What's the best trem out there?

[That90'sGuy]

None of these are looking too hot right now.

Is there anything simple?

The Kahler Flyer supposedly doesn't sound the greatest.

The pro series stuff you have to solder the ball ends (that's crap to me).

Am I forced to look around for a Spyder or one of their other discontinued models?

 

[That90'sGuy]

Ok... I think I've decided to screw Kahler.

The Wilkinson non locking ones look nice and they don't suck tone out like the Kahlers do (from what I'm reading).

 

[Byakhee00]

I've never had a problem with kahlers sucking tone at all - at least not with the kahler pro. I'll bet money that unless you're a serious floyd rose nut, you'll agree. The kahler pro can do everything a floyd rose can, but without the pain in the butt that can go along with a floyd.

The nice thing is, with a kahler, since it's a cam based trem, you can do a lot of the bigsby stuff with it. Not to mention it can take pretty much everything you throw at it.

 

[MattPete]

....Wilkinson is a good compromise....much better than a two pivot trem like the ones on fender's american series ...

How does the Wilkinson differ from the Fender two pivot trems? I've never seen one up close, but to me the Wilkinson bascially looks like a Fender strat trem with two pivot posts and knife-edge bearings.

 

[That90'sGuy]

I've never had a problem with kahlers sucking tone at all - at least not with the kahler pro. I'll bet money that unless you're a serious floyd rose nut, you'll agree. The kahler pro can do everything a floyd rose can, but without the pain in the butt that can go along with a floyd.

The nice thing is, with a kahler, since it's a cam based trem, you can do a lot of the bigsby stuff with it. Not to mention it can take pretty much everything you throw at it.

Aren't the Kahler Pros difficult to setup and work properly. I've heard they're bulletproof otherwise, but the maintenance with them seems excessive. I don't like the concept of having to solder the ball ends of strings either, not very realistic.

 

[Benjy_26]

I like wilkinsons, and the trem system on the Parker Fly Deluxe is a treat to play, as well.

To answer your question, the big difference between the trem on an Am. STD strat and a Wilkinson VS-100 is that the Wilkiinson's saddles are locked onto the baseplate, theoretically increasing sustain, and, since there are less moving parts, it also increases tuning stability. Also, you can adjust the arm tension on a Wilkinson.

 

[Maggie]

Steinberger Trans-Trem by a country mile.

 

[humphreybear]

Oh my god, this is exactly the problem when people talk about Kahlers:

"I have heard.."
"According to what I read..."
"Some people say that..."
"From what I have been told..."

Jesus christ, the rumours are flying.

If Kahlers were as bad as some people make you think they are:

Would bands like Slayer and Judas Priest use Kahlers exclusively?

Most people who use Floyds don't necessarily do so because Kahlers are bad, they use Floyd Rose because that might be the only trem they have ever tried or know about. Most people have very little knowledge of Kahler bridges which is why there are so many false rumours flying around on the net.

Kahlers (Pro or Standard) are much easier to set-up than Floyds.
They are much easier to install and adjust.
They stay in tune just as well as Floyds.
Changing strings is much easier.

No you don't HAVE to solder the ball ends. It's just a good idea.
Both S.I.T. and GHS make Kahler re-inforced strings that already have special re-inforcements on the windings of the plain strings, so that you don't have to solder anything.

Anything else? Just ask.

 

[ericmeyer4]

i dont know if anyone else has done this but...

i use a jazzmaster/jaguar trem w/ a gibson bridge on my warmoth flat top lp. i tightend the trem spring on it and i have locking tuners. it works really well for light-mild use. the sustains is nice on it to.

just my 2 cents worth.

 

[mrid]

The only thing better than a Wilkinson is no trem at all!

 

[That90'sGuy]

Cool... I always wondered about those types of trems... nice idea

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

You would have to pry my OFR from my dead cold hands......
Mine has tone, stays in tune, have been using those things for a great many years, and have no trouble using them nor setting them up.
Wilkinsons are nice...but it is not as stable as a good Floyd.