Kahler vs Floyd
- Thread starter Frogman
- Start date
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
The knife edges wear out, yes, but it takes a long, long time as long as you keep them lubed and never adjust the post height under tension. Other than that, they're pretty much maintenance-free. Kahlers, on the other hand, are like a Quadrajet: when they work, they work, but that's not very often. Too complicated for their own good.
The knife edges wear out, yes, but it takes a long, long time as long as you keep them lubed and never adjust the post height under tension. Other than that, they're pretty much maintenance-free. Kahlers, on the other hand, are like a Quadrajet: when they work, they work, but that's not very often. Too complicated for their own good.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
Why are there so many posts that time warp me back to 1987 this week?
Kahlers are smooth, but floyds have the big block so you get more sustain and chunk.
Why are there so many posts that time warp me back to 1987 this week?
Kahlers are smooth, but floyds have the big block so you get more sustain and chunk.
post toastie
New member
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
Schaeller LP Trem or Les Trem or whatever itś called.
Schaeller LP Trem or Les Trem or whatever itś called.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
There is a big sound difference. The Floyd has a sustain block like a Fender trem and (in both cases) that distinctively colors the sound, namely some lower mids are holed out (in a good way for the right use). The Kahler is more like an ultra-massive fixed bridge.
There is a big sound difference. The Floyd has a sustain block like a Fender trem and (in both cases) that distinctively colors the sound, namely some lower mids are holed out (in a good way for the right use). The Kahler is more like an ultra-massive fixed bridge.
Red_Label
New member
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
Uggghhh... this thread is taking me back to the 80s when all my axes had trems. Only have one that's got one now (my strats don't count as I block the trems). The frankenstrat that I still have has a Floyd on it. Cause if I'm gonna use a trem, the Floyd is the way to go. The Kahler has been in a parts box somewhere for 20 years. And there it'll stay...
Uggghhh... this thread is taking me back to the 80s when all my axes had trems. Only have one that's got one now (my strats don't count as I block the trems). The frankenstrat that I still have has a Floyd on it. Cause if I'm gonna use a trem, the Floyd is the way to go. The Kahler has been in a parts box somewhere for 20 years. And there it'll stay...
Frogman
New member
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
For me.....an "original" floyd rose is the only way to go
For me.....an "original" floyd rose is the only way to go
akio
Member
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
All of which makes the Kahler a real PITA to setup. Lowering a saddle also moves it toward the nut and vice versa, and when you unlock the saddle from the pivot as you will need to in order to make any adjustment, there is no way to keep it in place side-to-side wise. As for the hybrid lock pin, that only works well if you can somehow manage to balance the trem absolutely precisely on center, and even then the play between the lockscrew and the trem body can throw you off if you're heavy handed. I had to crank the spring tension adjustment uncomfortably far down to get the trem to level out with a set of 9-42s, the recommended strings, which just barely fit the string claws, BTW. If you plan on using heavier strings, get 2 or 3 wide claws on the bass side and the heavy springs.
That being said, I find the Kahler has one advantage over the Floyd: a half bent double stop doesn't throw the stationary note out of tune. Say you're up around the twelfth fret, playing a high E and bending the D on the B string up to match, on a fully floating Floyd the high E will go flat as the trem drops from your bend. This doesn't happen with my Kahler.
However, there is another option. Have you considered the Stetsbar? (www.stetsbar.com)
All of which makes the Kahler a real PITA to setup. Lowering a saddle also moves it toward the nut and vice versa, and when you unlock the saddle from the pivot as you will need to in order to make any adjustment, there is no way to keep it in place side-to-side wise. As for the hybrid lock pin, that only works well if you can somehow manage to balance the trem absolutely precisely on center, and even then the play between the lockscrew and the trem body can throw you off if you're heavy handed. I had to crank the spring tension adjustment uncomfortably far down to get the trem to level out with a set of 9-42s, the recommended strings, which just barely fit the string claws, BTW. If you plan on using heavier strings, get 2 or 3 wide claws on the bass side and the heavy springs.
That being said, I find the Kahler has one advantage over the Floyd: a half bent double stop doesn't throw the stationary note out of tune. Say you're up around the twelfth fret, playing a high E and bending the D on the B string up to match, on a fully floating Floyd the high E will go flat as the trem drops from your bend. This doesn't happen with my Kahler.
However, there is another option. Have you considered the Stetsbar? (www.stetsbar.com)
Captain Tightpants
New member
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
A Kahler takes a bit of tweaking to get properly set up, and can be a royal PITA when you first install it and set it up, i.e. getting the proper string/spring balance etc. Howver, unless you make a drastic string gauge change or drop your tuning 2 steps, you will never have to adjust it again. Keep it oiled, it will never be a problem.
As far as I'm concerned, the only advantage to a Floyd is better tuning stability during the most extreme dive-bombs, but a Kahler is superior in every other way. The Kahler will dive-bomb 90% as well as a Floyd, but it will do the more subtle Bigsby-like vibrato much better, smoother, and frankly more musically, in addition to wild dive-bombs. All IMHO of course.
The "G-string tuning problem" described in that guy's videos is a result on an improper set up. Been playing Kahlers since 1988, never had that kind of problem, period.
A Kahler takes a bit of tweaking to get properly set up, and can be a royal PITA when you first install it and set it up, i.e. getting the proper string/spring balance etc. Howver, unless you make a drastic string gauge change or drop your tuning 2 steps, you will never have to adjust it again. Keep it oiled, it will never be a problem.
As far as I'm concerned, the only advantage to a Floyd is better tuning stability during the most extreme dive-bombs, but a Kahler is superior in every other way. The Kahler will dive-bomb 90% as well as a Floyd, but it will do the more subtle Bigsby-like vibrato much better, smoother, and frankly more musically, in addition to wild dive-bombs. All IMHO of course.
The "G-string tuning problem" described in that guy's videos is a result on an improper set up. Been playing Kahlers since 1988, never had that kind of problem, period.
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LedSabbath
Member
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
Kahler
Pros:
Less Routing
Smoother Dive Bombs
One specifically made for Tune-o-Matic Bridges
Cons
Twice the price of a Floyd
Floyd
Pros
Half the price of A Kahler
Sustain
Cons
Harder Dive Bombs
A ton of Routing
Kahler
Pros:
Less Routing
Smoother Dive Bombs
One specifically made for Tune-o-Matic Bridges
Cons
Twice the price of a Floyd
Floyd
Pros
Half the price of A Kahler
Sustain
Cons
Harder Dive Bombs
A ton of Routing
kevlar3000
Bullet Proof Toneologist
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
Washburn Wonderbar anyone?
Washburn Wonderbar anyone?
Re: Kahler vs Floyd
There's always some crazy dude to bring up a Wonderbar lol
Washburn Wonderbar anyone?
There's always some crazy dude to bring up a Wonderbar lol
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