What would you do? ...with the trem cavity?

[CipherHost]

Let's say you have an 86 Gibson SG Special that has been sanded down to the bare wood (except for the Gibson head-stock logo, serial number stamp, and Made in USA stamp). You can do anything you want with this guitar.

Ebony fretboard w/ dot inlays
Two Shaw Humbuckers
3-way switch & 2 Vol, 1 Tone
Kahler Flyer tremolo w/ Locking nut
Probably originally came with Schaller "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines, but were changed to Grover Rotomatic tuning machines (screw holes give it away). Tuners are being used on a different guitar now, so what would you use to replace them?

What would you do?

 

[warlockII]

Either lock the Kahler into a fixed bridge or since it's already down to bare wood, remove it and put in a bridge I can live with. No matter how many times I try to get along with a Kahler (Except their version of a Floyd) I end up selling the guitar in frustration. If you're a Kahler lover, than more power to you!

 

[Justincase]

Ditch the flyer. Plug it. Go with a tune-o-matic. Not sure I'd want to go thru the trouble of routing for a Floyd like the Diablo SG. They do make a funky top mount Floyd I've seen on SGs

 

[Sixstring]

I 2nd the Tune-O-Matic, make it a hardtail and leave the Floyds to the more modern guitars.

 

[CipherHost]

After watching a couple videos about the Kahler Flyer and tinkering with the one that came with this guitar... I'm installing a Tune-O-Matic bridge I had in a drawer. Measured thrice, drilled once... well, 4 times . Now I have to come up with something cool to do with that Kahler cavity. I have one or two ideas, but looking for more ideas from you all. Thanks!

 

[unix-guy]

Now I have to come up with something cool to do with that Kahler cavity. I have a one or two ideas, but looking for more ideas from you all.

Fill it with epoxy and float some guitar picks in there.

 

[Justincase]

Put some teeth in there lol
Or

Kahler was here on a plug...

 

[Sixstring]

The challenge is to make it look like it was never there!

 

[RevDrucifer]

Could always just fill it like Gilmour did with his Black Strat after removing the Kahler-

 

[Tahoebrian5]

Time capsule

 

[Justincase]

After watching a couple videos about the Kahler Flyer and tinkering with the one that came with this guitar... I'm installing a Tune-O-Matic bridge I had in a drawer. Measured thrice, drilled once... well, 4 times . Now I have to come up with something cool to do with that Kahler cavity. I have one or two ideas, but looking for more ideas from you all. Thanks!

Here is a guide for your EXACT situation brother.
https://www.strangeguitarworks.com/filling-a-kahler-route/

 

[Sixstring]

Here is a guide for your EXACT situation brother.
https://www.strangeguitarworks.com/filling-a-kahler-route/

This is the way!

 

[Dave Merrill]

Here is a guide for your EXACT situation brother.
https://www.strangeguitarworks.com/filling-a-kahler-route/

That's really nice work. Finish match is uncanny

 

[Justincase]

That's really nice work. Finish match is uncanny

Ciphers will be alot easier since the whole thing needs refinishing anyway.

 

[CipherHost]

Here is a guide for your EXACT situation brother.
https://www.strangeguitarworks.com/filling-a-kahler-route/

Great find! What a great job Aaron did! If I just cover it, it could be "weight relieved"!

 

[Andy Eagle]

mahogany block

 

[Justincase]

Great find! What a great job Aaron did! If I just cover it, it could be "weight relieved"!

Pretty sure that's the last thing you want in an SG. Maybe add weight to counter headstock dive.

 

[CipherHost]

Well, I've been watching videos and searching, pricing, etc. This is where I'm at so far...

Made a cavity cover for the Flyer out of Red Oak.





Applying the Z-Poxy to the top.



Hanging for 1st Z-Poxy application to dry.



Hanging to dry after 2nd Z-Poxy coat. Had this been a beautiful piece of mahogany, I would have been tempted just clear coat it.



Warming the sealer.



Post sealer and sanding.





1st color coat.

 

[CipherHost]

Sprayed color. My technique was not so good and ended up with some unevan color coat. It also showed areas that the Z-Poxy did not fill correctly. Researching a little how to fix these issues and/or do better. Finding good info.

 

[State of Epicicity]

Sprayed color. My technique was not so good and ended up with some unevan color coat. It also showed areas that the Z-Poxy did not fill correctly. Researching a little how to fix these issues and/or do better. Finding good info.

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Man, in the first photo, the headstock looks like one of those cars that changes color depending on the angle you look at it. Very cool looking!