Kahler String Gouging??

[jayochs]

Hey guys, new here. Just got a G&L Rampage with the Kahler 4300 X Trem on it...loving it, but it does tend to detune a bit, so i'm going to try to solder the strings.

but i noticed that the strings seem to be gouging the living hell out of the cam!! is this supposed to happen!? here's a few pics where you can notice the G is eating away at the cam. the other strings seem to have the same problem, too.





i hope my brand new guitar isn't crapping out already

[louis cyfer]

use the fender bullet strings. solves both problems.

[jayochs]

really! so bullets fit in here no problem? i used to use super bullets all the time on my '89 USA Strat...but due to the store not having them once, i just switched to d'addarios and haven't bothered looking again lol

now, should i use bullet or super bullet?

also, what about those specific made SIT or D'Addario strings that are "reinforced" for kahler trems?


and again, is the rubbing and gouging on there a problem? is the cam ruined already?

[louis cyfer]

really! so bullets fit in here no problem? i used to use super bullets all the time on my '89 USA Strat...but due to the store not having them once, i just switched to d'addarios and haven't bothered looking again lol

now, should i use bullet or super bullet?

also, what about those specific made SIT or D'Addario strings that are "reinforced" for kahler trems?


and again, is the rubbing and gouging on there a problem? is the cam ruined already?

it's not ruined but you want to polish it, you can break strings on that. an option is putting a small piece of heatshrink tubing on the string to keep the string from directly touching the cam. it's up to you what kind of sound you like, the bullets are pure nickel, the super bullets are nickel plated steel.

[jayochs]

great advice, thanks! i've soldered it, but i still ended up breaking my high E string before lol...guess that didn't help too much. either way, i don't like how my brand new shiny cam has gouges in it already, ugh. every single string is making that gouge though, even the lower ones.

[Boogie Bill]

Try a very tiny amount of the Big Bend's Nut Sauce just on the area of the cam where each string crosses. I'd bet that would solve the problems you've been having. Big Bend's Nut Sauce is great stuff!! I've been using it since it came out and it has worked wonders on my DF Vibratos, my Les Pauls and even my acoustics.

Bill

[louis cyfer]

Try a very tiny amount of the Big Bend's Nut Sauce just on the area of the cam where each string crosses. I'd bet that would solve the problems you've been having. Big Bend's Nut Sauce is great stuff!! I've been using it since it came out and it has worked wonders on my DF Vibratos, my Les Pauls and even my acoustics.

Bill

i actually use an even better lubricant, but with the kind of strings he used there, the pressure on the twisted wire caused the gouges. the lubricant would have been enough if he were using the bullet strings on the new cam. now the can has to be polished up, and if there is any burring left, the plastic shield (heatshrink) will be needed to make sure the string doesn't break prematurely. i agree with you a good lubricant (i use buzzy's honey slick) can do wonders in a lot of cases.

[jayochs]

my question is, have any of your guys trems had this same gouging in it? polishing it won't get rid of the gouging. this is how it came from the factory..this thing literally was shipped to my house from MF on friday, and i've been playing it since. i haven't changed the strings, and altohugh i've been doing research on kahlers, i never saw this issue until today when i was messing around with it.

[louis cyfer]

my question is, have any of your guys trems had this same gouging in it? polishing it won't get rid of the gouging. this is how it came from the factory..this thing literally was shipped to my house from MF on friday, and i've been playing it since. i haven't changed the strings, and altohugh i've been doing research on kahlers, i never saw this issue until today when i was messing around with it.

i had some gouging on those kahler trems before when using those type of strings. was it like that when you got it? because i would definitely have that rectified, and if it happened this fast, you certainly have a reasonable beef. it took years to develop for me, and that is how i learned to stay away from strings like that. having a little twisted piece of metal putting pressure on a small area on a moving part is just not a good idea. with bullet string it is a flat piece of string distributed over a much larger area. might develop a small groove but nothing major. and that will take many years. the heatshrink is really a great option. works for fender tremolos too, stops the breakage from the string rubbing against the saddle.

[jayochs]

i don't believe it was there when i got it, because last night i started hearing some "slipping" and that typical metal clink noise you usually hear at the nut when it's slipping...i guess that noise was it slipping and gouging the metal on the kahler i didn't think anything of it.

but i really don't want to go through the hassle of sending the entire guitar back to musicians friend ugh. i wonder if i should hit up G&L to see if their warranty will send me out a new cam or something instead?

[louis cyfer]

i don't believe it was there when i got it, because last night i started hearing some "slipping" and that typical metal clink noise you usually hear at the nut when it's slipping...i guess that noise was it slipping and gouging the metal on the kahler i didn't think anything of it.

but i really don't want to go through the hassle of sending the entire guitar back to musicians friend ugh. i wonder if i should hit up G&L to see if their warranty will send me out a new cam or something instead?

that is why i like local dealers. contact g&l, but i am not sure if there is a warranty recourse without sending the guitar to either mf or g&l.

[jayochs]

yeah, no local dealers anywhere near me have G&L, let alone the rampage, and they couldn't be bothered to order it..so i had to risk it and buy it w/o ever playing it..i'm satisfied except for this small issue.

i've re-seated the strings because none of them had a bend in them at the cam, and a lot had the winding part facing DOWN towards the cam (hence how the G shredded it) and to be safe, i put down a small bit of electrical tape under where the string sits on all of the strings to help protect it, and wrapped a tiny bit around the G (which seemed to be the most pointy)

idk if that's good or bad, but it seems to be doing ok right now.

i DO NOT want to send the guitar back, because everything is fine except this small issue. i wonder if G&L, or kahler would give me a replacement cam under the warranty? i just sent in my warranty card yesterday to G&L, but i can't find an e-mail address for them to write and ask about

[jayochs]

also, i guess it's safe to say i should get this thing setup somewhere huh?

it goes out of tune just by LOOKING at it. now i'm reading that kahlers have bad tuning stability..but whatever, if worst comes to worst i just won't use the trem (even though that's pretty much why i bought it...) and tune it so that bends don't make it go out of tune.

i just don't get it. after years, i've always wanted this guitar, now i get it and there's just problems with it. if it didn't have such a good tone, it would've been sent back already.

[louis cyfer]

also, i guess it's safe to say i should get this thing setup somewhere huh?

it goes out of tune just by LOOKING at it. now i'm reading that kahlers have bad tuning stability..but whatever, if worst comes to worst i just won't use the trem (even though that's pretty much why i bought it...) and tune it so that bends don't make it go out of tune.

i just don't get it. after years, i've always wanted this guitar, now i get it and there's just problems with it. if it didn't have such a good tone, it would've been sent back already.

have it set up. i love those kahlers. the best feeling tremolo ever imnsho. it can stay in tune well. the ball end strings are a problem with that too though, they are not consistent in how they seat, you can see this in your pic as well. the bullets solve that too.

[jayochs]

louis, you've def been a huge help, man! before i registered, i saw you answering questions in another guys rampage thread (where you advised him to turn his locking piece for the G around to help it stop coming out of tune when he whammied and it worked for him) and you seem to have all the answers haha so i def trust you with your string suggestion for bullets here.

i know i should get it set up; i guess the factory doesn't really do any type of setup, huh? i'm not even going to touch the truss rod because in order to even get at it with any allen wrenches i have, the string tree has to be removed, and that's just a PITA! i adjusted my bridge saddles to go a little higher so that it doesn't buzz as much, but i still get some noticeable buzzing around the 1st and 5th frets on some strings.

these stock strings are dunlops, and they were so bright sounding when i got it friday..it's tuesday, and they're all like dead already...either means i've been playing it like crazy (which i have) or that dunlop strings die out pretty fast haha...i always loved super bullets on my strat so i guess that's what i'm gonna try out!

[jayochs]

whoa, i just realized that bullets will DEF NOT fit in my trem! had an old set of super bullets laying around... crap, i just had to cancel my order on amazon.

i just ordered these:
http://www.amazon.com/DAddario-EKXL110- ... 843&sr=8-1

they're the reinforced d'addario ones i've been hearing so many people talk about with kahlers, and apparnetly kahler reccomends these as well. i was going to try the SIT strings one that even say they're made for Kahler, but only justtrings.com has them, and they're an ABSOLUTE ripoff..it's $3.77 for the strings which is nice, but like 6.95 shipping is their lowest cost. ripoff. so these d'addarios cost me 6.49 and i've got a few days left of my amazon prime subscription, so i'll get them by thursday and give them a try. they apparently solder the plain ends, which saves me the hassle of sloppily soldering my own lol

[jayochs]

i literally spend more time tuning this damn kahler than i do playing it.


every single time i do a dive, every string goes flat. EVERY single time.

the trem DOES NOT EVER return to the original point when you do a dive. you always have to nudge it back up to get it to go back. basically, if i do a quick dive holding a chord, all the strings go flat. then if i nudge it up, you can actually hear htem going back sharper towards the center again. it's ridiculous. this thing will not stay in tune for the life of it.

[louis cyfer]

i literally spend more time tuning this damn kahler than i do playing it.


every single time i do a dive, every string goes flat. EVERY single time.

the trem DOES NOT EVER return to the original point when you do a dive. you always have to nudge it back up to get it to go back. basically, if i do a quick dive holding a chord, all the strings go flat. then if i nudge it up, you can actually hear them going back sharper towards the center again. it's ridiculous. this thing will not stay in tune for the life of it.

gotta get it set up. that sounds like something is sticking, catching or similar. what happens if you tune after they go flat, do they go flat again? without pulling it back up.

[jayochs]

nah, they seemed fine after i tuned it..but once i hit that bar, they would go out.

do you think the fact that i've got a small piece of electrical tape on the cam where each string sits would do anything bad? i put it over the gouges from each string so that it doesn't hurt the cam anymore.

i put on a new set of strings today, the daddario ekxl10s, the ones "reinforced" for vibrato tailpieces as it says...which seem fine, and they're not coming out of tune when i dive bomb really. (i don't really see how they're reinforced though..unless their soldering is SO fine that the eye can't even detect it? lol) anyway i stretched the hell out of them before locking the nut, so it seems fine now.

what i also did was adjust the spring tension. in watching kahler's video on youtube on how to adjust it, he says the piece with the 6 fine tuners should be exactly flush with the back frame of the trem. mine was set a little loose, so the block was UP more, with a forward tilt. i adjusted it so it's sitting back and flush with the frame now, so maybe that had something to do with it as well? i'm not really sure.

these strings seem nice, i've always liked daddario. next though, i want to try those SIT strings that are made for kahlers..i believe they have the heat shrink wrapping already applied to them, so those would be MOST ideal to not ruin my cam anymore. only problem is that juststrings.com is such a <censored word> place to get strings; they charge a flat rate of 6.95 for the lowest amount of shipping..so one pack costs me 10 bucks.

i've also contacted musicians friend about replacing either my cam or my whole trem under warranty, since this is def a manufactorer defect in that they strung the guitar up with the bare metal from the string facing the cam, so it was inevitable that it would scratch the hell out of it. they said they'll get back to me when they hear from G&L, and tried to get me to send the guitar back, but i like exactly how i've got this one playing now and i don't wanna deal with that hassle. hopefully kahler or G&L will pull through

[Craig]

This has been my first opportunity to post, as it's been a very busy week for me.

I emailed Chris Robosan, G&L Customer Service, about this issue a few days ago and heard back from him yesterday.
He is contacting MF customer service and will work with them to help get this resolved.

Hope this helps.

In the meantime, please do add your Rampage to our G&L Registry.

Thanks.

[jayochs]

wow Craig, thank you! i've always loved these forums, so friendly! (just wish i would've signed up so much earlier lol)

i'm def going to register her; i've already got another G&L registered that i bought back in '06...it's a 1987 G&L L-2000 leo fender signature model..she's basically my main bass! that thing is a beast, and i got it for such a steal at guitar center. it's SO light too, so much lighter than my Rampage.

here's a shot of me playing live with her

[RampageFan]

I have 4 guitars equipped with Kahler's. Three of them are from the 80's and one is on a 2010 Tribute Rampage. The one thing I noticed with the import Kahler x-trem compared to the original USA made Kahler's is the cam is tighter than the originals. I had the EXACT same problem as you when I first got the Tribute Rampage. There is definitely a break in period. Mine would also come back flat after using it, and I had to nudge it back into pitch. I spent a few days going crazy with it, major dive bombs, pulling it as sharp as it would go. I just rocked it back and forth until it worked itself out. I no longer have that issue. However, I do admit, I don't use the bar a whole lot, but when I do, it's fine now.

Also, I have never had an issue with the gouging like you do. For what it's worth, I use Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9's, and they work well with the Kahler.

Hope this helps you out, enjoy the Rampage!
Dave

[RampageFan]

One more thing, and I hate to state the obvious. My Tribute Rampage came from the Factory with 10's. When I changed strings to my preferred gauge of 9's, I had to set the Kahler up for 9's. When I put the lighter gauge on, the area where the fine tuner's are, was recessed back into the body. You want it flush with the body. That could also be a reason the cam is coming up flat when you use the bar.

Dave

[jayochs]

yeah! after i saw kahler's youtube, i've got the metal piece that the fine tuners rest on 100% flush with the metal frame of the kahler. it seems to be doing pretty well now..i hope there is a break in period! i love divebombing lol

[jayochs]

sigh. i'm ready to lock this god awful trem down and just never use it again. this is getting ridiculous. every single time, all the strings go flat when i dive bomb. NOTHING stays in tune on this thing. starting to wonder if i should just return it at this point.

[louis cyfer]

sigh. i'm ready to lock this god awful trem down and just never use it again. this is getting ridiculous. every single time, all the strings go flat when i dive bomb. NOTHING stays in tune on this thing. starting to wonder if i should just return it at this point.

gotta get it set up. until you do that, don't complain.

[jayochs]

thing is, I'm no noob to setting up guitars, so i know what I'm kinda doing. right now I don't have the 50 bucks to throw down just to get my brand new 600 dollars guitar to play right. gotta work on paying off some students loans first


anyway, I had to take apartment the kahler tonight because as I was lowering the bridge, the damn little peg inside flew out and I thought I broke it! so i took it apart and examined the kahler... pretty cool piece of machinery there. It looks like the cam is easily replaceable, so hopefully when mf or g& l gets back to me about that, it shouldn't be a hassle. i've just been reading about kahler and it seems a majority of people have tuning stability options, which brings up the whole kahler vs Floyd rose war... idk i like the kahler better, because i realize that no tremolo will ever stay in tune perfectly.

sorry for the complaints lol i just get fired up sometimes.. hell, when I got my parker this time two years ago, I spent every night trying to get intonation perfect.. i just couldn't get it because the fixed bridge saddles were all the way back and it needed to be longer... eventually I just stop caring and get less ocd about it haha.. that'll happen here, too!

[jayochs]

SO a quick update from musicians friend support here.

basically, they're telling me that G&L is telling them there's nothing they can do about it whatsoever lol..so MF is offering me either a return exchange or a discount. i don't want either; i just want a cam replacement..

"Dear jason,
We apologize for the delay. I spoke with G&L, and unfortunately they do not have replacement parts for that bridge. However, we can give you a discount on your guitar if we have not already, or we can set up an exchange. Let us know what you would like to do.
We appreciate you choosing MusiciansFriend.com

Please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions or concerns, or if you are not completely satisfied with the service you have received from us today. We appreciate your feedback."


now, i'm going to wait to reply because i guess the logical choice is to get in touch with kahler first and see if they've got any warranty. they sell cams seperatley, so it shouldn't be too hard...but i wonder if they'll stand by the product, when it seems G&L is just saying "nope" since the trem is a kahler..

any thoughts?


*edit*
and so far, Kahler is NO help either. i wrote them an email explaining everything to their "warranty and service email" and to inquire about what they warranty is..here's the response i got:

"Hi Jason,

Thanks for the email.

I understand what you are speaking about. This is correct… if you are not using heat shrinked strings then they will gouge the cam. This being said… you might be able to fix the amount of friction on the cam with a setup… leep in mind this is simply an idea… not 100% sure. If you go to www.youtube.com/kahlerusatrems and watch the kahler 101 set up videos, it should help you.

If you are interested in buying a whole new cam, please click on the link.
http://www.kahlerusa.com/scripts/prodLi ... ategory=27

Best Regards,

-David, Team Kahler
Kahler International Inc.
1836 Ord Way
Oceanside, CA 92056"

there's no way i'm going to BUY a new cam, when this def. isn't user error. hmm. so i wrote back explaining that, we'll see what they say.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

...MF is offering me either a return exchange or a discount. i don't want either; i just want a cam replacement....

Take the discount MF is offering and use the money to buy a new cam or complete Kahler kit.

.

[jayochs]

well, the thing here ist hat they offered me 10%..so if that's 10% on 599.99, that's only 60 bucks, where a cam costs like $100+..so, again, i don't think i should put $40 into it when this seems like a problem through G&L in the first place...so the MF girl told me i should get in touch more so with G&L and kahler for them to work together, so now i'm personally going to G&L to see what they say. i mean, i understand she wants to offer me 10% off, but at this point if someone gets me a cam under warranty replacement, i don't NEED that 60 bucks, so i won't take it.


*edit* MF will give the 10% off of 509.99, so less than that.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

well, the thing here ist hat they offered me 10%..so if that's 10% on 599.99, that's only 60 bucks, where a cam costs like $100+..so, again, i don't think i should put $40 into it when this seems like a problem through G&L in the first place...so the MF girl told me i should get in touch more so with G&L and kahler for them to work together, so now i'm personally going to G&L to see what they say. i mean, i understand she wants to offer me 10% off, but at this point if someone gets me a cam under warranty replacement, i don't NEED that 60 bucks, so i won't take it.


*edit* MF will give the 10% off of 509.99, so less than that.

You previously mentioned a lack in funds for a setup. If your time and effort is worth anything it should be at least 10% of $509. Take what is offered. It is offered because even they think you deserve something if not exactly what you think.

thing is, I'm no noob to setting up guitars, so i know what I'm kinda doing. right now I don't have the 50 bucks to throw down just to get my brand new 600 dollars guitar to play right. gotta work on paying off some students loans first

[jayochs]

yeah, you're right.

in the end though, who knows, maybe i'll just return the guitar. thing is, as i return it, i'll have to purchase those SIT heatshrink tubing strings as well,w hich i can only get from juststrings.com since there's no SIT dealers around me, grr.

either that, or just take their discount, suck it up, and just keep electrical tape on there until i get those heatshrink tubing strings.

does anyone know how to maybe MANUALLY do that? i've never used that heatshrink stuff on wires or anything...


oy, i was pricing the 2320 thats on the american rampage..329 bucks on kahlers website! ahh! i was thinking of maybe just replaceing this one someday, but damn thats expesnive lol, but the 7300 is about 164 at whammi world:
http://www.wammiworld.com/b7300.php#

wonder if that's worth it eventually? wonder how much better it is than the 4300 Xtrem on mine

[louis cyfer]

just put the heatshrink on the string yourself. couldn't be easier. any electronic store sells it.

[jayochs]

hey louis thanks for the info..how do you actually like shrink it down to mold to the string? with a heat gun? also, what gauge of shrink wrap?

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/produc ... uitar.html

those any good?

[louis cyfer]

hey louis thanks for the info..how do you actually like shrink it down to mold to the string? with a heat gun? also, what gauge of shrink wrap?

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/produc ... uitar.html

those any good?

a lighter is enough. any heat source. take some strings and check the heatshrink at the store. as long as it fits over it, it should work.

[jayochs]

hey guys! just wanted to update..2 years later. lmao.

as i stated above, i became less OCD about the gouging. as bad as it sounds (mainly bc i'm lazy..) i haven't even had to replace my strings in like the past 6 months. hell, it might even be longer. i think the strings I have on there now are GHS Guitar Boomers..they're not even those special d'addario or SIT ones. i got a 5 pack of Boomers in 10's from Best Buy like over a year ago for 4 bucks on a super sale..and i put them on the Rampage, and haven't even broken a string since...seriously, it must have been almost a year ago since i've changed them, and even after playing almost daily, the strings are still super bright. i love that guitar.

in fact..i love G&L stuff so much that today i took advantage of musicians friends' stupid deal of the day...a tribute ASAT Deluxe for only $300!!! the thing is beautiful and i can't wait to get it.

....but, for weeks i've been mulling over buying a G&L Tribute JB-2...i've wanted a G&L jazz bass for a while to compliment my L2000....so tonight i said screw it. i threw that in my cart, too. haha..seems like every 2 years or so i get a new guitar..except this time, i got TWO good price, too.

can't wait to add them to the registry!


btw, if anyones interested, check out some of my songs i've recorded over the last 2 years with the Rampage!

https://soundcloud.com/jayochs/sets/2013-ep

the only song that isnt the rampage is Xmas Funk. enjoy!

[HowlinWolf]

hey guys! just wanted to update..2 years later. lmao.

as i stated above, i became less OCD about the gouging. as bad as it sounds (mainly bc i'm lazy..) i haven't even had to replace my strings in like the past 6 months. hell, it might even be longer. i think the strings I have on there now are GHS Guitar Boomers..they're not even those special d'addario or SIT ones. i got a 5 pack of Boomers in 10's from Best Buy like over a year ago for 4 bucks on a super sale..and i put them on the Rampage, and haven't even broken a string since...seriously, it must have been almost a year ago since i've changed them, and even after playing almost daily, the strings are still super bright. i love that guitar.

in fact..i love G&L stuff so much that today i took advantage of musicians friends' stupid deal of the day...a tribute ASAT Deluxe for only $300!!! the thing is beautiful and i can't wait to get it.

....but, for weeks i've been mulling over buying a G&L Tribute JB-2...i've wanted a G&L jazz bass for a while to compliment my L2000....so tonight i said screw it. i threw that in my cart, too. haha..seems like every 2 years or so i get a new guitar..except this time, i got TWO good price, too.

can't wait to add them to the registry!


btw, if anyones interested, check out some of my songs i've recorded over the last 2 years with the Rampage!

https://soundcloud.com/jayochs/sets/2013-ep

the only song that isnt the rampage is Xmas Funk. enjoy!

Hey there Jay, nice update! I'm sure I came aross a website that recommended GHS Boomers for use on Kahlers, along with SIT and some other reinforced strings. So I'm glad to have confirmation that those boomers are good for use on Kahlers. My Rampage(the USA version) also has gouging on the cam, I guess that's inevitable due to the twist at the end of the strings raking against the surface of the cam. The solution I've found and am using at the moment is Big Bends' String Sleeves, same idea as the heat shrink tubing but easier to put on. Maybe I should try your method of electrical tape over the cam to act as a barrier between string and the cam surface, I'm curious if that'd be a better alternative to placing the string sleeves. One thing about this 2320 Kahler Pro on my Rampage, it will never stay in tune for an extended period of time, unlike a Floyd Rose. And therefore I've made up my mind that although Kahlers feel good to the touch and are easier to set up, it's Floyd Rose all the way for me from now on. And like you mentioned, Kahler sells those 2320 models for 320+ bucks, ridiculous when a quality made German Floyd that won't go out of tune can be had for $200 or less.

Nice cool tunes you have there on your soundcloud! Sounds great, is that with the stock Alnico V on your Rampage or did you swap pickups? And how did you record those tracks, I'm very impressed with the sound quality so if you don't mind sharing, please do. And impressive playing too!

[jayochs]

hey guys! just wanted to update..2 years later. lmao.

as i stated above, i became less OCD about the gouging. as bad as it sounds (mainly bc i'm lazy..) i haven't even had to replace my strings in like the past 6 months. hell, it might even be longer. i think the strings I have on there now are GHS Guitar Boomers..they're not even those special d'addario or SIT ones. i got a 5 pack of Boomers in 10's from Best Buy like over a year ago for 4 bucks on a super sale..and i put them on the Rampage, and haven't even broken a string since...seriously, it must have been almost a year ago since i've changed them, and even after playing almost daily, the strings are still super bright. i love that guitar.

in fact..i love G&L stuff so much that today i took advantage of musicians friends' stupid deal of the day...a tribute ASAT Deluxe for only $300!!! the thing is beautiful and i can't wait to get it.

....but, for weeks i've been mulling over buying a G&L Tribute JB-2...i've wanted a G&L jazz bass for a while to compliment my L2000....so tonight i said screw it. i threw that in my cart, too. haha..seems like every 2 years or so i get a new guitar..except this time, i got TWO good price, too.

can't wait to add them to the registry!


btw, if anyones interested, check out some of my songs i've recorded over the last 2 years with the Rampage!

https://soundcloud.com/jayochs/sets/2013-ep

the only song that isnt the rampage is Xmas Funk. enjoy!

Hey there Jay, nice update! I'm sure I came aross a website that recommended GHS Boomers for use on Kahlers, along with SIT and some other reinforced strings. So I'm glad to have confirmation that those boomers are good for use on Kahlers. My Rampage(the USA version) also has gouging on the cam, I guess that's inevitable due to the twist at the end of the strings raking against the surface of the cam. The solution I've found and am using at the moment is Big Bends' String Sleeves, same idea as the heat shrink tubing but easier to put on. Maybe I should try your method of electrical tape over the cam to act as a barrier between string and the cam surface, I'm curious if that'd be a better alternative to placing the string sleeves. One thing about this 2320 Kahler Pro on my Rampage, it will never stay in tune for an extended period of time, unlike a Floyd Rose. And therefore I've made up my mind that although Kahlers feel good to the touch and are easier to set up, it's Floyd Rose all the way for me from now on. And like you mentioned, Kahler sells those 2320 models for 320+ bucks, ridiculous when a quality made German Floyd that won't go out of tune can be had for $200 or less.

Nice cool tunes you have there on your soundcloud! Sounds great, is that with the stock Alnico V on your Rampage or did you swap pickups? And how did you record those tracks, I'm very impressed with the sound quality so if you don't mind sharing, please do. And impressive playing too!

hey there! thanks for the compliments

so as for the rampage, i've stopped using tape over the cam. it really doesn't seem to be gouging as much as it was from the start, so i guess it just had to be broken in. upsetting to hear the american version suffered from the same fate..but at this point, unfortunately, i somewhat blame whoever put the strings on in the factory..they should have known not to put the winded part down to where it would gouge in the first place. oh well. i didn't know any better to check either, as that was my first kahler trem. i do love my rampage, though!

and i got my G&L tribute ASAT Deluxe today! that thing is SWEET. the pickups are MUCH different from the rampage, though. the rampage is incredibly hot and i love how it sounds..very chuggy and juicy sounding lol. the ASAT is more les paul style. not as chuggy until you boost it with a little OD pedal in front (this is in my JCM2000, but i'm sure it would be quite chuggy on a 5150 or something of that sort). but yeah, the ASAT sounds awesome..it's a tad noisy, though. the pickups do emit some buzz, which is odd, as my rampage is silent. oh well. this is a cheaper guitar than the rampage, but i think it's cool. feels nice, the neck is unfinished which feels very weird when you first start playing it..i think it needs to be broken in a bit.

as for my recording, thanks!! it's the stock rampage pickup through my marshall JCM2000. i then record my stack with an sm57, sennheiser e609 and an MXL stereo condensor mic. i do them into a tascam 8 channel USB mixer and then mix them how i please when doing the final mixdown.

i should be getting the G&L JB2 bass i ordered soon as well...so excited for that one it was in stock, said it was shipping tomorrow, then outta nowhere they said backordered until 4/18!! i contacted them to ask what was up, and they said G&L just updated them saying they wouldn't get any until April...but then after a few days a CS rep from musicians friend contacted me back to say they actually just got some the other day, and mine would most likely ship monday the latest. ..so i'm pumped!

[HowlinWolf]

Hey Jay, I only got to reading your reply just now, hope you're enjoying your new G&L guitars! It's good to know that the gouging isn't getting worse with time and that it isn't an issue with your Rampage now. The info about your recording setup, I'm definitely keeping those products in mind when I eventually do start dabbling in recording and looking for good equipment. I definitely would like to try out all of those mics and the Tascam mixer too. So thank you for sharing, and keep plugging and I hope to hear new recordings by you!

[jayochs]

Hey Jay, I only got to reading your reply just now, hope you're enjoying your new G&L guitars! It's good to know that the gouging isn't getting worse with time and that it isn't an issue with your Rampage now. The info about your recording setup, I'm definitely keeping those products in mind when I eventually do start dabbling in recording and looking for good equipment. I definitely would like to try out all of those mics and the Tascam mixer too. So thank you for sharing, and keep plugging and I hope to hear new recordings by you!

thanks man! once i get some time, i'll do some recordings with the new ASAT and JB2! i'm loving them more by the day....i get bored of my guitars/basses sometimes (mainly was bass, since I haven't bought a new bass since 2006 when I got my '87 L2000..) so i was playing guitar more, as my Rampage was my newest...but I didn't have my L2000 setup the way I want, and there's an issue with the bridge pickup where it randomly cuts out and theres static and stuff on it unless i hit the bass, which is odd..even the guy i brought it to to get setup a few years back said he didn't see anything wrong with the wiring. oh well.

anyway, i hadn't been playing bass daily, but now with the JB2, I'm rocking it every day! my callouses are back and super thick lol, and I even spent some time lowering the action on the L2000 to get it to play the way I like again..so now I'm playing that bad boy too!

[jayochs]

figured i'd give you guys a 4 year status update..

got the guitar in 2012, it's now 2016.

the string gouging has gotten worse, despite the fact i specifically string it so that the pointed ends of the GBE are facing up and not against the trem, but it hasn't really helped. looks pretty bad when you take the strings off and clean everything up...big gouges!

either way, i haven't noticed the rough edges and sharp gouging to have broken strings. i honestly think i've only broken 1 string on this Rampage in the 4 years i've had it, which is pretty crazy...and it didn't break because of the sharp gouge!

i recently started using big bends nut sauce, so i sauced up the bridge real good, and sauced the gouges to help there be some lube there just in case.

either way, the guitar is still rocking HARD. for the first time since i got it in '12, i recently just put it back to standard tuning and i'm enjoying it.

the only issue i had was one of the locking nut allen set screws to tighten the strings in the nut had stripped, so i had to order a set of AllParts screws and they work fine on the Rampage.

other than that, guitar is still doing damn good 4 years later. i love the tone, and the neck. i wish the superhawk had the same neck finish..the rampage is a tad more glossy than the superhawk..but maybe that's bc my rampage was made in china, but the superhawk was indonesia.

either way, she's still rockin hard!