| mikep |
 Posted: 05/15/2008 at 12:35 PM Post subject: My project guitar |
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The first guitar I ever owned was a used, white Kramer XL-5, which I purchased for $400
with the original hardshell case sometime around 1983. Being my first and only instrument,
I didn't have anything to compare it to, so in my mind, it was the same as any other
guitar, just cool looking. Back then, I never did take playing seriously, and in frustration,
I put it in the closet where it sat for nearly two decades. Then I sold it.
Shortly afterwards, as luck would have it, I got the bug to learn to play again. Not
wanting to spend too much on a replacement (thinking my motivation could wane and it too
might end up sitting for years), I bought a MusicYo "Kramer" Striker. I know these
aren't real Kramers and are cheaply manufactured, but the name was familiar, the price
was right and I'm not talented enough to rate an expensive instrument. Now that I own
a wooden neck guitar, I know how different that aluminum neck really was.
I find that everytime I pick up my wooden "Kramer", I need to check the tune, and half
the time, it's out. That old XL-5 on the other hand would stay in tune even after years
of banging around in the closet! One thing about the XL-5 that really bugged me was
the body shape. Not from an aesthetic point of view, but because I prefer to sit and
play with the instrument on my lap. The XL-5's shape doesn't lend itself to sit down
playing at all. Also, the clearcoat on the back of the neck was seperating where the
wood inserts meet the aluminum rail. At the time, I wasn't handy enough to sand it down
and recoat it.
A couple weeks ago, I started the search for a replacement aluminum neck guitar. I was
surprised to see how much the old Kramers have appreciated. I was hoping to find one
in the same $400 price range. Not to mention, they aren't all the easy to find in the
first place. I watched eBay, searched craigslist, and I found this forum. I also
learned about Travis Bean, Vaccaro and the history of the Kramer company.
Convinced I wasn't going to find a low-priced, decent condition aluminum necked guitar
anytime soon, I impulsively bought a Vaccaro neck on eBay, with no real game plan on how
I was going to use it. I started searching for bodies and discovered there are many to
choose from! I wanted something similar to my Striker (a strat style body, but without
a pickguard), but also with a name brand tremelo, and if possible, loaded with hardware
and electronics, just to make the project easier. From what I can tell, it costs more
to buy the seperate pieces versus buying a complete guitar.
On eBay again, I found an 80's vintage Kramer Focus, in good shape, with the original
hardshell case, a Floyd Rose tremelo, for less than what I paid for the Vaccaro neck!
The neck: http://i13.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/ef/a0/efd4_12.JPG
The rest: http://i5.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/ee/f8/e92a_12.JPG
My hybrid will consist of the entire Kramer Focus, minus the neck, tuners and locking
nut. The Vaccaro neck will have chrome Sperzel locking tuners, and a Fender LSR roller
nut. The body will be refinished. I haven't chosen a color yet, probably black or dark
gray. I may upgrade one or both pickups, depending on how the originals sound. Without
upgrading the pickups, I'll have about $500 in this project, but what excites me the
most about it though is that I can say I custom built it, all on my own.
-Mike
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| tone |
| Posted: 06/30/2008 at 8:34 PM Post subject: project guitar |
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Just wondering how its coming. I am considering a similar project, maybe a bass guitar, in the future.
If its not to late I would suggest recording the current set up for later comparison to the aluminum neck. For me that seems to be the best way to get true comparison.
best to you,
Tone
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| tone |
| Posted: 06/30/2008 at 8:34 PM Post subject: project guitar |
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Just wondering how its coming. I am considering a similar project, maybe a bass guitar, in the future.
If its not to late I would suggest recording the current set up for later comparison to the aluminum neck. For me that seems to be the best way to get true comparison.
best to you,
Tone
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| tone |
| Posted: 06/30/2008 at 8:35 PM Post subject: project guitar |
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Just wondering how its coming. I am considering a similar project, maybe a bass guitar, in the future.
If its not to late I would suggest recording the current set up for later comparison to the aluminum neck. For me that seems to be the best way to get true comparison.
best to you,
Tone
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| mikep |
| Posted: 07/01/2008 at 11:30 AM Post subject: |
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It's actually coming along nicely. The frets on the neck were sticking out from the edge so I carefully filed them down. The neck fits the body almost perfectly. I am going to need to shim it up a bit as the floyd rose has to be adjusted all the way down to get decent action.
I couldn't find tuners that would fit, si I ended up making aluminum shims for tuners by hand. I also made a copy of the Kramer aluminum neck style tension roller nut using stainless string ball ends and aluminum rivet "nails".
I had it all together and played it a bit (without the electronics). I've since disassembled it again and have just completely stripped the old finish from the body using stripper and sand paper. I'm planning on staining it with ebony colored stain so it will be translucent black.
That's where it stands as of right now.
-Mike
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