Nineties Carvin DC127w - serial #47348 - want to upgrade in-line locking tuners

[boogiesurfer]

Would anyone be so kind as to relate what locking tuners would fit, and be of high quality for the wilkinson/gotoh trem? I'd sure like compatibility and excellent fit for the DC127's headstock holes. I have the original sperzels that were recently checked with a limited "set-up", but when I got it back they were a lot tighter and a few times they slipped about a 1/4 turn (forget which string or strings). I'm looking for Gotoh's, Grover's, Hipshot's, or Wilkinson's that will fit and will be excellent quality and durability.

I'm new to this forum, live in Hawaii, and sorry 'bout the time difference; but I'm very appreciative of any help that can be offered.

Thanks!

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!

I know Hipshots come with a Universal Mounting Plate which hide any additional holes. They work well and don't slip- I have them on 2 guitars.

 

[marcello252]

could you please measure one of the hole diameter?

 

[GuitarDoc]

The Hipshots are great. Very good tuners, one of my favorites, and like Mincer said, they come with a base plate which hide previous holes and it makes mounting them perfectly in line a snap.

I also like the Planet Waves locking tuners with auto string trim. Very good tuners, easy to use with the autotrim, accurate, and look gorgeous. They are a bit heavy though. I've got them on 7-10 guitars and love them. I've also got a few of the Hipshot locking open tuners with baseplate and love them every bit as much.

Can't go wrong with either.

 

[ehdwuld]

you used to be able to buy Carvin Branded tuners from their site

the Planet Waves auto trim are nice

 

[Inflames626]

Do Schallers not fit?

 

[boogiesurfer]

Thanks Mincer, GuitarDoc, et al! I found that the hole size is 10mm, and I'm definitely going to check out the Hipshots, Planet Waves (like that autotrim feature), and not sure of the Schaller fit, but will check.

I'm also replacing the old Wilkinson trem with a new Wilkinson/Gotoh VS-100N that's supposed to fit, and a 54mm brass block (41mm tall) that I hope fits the 127.

My Carvin also has a white nut with these small extended ends that look a bit strange compared to most nuts, and I think I've found out that it's BONE. I haven't seen this on any other Carvins and I've checked the "Museum Page" a lot. I think I saw another material mentioned, but don't recall. Any ideas?

Thanks again for all the responses, and I'm pleased to be on your site!

 

[GuitarDoc]

My Carvin also has a white nut with these small extended ends that look a bit strange compared to most nuts, and I think I've found out that it's BONE. I haven't seen this on any other Carvins and I've checked the "Museum Page" a lot. I think I saw another material mentioned, but don't recall. Any ideas?

Can you send us a picture of what you're referring to?
Are you talking about the front edge of the nut (the side toward the neck)? If so, it's probably a compensated nut.

 

[boogiesurfer]

No the whole nut is white. Now after talking with Albert, lead tech at Kiesel/Carvin, he said that Carvin put some Tusk nuts (white) on some models. I'm using 9-46 strings and the nut looks like it needs to be filed to accommodate these strings.

I've ordered the D'Addario locking tuners with the auto trim. I'm guessing they're the same as the Planet Waves and rebranded. . good price on Amazon. Also, I have received the Gotoh/Wilkinson trem, and a 41mm height brass block that I may have to return (it may be to tall). Not sure about the Shaller tuners fit, but they were a lot more expensive than the D'Addario's.

Thanks guys!

 

[GuitarDoc]

What are the "small extended ends" you were referring to on the nut?

 

[ehdwuld]

What are the "small extended ends" you were referring to on the nut?

that does sound like a "Ernie Ball Compensated Nut"

OP!!!!

you will want to leave that alone !!!!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Yeah, if that's a compensated nut, it's worth its weight in gold. I make compensated bone nuts and put them on every guitar that I build as a standard included "upgrade" (no additional cost to the guitar, but I custom make them for any guitar for $250). There are several different designs out there, but any of them is better than a plain nut.

 

[GuitarDoc]

I just wanted to clarify...

You can buy pre-fab compensated nuts for under $50 so my price seems high. But mine are custom designed to each guitar they go on (every guitar is unique and slightly different) and they involve some trimming of the fretboard in most cases, in order to make them work perfectly. The add-on or replacement nuts you can buy don't work perfectly on every (or actually, ANY) guitar, but they are still better than a stock nut.

 

[Ascension]

Call Chris Hong at Kiesel and tell him I told you to call him. The new Kiesel branded tuners are very good and are a direct fit, they also may have Carvin branded versions for the Becker guitars available. . Chris should do you right on them. Richard.

 

[boogiesurfer]

I'm not very knowledgeable re: nut technical aspects, but I can see now, after measuring, that the 6th string slot is 1/8" from the nut/neck edge and the 1st string slot is 3/16" from nut/neck edge. For some reason when first looking at it, there was a look that it's "larger" on the ends, but now I realize that it does appear to be larger on the ends, i.e. the height is 3/16" and the front to back is 3/16"; and both ends are the same as the two slot measurements reaching down to the edges of the stress rod cover (resulting in the larger looks of the ends).

The strings look a lot like they're sitting almost on top of the nut, especially the wound D, A, and E. There are a lot of "marks" on the material between ~ the second and fifth strings, but being the original owner I can't quite figure out why. Unless the nut material is a little "soft" and easily "scuffed" during string changes.

I'll give Chris Hong a call Friday, Ascension, but I've already received the D'Addario locking tuners today; but maybe Chris can talk me into the Kiesel branded, since the D'Addario's have the small "extension" screws to be screwed into the headstock, and I can always return them to Amazon.

Oh yes, GuitarDoc, I don't really know how to tell if a nut is "compensated." This white nut is all white all the way around, unless maybe the compensation is not observable where it is glued into the nut slot?

Thanks everyone!

 

[boogiesurfer]

I spoke with Chris at Kiesel today, and he did help me a good deal with info. First, we talked about the "white" nut on my DC127 and he stated that it was most likely a GraphTech white graphite nut, that considering its age could still accept a little lube with string changes.

"Ascension": Considering the Kiesel branded tuners. . he couldn't even tell me who the manufacturer is. . since I know a lot more now re: quality, durability, and features of many tuners. I asked him about the Kiesel tuners and if they had the same "eyelets" on the sides. . they do not. So, when I asked him how easy it would be to install the new Kiesel's, he said they have a different system now for "stabilizing" them. Apparently, instead of one internal "post", there are now two posts "internally" that need to be placed properly into the headstock. I couldn't get anything clearer than that and don't really know how these two posts are situated. He did say that it is better to have a tech install. I have decided to keep the D'Addario's, with the eyelets that can be properly "pilot holed", with screws gently installed as D'Addario recommends. Don't want to go with the Kiesel's unknown manufacturer, and any anomalies that may occur.

"Inflames626": I now realize that even if the Shallers fit, and I'm still not sure of, they would still be prohibitively expensive. The D'Addarios are still top notch, I know they fit, and for my Carvin I am near 100% sure I'll be happy with them.

Thanks again so much for all your help!