Any Kahler Trem users?

[Brow]

Hey guys.

I've got a new guitar incoming and it has a USA Kahler Flyer tremolo system on it, which I've got no experience with.

I just wondered if any Kahler trem users could give me any tips or pointers at all? Especially as I'll need to up the string gauge to 10s pretty much straight away so any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Craig.

[richard]

No idea about your question but, just out of interest, how many guitars have you got now ?

[Philly Q]

They're a bit fiddly to set up, especially if you're changing string gauges, you have to adjust the spring tension as with any other trem, but the method is different.  They do work fine with 10's though.

Setting the intonation is a bit of a pain too, but certainly no worse than a Floyd and probably easier on the Flyer than on the more upmarket models (if I remember right!)

Get strings with reinforced ball ends (like Ernie Ball RPS, if they still make them).  Kahlers tend to break normal strings pretty quickly, unless modern strings are sturdier than they were 25 years ago!

[tekbow]

I heard something in a vid comparison about them snagging in heavy use? they need to be given a quick waggle or something before returning them to pitch (theres a vid on youtube somewhere, kahler review, or kahler vs floyd or some such), and i believe there's also a clicking feeling when using them.

Still, Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman appear to have no significant issues with em :D

[Philly Q]

and i believe there's also a clicking feeling when using them.

I'd be surprised if that's true, since they're based around a cam design, an axle in effect, there's nowhere for it to "click" - unlike a fulcrum/knife edge design where the edges can get worn and it "sticks".

The thing I aways liked about the Kahler was that you could pull up or push down, or just shake the bar either side of the equilibrium point, and there is no "transition" at all, it feels perfectly smooth.

[tekbow]

am pretty sure on the vid i saw it was actually audible, but it may have been a function of the snagging thing i mentioned.

Was a couple years ago when i watched it, was interested in a kahler equipped guitar at that point. I know something in one of the vid comparisons put me off.

Am at work at the moment otherwise i'd go searching, but can't actually access youtube on the rig

[Brow]

Thanks for the posts guys.

I'll take all the info and see how I get on with the string gauge change. Current owner has 9-42s on it and I use 10-46s.

Toe-Knee has some experience with them and as I was s'pposed to be going to see him anyway, he might be able to give it a tweak when I inevitably do something wrong  :lol:

No idea about your question but, just out of interest, how many guitars have you got now ?

17 at the minute at various price points. This new 1 will be 1 of my cheapest.

[Toe-Knee]

Remember. If you ever sell this guitar it shall be mine!

[Brow]

Remember. If you ever sell this guitar it shall be mine!

Deal!

[FELINEGUITARS]

The Flyer was a budget version of the traditional Kahler flatmount trem with the cam
It lacked a few of the more expensive units refinements and was often found as an OEM item on cheaper guitars.

I don't recall if it had any specific difficulties, although like all Kahler flatmounts it benefits from the saddles being as high as possible to get a better break angle over the roller = stronger tone and better sustain.
On some guitars you need to shim the neck (or angle the neck pocket) or on a set neck guitar maybe recess the whole trem into the body to achieve the break angle as well as desired string height over the frets.

[Brow]

The Flyer was a budget version of the traditional Kahler flatmount trem with the cam
It lacked a few of the more expensive units refinements and was often found as an OEM item on cheaper guitars.

I don't recall if it had any specific difficulties, although like all Kahler flatmounts it benefits from the saddles being as high as possible to get a better break angle over the roller = stronger tone and better sustain.
On some guitars you need to shim the neck (or angle the neck pocket) or on a set neck guitar maybe recess the whole trem into the body to achieve the break angle as well as desired string height over the frets.

Hi Jon.

Thanks for the info.

The seller has said that he shimmed the neck to achieve good playability, so I guess all I can do is see how it plays when it gets here.

[bath_dep]

I've got a 1986 Fender Japan Contemporary 22 strat with a Kahler.

Left it just as it is from new, never had even the smallest issue, alwasy been super reliable.

Ernie Ball Super Slinky every time, not had an problems with breakage or poor tuning.

A bit untraditional but I have loved every second of owning it. Put a lil59 in the bridge and bingo, ready for anything.

[Toe-Knee]

We restrang the guitar last weekend going up guage. It was far quicker and easier than an FR equipped guitar.

[Philly Q]

We restrang the guitar last weekend going up guage. It was far quicker and easier than an FR equipped guitar.

I find trems generally quite annoying to set up, but the Kahler was a breeze compared with my (extremely limited) experience of the Floyd Rose.

[Plenum n Heather]

OFR definitely has a steep learning curve ...