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MGR/Rearden Metal « Kramer Focus 111S »
Published on 07/25/03 at 15:00I bought 2 units from musicyo.com. One for me and one for my 9 year old son. I wanted surf green and it was only available on the deluxe model. The other, vintage white was only available on the standard model. I can't see any other difference except that the green one has a lighter colored neck. Also, all the screws on the deluxe model were silver colored and on the standard model the 6 screws holding the pickups in were black. I founde them on MUSICYO.COM for $69 bucks each. I already had a beautiful '56 les paul gold top and an alvarez acoustic. I have some relatives over all the time and they always want to play my guitar. I grit my teeth as they bang around my priceless gear. Now they can bang around this great guitar and I won't cringe again.
Both units came just about perfect out of the box. The standard model had fret buzz on the 5th and 6th string around the middle. I noticed that both guitars were set up very low action all around. I got scared at first and checked for a twisted or bowed neck, then for high frets. Nope. I then losened the strings and raised the individual bridges per string with the wrench supplied. Just 2 complete turns and wow did that make all the difference in the world. The action is still medium low but no fret buzz at all anywhere. I checked the tuning open strings to the 12th fret and just perfect. I went to the other guitar and made similar adjustments. These guitars are just great sounding even compared to my les paul. Although, the les paul is a completely different sound compared to the strat type Kramer. It sure sounds like a strat to me. I don't care if other people might pull out the pickups and put another $300 worth into them. Not me. I like this baby just like it is. It's got it's own personality and the tuners are just fine as well. Why put cadillac fins on a VW bug? It sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it? If you want those expensive pickups then buy the guitar that they come on. If you want a well constructed, substantial feeling ax for next to nothing this is the one. It's just fantastic. That's one way I can introduce my 9 year old to the guitar and not lose my shirt.
Both of the units have hairline looking cracks where the neck meets the body. After looking into it I found that it't right at the start of the curve and it's in the thick paint job. Looks like the enamel has cracked a little. That's only bringing more character to this tool. It is solid. Oh, it's made in china by the way not korea if that matters.
Some people don't like the metal knobs. I think they are great. They are textured and easier to twirl than the smooth ones on my les paul. I found the 5 way switch is solid as well. The whammy bar is great and that's something I don't have on my les paul and if I were to put one on it, it would far exceed the price of this FOCUS.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
Both units came just about perfect out of the box. The standard model had fret buzz on the 5th and 6th string around the middle. I noticed that both guitars were set up very low action all around. I got scared at first and checked for a twisted or bowed neck, then for high frets. Nope. I then losened the strings and raised the individual bridges per string with the wrench supplied. Just 2 complete turns and wow did that make all the difference in the world. The action is still medium low but no fret buzz at all anywhere. I checked the tuning open strings to the 12th fret and just perfect. I went to the other guitar and made similar adjustments. These guitars are just great sounding even compared to my les paul. Although, the les paul is a completely different sound compared to the strat type Kramer. It sure sounds like a strat to me. I don't care if other people might pull out the pickups and put another $300 worth into them. Not me. I like this baby just like it is. It's got it's own personality and the tuners are just fine as well. Why put cadillac fins on a VW bug? It sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it? If you want those expensive pickups then buy the guitar that they come on. If you want a well constructed, substantial feeling ax for next to nothing this is the one. It's just fantastic. That's one way I can introduce my 9 year old to the guitar and not lose my shirt.
Both of the units have hairline looking cracks where the neck meets the body. After looking into it I found that it't right at the start of the curve and it's in the thick paint job. Looks like the enamel has cracked a little. That's only bringing more character to this tool. It is solid. Oh, it's made in china by the way not korea if that matters.
Some people don't like the metal knobs. I think they are great. They are textured and easier to twirl than the smooth ones on my les paul. I found the 5 way switch is solid as well. The whammy bar is great and that's something I don't have on my les paul and if I were to put one on it, it would far exceed the price of this FOCUS.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com