Can someone help me positively identify my Lumie?

[Lockheed_Tvr]

I've had this guitar for over 25 years but I've never been entirely sure of the model and researching it now, I'm getting confused. I've always thought that it was a DMZ 1000 and going by the text description on the Vintage Kramer site that seems to hold true. But the picture on that same site and other info that I've found says that the 1000 should look more rounded and mine is the sharper DMZ 5000 look.

<IMG SRC="http://i.imgur.com/bJn75.jpg" width="1000">

Also, the pickups aren't super distortions but are PAFs according to DiMarzio.

The only real evidence that I've found is the natural finish model that is in George's collection (Who I think is a mod on here?) Mine is identical to his other than the color.

Thanks in advance! I am stoked to have found this forum. I didn't know a community existed around these!

[Midnight_Highway]

Hi there Lockheed,

You do have a very nice DMZ 1000, congrats! It's uncommon on natural and rare in that trans-red finish.
I replaced the bridge PAF to a vintage Duncan JB (heresy, I know) and of course put that Schaller 456 fine-tuning bridge on it. :thumbsup
http://www.kramerforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38172

The model designations were more about the electronic configuration than the body shape; after they had the gumby shape they did move to the sharp shape which is my favorite. There are a lot more of the rounded ones out there for sure.

Enjoy it!

George

[Midnight_Highway]

..edit: here's one that's a twin of mine, belonging to Dr. Robert in Germany:
http://www.kramerforum.com/forum/album.php?albumid=78&pictureid=737

[Lockheed_Tvr]

Thanks for the reply and info!

I read the 456 bridge upgrade post and it intrigued me. If I every need to do any bridge work, I think I'll do that swap instead. Maybe with the Piezo option... I love the natual look yours has. I always thought that the red was a little bright for my taste but I admit that I'm kind of happy to hear that it is somewhat rare!

I have to say that I really love the sound of the PAFs. This is the most open yet full sounding guitar that I own. It's a little thin on just the bridge but the sound of both pickups together is amazing and the way they wired it (so that you can mix the two with the volume knobs without either shutting off the overall volume) changed the way I set up the electronics in my other guitars. I may actually pick up a pair for my beater Jackson and see if I can hear the tone of the guitar a little more than I can now.

Do you know if the "racing stripes" are part of the finish? They look like layers of a different kind of wood laminated into the body but that seems pretty complex.

It's a little sad, but it took me a lot of years and getting a good amp to realize how great this one sounds. My SG used to get more playing time but the DMZ has a better, and certainly more flexible tone. I think the slightly longer 25" scale works well with the aluminum neck to give a little more oomph to the bottom end without the much higher string tensions of a strat.

[serdontos]

Welcome to the forum and thats a very nice DMZ 1000 you have there, you don't see very many like that. The stripes are indeed laminations of wood strips. This combined with the old neck joint style proved to be a major flaw with these guitars, as the laminations would sometimes seperate at the heel over time (it happened to my DMZ 2000) But with the new style joint yours will remain solid:)

[DethConsumer]

Very Nice!:)

[_N_]

hi,

are there anywhere some pics comparing the old and the younger neck joint style?

????????

(asks N ;-)

N-1511.com

[Lockheed_Tvr]

I can't help with the older style but here are links to some photos of my neck joint on a later DMZ 1000:

http://i.imgur.com/rkWcA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/OyvTH.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/RQ463.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3WlTS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ieJyY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DVIIR.jpg



hi,

are there anywhere some pics comparing the old and the younger neck joint style?

????????

(asks N ;-)

N-1511.com

[_N_]

thank you very much!

...then my kramer has got the old style ;-)


H

N-1511.com

[bass_groove_mann]

Hi there,

first of all: I'm new and I'm from Germany.
So:Sorry for bad english!

I have just bought a Kramer Imperial Stagemaster I guess.
But I can't get much information about it.
Maybe someone can help me gettting the productionyear and some Information about the wood it is made of.
And: I like to ask for a wirnig diagram, cause it seem, that the previous owner has changed the wiring.

Thanks a lot!