Kahler or Stetsbar?

Dave_Vader

I am almost certainly going to put a trem on my old Ibanez SB70 as it doesn't get enough use without one, and I've been playing it through some big fuzz this week and it sounds awesome with the full-fat P90s in it, so it needs to start coming out with me again.
(this old thing here)



I don't want to go bigsby as I am overly fond of a divebomb, and I don't want to get it routed for a Floyd/Strat type, so my choices seem to be Kahler or Stetsbar.
Anybody got enough experience with them to recommend or warn about either?
I normally play a strat with a 2-point trem and another early 80s Ibanez Roadstar with a Floydalike on it, so that's the kind of trem I'm used to. All suggestions happily taken.

ICBM

Kahler - it's just what's right for that guitar . I fitted quite a lot of them in the 80s.

But... they don't feel anything like a Floyd or any other fulcrum-type trem, they noticeably affect the tone and sustain - even with the saddles set as high as possible, which will usually need the neck shimming a fair bit - and the mounting is irreversible unless you want to faff around trying to neatly fill a big hole in the guitar.

On the other hand that type of bridge is not renowned for its tone and sustain anyway, so you may have less to lose than with most other guitars.

Fez

Lately I have been wondering what happens if the Kahler trems I have on a couple of strats wear out and become unserviceable? It seems Kahler still exists though the products look different from the 80's ones I have.

WezV

Fez said:

Lately I have been wondering what happens if the Kahler trems I have on a couple of strats wear out and become unserviceable? It seems Kahler still exists though the products look different from the 80's ones I have.

https://www.whammyparts.com/kahler-replacement-parts

Spare parts are available, but it's worth keeping an eye open for a spare unit to pillage

WezV

I would likely recess the whole trem, rather than shim the neck too much... Depends on a few factors though.  Its a trickier installation, but in for a penny etc..

You do need those saddles high... Above the 10:30 point on a clock, when looking down at the trem from a playing position.    

I like khalers.  You do lose a bit of sustain on the dive-bombs compared to a Floyd... But it's still a fun unit and very usable 

Funkfingers

The Ibanez needs the flat mount version of the Kahler Pro rather than the stud mount version. 

I would worry that cutting a cavity for the vibrato system might alter the sound of the guitar as it currently stands. Perhaps, a non-invasive B/G Bender device would suffice?

ICBM

WezV said:

I would likely recess the whole trem, rather than shim the neck too much...

I did that on my original Aria RS... wish I hadn't! Although to be fair, routing the front to flush-fit the Roland GK-2 (before the internal fitting kit was available) was a much worse idea .

WezV said:

You do need those saddles high... Above the 10:30 point on a clock, when looking down at the trem from a playing position.    

I like khalers.  You do lose a bit of sustain on the dive-bombs compared to a Floyd... But it's still a fun unit and very usable 

Definitely. I still like them too - I just probably wouldn't mod a favourite guitar with one.

Dave_Vader

I did buy a second hand Kahler Flyer for it about ten years ago, assuming I could pick up spare saddles easily. I could not, and sold it on two years later.
To be honest the routing and recessing is a bit worrying, as me and that Ibanez have a long history together (including my chiselling the pickup cavities to get those P90s in).

No love for the Stetsbar? It seems to be (a tiny bit) cheaper and more easily reversed.

I did have a Tele with a Kahler back in the 90s, and it never ever came back to tune (I suspect that might have been the nut though).

octatonic

Neither.
Leave the poor thing be, you can get loads of guitars with trems.

Funkfingers

Dave_Vader said:

No love for the Stetsbar? It seems to be (a tiny bit) cheaper and more easily reversed.

Isn't that supposed to sit on Gibson Tune-O-Matic style studs? As is the Floyd Rose FRX.

I am shocked that nobody on this forum has suggested the inevitable Bigsby. You could even do the HarrySeven Jazzmaster/Jaguar tailpiece modification.

Fez

@WezV thanks for the link, duly bookmarked.
Back on topic I am kind of with @octatonic on this it may be better to get a guitar with a factory fitted trem if you really want to play at being a Stuka pilot.
Some mods to guitars are great improvements but some we regret.