Charvel reissue

[MikeStrat]

I picked up a 2005 NOS Chavel reissue from a very small dealer a couple months ago. It's black with 2 hums and a vintage trem. It's got a really nice dark board on it. I got it cheap so I couldn't resist. I'm not a huge fan of the vintage trem so I'm thinking about putting a different trem on it. I'm debating putting a Kahler 2300 on it. I've been wanting a Kahler for some odd reason. I already have a ton of Charvels with Floyds and I don't feel like going through the hassle of trying to find someone qualified to put a Floyd on this guitar. So, am I crazy for wanting to Kahler this guitar? I'm assuming a top mount Kahler would not be rocket science to install. I'm also assuming the Kahler base plate with cover the screw holes from the v-trem. Is there more to it than mounting the trem and making sure the nut is put on properly? What say you?

[DonP]

Not sure. The rear trem route sort of ruins it for a Kahler flat mount to me. I'd likely keep it as-is and track down different body. An 86 Model 4 would get you the Kahler, but it's HSS. A Model 3A gets you HH, but either a Kahler 2500/2710 or a JT-6/Floyd. Are you going to do a behind the nut lock?

[horns666]

I dunno..but Mike and Don NEEDS to comes to my house @ Casa Del Fuggums. Because I love you fargin' iceholes!!I have two '95 San Dimas pudslappers..I love them too.

[DonP]

I wish I would have when I had the chance. I used to work in Westlake from Aug 06 to Apr 08.

[MikeStrat]

I can see your point on the rear route but I would go into this knowing that the value of the guitar would be lost if I did this mod. I'm more concerned that the strings would sit properly if I tried to do this.

[j2379]

you may need to shim the neck for a bit more angle, otherwise it should be fine. personally i think there are enough old charvel and jackson strats with kahlers that can be found pretty cheap not to butcher a nice V-trem one. I am not a fan of Kahlers but have always had 1 guitar with one just to have. IMO kahlers are the modern bigsby, where the floyds are the modern V-trem.

[ginsambo]

How high are your bridge saddles set as it stands? I have a 2005 V trem reissue and the bridge saddles are set almost as max, just to acheive a playable action, so if I wanted to do a floyd install say, don't think neck shimming would be an issue. Maybe yours is the same?

[shreddermon]

Assuming a non-recessed Floyd, you'll almost definitely need to shim the neck. The neck angle requirements are different for Floyd's vs V trems. I'm speaking from experience, having converted one of the bullseyes to a Floyd. Make sure you use someone very qualified and with experience doing this type of work. I had to take mine to two separate guys, as the first did the conversion well but didn't know shit about redoing the setup (including the shim requirement).

[ginsambo]

Yeah you are right you know,

Charvel Reissue V trem low E saddle = 11mm off the body including a small card shim already in the heel.
Charvel Pro Mod Non Recessed floyd = 17mm off the body..

How big is the gap at the heel of the underside of the neck work out at on your bullseye? I'd be tempted to rerout with a jig and a template bit?

[shreddermon]

No idea, I sold it a few years ago. LOL