Can 30-year old Klusons action be tightened up?

[beaubrummels]

The original tuners on my Les Paul Standard are really loose in their action. There's no screw on the keystone to tighten them up. Just wondering if there is any way to tighten up the action, short of full replacement with new repros? (E.g. can the backs come off and tighten up the gear?)

 

[jeremy]

i dont know. ive never tried to open up closed klusons, but its a good question

 

[ehdwuld]

The plastic knob is loose?
or the gear interface has slop

Those knobs are heated and cinched on

I saw Dan install some on a YouTube video once

He broke off the old knob or one had broken off

His repair was new plastic knobs
I think he boiled them and slid them over the shaft. When they cooled they were tight

I will see if I can find that video

 

[Mincer]

I think the gear has just worn out, and it wobbles. It isn't a great design. I'd just replace them, unless you are worried about value, then I'd replace them and keep the old ones in the case.

 

[beaubrummels]

Yeah, it's the gear, not the knobs or keys. Keys are fine. It's the action tuning is really loose, bending a string too much can take it out of tune and it's not the string itself. It's like "low friction" tuners now. Have to replace.

 

[ICTGoober]

I have a jig I made back in the 80's to take the old Kluson tuners apart to add lube or adjust, but these days it's not worth it. Buy another set.

 

[Mincer]

Could you replace just the gear?

 

[ICTGoober]

Lots of singles on Squeebay and Treeverb.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

As far as I know, there is not like super easy way into them without destroying them. I really like Klusons visually, especially in Les Pauls, but yeah, I don't think their long-term functionality is amazing. I'd just replace them.

 

[Mincer]

I think other companies have kept the look, but with a better design. I am all for better designs and not continuing to use hardware that doesn't work because, you know, 'tradition'. But you can certainly keep the look with having better functionality.

 

[beaubrummels]

I have a nearly identical set on my SG, which is 20 years newer and also say "Gibson Deluxe" on that back, except they are more square looking. I think I might put the SG tuners on the LP and put the old LP tuners on the SG and sell the SG. No one would know the difference, but me.

 

[Mincer]

Well, as long as the footprint is the same...:dunno:

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Just get a set of these and call it a day. Put some on my SG last year - drop straight in, same footprint. Non-locking version with plastic keystone peg is similar weight to stock tuner.


Various options - locking, vintage diameter posts with ferrules, different peg types etc. More recently they've also made a 3-on-a-strip version of these, so those who have Jrs and Specials have some direct retrofit options.

Like many, I expect, I like the look and weight of vintage style tuners, but the low ratio/functionality not so much.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I like the Schaller Kluson lookalikes that I have on my LP Tribute. They have the 18:1 ratio, but they keep the Kluson look. Their shafts are also brass, as opposed to steel that Klusons/Grovers are, so I suppose they sound a bit different. Although, if there's a difference, it's definitely subtle.

The downside is their buttons are green. But most Kluson-types are greenish also, so there's that.