Buyers remorse, advise needed, Kahler/Floyd content

[King IzzO)))]

I bought a Kahler 2700 on the bay thinking it would go in place of my Fender Am. Std trem on my Heartfield without much modification. Turns out I was hella wrong.

The spacing is right, but the bridge needs to be countersunk at least 1/4" just to get level to the neck (set neck, can't shim), not the end of the world, but I was hoping to bypass this.

Then the mounting screws are far smaller and I don't think I'll be able to find anything similar that will fit the existing holes, ugh. This isn't looking good.

Then I flip it and notice the block is already protruding out past the trem cavity on the back of the guitar. If I countersink the trem this thing is gonna need milled down, a lot.

Now I'm thinking I should have just got a Floyd. If I have to dowel the holes, rout the top, and mill the block I might as well, right? I have a guy that will do the install for a reasonable price, but can I get a short enough block? It's not really that thin of a body, I was really surprised at how much higher this thing sits and how long the block is. Kinda looks like I just wasted $90.

Anyone need a Kahler Killer trem?

[Ayrton]

Ok, I have to ask the obvious.

What is the problem with the original tremolo, and should you go Floyd, what do you plan to do about the lock nut?

[King IzzO)))]

Derr, I want to be Kerry King... with a Heartfield. Yes, I know it's probably a waste of money, but I like this guitar, a lot.

I have Sperzels now, but I plan to put on a kahler lock nut too.

[Funkfingers]

The problem with the Kahler is lack of neck pitch angle on the Fender. On a guitar body intended to take a Kahler flatmount vibrato, the floor of the neck pocket is tapered.

[John_L]

You would be better with a Floyd as it is what can be installed easily. Kahlers are great but the concept is so differing that it isn't an easy swap from a vintage style trem. As for locking nuts most people I've seen over the last fifteen or so years (including Jerry Cantrel) use a Floyd nut with a Kahler as the Kahler ones can be a bit fragile.

[frankfalbo]

You're probably out of luck. I just installed a Kahler Killer on another guitar but it was a bolt-on and I re-cut the neck pocket to have an angle. If its in decent shape I can probably use it on something, maybe I have something to trade. Grinding their block would've been a nightmare too, because they are pretty hard. Then you have to drill the spring holes deeper, too.

[Funkfingers]

Keep it simple. Check out this direct fit Wilkinson. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,...N_Tremolo.html Just add locking machineheads. Simples!!

[King IzzO)))]

Frank, it's chrome with black saddles, it's in great shape other than the chrome is coming off the arm. I'm not positive the posts are correct, they seem small, phillips head (I expected allens), but they have the knife edges, no anchors though. If you're interested PM me, I can haz some pics for you, maybe we can work something out, if not maybe I'll build something it will work on, it looks super badass, and I'm pissed it won't work.

The wilk doesn't seem like it would get me much of an upgrade from the standard trem. I haven't used one, but I'm talking floppy divebombs with 11-56 strings tuned to C#. I could be completely off on my assumption though, it is attractive that it will go right on. That's what I was really hoping would be the case with the Killer, since they have the same post spacing. There just isn't much info around on them, so it was a crapshoot, even though the dude from WammiWorld said it would work.

[Funkfingers]

I have an early Wilkinson USA VS100 bridge and Sperzel Trimlock machineheads on my 1995 self-build Partsocaster. As far as divebombing is concerned, anything Jeff Beck can do, the V100 can match.

NOTE: My Wilk is the original version with the so-called locking mechanism to simulate hardtail operation. I do not use the aluminium backplate and steel ferrule doobrie.

[Ayrton]

Put the guitar back to stock, and love it.

A Floyd, and nut install would easily cost as much as a nice used Ibanez 500 series. Buy another guitar, and get your whammy freak on with that.

[King IzzO)))]

I've got an LTD M-302 with a FR, I just wanted to do it with this, admittedly partly because of the novelty.