Q#2: Welcome to the (tuning) Machine

[ricardoblue]

The tuning machines on my ’66 Starfire III are funky, but not in a good way. I’d like to update them for playability, without drilling new holes. The reissue Starfires have a different hole pattern, as do most replacement tuners. I’m concerned about function (and retaining the original integrity of the guitar), not so much about appearance. But I do want to be able to easily put the original tuners back in place if I want to return the guitar to original condition.

Any experience or recommendations? Thanks!

 

[twocorgis]

What kind of tuners are they? A photo would help. I know the '67 Starfire V that I got for my lead guitarist has Grover Rotomatics. They had seen better days, and I probably could have coerced Grover to send another set under their lifetime warranty, but it was inexpensive enough to just buy a new set. They just dropped in.

 

[GGJaguar]

If they look like these (made in Japan), I don't believe anyone has found a drop-in replacement (maybe @Default did for his CE-100?).

 

[Default]

Hipshotas vintage post tuning gears, but they don't use the versa-plates, unfortunately. They do use the non-screw adapter plates, so they would work.
I believe the tuners pictured are reverse what the CE has, but my brain is fried ATM. Last peak season at the PO and I'm just wanting to get through it.

 

[ricardoblue]

If they look like these (made in Japan), I don't believe anyone has found a drop-in replacement (maybe @Default did for his CE-100?).

Those are the ones!

 

[ricardoblue]

What kind of tuners are they? A photo would help. I know the '67 Starfire V that I got for my lead guitarist has Grover Rotomatics. They had seen better days, and I probably could have coerced Grover to send another set under their lifetime warranty, but it was inexpensive enough to just buy a new set. They just dropped in.

They are the ones that GGJaguar shows in the photo on this thread.

 

[ricardoblue]

Hipshotas vintage post tuning gears, but they don't use the versa-plates, unfortunately. They do use the non-screw adapter plates, so they would work.
I believe the tuners pictured are reverse what the CE has, but my brain is fried ATM. Last peak season at the PO and I'm just wanting to get through it.

Thanks! I will check those out!

 

[Eric66]

Thanks! I will check those out!

Have you had success checking out those suggested tuners?

I have the same issue with my owned since new 1966 Starfire II

I’m not enthusiastic with drilling new holes but…..

Are these the ones to check out?:

Vintage Guitar Tuner Upgrade Kit for 3+3 Headstocks (8.5mm Post Hole)

Vintage Grip-Lock Closed Dimensions UMP™ Dimensions Instructions Has your beautiful vintage guitar spent its life in the closet because it can’t stay in tune? Give it a new life with the Hipshot® Vintage Tuner Upgrade Kit! Our Grip-Lock™ system securely clamps your strings for better tuning...

hipshotproducts.com

 

[ricardoblue]

Have you had success checking out those suggested tuners?

I have the same issue with my owned since new 1966 Starfire II

I’m not enthusiastic with drilling new holes but…..

Are these the ones to check out?:

Vintage Guitar Tuner Upgrade Kit for 3+3 Headstocks (8.5mm Post Hole)

Vintage Grip-Lock Closed Dimensions UMP™ Dimensions Instructions Has your beautiful vintage guitar spent its life in the closet because it can’t stay in tune? Give it a new life with the Hipshot® Vintage Tuner Upgrade Kit! Our Grip-Lock™ system securely clamps your strings for better tuning...

hipshotproducts.com

After conversation with my luthier / tech friend, I decided to hold off. He was skeptical, and I wanted to sit with him and take measurements of the headstock and compare with the drawings. He was booked up when we talked . . . we've both been busy since then. I should bug him again, but I'd probably pass if it came down to drilling new holes. If you try them, I'd be interested to know how it works out for you!

 

[Eric66]

After conversation with my luthier / tech friend, I decided to hold off. He was skeptical, and I wanted to sit with him and take measurements of the headstock and compare with the drawings. He was booked up when we talked . . . we've both been busy since then. I should bug him again, but I'd probably pass if it came down to drilling new holes. If you try them, I'd be interested to know how it works out for you!

Thanks for the update.

I really have to go over my old tuners to see if any adjustment can be made with the screw in the back to improve them.

It’s time now since I now have another guitar that I’m using to sub for the Guild and not worry if it’ll be trashed or stolen etc which if it happened to my Guild would just be a mental disaster.

I’d rather not be a pioneer in the meanwhile to just order these, especially since no one has responded to confirm that the link for the tuners posted in my response are the ones that have been suggested.

 

[SFIV1967]

If they look like these (made in Japan), I don't believe anyone has found a drop-in replacement.

Discussed a few times but not really a 100% match:

Guild T-100D Special

Hi, I bought this wonderful Slim Jim in the rare T-100D Special version with the factory bigsby Now the tuners are a bit worn out.... Does anybody know if there are tuners that fit without making new holes? Thanks Ben

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

 

[Smiert Spionam]

After conversation with my luthier / tech friend, I decided to hold off. He was skeptical, and I wanted to sit with him and take measurements of the headstock and compare with the drawings. He was booked up when we talked . . . we've both been busy since then. I should bug him again, but I'd probably pass if it came down to drilling new holes. If you try them, I'd be interested to know how it works out for you!

I know it's tricky to find good solutions, but I would rather just cobble on some decent Kluson (or Sta-Tite) copies than put on those Hipshot things. You may still have some visible holes, but that's better than a heavy sealed retrofit.

 

[Default]

The trapezoidal base that the old tuners use, is a negative shape to the ones sold now. :-(

 

[AcornHouse]

The trapezoidal base that the old tuners use, is a negative shape to the ones sold now. :-(

Always with the negativity Moriarty, always with the negativity.

 

[Default]

Always with the negativity Moriarty, always with the negativity.

Hey, I'm a babe magnet! Magnets repel, as well as attract!

 

[Eric66]

The trapezoidal base that the old tuners use, is a negative shape to the ones sold now. :-(

I just now compared the Amazon source tuners and see the reverse (“negative”) form.

Golden Gate F-2218 Acoustic Guitar Tuners - 6 Individual (3+3) - Chrome https://a.co/d/gW7K4Mg

I think I saw a comment somewhere in this group about disassembling and swapping parts to unreversed positions(???). Then again who know what quality these are(?)….

 

[SFIV1967]

I think I saw a comment somewhere in this group about disassembling and swapping parts to unreversed positions(???). Then again who know what quality these are(?)….

Quality, yes, who knows... Probably also not the best.
But swapping is easy, just remove the Philipps screw so the whole thing falls apart. And move the axis 180deg. Assemble. Done.
But if they fit at all to the footprint is also another question. One would simply have to try.



Ralf

 

[Eric66]

Quality, yes, who knows... Probably also not the best.
But swapping is easy, just remove the Philipps screw so the whole thing falls apart. And move the axis 180deg. Assemble. Done.
But if they fit at all to the footprint is also another question. One would simply have to try.



Ralf

Yes, easy…. Shouldn’t have even had to ask.

Quality? Ok unknown

Exactly sized? To be determined. I’ll check schematic diagram in the product listing and then try to measure my Starfire’s tuner dimensions without taking them off.

Then procrastinate some more while I fiddle with existing tuners during an overdue string change and cleanup with a beauty treatment.

From Amazon website:

 

[Default]

The Grover open backs I have look like the best option.

 

[AcornHouse]

The Grover open backs I have look like the best option.

And the Grover Sta-tites are what it would have had only a year or two before.