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Alembic Club » Swap Shop and Wish Lists » Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere » Archive 2006 » Archive through June 28, 2006 » Zebrawood Exploiter guitar « Previous Next »

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crgaston
Advanced Member
Username: crgaston

Post Number: 215
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 9:18 am:   Edit Post

Don't see these very often...
exploiter
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3879
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 5:39 pm:   Edit Post

Especially a "brand new" '84. <g>
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 437
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 5:59 pm:   Edit Post

I don't know. That headstock just doesn't work for me on an Explorer style body. Otherwise, it's a beautiful instrument.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3881
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 6:13 pm:   Edit Post

I just noticed the nut and bridge. I don't recall seeing these on an Alembic before; but then I have an unreliable memory.
tom_z
Senior Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 402
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 9:12 pm:   Edit Post

Dave, the California Special has a similar nut and bridge.
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 439
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 9:29 pm:   Edit Post

It's a Kahler. They fell off the face of the planet after Floyd Rose basically cornered the market during the hair metal invasion. My '82 Charvel had a Kahler trem, though. I know they've been trying to make a bit of a comeback of late with Kerry King as their poster child.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3894
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 6:40 am:   Edit Post

Tom; when I first saw it I thought of the California Special, but then what threw me off was that, if I recall correctly, California Specials have a large cavity cover on the back to access the springs. The second thing that caught my eye was that on this particular guitar the nut is not brass. So this must have been a special order guitar.
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 440
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 6:57 am:   Edit Post

Dave,

If you notice, there's no hole for the tremolo arm. This is one of Kahler's fixed bridges. Hence, no need for any springs in the back.

Regards,

Jonathan
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3895
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 7:14 am:   Edit Post

Yes, I was wondering how you attached the arm! So the advantage here is the locking tuning?
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 441
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 7:27 am:   Edit Post

Yes, though with locking tuners available, I never understood why someone would disfigure a guitar with a large fixed, bridge like this. Other than the ability to fine tune, I don't see any advantage.
bluplirst
Junior
Username: bluplirst

Post Number: 15
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 7:47 am:   Edit Post

Actually, the hole for the tremelo arm is right behind the saddle for the high E string. I had one of these on a guitar for a while. It really worked great and was very adjustable. I wish I had the cash for this guitar.

Dan
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 442
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 8:17 am:   Edit Post

I stand corrected.
trekster
Member
Username: trekster

Post Number: 98
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 5:25 am:   Edit Post

Jalevinemd -- those type of Kahler trems never had standard back springs -- it's a top mount unit the has a route underneath the bridge that doesnt go thru the whole body. The springs (which are very short) are attached from the cam arm (where the strings are attached) to a claw on the underside of the bridge. You could adjust the tension of the springs via a allen screw on the cam arm.

Just before Kahler went out, they did make a Floyd-style trem that used the trem cavity we all know..but it was just an attempt to recapture the market. Didn't work.
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 443
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 10:04 am:   Edit Post

You're right. Now that I think about it, my old Charvel didn't have springs in the back body. It's been a long time since I owned that guitar.
phylo
New
Username: phylo

Post Number: 7
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 10:28 am:   Edit Post

Speaking of Charvel... I recently had my model 6 resurrected, replaced the jackson active pickups with DiMarzios and now that baby cooks! I can't believe I left it in the case for 10+ years. I think it plays better than my friends custom PRS! The tremelo system works great - once you get it in tune, it stays there. Totally under rated.
phylo
New
Username: phylo

Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 10:33 am:   Edit Post

BTW - it is a Floyd Rose tremelo on the Model 6
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1910
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 10:58 am:   Edit Post

I have two model 4's (bolt-on version of the 6) with the Jackson/Floyd. The compound radius necks witht fat frets on those models play great! Even David Gilmour has converted his std. black (non-EMG) strat to a Charvel compound radius neck.

Those locking whammy's frustrate me to no end! Lot's of tweeking to try and get the thing to stay in tune. My guitar guy hates 'em. I know a lot of guys hate 'em, but I like the active Jacskon electronics.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1912
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 6:40 am:   Edit Post

Getting back to this beaut, I'd love to have it, but I really don't need another whammy bar guitar to fuss around with. The search for the perfect Alembic guitar (perfect for me) continues....LOL!
u14steelgtr
Junior
Username: u14steelgtr

Post Number: 19
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 4:00 pm:   Edit Post

What do you think is wrong with with this guitar?

The description does not explain why this guitar was "never used." This omission is a big RED FLAG to me.
u14steelgtr
Junior
Username: u14steelgtr

Post Number: 20
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 4:03 pm:   Edit Post

My 83 vintage Electrum has this same bridge and nut-lock assembly except mine is all black.

I have never had a problem with it staying in tune. Though using the bridge-mounted knobs to tune it takes some getting used to. My complaint is that it requires an allen wrench to unlock the nut so that you can use the standard tuners.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1914
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 4:55 am:   Edit Post

Who knows? IMHO, an explorer-type guitar is not suitable for all types of music and playing situations, more so for a whammy-equipped guitar.

This one'd be great for a collection, but the body style and whammy would preclude me from playing it often. I simply have too many under-utilized whammy-equipped guitars as it is.

Just my $0.02 and no intended comment/critcism on anyone else's gig.

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