Scored a Strat HM - and have some questions

[PowerTube]

Okay, I picked up a Strat HM yesterday in a pawn shop. I traded a Stratocaster Highway One against it and walked out the door for $175.00.

Here are some really bad pics:




It plays very well and has a great feel in the hand. The stock pup's are actually quite nice (assuming that they're stock).

The Kahler licensed Floyd has a stripped hole on the high E string. I was able to set it up it by employing needle-nosed vice grips.

I have a brand new Jackson JT-590 which I swapped with an original Floyd on the DK2M.

So....will the JT-590 drop right in if I change the poles? I've never seen this style of pole before. The pivot points of the trem actually rest against the heads of the screws. In other words, the pivot points have a groove that the heads of the pole screws sit in. So I would definitely have to also swap out the poles.

Any advice is appreciated.

[Fender]

Looks a lot like an Ibanez Edge tremolo. You should maybe see if you can swap in an edge or Lo pro, IMO much better bridges

[Rich#6]

nope, wrong post spacing. (I could be wrong but I don't think so. hehe!)

[Axewielder]

Those are Kahler Spyders. My understanding is they are quite difficult to get parts for.

[Trussrod]

It plays very well and has a great feel in the hand. The stock pup's are actually quite nice (assuming that they're stock).

The Kahler licensed Floyd has a stripped hole on the high E string. I was able to set it up it by employing needle-nosed vice grips.

I have a brand new Jackson JT-590 which I swapped with an original Floyd on the DK2M.

So....will the JT-590 drop right in if I change the poles? I've never seen this style of pole before. The pivot points of the trem actually rest against the heads of the screws. In other words, the pivot points have a groove that the heads of the pole screws sit in. So I would definitely have to also swap out the poles.

Any advice is appreciated.

The easiest fix is to try any other saddle in place of the broken one.

You could measure the post spacing to compare the two trems. Unless someone else has done the swap that is the best way to go. Also, if the post spacing doesn't line up you could fill the old post holes with dowel (after removing the ferrules) and drill new holes for the JT-590. Keep in mind the base plates are not the same size.

I've had a Kahler Spyder for almost 20 yrs now and the worst part about it is the trem block--it adds nothing to the tone and can't be replaced easily because of the goofy way the bar holder is mounted to it.

Parts for this Kahler trem are available on Kahler's site and others as well, but I'd rather start from scratch than deal with this situation.

Edit: I just did a search on saddles and this might be of use to you: http://www.wammiworld.com/u5421.html

[PowerTube]

The easiest fix is to try any other saddle in place of the broken one.

You could measure the post spacing to compare the two trems. Unless someone else has done the swap that is the best way to go. Also, if the post spacing doesn't line up you could fill the old post holes with dowel (after removing the ferrules) and drill new holes for the JT-590. Keep in mind the base plates are not the same size.

I've had a Kahler Spyder for almost 20 yrs now and the worst part about it is the trem block--it adds nothing to the tone and can't be replaced easily because of the goofy way the bar holder is mounted to it.

Parts for this Kahler trem are available on Kahler's site and others as well, but I'd rather start from scratch than deal with this situation.

Edit: I just did a search on saddles and this might be of use to you: http://www.wammiworld.com/u5421.html

Thanks. No more than I'll be playing it, I can live with the needle-nosed vice grips on each string change.

[Fender]

I had a kahler spyder on my Peavey Tracer, but it was different. Looking back i remember reading there was a Spyder II. It sucked balls anyways lol . Forgot to say, sick guitar. I like these old school Fender Superstrats. They got late into the playing field, but i think they managed to make a few great guitars in a time where they were popular. They don't make as many now, but i really wonder how they play. Love the look anyways!

[KevinDguitar]

Stock pups for that guitar should be a DiMarzio Super 3 bridge and 2 Fender American Standard single coils, iirc.. The Super 3 was originally designed for Fender by Steve Blucher specifically for this guitar.

[straycat]

Nice guitar worth as much as a Highway one IMO.

[Grandturk]

They had a black one at GC on 14th St NYC yesteday. Looked pretty tempting - except for their price. Ridiculous!!!

[heartfielder]

Great deal indeed !!! I'd buy them all day for that price. I don't like the Kahler Spyder trem at all !! I have two HM Strats but they are a different version. Mine have 2 HSH config with Floyd Rose Pro trems. Those I love !! Good luck with it !!

[wanthairspray]

I really love HMs. Very versatile guitars and ca dos creaming rock with ease.

Regarding your high e hole, whammiworld may help, and Kahler will provide replacement parts at premium cost. Kahler also have an ebay presence.

If you have more questions, you could swing by http://www.heavymetalstrat.com/ a fansite for HMs. (I'm a moderator there... )

[DonP]

Nice guitar. I love mine. The Kahler doesn't bother me. It's currently blocked but I might switch it back to floating someday.

So this cost you a Hiway One and $175 or did they give you $175?

The pickups look stock. Did it come with a case?

[mccullpl]

I swapped an Edge for a Spyder way back in the day (stupidest thing I ever did to that Ibanez...), but it had the same spacing as the Edge, which I believe is the same as a Floyd. The oddball thing about the posts, well, other than the obvious, was that the post inserts were much smaller in diameter than Floyd inserts. So, if you want to drop a Floyd in there, you may have to drill for larger diameter inserts.

Pat

[PowerTube]

Nice guitar. I love mine. The Kahler doesn't bother me. It's currently blocked but I might switch it back to floating someday.

So this cost you a Hiway One and $175 or did they give you $175?

The pickups look stock. Did it come with a case?

I paid them $175.00 difference, taxes included. In my experience with pawn shops, they insist that some cash exchange hands, no matter what. I love this guitar while I only liked the Highway One. I'm just not a traditional Strat guy.

Yeah, it included the factory chainsaw case. The Highway One I traded was with a hardshell case, but it wasn't factory.

So at the end of the day, I got a guitar I really like in exchange for one that was just "okay."