Teach me about tuners

Re: Teach me about tuners

Love Klusons. But:

I have a guitar with MIJ Fender Klusons; they've gotten VERY sloppy and don't interchange bushings with other Klusons, too large diameter shaft.

I also had a 96 Gibson; those Klusons rattled in a distracting way. My cheap Chinese Klusons? Fine.
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

Thanks TC! That makes sense. So even though the name is still owned by someone, Kluson is moreso a "style" that is replicated by a few companies rather than the original company's tuners.

Gotoh seems to make quite a few different styles. Are Grovers always that round style? And why did so many people upgrade to Grovers on the vintage Gibsons?

Is Schaller simply an aftermarket company or do they do OEM stuff too? (Other than the locking tuners on some Fenders)
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

I'm mostly into the Fender stuff, but from what I know, the tulips on Gibson style Kluson Deluxes would basically crumble into pieces. At the same time, Martin started putting Grover Rotomatics on some of their guitars right about the same time folk became huge. Should have been right around the time lots of the famous Burst players acquired their Bursts or fitted Grovers on them, but I might be wrong on the timeline. Maybe it was a common upgrade for a Les Paul at the time, but I really can't say with certainty.

Grover are mostly known for their kidney bean Rotomatics, but they also do Kluson and all sorts of different styles of pegs.

Schaller and OEM...several guitars came stock from the factory with Schaller Floyd Roses, no? Also, the Schaller Hannes is pretty unique and several smaller builders use that bridge. As for tuning pegs, I'm not entirely sure.
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

PFDarkside said:
Are double ball end strings a standardized length?
Click to expand...

They are 'calibrated' which means they adhere to what Ned Steinberger specified for his bridges. So, yeah, they are. But you have to track them down- most stores don't carry them.
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

My Carvin branded Sperzel on my RG2EX1


My Fender branded Pings on my MIM strat


And I have a set of black D'Addario Auto Trim for my Yamaha acoustic that I also have yet to install
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

PFDarkside said:
And why did so many people upgrade to Grovers on the vintage Gibsons?

Is Schaller simply an aftermarket company or do they do OEM stuff too? (Other than the locking tuners on some Fenders)
Click to expand...

People swapped to Grovers on vintage Gibsons BITD because they were a far better tuner than Klusons and they didn't require drilling the headstock. The original Kluson tuners were junk; the buttons disintegrated, the backs would explode, and the gears wore quickly.

Schaller started making tuning machines in the 1970s AFAIK and they've done both aftermarket and OEM sales. They made most of Gibson's bridges in the 90s (and the 'Gibson' tuners on my '96 Explorer), though I'm not sure if they still do.
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

A 'tuner upgrade' is a great thing to do on an inexpensive guitar. Even locking tuners can look like old vintage tuners (but work a lot better), so it is worth it. I just wish there was some sort of standardization with how they are mounted. I hate leaving visible holes,
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

Mincer said:
A 'tuner upgrade' is a great thing to do on an inexpensive guitar. Even locking tuners can look like old vintage tuners (but work a lot better), so it is worth it. I just wish there was some sort of standardization with how they are mounted. I hate leaving visible holes,
Click to expand...

This is why I have such a variety of styles in my collection

The Gotoh tuners listed above are exact replacement for the Epiphone tuners

The Carvin branded Sperzel tuners were exact drop in replacements as well for the Ibanez

The Grover Tuners in the other thread matched so well I put the same screw back in
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

I agree with the guitarfetish got oh style strat tuners. I have them as well and they work great for me.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

Outside of tradition, I think the whole idea of wrapping a wire on a post and turning it is sort of archaic. You'd think higher ratio tuners or double ball ends would have taken off, but you would have to radically redesign how guitars look- and that never takes off.
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

Does anyone know where to get Sperzel buttons? Specifically brass? ;) Do any other brands fit Sperzel by any chance?
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

Ok, who has the Gotoh Vintage style "Kluson" locking tuners for Fenders? (Ehdwuld, I think you have the ones for Gibson style, right?) Any feedback? As I stated earlier, I have 4 guitars with the vintage style tuners, I'm thinking of upgrading a couple to the locking version.
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

PFDarkside said:
Ok, who has the Gotoh Vintage style "Kluson" locking tuners for Fenders? (Ehdwuld, I think you have the ones for Gibson style, right?) Any feedback? As I stated earlier, I have 4 guitars with the vintage style tuners, I'm thinking of upgrading a couple to the locking version.
Click to expand...

I have Gotoh locking Klusons and a TUSQ-XL nut on my SG with a Bigsby B5 & Vibramate.
sam_new_zpsltzie5k0.jpg

The tuning is rock solid, and the tuning machines are nice and smooth too. The tuners are great IMO and I would absolutely recommend and/or use them again.

Were you curious about anything in particular?
 
Last edited:
Re: Teach me about tuners

Yes mine are the 3x3 Gibson style
But I did notice they say the ratio is 14 -1

I'm sure they have the inline sets as well
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

Any issues with install? Would you do it again? Are they remarkably more heavy than stock? Do you find the gear ratio high enough for precise tuning (and is it just the same as the standard ones?)

Thanks, I appreciate your comments and time!
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

PFDarkside said:
Any issues with install? Would you do it again? Are they remarkably more heavy than stock? Do you find the gear ratio high enough for precise tuning (and is it just the same as the standard ones?)

Thanks, I appreciate your comments and time!
Click to expand...

I had BrianS do the install for me because the bushings were a tight fit and I didn't want to damage the finish on the headstock. Weight seems about the same (or slightly less) than the stock Gibson Deluxe tuners, and the gear ratio is absolutely adequate for precise tuning.
 
Re: Teach me about tuners

dystrust said:
I had BrianS do the install for me because the bushings were a tight fit and I didn't want to damage the finish on the headstock. Weight seems about the same (or slightly less) than the stock Gibson Deluxe tuners, and the gear ratio is absolutely adequate for precise tuning.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry
I totally missed your post
Thought he was asking me

Are your tuners the same as the ones I have
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Rex_Rocker
Are Guyker tuners any good?
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
RanchManSandy
R
cliffenstein
NGD: 2024 Epiphone IBGC Les Paul Custom ($1299 model)
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
cliffenstein
cliffenstein
Rex_Rocker
Why are Gotoh self-locking tuners unpopular?
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
GuitarDoc
G
Gstring
WHAT IS YOUR EVERYDAY GO TO GUITAR
2 3
Replies
51
Views
2K
Ascension
Ascension
contiContiCONTI
NGD: PRS Silver Sky SE - Mixed Feelings
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
Back
Top