The Bill Edwards Finger-Tite Locking Nut

Kramer introduced the Bill edwards nut in 1985 as a cool alternative to the allen wrenched clamping types. Although not initially created by Kramer themselves, they became distributors of the Edwards nut for a short while. The nut was a swell invention which allowed gross tuning and eliminated the need for allen wrenches. It worked by three "flap" type metal pieces on hinges compressing the strings to the base. Different string thicknesses could be compensated by
adjusting the inner screws by first removing the "flap" pieces. The unit worked great and today, is somewhat hard to find.

	The actual "nut" (Floyd Type) Click on the thumbnail for a larger version

The ad is also curious as there are two non-angled banana heads with no retainer bar and a three and three Les Paul type headstock of which Kramer never produced. Not much information on these currently. Before long, Kramer along with other manufacturers, introduced their own versions of the unit with inferior results thereby destroying the image and the legacy of the cam-tightened nut. Kramer and Bill Edwards parted ways after a short run. I believe the edwards nut ran under his own name for awile afterward but not for very long. The original Edwards nut can sometimes be found on Ebay. The Kramer versions are almost non-existent and are extremely rare.

83 Catalog Page Click on the thumbnail for a larger version	87 Catalog Page Click on the thumbnail for a larger version

ReStandard Nut Diagram (For Floyd Rose Types)	eBehind the Nut Diagram (Kahler Type)	Installation Instructions (requires Adobe Acrobat to View)	Installation Instructions

Prototype	Floyd Rose Type Nut	Behind the Nut (Kahler Type)	Kramer Version (considered inferior to Edwards)

Information from Bill Edwards on the experience of creating the Fingertite Locknut:
Taken from an interview with Bill Edwards.

You also hold the patent for the Finger Tite Locking Nut. What exactly is that and what is the story there?

The horror... the horror. This is a truly long story. In a moment of weakness, I actually attempted to relate it to a reporter for the Wall Street Journal who was doing an invention story several years ago. I spent hours relating the story in minute detail. Later when I read it, he'd got so many facts wrong that I realized that it was too complicated unless you happened to already know the principles and what they do or did. Just the names of the parties involved - Kramer, Kahler, Schaller, Fender, Yamaha, blah blah... they tend to get mushed together if you're not in the biz. Suffice it to say that I got screwed blued and tattooed by several industry heavyweights. The device was an improvement on the Floyd Rose locking nut, which I'd dealt with as a frequent repair item in my store. Everyone stripped out the hex screws, or lost the 3 mm wrenches and went nuts because the very thing supposed to keep their gtrs in tune kept them from tuning up. The Finger-Tite Locking Nut was a cam lever operated device designed to eliminate the wrenches, but clamp the strings securely. Again, the idiosyncracies (and costs) of the legal system defeated this nice little niche product. I spent two years of overtime working out different designs and shapes before I found one that worked. About ten or fifteen companies liked the idea so much they decided to make their own - invariably half-assed - version. In the end they "poisoned the well" of consumer opinion about mine, which was the one that actually worked correctly. I remember my little booth at NAMM and people coming by after having bought the crappy copies and saying "Those things don't work." It was a terrible experience. It hurt me and my family badly.

Postscript: I thought it was all behind me when one day about a year or two ago, I get a call from a customer regarding Fretboard Logic. He said "By the way, I'm Gary Kahler's son. Ever heard of him?" My throat clamped up and I actually started choking and actually couldn't speak until I got some water. Issues? Hey - I bought a subscription.