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Post subject: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 6:44 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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The "P" stands for project! :D My good friend always so generous gave me a late 80's - early 90's MIK Squier II Strat. She needs some work, I'll probably trash the tuners since they seem like crap, and that trem is probably crap too, but that neck feels fantastic! I was researching it a bit, and it seems like the body is made out of plywood? He also gave me a set AmStd pickups for me to install. This will be my very first pickup project, but soldering some wires is far from a project. I really wanted a proper SSS strat since I sold my first Squier. This should be a great playing guitar!

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Buuuut, that's not all! He also gave this. A 1983-ish Kramer Focus 10000. This one he asked me to restore it for him as payment for the Squier. But I know him, if I put enough love on this one he will probably give it to me as well!

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EMG active pup, he said it came with a SD pickup but he didn't like it. Also I don't think I've ever seen a non licensed FR trem. :)
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Mod 2: He added a tone pot because the guitar came with just a volume pot.
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That one needs a lot of work but I'll do my best to make it all nice again! To say I'm totally stoked is a complete understatement! Oh yeah he did this because I brought some strings for a LP studio he has hanging from the wall, I took good care of it, polished the body, oiled the fretboard and put new strings (first time stringing a tune o matic). I think he figured I love guitars enough to make a nice guitar out of something that was stashed away in a corner. :)

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 6:53 pm
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Hooray for project guitars!

I don't think I've ever seen a guitar as filthy as that Kramer though, break out the Ronsonol and disinfect that sucker.

As for the Floyd Rose ... you wouldn't believe some of the people that license those (video slightly not work safe due to swearing) ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1FZ5Hnmgsw

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:04 pm
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GilgaFrank wrote:
Hooray for project guitars!

I don't think I've ever seen a guitar as filthy as that Kramer though, break out the Ronsonol and disinfect that sucker.

As for the Floyd Rose ... you wouldn't believe some of the people that license those (video slightly not work safe due to swearing) ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1FZ5Hnmgsw

Lol that was funny. I worded my comment wrong, what I meant to say is that ive never seen an original FR trem. The ones I've seen are licensed by FR but this is the first one with a "real" Floyd Rose. :)

Yeah that Kramer does look scary, I'm gonna spend a lot of time with it, but I'm looking forward to it. That thing screams 80's hair metal!

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Last edited by 1neeto on Sun May 12, 2013 10:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:14 pm
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If your friend gives you the Kramer, can I have it? :lol:

(no seriously, I'd have probable cause to drop my old Invader into it)

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:26 pm
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nice score, cool project, before pic's look good, will wait for the after pic's, :D 8)

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 10:41 pm
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@Buxom I'm really excited about that Kramer myself. I think that's a special guitar. Plus it will be a challenge to restore that thing. :)

@Solid Body: Thanks! Yeah I'll bump this thread from time to time to update on the process. :)

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 11:42 pm
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LOL Fund this heated debate about this type of Squier. Good entertaining and informative read!
viewtopic.php?t=32252

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 5:14 pm
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So I got started on the Kramer and found a few surprises. First, I'd really like to know how old that battery is! The battery connector broke when I tried to remove the battery. Cheap fix so no biggie.
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Now I finally know what kind of EMG that is.
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And so far just a quick wipedown and she already looks nice!
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That bridge is really bad, I'll just clean it the best I can and paint it black. :)

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:05 pm
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Worked on it some more today. :)
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I just realized I missed the bridge pins. :D

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:30 pm
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looking good! 8)

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 12:36 am
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Solid Body Love Songs wrote:
looking good! 8)

Thanks! I used GHS Gorgomyte, that stuff works great for the frets and hardware! Next is the bridge and then I'll wire the battery holder, string her up and hopefully plug her in this weekend!

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 3:34 am
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Well I'm done with the Kramer! She plays and sounds great!
Took me a few hours to get that bridge cleaned up.
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Got these initials on the bottom of the neck.
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Neck pocket.
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Worked on that fretboard some more.
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Wired up a new battery holder.
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Bridge done.
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Had to get new locking nut clamps.
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Tuned, intonated, and ready to play!
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Now onto the Squier. :)

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 3:49 am
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Wow! That came a long way in a few days. My first "real" guitar was a Kramer Focus 3000, i got for Christmas in 1986. Still have it!

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 3:59 am
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Arnold Layne wrote:
Wow! That came a long way in a few days. My first "real" guitar was a Kramer Focus 3000, i got for Christmas in 1986. Still have it!

Thanks! I put about 6 hours just today. I really could not wait to play it! That EMG makes my amp scream on the overdrive channel, but the clean channel is not as clean as I like. It does have a cool overdrive tone on the clean channel though but it's not fully clean. But that's a known characteristic of active pickups. :)

Oh yeah pics of your focus 3000!

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Post subject: Re: NPGD!
Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 6:20 am
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Nice Kramer now, looking forward to Squier pic's!

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