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Kramer 450B Humbuckers ????

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by mech, Jul 17, 2017.

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  1. Jul 17, 2017 #1
    mech

    mech In Memoriam

    Jun 20, 2008
    Meridian, MS, USA
    A buddy of mine in another town has picked up a Kramer 450B. Both the pickup covers are gone and the bridge pickup doesn't work. There have been switches added that we suspect are for coil taps/phase and their wiring may be the problem. In the picture, the neck pickup looks like a Mighty Mite humbucker that is reputed to be what Kramer used (as far as I can find on the interwebs). The bridge pickup looks like a big single coil in a white case that we've not seen before. I have not had it in my hands yet but we're going to take it apart in a few days.

    Does anyone know what OEM pickups were used in the Kramer 450B and what they look like without the cover? Also, any information on the brand and model of the white bridge pickup would be appreciated.

    Pickups.jpg

    Pickup-Panorama.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2017
    bdplaid likes this.
  2. Jul 18, 2017 #2
    CORBS

    CORBS

    Dec 28, 2010
    I can't tell you much of what you ask but I had a 650B and my neck pickup was dead. Lindy Fralin was able to rewind it and make it work well again. I recommend him for the restoration if you want to do that. My pickups had Chrome covers and wood surrounds. The wood surrounds were notorious for breaking, as you can see your bridge pickup's is gone.
     
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  3. Jul 18, 2017 #3
    mech

    mech In Memoriam

    Jun 20, 2008
    Meridian, MS, USA
    Edited OP to add pickup pictures.
     
  4. Jul 20, 2017 #4
    CORBS

    CORBS

    Dec 28, 2010
    I suspect your bridge pickup is original but missing the Chrome cover. The neck pickup could be the Mighty-Mite EB0 replacement pickup that was popular in the 70s.
     
  5. Jul 20, 2017 #5
    mech

    mech In Memoriam

    Jun 20, 2008
    Meridian, MS, USA
    Thanks, I believe you are correct. We had it apart today and the bridge single coil has the original mounting plate with female threaded stand-offs/springs. Alnico poles and 3 wires...+, - and shield. It wasn't working due to a very bad splice. Neck HB is mounted with wood screws from the top. The control pocket was a total snakes nest and one pot had a cracked wafer. Now has a shielded pocket and is wired like a Les Paul with the Mighty Mite in parallel so it doesn't totally bury the bridge PU. We used .047uF tone caps since they were the only old school types he had. Plays great, sounds good. Going to look into having PU covers 3D printed and he has some walnut to make the missing PU ring. Pics are of me working on it and finished.

    Control Pocket-Panorama-1200.jpg
     
  6. Jul 20, 2017 #6
    GIBrat51

    GIBrat51 Innocent as the day is long Supporting Member

    Mar 5, 2013
    St Joseph County., Indiana
    Kramer 450B bass.jpg There has been an on-going debate about the pickups in these basses for years.. Some say that they were Mighty Mites, and some say they were custom Kramer pickups. AFAIK, it's never been settled one way or the other; but, knowing what I know about vintage Kramers, the answer is probably "both - depending on the year, and how they felt that day". I bought my '78 450B from the original owner, on consignment at Jerry's Lefty Guitars. To my knowledge, it's completely original and has never been apart. The pickups in mine are hotter than Hell, and certainly sound like single coils...:)
     
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