Lake Placid Blues
New member
Are they still made? Can one still get them? What is your opinion of them?
Kahlers
- Thread starter Lake Placid Blues
- Start date
Re: Kahlers
Yeap. They're still being made.
http://www.wammiworld.com/
I like them. Much smoother than floyds.
Yeap. They're still being made.
http://www.wammiworld.com/
I like them. Much smoother than floyds.
jmh151
Active member
Kahlers
Well not all models are still made. In the 80s till they closed they made about 4 different styles. A few years ago they went back into buisness and began re manufacturing IMO the best of the models they originally made. There are a few options, such as changing the metal the rollers are made of to get different tones.
I'd like to get a guitar that has one, it's always seemed to be a better option than a Floyd, though some complain the sustain isn't as good
Well not all models are still made. In the 80s till they closed they made about 4 different styles. A few years ago they went back into buisness and began re manufacturing IMO the best of the models they originally made. There are a few options, such as changing the metal the rollers are made of to get different tones.
I'd like to get a guitar that has one, it's always seemed to be a better option than a Floyd, though some complain the sustain isn't as good
Re: Kahlers
as stated previously, they shut down but are back up.. They are smooth. My only reservation with them is that they are more complex than a floyd. I did like the "floydish" model they used to make called a Spyder. Wammiworld makes finding parts easy again.. Ive had a couple of old Carvins with them.. VEry nice.
as stated previously, they shut down but are back up.. They are smooth. My only reservation with them is that they are more complex than a floyd. I did like the "floydish" model they used to make called a Spyder. Wammiworld makes finding parts easy again.. Ive had a couple of old Carvins with them.. VEry nice.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Kahlers
I would like to try one, just have heard horror stories about tuning issues when bending, but some people swear by them so it could (and probably is) a setup issue. The answer isn't well known probably because not a whole lot of people use Kahlers. Granted Jerry Cantrell, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman are famous users, but you can name so many other Floyd users.
I would like to try one, just have heard horror stories about tuning issues when bending, but some people swear by them so it could (and probably is) a setup issue. The answer isn't well known probably because not a whole lot of people use Kahlers. Granted Jerry Cantrell, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman are famous users, but you can name so many other Floyd users.
alteredbeast
New member
Re: Kahlers
i have two guitars with 2315's, after being a militant die hard OFR user for many years, i tried a kahler and loved it. i did not lose any love for OFR, but i definitely prefer the kahler, 2315 at least, i don't have any experience with any other model.
i have two guitars with 2315's, after being a militant die hard OFR user for many years, i tried a kahler and loved it. i did not lose any love for OFR, but i definitely prefer the kahler, 2315 at least, i don't have any experience with any other model.
PonyKiller
New member
Re: Kahlers
I've never tried one on the recent models but I have a guitar with an '80s Kahler PRO. I've heard it's equivalent to the Kahler Hybrid except for the thing to set it as a fixed bridge. Cool thing about the new ones is the option to block the cam and use it as a fixed bridge although I don't know ho it works.
To me the Kahler is a different beast compared to the Floyd. Each one has it's own place and it would be very hard for me to go with either of them exclusively.
I love the silky smooth action of the Kahler. Works beautifully to give a subtle vibrato to chords effortlessly and accurately. My favorite part about it is that the saddles are separated from the cam. You can rest your palm on the bridge and really dig on those heavy palm muted riffs without the fear of getting the strings sharp.
It's my no. 1 choice for songs where a lot of heavy palm muted riffs are involved. I've been a Floyd Rose guy since forever and I've learnt to deal with that on guitars with full floating floyds but on stage, at the rush of the moment, I sometimes rest my palm a little to heavy on the floyd making the riff sound awful. I never have to worry about that on a Kahler.
A thing to consider about Kahlers: They are not double locking as a Floyd Rose. The strings are not locked at the saddle. So if you do really deep dive bombs you will notice that sometimes some strings won't come back in tune. This is fixed on the fly by a light tug to the vibrato bar. You have to get used to quickly and lightly pull the bar each time you do a dive bomb. It's really weird at first but you end up getting used to it after a while. You have to remember to end on a bar pull each time you want to go crazy with the bar. Now I do it unconsciously, sometimes even with Floyds.
Even though the Kahler is perfectly able to do crazy divebombs and pulls with the bar, I leave that to my Floyd Rose equipped guitars. I just feel that they are a bit more dependable.
I've never tried one on the recent models but I have a guitar with an '80s Kahler PRO. I've heard it's equivalent to the Kahler Hybrid except for the thing to set it as a fixed bridge. Cool thing about the new ones is the option to block the cam and use it as a fixed bridge although I don't know ho it works.
To me the Kahler is a different beast compared to the Floyd. Each one has it's own place and it would be very hard for me to go with either of them exclusively.
I love the silky smooth action of the Kahler. Works beautifully to give a subtle vibrato to chords effortlessly and accurately. My favorite part about it is that the saddles are separated from the cam. You can rest your palm on the bridge and really dig on those heavy palm muted riffs without the fear of getting the strings sharp.
It's my no. 1 choice for songs where a lot of heavy palm muted riffs are involved. I've been a Floyd Rose guy since forever and I've learnt to deal with that on guitars with full floating floyds but on stage, at the rush of the moment, I sometimes rest my palm a little to heavy on the floyd making the riff sound awful. I never have to worry about that on a Kahler.
A thing to consider about Kahlers: They are not double locking as a Floyd Rose. The strings are not locked at the saddle. So if you do really deep dive bombs you will notice that sometimes some strings won't come back in tune. This is fixed on the fly by a light tug to the vibrato bar. You have to get used to quickly and lightly pull the bar each time you do a dive bomb. It's really weird at first but you end up getting used to it after a while. You have to remember to end on a bar pull each time you want to go crazy with the bar. Now I do it unconsciously, sometimes even with Floyds.
Even though the Kahler is perfectly able to do crazy divebombs and pulls with the bar, I leave that to my Floyd Rose equipped guitars. I just feel that they are a bit more dependable.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Kahlers
The big question always is - do they "kill sound"?
Many say they kill treble. But hold the horses, many who say that compare with a Floyd, which is a sustain block tremolo which cuts out lows quite severely, and the Floyd more so than a 6-point vintage trem. Very hard to judge.
The big question always is - do they "kill sound"?
Many say they kill treble. But hold the horses, many who say that compare with a Floyd, which is a sustain block tremolo which cuts out lows quite severely, and the Floyd more so than a 6-point vintage trem. Very hard to judge.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Kahlers
I had one put on a hardtail Aria back in '83 or '84. I find care and feeding to be much easier than on a Floyd. Adjusting tension and float position are a piece of cake. I didn't notice a significant change in tone and that was my primary guitar from 1982-89. As far as tuning stability on bends go, they're no more wonky than any other floating trem. If I had to pick a weakness, it would be that they can't be set up to dive only. Not an issue for me since the way I use the trem I can't deck it anyway.
I had one put on a hardtail Aria back in '83 or '84. I find care and feeding to be much easier than on a Floyd. Adjusting tension and float position are a piece of cake. I didn't notice a significant change in tone and that was my primary guitar from 1982-89. As far as tuning stability on bends go, they're no more wonky than any other floating trem. If I had to pick a weakness, it would be that they can't be set up to dive only. Not an issue for me since the way I use the trem I can't deck it anyway.
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Kahlers
Owned quite a number of guitars with them over the years including the old Steelers which IMO is the Best Floyd Rose variant ever built.
Love Kahlers, they sound great and are ROCK stable if set up properly. A good Kahler is much smoother and more articulate than any Floyd and with the different cams you can really tailor the tones with these things. They also are MUCH more stable on tuning when you bend strings than a Floyd if set up right. Just use a Floyd style lock nut instead of that stupid behind the nut string lock and they are great!!
Yes they are back and at one time my old salesman from Carvin Sean was working for um.
Owned quite a number of guitars with them over the years including the old Steelers which IMO is the Best Floyd Rose variant ever built.
Love Kahlers, they sound great and are ROCK stable if set up properly. A good Kahler is much smoother and more articulate than any Floyd and with the different cams you can really tailor the tones with these things. They also are MUCH more stable on tuning when you bend strings than a Floyd if set up right. Just use a Floyd style lock nut instead of that stupid behind the nut string lock and they are great!!
Yes they are back and at one time my old salesman from Carvin Sean was working for um.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Kahlers
F*ck it, I have money, I have a guitar body and neck that need some love, and I want to try a Kahler. This 7300 is $170.
http://www.wammiworld.com/b7300.php
F*ck it, I have money, I have a guitar body and neck that need some love, and I want to try a Kahler. This 7300 is $170.
http://www.wammiworld.com/b7300.php
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Kahlers
Lets us know how it works out. I'm kind of thinking the same. The idea crossed my mind in regards to a possible build down the road, and I'm kind of throwing ideas around between the left brain and the right brain I guess. Thank's to everybody for your input.
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Lets us know how it works out. I'm kind of thinking the same. The idea crossed my mind in regards to a possible build down the road, and I'm kind of throwing ideas around between the left brain and the right brain I guess. Thank's to everybody for your input.
Mosher Zone
New member
Re: Kahlers
I've got 2 guitars fitted with them, one is a Pro & the other a Standard. I used to get tuning issues with the Standard but i stripped it down, cleaned, oiled & fitted the heavy tension springs & it now stays in tune perfecty & i love to do all the crazy Slayer style stuff.
I've got 2 guitars fitted with them, one is a Pro & the other a Standard. I used to get tuning issues with the Standard but i stripped it down, cleaned, oiled & fitted the heavy tension springs & it now stays in tune perfecty & i love to do all the crazy Slayer style stuff.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Kahlers
I'm really surprised so many of you like them. I built a Strat and used a Kahler vibrato on it and I really thought it was a tone sucker. It worked fine...but it ruined the overall tone of the guitar.
It also tended to unwind the strings at the ball end after a few weeks of use.
I'm really surprised so many of you like them. I built a Strat and used a Kahler vibrato on it and I really thought it was a tone sucker. It worked fine...but it ruined the overall tone of the guitar.
It also tended to unwind the strings at the ball end after a few weeks of use.
Mosher Zone
New member
Re: Kahlers
Some people solder the strings at the ball end but I've never felt the need too.
Some people solder the strings at the ball end but I've never felt the need too.
