NGD: D35

Guildedagain

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Don't try to remove the cover, I wouldn't.

The tension screw that holds the tuner on, is it too tight, someone overcompensating for a loose tuner?

Those look to be made by Schaller, easy enough to find period or new replacements, eBay/Reverb will probably have singles if it comes to that.

Loosen that screw - without breaking it off if stuck use lighter fluid - and see what happens. The screw sets the drag on the gears.

There are ways to relube old sealed tuners, soaking maybe, but if you can find a place to introduce a little TriFlow, it will do wonders for it.

If you did pop the cover off, white lithium grease is the proper grease, Lubriplate probably the best you can buy.
 

davenumber2

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Don't try to remove the cover, I wouldn't.

The tension screw that holds the tuner on, is it too tight, someone overcompensating for a loose tuner?

Those look to be made by Schaller, easy enough to find period or new replacements, eBay/Reverb will probably have singles if it comes to that.

Loosen that screw - without breaking it off if stuck use lighter fluid - and see what happens. The screw sets the drag on the gears.

There are ways to relube old sealed tuners, soaking maybe, but if you can find a place to introduce a little TriFlow, it will do wonders for it.

If you did pop the cover off, white lithium grease is the proper grease, Lubriplate probably the best you can buy.
I loosened the screw on the button. All it did was make the button loose and sloppy feeling so I tightened it back up. I'm not opposed to replacement, either just the one or getting a whole new set as long as they drop in without modification. I'll see if there's a way to wick some lube in there when I get a chance.
 

Guildedagain

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TriFlow applicator, endless uses on guitars, and you'll feel better after choking on the fumes for a couple minutes, they dissipate pretty fast.

P1030454.JPG
 
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Wilmywood

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I loosened the screw on the button. All it did was make the button loose and sloppy feeling so I tightened it back up. I'm not opposed to replacement, either just the one or getting a whole new set as long as they drop in without modification. I'll see if there's a way to wick some lube in there when I get a chance.
On more thought. I recently got a G37 with that style tuning machines and they were a bit notchy. When I changed the strings I buzzed them quickly 20 or 30 rounds with a speed handle and that smoothed them out a bit.
 

davenumber2

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I haven't had a chance to play with trying to fix the tuner yet but I looked at the prices for a set of vintage guild tuners and it's a little ridiculous. $150-$250? Come on. Maybe I'm just cheap.
 

Guildedagain

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I haven't had a chance to play with trying to fix the tuner yet but I looked at the prices for a set of vintage guild tuners and it's a little ridiculous. $150-$250? Come on. Maybe I'm just cheap.

I bought and sold tuners just because I find them fascinating, but you might be cheap. Some tuners can be very expensive.


One option that is cheap and easy, should you lean towards sacriledge, is to forego the Guild/Schaller tuner nonsense and opt for Grover Rotomatic with 3/8"/10mm bore. You'd have to plug the old screw holes but well worth it.

Another - better = more money - option that's lighter is old style open back Grovers. Stew Mac seems to have quite the thing going with retro tuners.

This is that old Grover, the squared button version, original on my '73 D35. Special order or Guild was just running desperately low on cheaper tuners, or maybe somebody found some old unused tuners in a drawer.

P1400240.jpg
P1400241.jpg


That tuner shaft looks like it would handle King Kong fiddling with the buttons. And the beauty of these things, that we had this manufacturing, and in 50 years we've seen it all make that giant sucking sound just like Ross "Big Ears" P. predicted.
 
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Bill Ashton

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@davenumber2 , the Gotoh tuners used on the D55 (at least by New Hartford in 2014) were SE700/06M-LR-GG

If you are going to go with the "Grover Sta-Tite" style and drill for the holes, you might as well go with these as they
are much better than the modern Grover Sta-Tites. I presume that these would be available at Stew Mac. Also, that model
number is for gold finish (as on the D55), the silver or nickel would be different.
 

davenumber2

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@davenumber2 , the Gotoh tuners used on the D55 (at least by New Hartford in 2014) were SE700/06M-LR-GG

If you are going to go with the "Grover Sta-Tite" style and drill for the holes, you might as well go with these as they
are much better than the modern Grover Sta-Tites. I presume that these would be available at Stew Mac. Also, that model
number is for gold finish (as on the D55), the silver or nickel would be different.
I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do yet. The guitar is in such nice overall condition, I'd hate to drill and fill holes if I don't have to. This weekend I'll have the chance to work on the bum tuner and see if I can get it loosened up. Hopefully that works as it's the easiest solution. Once it's tuned up it's not a real problem, just having to do the occasional tweak. It's just getting it there when restringing that's a bit of a bear.
 

Bill Ashton

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@davenumber2 , just a thought, then I shall sit in the wings and see what happens...

If you have the ability ($$) to acquire them, and the ability to drill cleans holes yourself, why not?
"Ruin the value of the guitar?" Hardly...whats better, a guitar that you can tune easily or one that's a bear?
If an extra hole, that maybe you will see bothers you, I can accept that, I am as OCD about my guitars as the
next guy. But why would you want to dread every time you change strings. To me, a no-brainer...

My Huss & Dalton DS had Waverly's on it and I hated them! Finally, about two years in, I wrote to H&D and
said I hate these tuners, they are so stiff and the buttons hurt my fingers when I try to tune. I know you put what
you though were the best tuners available on this guitar, but I WANT THEM OFF! I want the nice Schaller tuners that
have the H&D logo on them and I will be happy again. They himmed and hawed,"you really don't want to do that," YES I DO,
I HATE THESE THINGS, MAKES ME NOT WANT TO PLAY THE GUITAR!. Mind you, I wasn't looking for a freebee, I no longer have the
resources (my late father) to precision drill the headstock, I wanted to buy the new tuners from them and have them put them on. Finally
they said Waverly's were warranteed, they would get a new set for me and put them on. So, on the way back from Kaufman Kamp,
I left off the guitar...but they put the new Waverly's on for me the next day while I was watching! Small job, took maybe 45 mins,
Mark Dalton did it and said the tuners on it were terrible...ya think? Turned out to be a Waverly warranty repair, which I was grateful for,
but as I told Mark I was never going to sell the guitar, and I knew how the Schallers felt, and a screw hole here and there unfilled, just was not an issue for me. Still have that beautiful DS, is my Number 1 and always will be, but I may well would have just gotten out from under it if I could not get the tuners changed.

Think. Do you want to fight the guitar and dread tuning and string changes or enjoy her. An extra hole here or there isn't gonna matter.

Keep safe!
 

davenumber2

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@davenumber2 , just a thought, then I shall sit in the wings and see what happens...

If you have the ability ($$) to acquire them, and the ability to drill cleans holes yourself, why not?
"Ruin the value of the guitar?" Hardly...whats better, a guitar that you can tune easily or one that's a bear?
If an extra hole, that maybe you will see bothers you, I can accept that, I am as OCD about my guitars as the
next guy. But why would you want to dread every time you change strings. To me, a no-brainer...

My Huss & Dalton DS had Waverly's on it and I hated them! Finally, about two years in, I wrote to H&D and
said I hate these tuners, they are so stiff and the buttons hurt my fingers when I try to tune. I know you put what
you though were the best tuners available on this guitar, but I WANT THEM OFF! I want the nice Schaller tuners that
have the H&D logo on them and I will be happy again. They himmed and hawed,"you really don't want to do that," YES I DO,
I HATE THESE THINGS, MAKES ME NOT WANT TO PLAY THE GUITAR!. Mind you, I wasn't looking for a freebee, I no longer have the
resources (my late father) to precision drill the headstock, I wanted to buy the new tuners from them and have them put them on. Finally
they said Waverly's were warranteed, they would get a new set for me and put them on. So, on the way back from Kaufman Kamp,
I left off the guitar...but they put the new Waverly's on for me the next day while I was watching! Small job, took maybe 45 mins,
Mark Dalton did it and said the tuners on it were terrible...ya think? Turned out to be a Waverly warranty repair, which I was grateful for,
but as I told Mark I was never going to sell the guitar, and I knew how the Schallers felt, and a screw hole here and there unfilled, just was not an issue for me. Still have that beautiful DS, is my Number 1 and always will be, but I may well would have just gotten out from under it if I could not get the tuners changed.

Think. Do you want to fight the guitar and dread tuning and string changes or enjoy her. An extra hole here or there isn't gonna matter.

Keep safe!
I’ve changed out many tuner sets, had to drill and ream holes so I’m more than capable. We’ll see how it goes this weekend with the originals. If it’s a no go then I’ll look for a set.
 

Br1ck

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You will never get quite the silky smooth tuners with open backs as the closed back tuners provide, but good enough and the attendant weight savings are more than worth it to me. If original tuners are working or can be made to on a 50 year old guitar, I think you should leave them be. How many questions are asked on where can I get original tuners threads. My luthier is telling me about all the people wanting adjustable bridges put back on their old Gibsons. I'm a preservationist at heart.
 

chazmo

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You will never get quite the silky smooth tuners with open backs as the closed back tuners provide, but good enough and the attendant weight savings are more than worth it to me. If original tuners are working or can be made to on a 50 year old guitar, I think you should leave them be. How many questions are asked on where can I get original tuners threads. My luthier is telling me about all the people wanting adjustable bridges put back on their old Gibsons. I'm a preservationist at heart.
I don't agree with that, Br1ck, but I guess that depends on your experience. Clearly the closed back tuners don't get (as much) dirt in the gears, but once they dry out (which I think is the problem most of the folks who have problems with old tuners have) they pretty much need to be replaced.

I'm not sure what you guys are suggesting via the gear oil method... Just dripping the stuff down the posts might help a little bit, but you can't get the oil on the gears or clean them. Am I missing something? I thought they were made not to be taken apart.
 

GardMan

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.By the time you put a Spruce top on a D25, like Dread's or the '78 I had, it is essentially a D35.
Not (IMHO) really... by the time you have a spruce top on a D-25, it will also have an arched, laminated back. The tone and projection of my '72 D-35 (spruce top, flat back) and '74 D-25 (spruce top, arched back) were VERY different. The arched back D-25 was way louder and in-your-face, bassier, and had a wonderful dark tone. Loved the way it sounded in DADGAD. My D-35 is quieter, mellower, with a folksy, woody sound. OTOH, my '78 D-35 (much heavier and braced differently) emphasized the mid-range, and also was loud and in-your-face.
 
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