kahler bass tremolo - flashy non-sense or useful tool?

cosmicevan · #1 10-14-2006, 12:45 AM

with the ever increasing populatirity of having a tremolo on a bass, is it still just a novelty? i know many out there feel that nothing beats a good old fender j or p, but for exotic/boutique/handmade/whatever basses...do you think that this is a useful option? i think that if tastefully used it could really become an invaluable tool for playing. i imagine using it for a gentle tremolo effect on sustains and for deep sliding grooves. ofcourse the occasioinal nose dive bomb is also now available but still...?

i've been thinking about putting the next bass fund towards this mod on my existing "go-to" bass. i mentioned the idea to my guitarist tonight and he said i'd be crazy to make any mod to the wood of my bass. i'd have the installatioin done professionally, but he was still weary of the idea. what do yout think? is it dumb to have a mod like this done to a bass? how much will it really change the way the bass plays?

JimmyM · #2 10-14-2006, 01:25 AM

I own a bass with a Kahler whammy on it, and when I use that bass I absolutely love being able to do whammy tricks. I do all sorts of cool stuff...dive bombs, vintage vibrato, fretless simulation, harmonic bending, etc. Can a bass player play his/her entire career without a whammy bar? Absolutely. It's definitely not nonsense, but not having one will not make or break your career.

Thunder_Fingers · #3 10-14-2006, 01:44 AM

I would have modded a Fender Japan or Mexico with that, but a Custom Bass? Never! i notice how i feel that thing is in the way just playing guitar...

JimmyM · #4 10-14-2006, 02:04 AM

I think modding a bass depends on the bass. I would never mod a Fender or an expensive bass, but I would install it in a less-collectable bass or have a bass built with it as original equipment.

The D · #5 10-14-2006, 06:49 AM

I would never do that on my Stingray. But it would be nice to buy a SX bass and put that mod. Never tried tremolo on bass before. Maybe actually playing one would broaden my creativity on bass.

Baryonyx · #6 10-14-2006, 07:26 AM

I think they're pretty cool, but even though I like them, I don't think I could use one full time. Still a bit of a gimmick!

DanGouge · #7 10-14-2006, 08:15 AM

I wouldn't put one in my "go-to" bass. If you had a backup that wasn't getting a lot of playing time, that's where I'd put it. I'm really cautious about messing with my #1 bass. After all, there's probably a whole lot of subtle reasons why it's your #1, and you would risk upsetting that balance I fear.

Bassist4Life · #8 10-14-2006, 08:30 AM

I voted not to do it, but it really depends on what YOU need. Maybe you'll use that thing all the time. Maybe not.

About 15 years ago I had a really nice Les Paul (guitar). I had a tremelo installed on that beautiful instrument. At the time, I used the Floyd Rose tremelo on my Ibanez A LOT. However, the Kahler tremelo didn't seem right for my Les Paul. I ended up just getting rid of that instrument.

I guess what I'm say is that it depends on YOU and the INSTRUMENT.

Good luck with your decision. This is one that you can't really undo.

Joe

JacoLesFlea · #9 10-14-2006, 08:55 AM

leave the steve vai, satriani, stuff to the guitarist your job is to keep the rythym flowin'

superbassman2000 · #10 10-14-2006, 09:20 AM

i say get the trem...the worse case scenerio is that you don't use it, but i have a feeling you would make use of it evan

**cheezewiz** · #11 10-14-2006, 09:24 AM

syciprider · #12 10-14-2006, 09:31 AM

1. It's trem-O-lo.
2. The mod you want will give you vibrato or portamento.
3. If you wanted trem-O-lo, just get a TR-2

agreatheight · #13 10-14-2006, 09:57 AM

Don't mod your number one, mod your number two - or better yet get a nice beater to toss it into. I love trem bars on guitars, but I'd never put one on a Les Paul. I'd get an Ibanez for that!

spudmaster34 · #14 10-14-2006, 09:58 AM

I know it is considered unscroupulous, but considering the fact that it is mf... Why don't you get one of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...mmy?sku=515433 play around with it for a while and decide if you like the whammy or not, if you don't like it, return the bass. If you do like it, either return the bass and get one installed on your other bass, or keep the washburn

GobBass · #15 10-14-2006, 10:06 AM

go with hipshot.they''re brilliant at mking bass tremolos for p-basses...I want one on Old Black..

johnmark · #16 10-14-2006, 11:43 AM

I had a Steinberg with Trans-Trem tremelo for many years. The different tunings the Trans-Trem made possible were great, but regular tremelo usage (as would be possible with the Kahler) was just a novelty for me I very rarely ever used. I used it a lot that first month or two though. Ha!

I destroyed an old Hondo Longhorn by routing it for my Trans-Trem tremelo. Cool for a little while, but really, what was I thinking?

BassDudeSA · #17 10-14-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacoLesFlea

leave the steve vai, satriani, stuff to the guitarist your job is to keep the rythym flowin'

Absolutely 100% in agreement there. Hey, I am all for playin' around and having fun, and if you just want to "have fun", then go for it. But I am more concerned with playing a solid bass line that sounds great on it's own and does not incorporate uneccesary tricks to do the job. But that's just me. I think a whammy on a bass is a joke. However I would not look down on someone who uses one.

JimmyM · #18 10-14-2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassDudeSA

I think a whammy on a bass is a joke. However I would not look down on someone who uses one.

Hmmm, contradictory statements...those are always fun.

I guess Victor Wooten and Dave LaRue are jokes, huh?

cosmicevan · #19 10-14-2006, 12:12 PM

sorry about the spelling error, syciprider...i fixed it in my post, but it'll have to remain in the poll since i can't edit the options.

i was always amazed by the extreme mods that people make to their basses and i've always wanted a tremolo bass and DO think that i would use it a lot (you know it superbassman2000!), but i'd hate to ruin a bass that i love. it is a custom bass, but i picked it up second-hand so i thought the mod might be a good way to personalize the instrument, but i'd be kicking myself if it made the bass hard to play or ruined some of the charm that the instrument has.

i do agree that modding a less unique bass is probably a good idea, but i'd hate to do a mod to a bass that is more expensive than the bass itself! it'd be a fun novelty to have on my old sr505 ibanez, but i never play that bass ever (it lives at a buddy's project studio so he can have a bass lying around to fiddle with - i'd first have to claim the bass back). i'll see how this poll turns out and hear more feedback as i save. maybe the best bet is to really save and have this built into a custom ordered bass? please keep the feedback coming, this is very helpful to hear the opinions of the community.

cosmicevan · #20 10-14-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Hmmm, contradictory statements...those are always fun.

I guess Victor Wooten and Dave LaRue are jokes, huh?

can't forget les claypool who has this on one of his carl thompsons. victor's is on his fodera, right? if i did the mod, i live in ny...i could seek out the talents of the fodera guys or sadowsky...or one of the other known and talented luthiers to get a solid installation. perhaps a good idea would be to talk to one of those guys about what this mod may end up doing to my bass?