Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

ImmortalSix

ImmortalSix

John Mayer's Mankini
Do I need to use left-handed tuners on a reverse headstock neck?


Or, if I use regular right-handed tuners on a reverse headstock neck, will they simply need to be turned the opposite way?

(I ordered a reverse headstock neck, and now that I'm tuner shopping, I have realized that "left-handed-tuners" apparently exist, so I'm wondering what the deal is here, hoping you can explain it to me.)

Thanks!
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

Often you can take tuning pegs apart and flip them around in the way you need them. You shouldn't need anything special.
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

ericmeyer4 said:
Often you can take tuning pegs apart and flip them around in the way you need them. You shouldn't need anything special.
Click to expand...

most of the time yeah.

BUT,

sometimes some desgins are different, I know on some S type design guitars you will need left handed versions due to the metal casings and where the drill holes are for the screws to go onto the headstock (if the design is requires the machinhead casing to be screwed to the headstock as per Les Paul and Wilkinson Deluxe tuner types)
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

Left hand tuners are the same tuners used on the treble side in a 3x3 set like a Les Paul if using Sperzels or Grovers or Schallers and Kluson style. If you have a couple sets of those you are set and then you will have a set of 6 each, Rights and Lefts to choose from.
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

BTMN said:
Left hand tuners are the same tuners used on the treble side in a 3x3 set like a Les Paul if using Sperzels or Grovers or Schallers and Kluson style. If you have a couple sets of those you are set and then you will have a set of 6 each, Rights and Lefts to choose from.
Click to expand...

i forgot about that.....
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

BTMN said:
Left hand tuners are the same tuners used on the treble side in a 3x3 set like a Les Paul
Click to expand...

Now wait just a minute ---

tuning "up" with 3+3 tuning keys, you turn the keys a different direction on different sides of the headstock, which makes me think that the "high E" and the "low e" are identical machines.

Is that incorrect?
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

Wait a minute - I don't care - I have a 6 inline headstock. Like this:

pic-of-reverse-headstock.jpg


So, are left handed tuners a requirement or a preference?
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

http://www.warmoth.com:80/Tuning-Machines-C205.aspx

From Warmoth.

A lot of companies actually call them just "Left" and "Right" tuners, not left and right handed. Really throws a lot of people off. So tuners for a left handed guitar would be "Right," and tuners for a right handed guitar would be "Left." That is, if they're all 6-in-line. I like this system more personally. Just looking at the headstock, they're either on the left or right side.
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

Cool, that spells it out better.

I am still completely unclear / unresolved about whether left-handed tuners are necessary for a reverse headstock, or simply allow the player to turn the keys in a familiar direction.

I don't mind turning the keys "backwards," and actually prefer it, so it will be just like tuning the treble side of a 3+3.

I am just going to have to buy some and see what happens - I was just hoping to figure it out so I could understand it before I ordered parts that either don't fit or turn the opposite way of how I want them to turn.
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

I don't think it'll matter what way you turn them. All tuners turn both directions, right? I think I'm missing something here...

I think it only matters because of which side the main bulk of the gearhouse (correct term?) sticks out from the offset shaft and key and also which side you have your headstock drilled to screw them on.

Ugh. This topic always hurts my head.
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

Gotta be lefty or depending on what brand the tuners are they will run off the tip of the headstock.
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

Kam said:
I don't think it'll matter what way you turn them. All tuners turn both directions, right? I think I'm missing something here...

I think it only matters because of which side the main bulk of the gearhouse (correct term?) sticks out from the offset shaft and key and also which side you have your headstock drilled to screw them on.

Ugh. This topic always hurts my head.
Click to expand...

The only time you'd have to worry is with asymmetrical, sealed designs where the shaft and housing are one piece, like these:

TK-0925-002-2T.jpg


What you're seeing here is a right-handed orientation. Flipping them around for a left-handed orientation would make them upside-down, essentially. Functionally, your turning action would remain intuitive (in a lefty-loosey, righty-tighty sense) but the shaft would emerge from the back of the headstock relatively "underneath" the post, rather than the traditional "above" the post situation.

And that would be lame. It would look like:

Headstock_front.JPG


Yuck. And trust me, it looks even dumber from behind.

This is what you want it to look like:

nitehed.jpg


Notice how the shaft is further "north" than the peg?

A better choice would be to go for a design where the shaft is comprised of a bushing that could be removed with the tuning button and reversed to the other side, like a Sperzel:

Sperzel_Trim-Lok_Guitar_Machines_Detail2.jpg


Otherwise, you'd need to actually get left-handed (or left-SIDED) tuners to have it not look like a hack job.
 
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Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

i would go for LH tuners. i used some on the guitar in my avatar <--- (although u can't see them lol)
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

I'm a lefty, and I've got a couple of righty necks (with RH tuners) for a Hendrix look. I never think 'which way do these tuners turn'.....its more like 'holy **** these are hard to reach'
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

I think you will have to get left hand tuners. I ran into the same problem when replacing the tuners on my guitar with a reverse headstock. The headstock picture you show looks like vintage tuners, which although look pretty symmetrical are not. They will probably hang slightly over the edge (of the headstock closest to the bridge), and the holes to hold each tuner in will likely not line up. I don't think they would line up properly overall. Overall it will look slightly weird as well. The left hand tuners are harder to come by, but I think its worth it.

Tim
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

nitehed.jpg


This would be the results of doing what I said. They would tighten by turning toward you also. Wish I could show you a back shot of that so you could see what that looks like.
 
Re: Reverse Headstock / Left Handed Tuners

I am in the same situation now. This is a little confusing
 
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