Pickup in a Kramer Nightswan II

[thomasjo2093]

Can anyone tell me what model seymour duncans I can put into a Kramer Nightswan II to make it as close to stock as possible? Thanks.

John

[Mr 9finger]

According to VintageKramer.com They had a Fullshred in the bridge and 2 Kramer rails in the neck/middle spots. So, I'd bet you would be all right w/ couple cool rails or hot rails if you wanted to make it as close to vintage spec as possible. I doubt you'll find any Kramer rails from that time era.

[jmh151]

They came with a full shred in the bridge, and 2 rail humbuckers in the neck and middle. I hear thet were Kramer rail buckers, but since ESP was making alot of Kramer parts back then, they may have been cheap ESP pickups.

The original Nightswan had a Full Shred bridge and JB middle. So you could try a full shred bridge, JBjr middle, and a Lil'59 neck.

[jmh151]

Well since the Nightswan II was basically a Proaxe, and judging that the rail pickups in a Proaxe were Duncan Hotrails, stock form may be a Full Shred bridge with hot rails in the neck and middle.

http://www.vintagekramer.com/proaxe.htm

I personally thing the JBjr and lil'59 would be an improvement. I'm happy how they worked out in my Jackson Soloist

[Mr 9finger]

I personally thing the JBjr and lil'59 would be an improvement. I'm happy how they worked out in my Jackson Soloist

I like this idea. It would still give you that swan feel tonally but w/ some extra options!

[Mr 9finger]

Darn it John, you've got me GASing for a swan II and I know that'll never happen for me. I'll have to have one made.

[thomasjo2093]

How do think I feel? I have not played for over 10 years and over the last couple of months I have bought three Nightswans, 85 Pacer Deluxe, XL III, and that OLP. Not to mention a crate FW120 half stack. And my wife has not kicked me out yet!!!

[Mr 9finger]

You have a very patient wife my friend. My ol lady would be attacking me in my sleep if I did something like that. I definately have some swan gas now, but have other projects that need to be done first. I can't even imagine how much a custom made swan neck is going to cost me. I'll have to have one made. There's no way I'll be able play that narrow nut width let alone find one in lefty.

[thomasjo2093]

All I had to do was have a heart attack and then tell my wife that before I die I want to be on stage playing at least once. She was right on board. But I do not recommend the heart attack, it really SUCKED!!!!

[Mr 9finger]

All I had to do was have a heart attack and then tell my wife that before I die I want to be on stage playing at least once. She was right on board. But I do not recommend the heart attack, it really SUCKED!!!!

Uh yeah, that would suck. I'm constantly getting my arse road about smoking and eating better. I better get on that to but I'm stuck not being able to do anything until my shoulder heals.

[jmh151]

I like this idea. It would still give you that swan feel tonally but w/ some extra options!

Basically I just got a 1993 Jackson soloist with a Bill Lawrence L-500 XL in the bridge and the stock Jackson stacked singles in the neck and middle. There was no way any single was going to match up with the output of the Lawrence. I looked into Hotrails, but read they were too muddy for the neck and mid. So I tried the lil'59 and JBjr. Both sounds VERY close to their full size brothers, and now I can go from a vintage, smooth bassy tone in the neck, to a brighter , sorta Telecaster tone in the middle (I say SORTA), to the full flamethrower bridge. I have to re-check my wiring, I thing the JBjr may be out of phase with the Lawrence and I may have to reverse the wires in the JBjr or Lawrence.

It doesn't sound like a strat by any means, (why bother trying on a neck thru Floyd equipped guitar) but on a strat style guitar I prefer the look of singles in the neck and middle positions.

I think they'll sound killer on your maahogany bodied nightswan. I might even try a lil'Screamin Demon in the neck one day since it's supposedly a '59 with more bite and control

[jmh151]

You have a very patient wife my friend. My ol lady would be attacking me in my sleep if I did something like that. I definately have some swan gas now, but have other projects that need to be done first. I can't even imagine how much a custom made swan neck is going to cost me. I'll have to have one made. There's no way I'll be able play that narrow nut width let alone find one in lefty.

Well Warmoth DID make the necks and bodies for the nightswans. You can't get them now. I already called, they confirmed they made the Nightswan necks and bodies for Kramer, but at the time they were still handmaking their necks and bodies, before CNC, and they don't have the templates anymore. The original nightswan prototype given to Vivian Campbell was just warmoth parts.

They do have a Soloist style body that you can special order for a 24 3/4" neck, and they will still make a tru 24 3/4" neck with 24 frets (I'm not talking about the 25.5-24.75 conversion), compound radius, so you could have a basic Nightswan built to your specs- mahogany body, maple neck, ebony board, 24 3/4" scale, HHX pickup routing, etc...

Or you could get a custom nightswan neck, I've seen them go for about $450.

[Mr 9finger]

Well Warmoth DID make the necks and bodies for the nightswans. You can't get them now. I already called, they confirmed they made the Nightswan necks and bodies for Kramer, but at the time they were still handmaking their necks and bodies, before CNC, and they don't have the templates anymore. The original nightswan prototype given to Vivian Campbell was just warmoth parts.

They do have a Soloist style body that you can special order for a 24 3/4" neck, and they will still make a tru 24 3/4" neck with 24 frets (I'm not talking about the 25.5-24.75 conversion), compound radius, so you could have a basic Nightswan built to your specs- mahogany body, maple neck, ebony board, 24 3/4" scale, HHX pickup routing, etc...

Or you could get a custom nightswan neck, I've seen them go for about $450.

If I get anything from warmoth it'll be a last ditch thing. When I get around to building one I'll get my bodies from Southeast guitars. http://www.southeastguitars.com/bodies.htm

The guy does really good work and his prices are right! This way I can get the swan body and a Floyd Rose sig body at the same time. I'll probably leave the neck duties up to Laz Gagic. The money conversion is high since he's over the pond but his work spot on and he's about the only person I'd trust to do something like that.

[thomasjo2093]

Thanks for the info. I just got back from ordering a Full Shred, JBjr middle, and a Lil'59 neck. IT should sound awesome!!! Thanks again.

[Sirion]

9finger, any idea how yo get in contact with Laz? His webpage seems to be gone. I may be in the market for one or two new necks, and I've had a very good experiences with your past recommendations. At least a lot better than the time I bought one from a "luthier" without checking his rep first.

[Sirion]

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