I have a chance to trade my Super Champ XD for a Kramer Focus 1000.

I'll admit, I was not playing guitar in the 80's as I was only 13 when the decade ended so I don't know much about these. I understand that these were Japanese made in the 80's as a budget friendly version of an American Kramer. It plays well, has a "custom" paint job, and is in pretty good shape considering it's age. I like this guitar for some great high gain, 80's hair stuff and it seems fun, but I am worried about ending up with something with no actual value. Can anyone help me with some input on these?

I was also hoping for some input in resale value in case I decide down the road to move it along. As it was repainted with a "very 80's" black and red tiger like pattern it is not original. How would this affect resale? I saw two on ebay one for 899 in perfect condition and one for around 500 for one with considerable wear. Do these seem reasonable to you forum folks because they seem a little high to me.

Comments?

Comments.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

now your talking a brand of guitar i know and lover. Kramer.
back in the day they were infact a "budget friendly" kramer guitar.
the focus wasnt high on anybodies list in those times but a step above the striker.
the focus 1000 was the overseas version of the beretta, one of the guitars that helped kramer rise to fame. (thank you eddie) these guitars are starting to surface more and more as the MIA kramers are being looked for by a lot of collectors. i for one.
i say grab this guitar if you can. if your a fan of 80s hair stuff, this guitar loaded
with a good PAF of seymour duncan jeff beck pickup will take you back rather nicely
to an time when guitar was total king and the chic's were amazing.
if you were involved in the music business in almost any way, you had a decade of
decadence, and memories to last a life time.
get the guitar, clean it up, set it up, and you will have something to be proud of.
then, when nobody is home, plug in your best amp, step on your favorite distortion pedal,
turn the volume up on 10 and rip the freakin knob off bro. its headbangers ball all over again, and live from your livingroom.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Kramers from the 80 are some great guitars. The Pacer series was their US Standard with the Pacer Carerra being their cream dela cream. Reminds me of the EVH days.

man those pacers went through some serious changes in those days didnt they?
i think they got out of hand with that model of kramer. parts were being made in japan, canada, and the US, although always assembled in the US. if your lucky enough to have any of the early models with the shaller pups its worth a small fortune to collectors. problem is, any metal head worth his salt dropped in seymour duncans in them rather quickly after kramer started using them. to find on still intact is pretty hard to do.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Way Cool,

I agree, I had a 83 Carerra with the headstock prior to the banana/hockystick. And, the original pickups were the smoothest humbuckers I ever owned. The guitar was all black it even had black coated strings. However the evolution of various headstocks turned me off of their guitars.

i like the banana and the angled headstocks, but the strat headstock is my fav and the rarest. angled meaning like the jacksons have.
kramers are nice guitars. i love them. they bring back memories every time i look at one lol. im still carrying around my neck i bought today like a child does its blanket lol.
this guy has a great opportunity if he does the trade. screw that amp, they are everywhere ya know. i would trade it in a heart beat if the guitar is straight.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

SOLID!


Nicholosi,
You are caught in a delema. On one hand your amp is fairly common and will be for the next 3-5 years on the marketand may hold it's value at about $270 used. On the other hand you have an oppotunity to get an older guitar that is hard to find. The guitar you speak of sold back in the 80s new for under $200. Today there are a few left in some old guitar repair shops and the occaisonal pawn shop going for about $300-$400 depending on condition (original or modified). In the future, the modified ones will be worth less than the ones in original condition. That said, the value for a modified or refinished import may not go up as planned. The best thing here is you are in control of the destiny of the amp and the guitar. The path you take will result in regret or satisfaction in years to come.

Just as I had my heart set on the Kramer Focus 1000 the dude decided he didn't want to make the deal.

And after I spent all weekend listening to Motley Crue and EVH. So I am thinking maybe turning my 60's ash partscaster into an 80's hair metal machine. It already stays in tune well with the vintage trem...much better than any other strat I've ever had that I used a trem on. I am thinking of throwing a VEH HB from guitarfetish in the bridge...anyone out there tried one of these...or maybe a Dimarzio Super Distortion...or a SD JB Jr?

C'mon hairmetal headbangers give me an opinion!

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

you know you have my vote on the SD JB jr.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Experience with it? Is the single coil size HB as good as the full size for a high gain 80's hair metal sound?

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

yes i have one in my HW1 and one going into another strat. its not as harsh as the full sized hucker in my opinion. i like it way better too. turns any strat into a rockin machine if there ever was one too.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Cool, thanks.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

If someone is willing to pay 899. for a Focus 1000 send them my way, I will get them a few a 1000, 2000. 3000. F series what ever at best $300 and it better look like it come from the box!!!!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson