Replacing Jackson TRS Lo Pro with Schaller Lockmeister

[El Supremo]

Hi there. Since there isn't a lot of content about the new Schaller Lockmeister around, I'll write a review and comparison here as soon as I have it properly installed.
Just got it in today. Noticed a few problems that I knew might occur.

The studs are wider in diameter and since the old studs of the TRS are no good anymore, the holes have to be redrilled.
I could only get the trem with the long sustain block, wich is way too long for a recessed trem. Again the screws are wider and placement of the holes in the trem base make it impossible to use the old trem block. Think I'll get someone to machine the new block to the right size. Luckily, I know plenty of people in the metal industry :headbang:.

So all I can write about for now is the looks.
The trem looks completely identical to a Floyd Rose original. I thought Schaller uses short locking bolts, but the bolts are as long as the FRO. The trem should easily fit the existing route though.
It weighs noticably more than the TRS even though it's a smaller unit. There will be some gaps on the sides since the trem isn't as wide as the TRS.

Kinda stupid of Jackson to use a trem like the TRS on their USA models. They could at least have stuck with the Schaller Lic trems that have 'normal' measurements. Ah well, was thinking about a new paint job as well so the extra space isn't much of a problem.

To be continued...

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Replacing Jackson TRS Lo Pro with Schaller Lockmeister

Jackson doesn't use a TRS on their USAs. You've been hornswaggled.

Unless this is an older "2" model (RR2, DR2, SL2, etc) that was made in USA with import hardware.

If that's the case, the Schaller Floyd (what was once known as the JT590 when it came standard on Jacksons) should be a direct replacement, or even an OFR, since you said the lock screws were the same length.
However, if you're trying to stick with the lo-pro look of the string locks in front of the fine tuners, then yeah, you're only screwing yourself.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Replacing Jackson TRS Lo Pro with Schaller Lockmeister

You're absolutely right, except I didn't get ripped off. It actually is an old model, the USA made DR2 from '97. It came stock with the JT580LP made by Takeuchi as it says on the sustain block. I was kinda going for the SL1 at the time, but the dual humbuckers, ebony fingerboard with no inlays and reversed headstock won me over.

Don't really care about the LoPro look or feel. The FRO design feels just as fine to me. Just want a good tremolo with parts that are easily obtainable when the need for replacement arises. TRS is hard to come by over here and I'm not really impressed with the stability nor the longevity.
All the screws are stuck in the saddles (making intonating a complete b!@#), the post are completely worn and the bar can be adjusted either loose and wobbly or completely stiff (so it doesn't get out of the way easily when needed).
It's a great guitar but with the trem unblocked, the whole thing just doesn't feel reliable. So I'm hoping the new Schaller might remedy that and let me annoy the neighbours once more.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Replacing Jackson TRS Lo Pro with Schaller Lockmeister

Well, I've got the Lockmeister in there for over a week now and am more than pleased. Very stable and sturdy feeling unit. The same feel and look as an OFR.
Everything stays in tune nicely with the usual abuse. Fine tune knobs operate smoothly and the extra holes in the baseplate for the saddles mean that I can finally downtune whilst having the guitar perfectly intonated.

Only pitfalls were that it isn't a direct replacement for the JT580LP. The holes for the post had to be filled and redrilled and the whole unit shifts slightly upwards (looking down from a playing position). The unit luckily does fit the original routing though.
Furthermore, Schaller provides the Lockmeister with a 42mm sustain block (which is too big for a recessed routing, so it had to be grinded down to size) and the R1 locking nut is way too small for a wide neck like my Jackson has.

Tone has improved. Fuller, smoother, brighter and tighter sounding. More sustain and finally got rid of all the little buzzes that occured due to the TRS's saddles. Overall, an improvement that's well worth the money and work.
Now off to find the ultimate pickups for this axe.

 

[TonyV2112]

Re: Replacing Jackson TRS Lo Pro with Schaller Lockmeister

Well, I've got the Lockmeister in there for over a week now and am more than pleased. Very stable and sturdy feeling unit. The same feel and look as an OFR.
Everything stays in tune nicely with the usual abuse. Fine tune knobs operate smoothly and the extra holes in the baseplate for the saddles mean that I can finally downtune whilst having the guitar perfectly intonated.

Only pitfalls were that it isn't a direct replacement for the JT580LP. The holes for the post had to be filled and redrilled and the whole unit shifts slightly upwards (looking down from a playing position). The unit luckily does fit the original routing though.
Furthermore, Schaller provides the Lockmeister with a 42mm sustain block (which is too big for a recessed routing, so it had to be grinded down to size) and the R1 locking nut is way too small for a wide neck like my Jackson has.

Tone has improved. Fuller, smoother, brighter and tighter sounding. More sustain and finally got rid of all the little buzzes that occured due to the TRS's saddles. Overall, an improvement that's well worth the money and work.
Now off to find the ultimate pickups for this axe.

Don't quite understand this. Where did you actually buy your "Lockmeister" from? I'm assuming you got it from the Thomann site, since they seem to be the only place that stock it (apart from some obscure Swiss website, that seem to have it in every configuration for a lot more money).

According to the Schaller website you are supposed top be able to specify what locking nut you need, and what length of trem block, otherwise I don't really see the point.

Are you also saying that the base plate is the same thickness as the actual "Original" Floyd Rose. On the Schaller website the specs say that it's a 5mm thickness like their own Schaller Floyd Rose.

I was assuming it was an all steel baseplate, but with the Schaller "thickness", so I'm a bit disappointed that you say otherwise! I've always felt that the 5mm thickness was better (in looks and in usage).

Looks like you can only get it in the one configuration from the Thomann site. Wondered why it was nearly the same price as the Schaller Floyd!

The R1 locking nut is a pretty stupid one to come stock, as it's the thinnest one they make and it's for a 1 9/16" nut, and the only guitar I know that comes with a neck that narrow is the Kramer Nightswan, because I own one!

Would have made much more sense to have an R2 or R3 nut........anyway you should really have the choice!

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Replacing Jackson TRS Lo Pro with Schaller Lockmeister

I got it from Thomann, as you suspected.

The baseplate is as thick as a FRO, the locking bolts are as long as a FRO... kinda suspect that is a FRO. Haven't really measured everything to an inch apart from the baseplate, but I can't see any difference from a FRO.

Totally agree that you should be able to specify what size sustain block and nut you want. The R1 nut doesn't fit any of my guitars, so it's spare parts when I pick up a new locking nut along the way. Had to shim the current one as it's quite worn.

 

[Warckon]

Re: Replacing Jackson TRS Lo Pro with Schaller Lockmeister

They have a great support. I replace all my tremelo's with Lockmeisters. A few weeks ago the little tunnel to put the trem bar in broke off during a gig. I asked if I could get a new one. They said 'sure, just tell us what you need'. I ordered a new baseplate, 2 trem bars, 2 sets of springs and 2 sets of screws for the locking nuts. I got it in the mail 4 days later. Price was 35 Euros, shipping incl. A trem bar costs 11,80 Euros with Thomann. As cheap as they are, they cannot top this. From now on, I order directly. That way you can also avoid getting a wrong nut or a block that' too long