FS 1986 Kramer Focus 3000

[Camstone]

SOLD! Thanks El_Natoro!

In 1986 and 87 I was working as a salesman at Seattle Music down on 1st Avenue. I put this guitar together and have had it ever since. I'm not a strat or a Floyd guy, so it hasn't been played a lot, but it is 21 years young. A few minor nicks on the back, but nothing through the finish. No damage to the front whatsoever.

I removed the finish off the back of the neck with steel wool, but it has been played enough that it is sort of glazed again. It has a Jackson J80 distortion humbucker (with coild tap switch) and 2 J100 single coils. Here's some info that I found on the net about Jackson pickups that were made in the mid eighties. The pickups are very good.

"By very late 1984 Jackson had began manufacturing their own brand of pickups in-house. The initial models were the J100 single coil and J50 humbucking pickups. From the top these pickups were identifiable by their black pole pieces and adjustable screws. Underneath they had a foil "Jackson Made in USA" sticker applied to the bottom before potting. One early set of factory pickups I have encountered were made either as custom pickups, or before the foil decals were delivered. The pickups were labeled "Neck" and "Distortion" in a handwriting often seen in the factory logs (and eerily like my own handwriting). These tapes were applied before potting and were protected with wax. By late 1986 Jackson expanded the pickup line to include high output and low impedance pickups both in their guitars and available as replacement. You can view the entire electronics manual with Jackson pickup specs as well as wiring schematics here.

On an interesting note, John Page stated February 24, 2005 ""We had our own winders, Tanaka's, we bought them from Jackson Guitars. In fact when I bought them, Abby (Yabarra) was working for them (she got caught up in the CBS layoffs of '85). I was fortunate enough to be able to hire her into the CS at that time. " Fender's famous Masterwinder of pickups was winding pickups for Jackson in the mid-late 80's! On the very same machines used in the Fender Custom Shop today!"

I remember reading somewhere that these guitars were made at the ESP factory in Japan, but I do not know that for a fact. Anyway, PM me know if you are interested.

$300 shipped.

[Jeff R]

Confirmed...the Focus line were MIJ by ESP.

[black magic]

I had and regretably sold a Kramer Focus 1000 made by ESP and it had the hockey headstock, no pickgaurd and 1 humbucker. Man, I should have never sold that one!! These are sweet guitars guys.

Jack

[Scooter]

Confirmed...the Focus line were MIJ by ESP.

Not just the Focus line, but all the "American" Kramers were also MIJ by ESP.

[Brooks]

any int in a tonebone trimode plus $100?

[Taylor Player]

Is that an original Floyd Rose or a Floyd Rose II?

[Scooter]

That's an original.

[Camstone]

Yes it's an original Floyd.

Kramer was the first company to contract with Floyd Rose to put his trem on their guitars. And it was a huge windfall for him, timed right when Van Halen hit. Floyd is from the Seattle area and I knew him fairly well back in the early to mid eighties. We played golf together a couple of times. Anyway, when he went under contract with Kramer and then subsequently sued Kahler and won a huge settlement and licensing agreement, he went from being a broke guitar player to a multi millionaire.

Really great guy and a hell of a player. I haven't seen him in more than 20 years, but he's still here in the NW. His Floyd Rose guitar company is based out of Redmond (the same town that Microsoft calls home).

This is lot of guitar for $300, somebody buy it.

[MCChris]

I had a Focus 2000 (no PG, 2 humbuckers). Nice guitars. This one looks very clean, too. Good luck with the sale!

[princeofdarkness56]

I will vouch for Jackson PUPS from the mid 80's. They are really, really good stuff.

[Michael_]

I will vouch for Focus series instruments, very good stuff, high quality and such. A definite steal on the used market. I dig mine.

[Camstone]

I've had a few PM's from guys interested in this guitar and requesting more info.

So here's the scoop. The guitar comes with the original case. There is no fretwear. I don't do paypal, I am looking for a money order or cashier's check. You can check out my 100% positive feedback on ebay under Camstone. There's a number of guys here that I have done business with.

The guitar weighs 8.2 pounds. I've included a few more pics that tell the story. Oh and I have had a couple of trade offers, but I am just looking to sell her. I have something cool and custom coming from Hamer and in the interest of extending my marriage, am getting rid of things that I don't use to raise the rest of the cash.

Thanks,

Cam

The Case

The Frets

The Back O' The Neck