maple neck, etc. a new guitar like a Focus would go for a lot more. Very nice!:bananahea

Yeah, i'm thinking mine must be alder or poplar, it's not terribly heavy, but it's not light by any means either.

I can't express enough how very surprised i am by this guitar. Makes me want to sell my POS Epi Explorer to get another one!!

[muttznmongrelz]

"Makes me want to sell my POS Epi Explorer to get another one"

KRAMERITIS!!! :thumbsup

[dr_time]

"Makes me want to sell my POS Epi Explorer to get another one"

KRAMERITIS!!! :thumbsup

I have a sickness, that can only be cured, by more Kramer! :D

[KramerUK]

Yeah, i'd be interested in knowing the ACTUAL differences between the Focus' and the Pacers, etc. When seemingly they're the same quality, and sometimes, even the same parts??

Very little if the truth be known!!
You'll find that where the lower horn meets the body there is less wood there normally, other than that the pickups, controls and tuners are the only real differences.
And it wasn't a case of Foci being built with spare US parts, all the neck where made by ESP, and then the bodies and necks for the Pacers where shipped in bulk over to Kramer for assembly and finishing.
So you could have an 83 Pacer and an 83 Focus where both necks came off the same production line ;)

[dr_time]

Very little if the truth be known!!
You'll find that where the lower horn meets the body there is less wood there normally, other than that the pickups, controls and tuners are the only real differences.
And it wasn't a case of Foci being built with spare US parts, all the neck where made by ESP, and then the bodies and necks for the Pacers where shipped in bulk over to Kramer for assembly and finishing.
So you could have an 83 Pacer and an 83 Focus where both necks came off the same production line ;)

Speaking of necks, I really like this neck. I've always strayed away from Strat's because I haven't been fond of the necks, but the Focus neck feels alot nicer for some reason.

[edgarmolina]

good snag bro!, congrats :thumbsup

[wreckingcrew]

$255 after shipping. Pretty good deal if you ask me!

nice deal dude!!! my F1K was 350.

[jeph]

Even the amount wood around the neck has been debated. Man these are so close, that's just about identical to my deluxe. Nice!

[dr_time]

"Makes me want to sell my POS Epi Explorer to get another one"

KRAMERITIS!!! :thumbsup

In fact, I DID. Sold my Explorer today to some kid! :toast

*Searches for next Kramer...*

[Ultimutt]

Yeah, i'd be interested in knowing the ACTUAL differences between the Focus' and the Pacers, etc. When seemingly they're the same quality, and sometimes, even the same parts??I tried to reply to this thread yesterday (had a whole paragraph typed AND it takes me fookin' forever to type and edit), but the KF access/ logon problem put the kebosh on that:arrg
Anyway...

There were physical differences.
On the Pacer the (Floyd/pup/neck pocket)routes were more centered on the body(towards the bottom). Have a look and you'll notice there is less distance between the bridge and the butt end of the body and also the neck pocket looks 'longer'. On a Focus the routes were more toward the headstock end of the guitar. You'll notice there is more meat between the bridge and butt end, and the neck pocket looks shorter. Make sense?
Have look and compare , you will see what I'm gettin' at. I think there is reference to it on the Vintage Kramer site.
If someones got some pics(my Cameras down right now) maybe they could show what I'm gettin' at.
Although, I know some Focus that have the same routings as the Pacer line(I have 2 2000's that have identical features(as mentioned above) as the Imperial, (minus the second tone knob of course).

As far as route depths....Pup depths and shapes varied for sure. The neck pockets on the Pacer line(as well as some Focus) were angled.

Any of the more season memebers please chime in.

Anyway, Hope this helps:thumbsup
Just sharing what I know...er um what I've learned hangin' out here at the KF I mean;)



:toast

[Mxzx]

I believe this is the picutre you are looking for. The red one is an early Focus 3000D and the FF blue is an early F Pacer.

Aside from the obvious "D" differences, they look pretty close to me. The Floyd on the Focus seems to be mounted about 1/4" closer to the butt than the other one. The pickguard shape seems to be a little different too.

Nice Focus 3000 Doc!!

[floydkramer]

trying to process and remember all that info:scratchhe
i think i got it.

[Keen Anthony]

As was said earlier, if those Focus's were made today, they would demand a much higher price. I really believe they would rival the higher end guitars coming out of Ibanez and other makers.

dr_time, it's not unusual to like the Strat style neck on the Focus, and yet dislike the necks on Fender Strats. IMO, Strats have had such variable quality over the years such that I've avoided them like the plague. Every other Strat I pick up had such poorly unfinished frets that running my hand across the neck feels like falling down a ladder and hitting every rung along the way. The new '08 American Standard feels pretty good. Maybe it was again, just the ONE I picked up, but it's a good sign. In the '90s I was a big fan of the Focus and even some suped up Yamaha Pacificas because they felt smoother than the Strat.

[Keen Anthony]

Mxzx, I just noticed that there is one less screw on the Pacer's pickguard than on the Focus - near the lower horn, lateral to the neck pickup. Doesn't look like there's even a hole drilled for one. Does that mean anything as far as a standard difference between the Focus and the Pacer?

[KramerUK]

I believe this is the picutre you are looking for. The red one is an early Focus 3000D and the FF blue is an early F Pacer.

Aside from the obvious "D" differences, they look pretty close to me. The Floyd on the Focus seems to be mounted about 1/4" closer to the butt than the other one. The pickguard shape seems to be a little different too.

Nice Focus 3000 Doc!!

thats probably not the best 2 to make a comparison with the scratchplate of the 3000D is different in shape to the standard 3000 ;)

[Keen Anthony]

Ah, and therein lay my confusion over the screws. :D

[dr_time]

As was said earlier, if those Focus's were made today, they would demand a much higher price. I really believe they would rival the higher end guitars coming out of Ibanez and other makers.

dr_time, it's not unusual to like the Strat style neck on the Focus, and yet dislike the necks on Fender Strats. IMO, Strats have had such variable quality over the years such that I've avoided them like the plague. Every other Strat I pick up had such poorly unfinished frets that running my hand across the neck feels like falling down a ladder and hitting every rung along the way. The new '08 American Standard feels pretty good. Maybe it was again, just the ONE I picked up, but it's a good sign. In the '90s I was a big fan of the Focus and even some suped up Yamaha Pacificas because they felt smoother than the Strat.

I've heard the same thing about Fender quality many times. I know guys who've played many, many Strats in different stores until finding one that's actually up to the quality standard you'd expect with that price tag.

Yup, ditto on the Pacificas too. I'm always watching for quality older Pacifica to show up on CL.