?Unusual locking nut on Model 6

[bcrich1975]

I have a (guessing '88) Model 6. Great guitar, love how it plays. My question is that the one I own has a locking nut unlike any other Model 6 I've seen. Every one I've ever seen in pictures, owned before, or played all had a locking nut behind a traditional nut. Mine has Kahler locking nut mounted where a Floyd nut is. The guitar has no evidence what-so-ever of any modifications being done to it and I did check under the truss rod cover for any signs as well. The headstock has no sign of refinish and the whole guitar appears 100% original.
So here's a (lousy) pic of the whole guitar, but what I'm talking about is visable:

Here's pics of the actual nut, the first one is gold (mine is black), the second nut (for a 7string) has the kind of string lock bolts that mine does (non allen head):

[Nazgul]

I have a nut just like that on my 1988 Custom Rhoads:

[nhspike]

That's the kahler spyder locking nut (have one on my westone)
They work great, since the blocks don't twist when you tighten them.

[bcrich1975]

Well, It's good to see others out there. I think the design of it is great....just (and I can't believe this because I've been playing for over 20 years!) never saw one on a guitar before. Presumably, they're fairly rare, huh?

[jacksonaxes]

Those came on some late 88 models, I had a 4M with one on it.

[toejam]

Yep, they're legit. Jackson used its own JT6 behind-the-nut lock, there's also a Kahler nut that looks just like it, then there's the other Kahler nut shown here.

[Grawnday]

So does this nut take into account the angle of the headstock?



I'm lookin to fix the problem above. Would using this nut save me the expense of having a "shelf" built for the floyd nut to sit on? This is my '86 Model 3.

[dg]

No. On guitars with the Kahler locknut, the nut area was wider & the point where the headstock fall-away started was pushed back to accomodate it, just like on any other Charvel or Jackson neck with a factory floyd nut.

[MetalMedal II]

The nice thing about the Kahler-made Floyd type nut is that it has a built in string guide/tree which provides downward force, so you don't need another one screwed into the headstock. The string guide/tree is held in place by 2 screws and it can easily be removed if desired.

[Nazgul]

FWIW, once I wanted to replace this nut with a OFR nut..it fit exactly, but the "shelf" needed sanding down a bit..which I didn't want to do.

Is there a place you can get these nuts new?

[dg]

They have them here, but they're $59:

http://www.kahlerparts.com/Other_Pages/Stringlocks.htm

[MetalMedal II]

FWIW, once I wanted to replace this nut with a OFR nut..it fit exactly, but the "shelf" needed sanding down a bit..which I didn't want to do.

Your could also grind down the base of the OFR nut. I did this with a file and some sandpaper that needed it shaved down hair. Any more than that would require motorized equip.

[DonP]

Presumably, they're fairly rare, huh?

I don't think so. I see them a lot. Fender HM Strats have them. How much are you exposed to old guitars?

[Speiro]

My M6 is the same as your with the Kahler branded locking nut too.

[bcrich1975]

Originally Posted by usa dk1
Presumably, they're fairly rare, huh?
I don't think so. I see them a lot. Fender HM Strats have them. How much are you exposed to old guitars?

I'd say, fairly very well exposed to older guitars, the avg. age of the ones I have (minus the dk1) is about 20 years old, been playing for well over 20 years, and owned over 200 guitars (Jackson, Charvel, BC Rich, Kramer, Ibanez primarily, never had any Fender's and only one Gibson)....never had one w/ this "particular" locking nut. And as for seeing them "a lot", I can not agree with that statement based on the brands mentioned above that I play and have played. I also have to take into account that I very much prefer Floyd Rose/style tremolo's over Kahler's. Never liked the Kahler trems too much, granted they have some great features...just never bonded with the feel of those bridges. So maybe in the statement of seeing them a lot, they were probably seen more often on guitars equipped with a Kahler tremolo that, out of my personal preference, I tend to overlook.