"KAHLER TREMOLO" TUNING STABILITY STRING BREAKING SOLUTIONS

[@metalplayer101]

reminds me of a slayer solo

[@pedrovicnt_]

kerry king uses kahlers

[@EduardoPinto814]

@@pedrovicnt_ Jeff Hanneman too

[@sonicmayhym]

i have used kahlers for almost 30 years,,,never had issues with strings breaking and if you use graphite on the cam pins and the string rollers as well..it will work smoothly and return to pitch everytime and as long as you stretch your strings good..tuning stabilty is not a problem

[@FennecFoxFurry]

How do I use graphite on the cam screws

[@ezekielnigma]

3:28 when you tell her you'll be gentle

[@JonsterTheBondster]

That's all the Slayer solos as one

[@joshoptical]

Man this is as good as any informational video ever. I have a 1984 NJ Warlock from Japan on the way with a Kahler and I’ve never had one before so here I am. Really looking forward to the Kahler experience now.

[@leetodd9469]

Thanks for the video, Mike! I've always used a Floyd Rose, but recently I've been thinking about buying a nice used shredder with a factory Kahler. Your video was exactly what I needed to see. Kahlers can do anything a Floyd can do.

[@JohnnyMrHattersmith]

String Bending issue? WRONG. Your rollers are too high. They cause drag on your strings and that is what gets you out of tune in bends.

[@rancid666amputation]

I'm an avid Kahler user. I gig with my kahler equipped guitars and swear by them. USE STRINGS WITH A RE-ENFORCED BALL END!!!! DR strings, Elixir, SIT strings and Ernie Ball titanium. having those kind of strings will make it so 6you dont need to solder anything.

[@BigCleverName]

This is good to know for 6 screw and other trems too thanks!

[@bluwng]

What about Fender bullets. BTW it is hard to find Kahler equipped guitars. Not much of a guitar player but I am an aerospace engineer and can tell you the Kahler is a superior design.

[@JonsterTheBondster]

TBH Fender strings aren't the greatest either even if its bullet or not. (having most breaks with Fender & my friends agreeds). Ernie Ball Paradigms are good for Kahler trems, just darn pricy. I use Rotosound Mickey Demus 10-54 and they stay in tune, stays clear sounded and plains won't go dark that fast. Never broke either. But yea, Kahlers are much more versatile than Floyds. I just recommend for added tuning stability to use OFR Nut with Kahler.

[@Mongrolman]

I agree. True Floyds seem to perform and function better than the "licensed" clones, but I've found that even the clones are adequate if properly setup and maintained. However I put a Kahler on my '85 Ibanez Roadstar in 1988, and it has been my primary guitar since! I still have it and play it religiously! I prefer cam designs to fulcrum designs anyday, fulcrum units are just too stiff. I've always loved the easy "feel" of my Kahler, I wish that Ibanez listed Kahler Tremolos as an option.

[@jeffp8250]

Have you looked at the ibanez ZR trem? I have one on a s prestige and it is awesome. It rolls in bearings

[@JoeR203]

Back in '85 I bought a dark red Roadstar II (RS-440). The pickups were weak, but to their credit, they had coil tapping. But that tremolo that was on there took a hell of a beating (I was into Brad Gillis type whammy tricks) and always stayed in tune.

[@irmasil3]

Kahlers are amazing trems. You can use them with your pinky, so smooth and tuning stability is amazing.You don't need any soldering or heating, you just need a proper angle to your cam and a good angle in your saddles. I have 3 guitars with them, hey all work amazingly after 25 years and I NEVE break a string unless they are completely dead....

[@67dandro]

Love my Kahler, hate my Floyd. Have had one each on my two electrics since 1986. The Kahler is so much easier to tune, feels smoother, and way easier to adjust. The Floyd is a total pain in the but. Any Trem system is going to require maintenance to keep in top condition.

[@sheancarey106]

Having owned and played many Floyd's and Kahler's, the best trem bridges out there in my opinion are the Ibanez Zero 2's and LoPro's especially with the manual spring tension adjuster, the thing I do love about the Kahler's though is the amount of adjustment they give you with string spacing and fretboard radius.

[@HardRockCovers101]

You have that bridge setup VERY nicely my friend.

[@ozzuk616]

I've been told by a kahler user that if you solder just past the windings that will help with tuning too, I love your idea of soldering the ball ends too. I use rotosounds and they seem pretty sturdy and stable even without the soldering....

[@jeffpettit3119]

Blue SG...nice. I do love my Kahler. It takes as much learning to use a Kahler as it does a Floyd, setup wise at least.

[@brianwood7237]

Mike May...thanks for this...I wish I could take you back to '86...you would've loved it🤟

[@MosheAlvarez]

Great work dude. It's good to see a young person who knows how to work with Kahlers! I love them too and I prefer them over a Floyd Rose, even with the Kahler's bending issue.

[@watchtheskies]

Kahler make a shim the same shape that sits under the unit to raise it up, you can use more than one, this means that you can set the saddles much lower on the unit, this greatly improves the tuning stability, I made my own 3mm shim from aluminum for my explorer and now it hardly ever goes out of tune, another tip, if you are in the market to buy a new Kahler I would go for the Kerry King model, it is slightly different from the standard range, Kerry must have worked through a few issues when endorsing his signature model, most importantly the rotating cam part of the unit does not push on the back of the saddle blocks when you push the trem down

[@samconkovich6751]

This was very informative. Great job, brother!

[@jasonfrey805]

Great video, thanks for the useful info & demonstration! Stellar example brother.

[@DanielHeo]

That was actually quite helpful. Thanks.

[@starrycat6185]

3:4 aspect ratio and a scene haircut. I knew I was in for a wild ride. Might include some tips, might also include some overly sexual jokes, never know.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Wow. I'm impressed. Man, My buddy has two US made Peaveys with the 2710 I think it is and I wish I knew how to set it up properly with the same.

[@chrissavage9349]

Just got a 1987 peavey nitro 1 thing is so sick and its.my first Mahler tremolo I had to have help setting it up honestly but so far I love it other then trying to tune went from.drop c to d and it took.forever to set it yp

[@badmuddy]

i have a 2200 installed on my lp/sg withOUT a locking nut, & the stability is better than the floyd on my kramer. the 1st mod, which COMPLETELY solves the bending/whammying (1 directly after the other, whatever order) tuning prob was to use stringsleeves cut (1/3 to half), so they ride over where the strgs touch the cam, & nut sauce; keeps the string from not returning to same pos after bending. PROBS GONE! the other is to use schroeder toplocking studs, for MUCH better sustain (on studmounts)..

[@guithero11]

oh absolutely. a properly setup floyd rose will make the guitar stay in tune even better than a hardtail guitar

[@badmuddy]

i have solved the bending/diving issue by using Big Bends' String Sleeves (cut in half), so that THEY ride the cam, & NOT the strings. i no longer have ANY probs switching between finger bending & whammy diving, and i don't even have a string lock on my lp/sg. as an added precaution, i VERY occasionally use big bend's nut sauce where the string sleeves curve around the cam. trust me, i have had NO tuning issues since doing this! i can bend & dive ALL DAY LONG, & stay in tune...

[@guithero11]

@Jimlead thank you! and no its just routing on the top of the guitar, and its a small square shaped hole that is about 3/4 of an inch deep and 2 inches wide.

[@fredbloggs6085]

Excellent video, thanks!

[@Uberloinvongenchler]

This is a mostly excellent video: It stands to reason that the unwound strings would be more likely to shear at the point where they are kinked. The wound strings are much more likely to break at the ball end due to the core alone having a much lower tensile strength than the complete string (core w/wrap). This means it should only be necessary to solder the wrapped strings. Minor tuning stability issues are likely to be caused by a guitar's neck and strings reacting subtly to their environment.

[@StephenFiorentini]

Kahlers are so soft and lovely to play.

[@1977raider]

Are you still with us Mike? You haven't posted a video in 9 years man

[@JordanMottram]

I have never seen anyone work a whammy as good as you.

[@kenfoland]

+Mike May Hi Mike. Sorry to resurrect such an old video comment section. But, the video never shows the guitar headstock. Did this guitar have a behind the nut string lock typical of Kahlers? If so, the issue with bending strings indicates that the nut needs some attention; especially if you have strings of a larger gauge than the original strings. Even though the string above the nut is quite short in length, when you bend a string hard you increase the tension of that small length of string. But, if the nut slot is tight on the string it will prevent it from returning to pitch when released. Then, you dive the tremolo causing the opposite to happen, returning it to pitch. I just installed a Kahler on my 2012 BC Rich Bich ST Hard Tail. Afterwards, I had the same issue. But, after adjusting the nut slots all was well. I wish more people thought well of Kahlers; they really have a quite small following now. But, I think they are great and I would never endure a Floyd Rose monstrosity.

[@Uberloinvongenchler]

I suspect that a further contributor to minor tuning stability issues is the much reduced mass at the pivot point on the kahler as compared with a floyd rose. In simple terms it takes more effort to shift a whole ('fulcrum') vibrato unit than it does to shift merely the cam in the former unit. Ergo, the kahler format will be much more sensitive to subtle variations affecting the strings and springs - e.g. temperature, stretching/wear. PS: No space to explain why, but tuning harmonics isn't best

[@andymartin813]

I’m having a Kahler shipped to me. I’m hot rodding my old strat. I’m replacing my 21 fret neck with a 24. I’m not too worried about neck positioning because horizontally you can move saddles to align strings with the neck, head and bridge

[@mikkosutube]

did you rerout the neck pocket or did you change the mensur of the neck?

[@andymartin813]

@@mikkosutube nah I just added a 22nd fret instead.

[@mikkosutube]

@@andymartin813thanks, but i dont understand..you said you replaced a 21 fret with a 24..did you mean that you replaced a 21 with a 22?

[@andymartin813]

@@mikkosutube I didn’t replace the 21 fret with a 24. I just cut the back end of the fret board added a piece of maple and added the 22nd fret, so that the scale is the same.

[@0hypnotoad0]

Also, good video, I wish I had found it earlier as I had to run through these same issues, though I've also had the string breaking issue and was considering soldering the ends, nice to know that is the correct solution.

[@ajpeagle]

You have the best fixing of it there . The neck pitch gives a good break angle .It works on that .(even sounds OK.) Different story on many guitars though.

[@Shadowplaytime]

Bearing Kahlers (and even the inverted fulcrum ones...) are amongst the best tremolos ever made and this 2300 series is just the pinnacle, so it's only a matter of fine tuning... :-)

[@baroqueguitarist5673]

I loved how comfortable and smooth the kahler tremelo felt ? What's the best Kahler model that's super smooth and with a comfortable feel while using the bar.... That also stays in tune and is the easiest to maintain ? So many models out there hard for me to tell. Thanks. Great video

[@Niemandx]

Awesome video, great info. Followed your steps, took it apart, lubed it lithium grease, brushed it, polished those rollers, centered the cam, bended string 45 degs and instead of soldering "epoxied" the windings (even stronger, easier to apply). I also installed a FR locking nut for a better grip. The only problem is that my G string is still going out of tune when I pull up, gotta dip the bar to return to pitch. Just ordered the Heavy springs, mine are 23 years old. Any advise? Thanks!

[@guithero11]

i believe i was using d'addario 9's and they were fine, but i recently found that ghs strings in general are really tough and hard to break

[@guithero11]

@Georgeee1995 you're totally right, floyd roses are superior. however, sometimes the guitars that have kahlers on them, such as mine, are really great sounding, so it only makes sense to get the best out of the kahler

[@balderodinson4451]

Been using Kahler since 1985. Never had a problem with tuning or breaking strings. Much better trem than a Floyd IMO. Love the range of the fine tuners, drop D tune right from the bridge w/out it effecting the tuning of the rest of the strings. Once I put a new set of strings on it and lock the nut, it stays locked til next string change. Back in the early 90s, the other guitarist I jammed with in a band had a similar kahler, but he had steel rollers. I had brass. He had no probs either.

[@maya_coqsalonga]

Only problem i had was hearing you. Good subject.

[@jamesclark9380]

Honestly what fixed my issue was; 1. 3 in 1 oil on rollers 2. Using string sleeves from "Big Bends" Never had a tuning issue with my kahler after that

[@guithero11]

@robbie1055 the cam part might be tilted forward too much which would bring the bar down, or if the cam is straight, the bar might be bent at a 90 degree angle in which you could put the bar in a vice and bend it to more of a 120 degree angle which would give it more clearance from the body

[@balderodinson4451]

For an excellent demonstration on how to setup a Kahler, do a youtube search for "#2 of 3 Kahler Guitar Tremolo 101 Basic Guitar Set Ups / with G. Kahler". The guy in the video is the guy who invented it. If you follow his instructions (which are very easy to understand), you'll get optimal performance out of your Kahler trem.

[@guithero11]

No problem bro! Yea kahlers are really getting popular once again

[@guithero11]

@JohnathenDavis ideally i'd like two guitars with both tremolos because they both have characteristics that are unique to themselves. But, if i had to choose one i would have to say floyd rose because they require slightly less maintenance, have better tone, and stay in tune better. But floyds are a little more bulky, move around more and have a stiff feel, whereas kahlers almost feel like a fixed bridge when you're not using them, and have a very bouncy soft feel. So really id like both.

[@guithero11]

@6StringSlingerX yes that will end up driving you crazy. You can order a neck on warmoth with a pre cut shelf for a floyd rose locking nut. The floyd rose nut works much better than the kahler nut. If you dont want a locking nut, you can get locking tuners with a roller nut, but unfortunately even though it reduces a lot of friction, it will not make the tuning stability as good as with a locking nut. The locking nut has absolutely no friction and gives you the best possible tuning stability.

[@bluwng]

Can you use Fender bullet strings, they don’t have any winding on them

[@adamericsson6903]

This guitar sounds great. I want it! What amp setup are you using?

[@quit293]

My fender strat broke string watching this

[@guithero11]

@Niemandx uhmm unfortunately i don't think that theres any way to completely fix that problem, but wammi world sells special rollers that are made out of teflon, and they supposedly improve tuning stability and dramatically improve tone and sustain. I have not had the chance to buy them, but you should give them a try

[@balderodinson4451]

You can always get Fendersuper bullet strings. They have solid bullet ends. Dont have to mess with solder. Ive never used them. But theyve been around since the 70s, so I imagine theyre good. otherwise they woulda taken them off the market.

[@MosheAlvarez]

@tweekin001 Kahler's don't really flutter too much. That requires longer springs like a Floyd uses.

[@matt.brooks]

Now if you could have either one, would you take a Floyd Rose Original or Kahler?

[@gooney0]

Thanks for the tips. I had a Floyd for quite some time but it was awful and the guitar was crap. I wouldn't mind getting a guitar with a trem but I really want one that stays in tune.

[@6StringSlingerX]

Quick Q. I have only played one guitar with a Kahler on it and liked it. It was the Gibson tribal V. It did not have a locking nut. Do you think building a guitar with the Kahler (warmoth) and not doing the locking nut would be dumb? Please respond.

[@b8zs4]

I've used Kahlers since 87 Never had one problem. Had two FRs and they are good but seem very clunky compared to Kahler. If you have a problem it is likely the locking nut (some manufactures don't mount them well). Or maybe you don't know new strings have to stretch out, but then it would.

[@6StringSlingerX]

Okay another Question. On a floyd you have to change spring tension when you drop tune or change string size etc. Does the Kahler need any major adjustment when you do this? It doesn't have springs so I am guessing if you went from EADGBE to something like CGCFAD you don't have to change anything right?

[@mikebarrett3982]

nice demonstration brother. personally, ill stick with the floyd, but you've definitely proven a kahler will do the trick. I just feel like the floyd is less maintenance. I would love to know what you think; floyd rose or kahler?

[@interestedinmusic2339]

Kahler way better than floyds. I have 3 of each. floyds just feel klunky. In my opinion Floyd stole his design from kahler and his nut shape from 50's bigsby guitars. Lucky punk, he didn't get sued.

[@b8zs4]

I've used Kahlers since 87 Never had one problem. Had two FRs and they are good but seem very clunky compared to Kahler. If you have a problem it is likely the locking nut (some manufactures don't mount them well). Or maybe you don't know new strings have to stretch out, but then it would be you not the system.

[@billydeewilliams9104]

I've got an old San Dimas Jackson from the 80's. Its got the old Kahler nut lock with the flat head screws. Someone put a Floyd Rose trem on it at some point. Stays flawlessly in tune. Those Kahler locks are behind the nut and only lock after the strings break hard over the nut. Much better than Floyd nut locks IMO

[@DeffJam100]

What did you do to the windings ?

[@Backyard_Motorsports]

You should post more videos.

[@guithero11]

@MeanGreenMovies well if the kahler lock is working correctly they work just as well. but they grooves get worn on the pads from the strings after a while and it starts slipping. Floyd nuts last forever so theyre generally better

[@MeanGreenMovies]

will this stay in tune better with a floyd rose locking nut? ive heard that kahler locking nuts dont stay in tune when you bend the string a lot

[@Dompropat]

Kahler favorited this :p

[@simonbell9045]

My Kahler 2320 Pro has a string after the nut locking. Never had a problem as my guitar came with a graphite nut and I upgraded my tremolo/whammy springs to bass ones. Never ever an issue for me. I do solder my balls ends as a precaution.

[@guithero11]

@6StringSlingerX Kahlers do have springs, theyre really small and hidden underneath the system. If you change string gauge all you have to do is adjust the cam via the small allen key hole on the top which tightens and loosens the tremolo cam. So if you change gauge from say 10s to 12s, the cam will tilt forward. So all you have to do is tighten the springs a bit and retune and it should be balanced perfectly.

[@forsaken-exile9083]

On the Solo, I like the sound of Wile E. Coyote falling off a cliff (Insert sound meme). On a serious note: I would have snapped the first and second string (possibly third) on a Floyd if I even dared to pull up on the bar as you did. Sold on a Kahler ! Floyd Guitar is being retrofitted with a Schaller two point traditional floating. I'm assuming for a Kahler you'll need locking tuning pegs.

[@lucasvillanueva8110]

nice video, i'm looking to buy a kahler, What kind of locking nut do you have installed?

[@JohnnyMrHattersmith]

have you tried Big Bends String sleeves and SIT power wound strings? from what i can tell, with that settup, the string bending issue will disappear.

[@iceWaterProductions1]

What kind of guitar is that white one your playing?

[@jetcityrules]

There sure are a lot of obnoxious jerks commenting. Anyways thanks for posting looks like a little work but I'd love to be able to use the Kahler on my old 1986 Carvin. time to heat up the old soldering iron.

[@kennethjohnson6223]

How can I lock down a slightly recessed Kahler for string replacement on a G&L Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature model? There is no set screw to lock it down like on above body guitar applications "Non-recessed". I will try the soldering iron trick when I do my first string change. Thanks for the info vids ; . )

[@jefflitchfield4950]

There's an Allen screw on the back of the bridge behind the fine tuners

[@deathronerone]

@EverettDudgeon138 remember that old Slayer concert, they make a tune up, in some case after a couple of songs...because in the '80, the Kahler unit has sold with their bad locking nut...Nowaday their guitars are equipped with Floyd rose locking nut

[@zipchtkdn7804]

How have u progressed it bern 12 years

[@davidbowser2395]

All I heard was the vibration of the phone going off XD or is it just me lol

[@FatPeaceman]

hey an important question!! :D when i'm shredding i don't do this with my arm but my wrist so i lay my hand on the bridge... that's why i can't play with floyd roses because the tremolo is used when i do this - and now i read that if you use a kahler that doeson't happen so you can lay your hand on the trem and that doesn't operate the trem is that true??

[@sirkamla]

excuse me bro.. is the kahler compatible to ibanez mikro?.. sorry for the english..

[@ohsheeshyalltwasadream1348]

what guitar is that? it looks so sexy

[@jefflitchfield4950]

It's either a charvel model 6 or a Jackson soloist student from the 80s. Really sweet guitar.

[@SDCfansclub]

Hey Mike! Great demo you have here.I have just bought a strat guitar with hybrid kahler on it. I'm just curious, do you have a locking nut on your guitar? TIA

[@balderodinson4451]

bummer. another guitarist i jammed with in the early 90s broke one of those hooks. Me the drummer and the other guitarist took turns filing the replacement part to get it to fit in place. Took us a while. Anyway, I guess the soldering method is probably the best solution. Im sure if Kahler would reached the mass market like Floyd rose did, some company woulda came up with a solid ball end string for it.

[@musicfunkydude]

Thanks for your great info mate, really helpful !! Could you do me a solid ?? asked a few guys without reply, i have my eye on a kahler to finish a nice strat but i need to know if you can you pull up 3 tones i.e fret a D and pull up to an F ? its so i can do Jeff beck stuff , ? would i need the heavy springs you mentioned ? Thanks in Advance,George, Scotland UK

[@guithero11]

George Wheelwright kahlers have more upward range than any trem on the market hands down. solder those ball ends though!

[@MICKEYISLOWD]

+Mike May How long does it take to solder the strings? I'm sure they brought out brass inserts or mini shims to protect the string at this vulnerable point for breakages.

[@EverettDudgeon138]

@deathronerone Yeah but even their newer models people complain about tuning stability. If you set it up right and read the manual it should be fine. It takes a lot more care and maintenance than a Floyd but I prefer the feel of a Kahler.

[@JāmiSun]

EverettDudgeon138 good stuff man Thank you

[@TheMinusXer0]

@guithero11 oi, how often do you make guitar videos mate?

[@StopPrism4251]

how do you get that much sustain with the divebombs? Mine die in a matter of seconds and sound so shitty

[@ALBERTUSGOLDENMAKNAE]

I'm going to do that too with my 2 electric guitars with locking pegs and floating tremolo and bigsby b5

[@guithero11]

@TerrorcausT awesome! where can i get it??

[@bluehappyscrap]

Hi, how do you get kahler bridge to sit flush when it is raised, and it stays 1 note under tune?

[@ianwynton3284]

I just cut the ball off. Also I have a floyd and strings keep coming out of the bridge, is that because I cut the ball?

[@reympab29]

my strings have 6 monts since I changed them and I have a kahler weeeeeeee I think is a great achievment dont you thik?

[@john5959]

The beauty of the Kahler though is that you can bend and hold another note without that other note lowering in pitch; hard to do with a Floyd or Strat style trem. Nice whammy abuse dude!... lol haven't seen that since the 80s. cool vid. I was admiring a Jerry Cantrell G&L in the guitar store the other day. Kinda sweet.

[@men007845]

hey man you could not perform the song "mock tension" of enanitos verdes ,men and the guitarist used in this song a fender stratocaster with Kahler tremolo, and it is amazing. Greetings

[@guithero11]

@SoundOfAShark yea but if you wanna go crazy with the bar like i do they still break. i tried them.

[@badmuddy]

i have a few other mods that improve functionality a hundred-fold. i need to figger out how to get them made, 1st, though; my versions were done with junkyard parts (so to speak)...

[@Stretchwreckedem469]

will a kahler tremolo fit an Ibanez RG421?

[@DJ7tringGuitar]

@guitarhero11 What's the guitar you're using in this vid?