Kramer Focus VT-211S

I've played guitar since school, and I like to play by myself and write songs. I like all kinds of music, but most hard rock.

I bought the guitar from Musicyo.com in the Internet - I had been looking for an instrument with good price/worth ratio. The Kramer Fatboy answered my call - it is basically a Strat copy with bridge single-coil pickup replaced with a humbucker, and at $87 it is a bargain.

Good performance and price/value ratio. The Fatboy is designed to be a hard rock rhythm guitar, and it sure is. It has extremely low action, which means barre chords are easy to play and the strings are easy to press on the board. Kramer itself suggests its instruments for hard rock / heavy rock. If you are jazz, country or reggae enthusiast, or if you are looking a solo instrument, it is likely you will do better with some other guitar. If you, on the other hand, like to play hard rock, this guitar is made for you. At 87 dollars it is a bargain. MusicYo could sell these guitars at threefold price and it still would compare to Stratocaster.

Since Kramer is Gibson's cheapo brand, the guitars are made in China and with lower quality standards than "real" Gibsons. It has been complained these guitars are individuals. I got a good specimen, but it seems there are lemons around. Fortunately the MusicYo has a decent return policy - remember to try your instrumen thoroughly, and if it appears less than perfect, have it replaced.

Like the name describes, the sound of this guitar is "fat" because of the humbucker/single coiler combination. With fuzz and other effects the sound is just what I was looking for.

The MusicYo cord was rubbish. I had it immediately replaced. Likewise, it is suggestable you buy spare strings.

What I also didn't like was the bridge humbucker didn't have a separate splitter. Fortunately, if you understand electronics, it can be constructed afterwards.

Some players have found the low action of this instrument unpleasant. Since I am woman and don't have the handshake men have, it didn't disturb me the slighest - on the contrairy.

The body is nato/alder ply laminate, with "classic sunburst" painting. The instruments are also available in one colour. Fingerboard is of separate wood. The guitar has two single coil pickups and one humbucker, with five position selector. It also has torsion bar for the neck and vibra crank.

Quality of the instrument is good. Not perfect, but the Fatboy is not intended to be the breadwinner, but a decent guitar for beginners, hobbyists and intermediate players. If you are a pro, you may do better with a "genuine" Gibson.

Best price/value ratio you can find. If you are looking for your first or second guitar, this one is for you. Give it a try, but watch out for sour individual guitars. Likewise, if you want to introduce your son, daughter or nephew to guitar playing, Fatboy is the way to go.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought my Kramer Focus 211S 'Fatboy' from Musicyo.com, the only place you can possibly get them, lol. I paid $94.99 for the guitar, and have some killer accessories.

I like it because its inexpensive, heavy, durable, and I played my Les Paul Standard on the same amp, and for a $400 difference in price, it sure sounded close to the Les Paul. Sure, the Paul is clearer, but not much, you really have to listen to the Focus to here a slight buzz on a 10w practice amp. The strings are very smooth, like XL's, and the frets were filed very good, no rough edges on this guitar. Plays very well on the song "Sweet Child O Mine" for anyone who plays along with Guns 'N' Roses. I got the Vintage Sunburst color, AWESOME!

On the low E string, there is a very slight buzz when you use the frets, but while playing it on 0, or no fingers on frets, this string is perfect.

Construction and quality are close to $300+ priced guitars. Its pretty heavy, like I said, and doesn't have a scratch on it, and its traveled with me for about 400 miles. Very durable guitar.

My bottom line is this: With one string that buzzes 40% of the time, with a price tag of $94.99, and the durabilty of this, its gonna be hard to beat. You have to get into the $800+ guitars to beat it. Order it, and have fun! If this had a scale of 1-10, an 11.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com