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Dave Sloven

Dave Sloven

Ambassador of DOOM!
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I'm looking at a 1986 Kramer Striker 600ST on the second-hand market.

The think has a broken wire somewhere, probably the jack. I'm going to go over it with a multimeter and low-ball the guy. The hardware on these is kind of useless, they have a German made Floyd but it is the single-locking FR2, which has zero resale value, and the tuners are crap. The necks are apparently pretty nice but the bodies are in most cases plywood, with some solid wood ones in the mix somehow. The pickups are 'Duncan Designed', also zero resale value.

So I am going to take my multimeter, soldering iron, and screwdriver with me. If it is solid wood I will make him and offer, but if it is ply I might leave it. It looks as though this model has the jack mounted in a plastic bezel that is simply glued into the body, so I would have to either install the Explorer type four screw mount plate for the jack or enlarge the hole to take the telecaster type bezel. I am thinking that if it is ply routing the edge will be almost impossible. I am also thinking that I would replace the bridge with a fully-floating Gotoh floyd, but that would require routing the top and if it is ply I worry it might chip out.

If I can get it cheap and install Gotoh hardware and rewire it this guitar might be worthwhile.

Any thoughts?

It is this this exact model:

PoG75UD.jpg
 
The Schecter has several things going for it, but one is that my need for a 24 fret guitar and a guitar with a floating tremolo would both be met with the one acquisition.
 
dunno enough about either but I wouldnt troubleshoot the Kramer; it is a "for parts or not working" item and should be priced accordingly.
Hope you come away with a good fit for your needs.
 
I've played a Schecter guitar before in the past and I was very impressed by it's build quality and play-ability. They are sure great guitars to acquire if you are G.A.S.ing for one.:wink:


;>)/
 
Schecter----do it--- hurry --- have ya done it? why not --- trigtger---pull --BOOM go get it --- what are ya doing....stop fiddling with didling yer pedals and get out there and get that Schexy Schecter Lad!
 
The guy is in some camp up in the hills and is keen to talk trades on Friday or Saturday when he's back home
 
There's only one thing to consider with a guitar with a floating trem ... will it endure Rick Rozz level whammy bar abuse and stay in tune?

 
Worked out a deal for the Schechter

He is giving me the Schechter plus a Fender Mustang 1 practice amp

I am giving him Morley Lil Alligator, Boss DD-7, Polytune Blacklight, and an MXR Custom Comp.

The DD-7 is redundant given that I have a DM-2W, DD-20, RE-20, Carbon Copy, and soon a TE-2 as delays.
I never liked the Morley volume pedal very much. It was either that one with the tuner or just the Boss FV-500L. The Boss is a great passive volume pedal that doubles as an expression pedal but I've had problems with the Polytune recently (I had to reinstall the software).
I've never found a use for the compressor and it seems that they aren't that popular around here, or at least everyone tries to lowball you on them.

I'll find a use for the little amp even if it is giving it to my nephew for his birthday, or giving it to my cousin so that he can play guitar in the house. Or I might even use it myself given that my Rage 158 has crapped out.


The Striker is something I would pick up if the guy offers it to me ridiculously cheap. I would keep the hard case and fix the wiring, then flip it. The main attraction for me with the Kramer was that Mitch Dickenson used one just like it in Heresy and Unseen Terror (see above).
 
Very cool play, Dave.

For years I had no idea my heavy 1987 Squirecaster was plywood laminate until I routed it for humbuckers. Its silly heavy, but its a decent, dependable old guitar.
 
Dave Sloven said:
The Striker is something I would pick up if the guy offers it to me ridiculously cheap. I would keep the hard case and fix the wiring, then flip it. The main attraction for me with the Kramer was that Mitch Dickenson used one just like it in Heresy and Unseen Terror (see above).
Click to expand...

I can dig it...the only reason I had a DT555 Destroyer replica built was because of Phil Collen's use of it in Def Leppard.

Interestingly, many years later, I wondered why that guitar felt so "right" in my hands.

It wasn't until last year that I discovered the original DT555 had a thick, wide neck - one of the thickest/widest ever made by Ibanez at the time - and a 12" radius with 24.75" scale length.

IMG_20170813_53259.jpg

DT555FR.JPG



I found out those were the mysterious combinations that made a guitar feel and sound right to me...and I spent years not knowing this...

Now there's nothing but 24.75" scale guitars in my music room...
 
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gball said:
I definitely favor the Gibson scale too, but I haven't gone all the way yet: I have two 25.5" and one 25"
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I can dig that. I became enraged to realize I spent years not knowing why I hated my guitars and how much time and money I wasted looking in the wrong place...and not just the scale, Gibson's construction methodology is better, IMHO...
 
gball said:
I definitely favor the Gibson scale too, but I haven't gone all the way yet: I have two 25.5" and one 25"
Click to expand...

This was my first venture in eliminating the Fender scale. It is Von Herndon Serial Number 1 - an experiment, that became a loaner, that now belongs to my oldest Son. The body and neck were made to my specifications by B.Hefner in Whittier, California. It's solid mahogany with a 24.75" / 12" Radius Neck, measuring .998" at the first through 12th fret. Essentially, this is similar to a 1958 Gibson Les Paul neck.

Von Herndon StudioCaster Front.jpg Von Herndon Headstock Prototype #1.jpg

Although it was a step in the right direction, I prefer the Gibson style of construction....
 
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