Kahlers

[PonyKiller]

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.

The Kahler is the polar opposite of a traditional Strat vibrato (all brass vs. all steel w/steel block). I can see it totally changing the characteristic sound of a Stratocaster. It won't be my bridge of choice if I wanted traditional Strat tones for sure but it's a great choice if I wanted something different and a stable vibrato.

I have in on an all-maple guitar w/ebony board and it sounds well balanced. The all brass bridge helps to even out the overall tone of the guitar.

 

[dystrust]

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.

The Kahler is the polar opposite of a traditional Strat vibrato (all brass vs. all steel w/steel block). I can see it totally changing the characteristic sound of a Stratocaster. It won't be my bridge of choice if I wanted traditional Strat tones for sure but it's a great choice if I wanted something different and a stable vibrato.

I have in on an all-maple guitar w/ebony board and it sounds well balanced. The all brass bridge helps to even out the overall tone of the guitar.

This is why Kahlers are available with different rollers and cams. An all-brass Kahler is pretty dark sounding in comparison to a vintage Strat bridge, but they're great to fatten a guitar that's pretty bright on its own. I have one on my Charvel and like it quite a bit. The other end of the spectrum is all-steel which is really bright and aggressive sounding. I'd compare it to a Floyd, but without the associated loss of low end. I used to have one on an 80s BC Rich and it really helped the guitar cut through. You may have liked this model better on a Strat, though it wouldn't sound like a vintage trem or Floyd.

The most common models are:
2300 Kahler Pro - steel cam & rollers
2320 Kahler Classic - brass cam & rollers
7300 Kahler Hybrid - brass cam & rollers w/ locking mechanism

I think the 2315 is aluminum rollers w/ brass cam, but I can't remember for sure. All of the original models are available from Kahler's custom shop, but they're pretty expensive. It'd be cheaper to buy a hybrid and swap parts which are fully interchangable between 2300 and 7300 models.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Kahlers

I hate them with a burning passion. I can't stand them. I have a kahler on two guitars but I modded them so they're just stop tail units. They kill the treble, make the lows woofy and make the mids edgy. Worst of all: they S*CK when it comes to tuning stability. holy smokes they really won't stay in tune. a floyd is 10 times better in that respect. and... a floyd rose retrofitted guitar maintains it's tone much better than with a kahler. I tried both options.

 

[Grenade]

Re: Kahlers

I kow what you mean Orpheo. I had a guitar with one on it and I got so fed up I blocked it so it couldn't move, took the bar and threw it in a drawer at the house, put in an old Dimarzio Super II and had a guitar I liked and payed for 6 years. The only thing Iliked about the bridge was the fine tuners.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Kahlers

I hate them with a burning passion. I can't stand them. I have a kahler on two guitars but I modded them so they're just stop tail units. They kill the treble, make the lows woofy and make the mids edgy. Worst of all: they S*CK when it comes to tuning stability. holy smokes they really won't stay in tune. a floyd is 10 times better in that respect. and... a floyd rose retrofitted guitar maintains it's tone much better than with a kahler. I tried both options.

Other than that, how'd you like them...

 

[Mosher Zone]

Re: Kahlers

I hate them with a burning passion. I can't stand them. I have a kahler on two guitars but I modded them so they're just stop tail units. They kill the treble, make the lows woofy and make the mids edgy. Worst of all: they S*CK when it comes to tuning stability. holy smokes they really won't stay in tune. a floyd is 10 times better in that respect. and... a floyd rose retrofitted guitar maintains it's tone much better than with a kahler. I tried both options.

This comes down to maintenance, people just expect them to work for years with no oil or cleaning, there are more moving parts than on a Floyd so they need more looking after. mine stay in tune perfectly.