Best locking trem system?

[B2D]

So for the whammy bar abusers, what's your favorite double-locking system and why?

I've always been very fond of the Ibanez Edge tremolo... the original style one. It always seemed very smooth and controllable and not too stiff. I like the original Floyd as well but it always seemed a little on the stiff side.

For the record I'm normally a hardtail player because I like the tuning stability and the sustain and the feel of it, but I do like having a whammy bar to have fun with every now and then. I was playing around with Kisekae last night and came up with a Floyded Strat design that I'll build if I get the chance.

What does everyone else like?

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: Best locking trem system?

The Edge is fantastic, but the Gotoh licensed Floyd Rose is just so much better tonally. All the advantages of the Edge design, but better materials used for construction.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Best locking trem system?

I've never owned a double locker, though I've played many...and I only got my first Kahler recently (though the guitar uses a Floyd nut). So I am a bit off topic, but I must say that the Kahler is my favorite vibrato unit that I've ever used. More comfortable and easily adjustable than a Floyd, and a different feel, which I like a lot. It feels a lot like the Bigsby sponginess, but with more range and accuracy, and of course better tuning stability and the ability to pull up (which is usually how I use a vibrato).

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Best locking trem system?

+1 for the Kahler flatmount. (Avoid the Flyer. Or, at least, upgrade the saddles!)

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Best locking trem system?

Another vote for the original Ibz Edge. The one on my guitar is a bit different as it has a longer block, and longer, non-locking studs, but is otherwise the same as the rest of them. Very nice unit indeed. My only small beef is that the stock arm is somewhat too straight.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Best locking trem system?

ABm katana? yet to be tried by almost everyone including me but i think its going to blitz the field haHa. Go the Germans

But a more realistic answer would be the Gotoh floyd rose replacement. There quality is second to none imo

 

[ErikH]

Re: Best locking trem system?

Original Floyd Rose. I'm used to it and know how to set it up right. Second would be the Gotoh FR replacement.

 

[jmh151]

Best locking trem system?

I have both German Floyd's and Japanese Gotoh Floyd's. I prefer Gotoh

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Best locking trem system?

FLOYD it. Either get the ABM Katana model floyd, next would be the Gotoh, then the OFR which is what I use and I have no problems with it once I set it up right. If I had the money I would upgrade to the ABM model.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Best locking trem system?

They edge is good I also like the Kahler Steeler which was a licensed floyd copy made from better steel though now they are discontinued and hard to get parts for.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Best locking trem system?

Best ever was the Kahler Steeler. This one was a straight up Floyd copy by Kahler but used better materials. These have been out of production for almost 20 years now which is a shame because these still have no = and sound/hold tune better that any other FR variant that was ever produced.
Second would be the Kahler Pro using a Floyd style lock nut.
3 rd will be the Goto floyd
4th the OFR
5th The EDGE

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Best locking trem system?

Best ever was the Kahler Steeler. This one was a straight up Floyd copy by Kahler but used better materials. These have been out of production for almost 20 years now which is a shame because these still have no = and sound/hold tune better that any other FR variant that was ever produced.
Second would be the Kahler Pro using a Floyd style lock nut.
3 rd will be the Goto floyd
4th the OFR
5th The EDGE

Not quite 20 years Robin will still producing new guitars with them at least in 2005.

 

[Vengeance]

Re: Best locking trem system?

OFR for me all the way. Not been into the dive bomb thing lately but the tuning stability is second to none.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Best locking trem system?

Out of what I've tried:
1. OFR, it's built for war.
2. Gotoh, only negative is the string locks are stupid long to retrofit into some stuff.
3. Original Edge
4. Edge II Zero
5. Schaller/ESP Schaller
6. Kahler Spyder
7. Takeuchi JT-580LP

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Best locking trem system?

Haven't tried any of the 'good' edge tremolos, only the Edge III which is probably the bottom of the sh*t barrel for licensed Floyds. Intrigued by the ZR trem though, and I really want to get a kahler equipped guitar.

From my experience, I use mainly the German Schaller Floyds, though I have a (stupid) bias for them because I am German myself. Pretty hypocritical of me I must say, as I usually am annoyed when people take too much pride in their nationality. Back on topic, the Schallers are great, but I am very open to any trem designs, such as the stetsbar, or Brian May's original designed (ghetto-rigged) tremolo. Kinda baffled as to why his design hasn't caught on.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Best locking trem system?

Ibanez LoPro Edge (the first one)... does the job and doesn't get in the way doing it.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Best locking trem system?

I was a die hard Floyd user until today. I say Gotoh.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Best locking trem system?

Only other Trem I might use over a floyd is the Ibanez ZR trem that are on the higher end models. I've never tried one but hear great things about them but not sure how easy it would be to work on one. A Floyd I know inside and out.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Best locking trem system?

Based on overall build quality and durability.

1. Schaller-made OFR
2. Schaller's licensed version with the short, fat barrels
3. Schaller-made Floyd Rose Original (slightly different than Original Floyd Rose, though I'm still not sure how or why)
4. The FRT1000 that came on the USA Charvel ProMods

I do like the "ring" you get from some of the Takeuchi-branded Lo-TRS and related double-locking trems (i.e. Jackson JT-580/LP), especially on a guitar where certain notes break down into fundamentals early, so you get an almost vocal quality to them. As a trem, they're useless for long-term use, but take off the bar and don't change strings every week, they'll hold tune just fine. Might have to rotate or replace the nut locks a few times a year, though. Put OFR nut locks on (if they'll fit) and be done with it.

Last place I'd have to give to an older stud-mounted Kahler. It definitely could have used a Floyd-style nut, even though the ball ends would pop out of the saddle cups if you went too far down.
However, it could be set to float somewhat, so you could get a small degree of pull-up, though not as much as a Floyd. You could also do a more convincing slide impersonation with it than with a 2-point floating Floyd (well, I could, anyway). I used to use one to play the slide parts on Zeppelin's version of You Shook Me. Freebird was a bit harder to do.
As well, it could be easily set up to go from standard E to full-step-down D with just the fine tuners, whereas a Floyd takes major tweaking for that.

I've heard good things about the Gotoh Floyds recently, but haven't tried them. I'm guessing the move to China opened up the floodgates for everyone else to match the material quality after all these years.

 

[Shadow1psc]

Re: Best locking trem system?

I've got; Edge, Edge III, ZR Edge, a Kahler (but I'm not sure which version in the slightest), and the Ernie Ball style trem/bridge.

I like the ZR the most, by far. It just feels... good. I can't explain it. The Edge Lo Pro and Kahler are a very close second. The Kahler is really fluid, but both are stable. The Edge III is noticably lower quality, harder to set up properly, but it feels fine. I haven't had enough time with this Ernie Ball style yet to pass judgement, and I don't know if that+locking tuners counts for the sake of this discussion.