Kluson Tuners

[skh515]

Yesterday I was looking at a new Gibson at a local shop. Tuning it was a bit of pain, see as I had to do it repeatedly. This got me thinking. I have never had a good experience with Kluson tuners. I don't know anyone who has had a good experience with Klusons. I believe they were proven to be junk 50 years ago.

So, why does Gibson still use them? And it's not just low end guitars. Pay 3 grand, get a set of kluson. If I counted right, I own 36 individual kluson tuners. Thank god for the banjo tuners on my Firebird!

So chime in and tell the world what you think of Kluson tuners.

(A note to all Micheal Bolton fans. Bad taste in music doesn't make you a bad person, just a total bore at parties. Sorry if I offended either one of you).

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Kluson Tuners

well, I can't say they're my favorite but... they more or less keep my jag in tune even when I use the crappy jag trem... I have nothing against them.

slade

 

[Curly]

Re: Kluson Tuners

If you're talking about the Vintage style "Green Keys" ...

I have a nice LP with the vintage Klusons, and one of the reasons I don't play it is because it won't stay in tune. Despite the comments here in the past that it is due partly to the shorter scale, I don't have the same problem with my Hamers that have Schallers.

so, yeah, they suck

BTW, there are replacement tuners

 

[skh515]

Re: Kluson Tuners

BTW, there are replacement tuners

I think I'd go broke trying to replace all my Klusons. :grumble:

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Kluson Tuners

Gotoh (and I think anoher Manuf.) make locking versions of the venerable Kluson Deluxe that have a finer ratio and are generally more "stable". They´re not as good as a good set of grovers or Sperzels, but IMO are a signuificant improvement over the standard Klusons. And there is no modification needed, IMO Important on any vintage or "future vintage" guitar

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Kluson Tuners

WOW... I LOVE Kluson tuners...I hate Michael Bolton but ,I do love Kluson tuners...I in fact removed the USA Fender tuners from my Highway one telecaster to put klusons on it! My Moderne has them and I love them their too...and I have no tuning problems with either guitar. My Kramer has Shallers, and my Yamaha has Grovers, and my klusons work just as good as the others.

 

[skh515]

Re: Kluson Tuners

Yeah, I know I kind of skewed the data with the whole Micheal Bolton thing. I didn't realize it would matter.

 

[Bluzboy66]

Re: Kluson Tuners

My Kluson-style tuners on my '91 LP and Tele R.I. work just fine. I've rebuilt vintage Kluson to perform flawlessly. Problems with tuning are usually traced back to the player and/or an ill set-up, and not the tuner itself.

Mike

 

[skh515]

Re: Kluson Tuners

Problems with tuning are usually traced back to the player and/or an ill set-up

Yeah sure, blame the victim!

O.K., Instead of getting into how my ten year old klusons are junk and how my 70+ year old Grovers work flawlessly, I'll start a new thread were you can choose your favorite. And no Micheal Bolton jokes.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=25248

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Kluson Tuners

The original Klusons on my '54 Tele and '63 Strat still work just fine and my guitars stay in tune. I tie my strings or else stuff the end all the way down that hole down the middle of the post and make sure the string winds around the post evenly going top to bottem. I like 'em...and they sound like the 50's. Heavier Gotohs, Schallers and Grovers are fine...but they sound differant. Not bad...differant. Lew

 

[skh515]

Re: Kluson Tuners

I do pretty much the same thing Lew. I've never replaced a set of tuners, so I've had to figure out how to make them work.

Oddly enough, our Strats seem to be set up in eerily similar fashion, Five springs, Pivot Bolts tightened down (I've read your other post). The only real difference I've noticed is I've traded in my 11s for 10s. I'm having pain issues in my hands and I'm looking to decrease some of the stress.

But back to Klusons. When I go into a shop to look at a new Les Paul and it won't stay in tune, it makes me wonder. It should be set-up right, it is a Gibson after all. It gives me the feeling that Gibson isn't using the best parts available (which of course they aren't). I think there are better choices out there, Grovers or Gotohs that are built to look like the original Klusons.

Tuning is also painful, so after dealing with Klusons with half a turn of stack in them I get a little annoyed.

Hopefully I'll get in to see my hand doctor and find out this is easily fixed. If not, well I am building a lap steel. I think that will be fairly painless to play. And being a committed guitar player, I will play through the pain as long as possible, if that's my only choice. You guys know what I mean. That's what you'd do, right?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Kluson Tuners

People mention tuners slipping. I guess they sometimes do. But I don't think it's as commen as people think it is. I really do think most of that slippage comes from the strings not being installed properly. Because I don't think most tuners, even 50 year old Klusons, "slip" all that often. I use .010's too...at least on my electric guitars. Lew

 

[big_black]

Re: Kluson Tuners

The Kluson's on my Blueshawk seem to work fine.

 

[Bluzboy66]

Re: Kluson Tuners

Yeah sure, blame the victim!

O.K., Instead of getting into how my ten year old klusons are junk and how my 70+ year old Grovers work flawlessly, I'll start a new thread were you can choose your favorite. And no Micheal Bolton jokes.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=25248

LOL! Sorry. Keep in mind that the 'new' Klusons' aren't 'real' Klusons. They are reproductions. From what I've experienced, the old Klusons are higher 'quality' (relative term), and seem to hold up better. Still, I have a few 'new' sets that are getting a bit long-in-the-tooth, and they're still tuning smooth, and holding strong. I won't argue with you about quality. Those old Grovers are built like tanks. BUT, Klusons ARE lighter, and sound better than the heavier Grovers. The more dead weight you have clamped to that headstock, the more your tone will suffer. You're guitar will drop a nice chunk of its bottom and resonance with heavier tuners.

Tip - I also enjoy mountain biking, and I found that the dry teflon lube used for lubing bike cables, and shifters, works GREAT on Kluson-style tuners, nut slots, trem pivot points, and bridge saddles. It come in a handy squeeze bottle, drips on as a liquid, and dries within a few minutes. A little goes a long way, and it works like a charm. I like 'Pedros' and 'Finish Line' brands.

Mike

 

[big_black]

Re: Kluson Tuners

LOL! The more dead weight you have clamped to that headstock, the more your tone will suffer. You're guitar will drop a nice chunk of its bottom and resonance with heavier tuners.

I was under the impression that the more weight and desity at the headstock, the more resonance is helped. Wouldn't that be a similar effect to the fatfinger?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Kluson Tuners

I was under the impression that the more weight and desity at the headstock, the more resonance is helped. Wouldn't that be a similar effect to the fatfinger?

IMO, yes. I think you are correct. I think lighter tuners give a guitar a lighter, more open, more acoustic, less steely, less dense tone.

The effect is similar to changing from a modern zinc stop tailpiece to a 50's style aluminum stop tailpiece that weighs about 1/3 the weight of zinc.

Lew

 

[NT02]

Re: Kluson Tuners

I use 9s to a custom 11-52 set of strings on my LP Classic with the Kluson-style tuners and have never had a problem.

 

[big_black]

Re: Kluson Tuners

IMO, yes. I think you are correct. I think lighter tuners give a guitar a lighter, more open, more acoustic, less steely, less dense tone.

The effect is similar to changing from a modern zinc stop tailpiece to a 50's style aluminum stop tailpiece that weighs about 1/3 the weight of zinc.

Lew

I'm a big fan of aluminum's resonance. Would you recommend I change my tail piece to aluminum?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Kluson Tuners

I'm a big fan of aluminum's resonance. Would you recommend I change my tail piece to aluminum?

I have changed to aluminum on all of my guitars with stop tailpieces. I prefer the tone of aluminum.

I don't know of anyone who has made the change who doesn't consider it an improvement, though some hear it as a big improvement and some a small improvement.

Personally, I think the alumiunum talilpiece and Brazilian Fingerboard (rather than Indian) are two big reasons why 50's Les Pauls sound the way they do. :dance:

But it's all matter of personal taste.

Lew

 

[big_black]

Re: Kluson Tuners

I'll look into it, thanks.