pickup help for f3000

[foco]

I was thinking of buying a new guitar... specifically a js1000, when I thought to myself. Why don't you just fix up the old Kramer? Though I will still be buyne, I won't be for another year or so. I decided to upgrade the Kramer pickups instead. I started reading articles and it left me more confused than when I started. I don't play thrash but I do play a bit of everything else. I just am looking spice up the guitar. I have also read about trying different pickups until you find a set you like. I would like to change all three and am looking for some advise from the pros, (which I am not). I thank you in advance.

[KRAMER Classic I]

Bridge choices: Tone Zone, Wilde Bill L500XL or Duncan Invader. Neck and middle: Duncan Vintage Rails.

[foco]

Thanks for the input... I guessing I'm looking for the G spacing?

[sixstring]

G?? You mean F-spaced....
Duncan SH4 for bridge my choice.

[KRAMER Classic I]

Thanks for the input... I guessing I'm looking for the G spacing?

F spaced pickups are only needed in the bridge position--and some people don't think they are needed at all. It's not a consideration with rail pups like the L500XL. I have an Invader in the bridge position on one of my F-3000's and the poles aren't directly under the strings. It still sounds great.

[DarthPhineas]

f-spaced can also work in the middle position, like in the RS or the NightSwan. at the end of the day, I think the pole spacing is a matter of preference... unless someone in a lab can re-create the perfect example of using both spacing in the same guitar with the exact same pick attack with the same strings and so on and so on. some people say they can hear a huge difference... some don't. I 'think' I hear a difference, but it's not like night and day. I've gradually swapped out to f-spaced as a matter of being anal retentive. so... no... don't sweat it.


but to the original question.... it'd help to know more about your tuning and your amp rig. but to start with, since you don't play thrash but a bit of everything else... look for a pickup that's a bit of an all-star player. I think the DMZ Tone Zone falls into that category. So does the DMZ AT-1 Andy Timmons model. For Duncans, it's hard to go wrong with a JB in a Kramer. other very versatile Duncans would include the 59/C Hybrid and the PATB-1 Parallel Axis. For the single spots, I have always like the tone of the Vintage Rails, but they lack output, so I've discovered the STK-S4 model and think it's the same tone with more volume - not crazy volume, but it keeps up with a full-on humbucker better than the Vintage Rails. from DMZ, the HS-2 is a nice noiseless stacked single coil that has classic vintage single coil tones. another awesome option is to throw a few Hot Rails in there and wire them to split (for the cleaner tones - or wire them in parallel for cleaner tones without the hum). if the Hot Rails are too hot for you, but you still want single-sized hums, the Little 59 isn't bad. if you go DMZ, consider the Fast Track 2 and the Super Distortion S - they are really similar on paper and the FT2 is really similar to the Hot Rail.

a cool think about DMZs is that most of the models are good to go in any position, where the Duncans are 'voiced' for certain positions and can be a little limiting if you want to change things around.

[Mateo]

Thanks again for all the awesome replies. I will post a photo of my Kramer for you all... I bought it when I was 15 at Appleway music in Fort Collins, and it has been my only electric guitar. It even has an unreplacable war wound from a girlfriend throwing it at me. The amps I use... Fender cyber-twin and a Princeton chorus, that's it. My tuning is regular E tuning.

[foco]

It looks like I am going with the JB, and the stk-s4 middle and neck. If you have any opinions please speak up now. Thanks again.

[Kramer James]

It looks like I am going with the JB, and the stk-s4 middle and neck. If you have any opinions please speak up now. Thanks again.

Sounds like a great place to start.

I might consider a Duncan '59 or Custom Custom in the bridge if you don't play alot of edgy stuff... but the JB is probably the most versatile/usable of the bunch.

[Mateo]

Found an sh-1 '59 and a sh-4 jb on Craigslist for 25 each. I guess I'll have two to try out and decide.

[Del Hudson]

I might get killed for suggesting this but I like the EMG's in my Pacer DLX. The 85 in the bridge isn't hot enough for "thrash" style playing, so I only use this guitar for blues, clean, and classic rock. Since your F 3000 is close to the DLX, You should get similar tone and sound results. My ear isn't as good as the more accomplished pros on the Forum, so my opinion may not be the best one. I was only trying to give you another option. Good luck in whichever you choose.