The Kramer Club

[Karlo.kc]

My Kramer XKB-20 w/ fresh GHS Medium Scale Boomers

 

[Ceerad]

I just picked up a Focus 420s on eBay for $50 + Shipping (shipping was a bit expensive)
I was looking for a passive p-bass to round out my collection.
I can't seem to find much information in old Kramer catalogs or anything.
My hands are on the smaller side so I prefer a fast neck (Ibanez/Schecter)
I've avoided Fender/Squire in the past for this reason.
The few posts I've found about this model do mention a fast neck. How does this compare?
Did I find a diamond in the rough or would my $50 have been better spent putting a super cheap p-bass knockoff from Glarry or Ktaxon? Or possibly a beat up Squire/EPI Accu-Bass or something like that?

 

[Barry Kaplan]

Subject: DMZ 5000B rewiring help — DBL-1 preamp pin assignments


Hi all,


I have a 1979 Kramer DMZ 5000B fretless bass, serial A2088, with the original DBL-1 preamp module intact. The bass was rewired incorrectly by a prior owner and I'm restoring it to stock.


Control layout:

• 2x 500k volume pots, 2x 500k tone pots (with 51kΩ resistors and 0.022µF caps)
• 3-way on/off/on pickup selector toggle
• 2PDT mini toggle — coil tap (neck pickup)
• 2PDT mini toggle — preamp on/off
• TRS stereo switching output jack
• DiMarzio P-style neck and J-style bridge pickups, both 4-conductor
• Original DBL-1 preamp module, 12 pins, confirmed functioning

The DBL-1 pin wire colors left to right are: blue, green, black, yellow, grey, orange, brown, black, white, purple, purple, red.


I found the DMZ 4000 preamp schematic on vintagekramer.com which notes "circuit wired to run positive battery terminal to ground."


I need help with:

1. DBL-1 pin assignments
2. How the 3-way selector and dual volume pots integrate with the DBL-1
3. Does pickup signal go directly into DBL-1 or through volume pots first?
4. Correct jack wiring — tip, ring, sleeve, switch

Thank you in advance.