Q#2: Welcome to the (tuning) Machine

[Walter Broes]

Yikes....those are just as crappy as the originals!

 

[chazmo]

Just a question as to what your issue is with the current tuners...?

If they're sticky or notchy, forgive the pedantry if you've already done this, but a little cleaning and a sparing application of lube can make them work smoothly...

This is your best bet for that:

Tri-Flow Pin Point Lubricator - StewMac

Luthiers' favorite for lubricating tuners, tools and metal guitar hardware.

www.stewmac.com

 

[SFIV1967]

Just a question as to what your issue is with the current tuners...?

Those Japanese tuners are really bad...Metal grinds on metal. Nothing any lube can fix. And Walter might be right that those cheap replacement tuners are as bad.

Ralf

 

[Eric66]

Read all the comments - thanks!

 

[Default]

Just a question as to what your issue is with the current tuners...?

If they're sticky or notchy, forgive the pedantry if you've already done this, but a little cleaning and a sparing application of lube can make them work smoothly...

This is your best bet for that:

Tri-Flow Pin Point Lubricator - StewMac

Luthiers' favorite for lubricating tuners, tools and metal guitar hardware.

www.stewmac.com

Chaz, the tuner shafts are held against the gear by "hooks", rather than with a solid plate. Eventually, the hooks wear, and you get excess lash to the point that it won't hold a tune. On the best of days, they feel cheap, gritty and inaccurate. You have to crank the screw tight just to keep it from slipping. Guild wasn't the only one to use them. I've seen them on other guitars from that time period, and nobody used them longer than a couple of years. What they thought was a cost-effective solution was not as functional as one would have liked..

A pair of Kluson waffle backs, with the Kolb buttons would look fab, though

 

[chazmo]

Chaz, the tuner shafts are held against the gear by "hooks", rather than with a solid plate. Eventually, the hooks wear, and you get excess lash to the point that it won't hold a tune. On the best of days, they feel cheap, gritty and inaccurate. You have to crank the screw tight just to keep it from slipping. Guild wasn't the only one to use them. I've seen them on other guitars from that time period, and nobody used them longer than a couple of years. What they thought was a cost-effective solution was not as functional as one would have liked..

A pair of Kluson waffle backs, with the Kolb buttons would look fab, though

Yeah, I'm very impatient with crappy tuners and I'd be the first one to throw them out given a situation like what you're talking about, Steve.

Not a big fan of the waffle backs myself, but I'm not sure what I'd use as a replacement here. I would probably jettison the strange parallelogram shape and go with a good, open back tuner set. Of course, there will be visible scars on the back of the crown, but... Y'know function over form!

 

[Default]

Chasmo, the Grovers cover the tuner screw holes about 99%, so that's on the list. I wish someone would make the baseplate like the fifties Kluson, but they all seem to be using the same punch press.

 

[Eric66]

Chasmo, the Grovers cover the tuner screw holes about 99%, so that's on the list. I wish someone would make the baseplate like the fifties Kluson, but they all seem to be using the same punch press.

Do you mean any of the following 3 Grovers?

1/ Grover V97N Sta-Tite Vintage Guitar Tuners (14:1 gear ratio)

Grover V97N Sta-Tite Vintage Guitar Tuners https://a.co/d/0bDIhXv

2/ Grover V97-18N Vertical Mechanics Head (18:1 gear ratio)

Grover V97-18N Vertical Mechanics Head https://a.co/d/faXMtNy

3/ Grover 18:1 Sta-Tite 3+3 Tuning Machines for Solid Peghead, Nickel (V97-18NA)

Grover 18:1 Sta-Tite 3+3 Tuning Machines for Solid Peghead, Nickel (V97-18NA) https://a.co/d/bMixmMY

Numbers 2 and 3 are both 18:1 gear ratio and could be exactly the same.

Thanks

 

[Default]

They are the 14-1 ratio tuners, iirc. The 18-1 base looks like it might cover more area though

 

[Eric66]

They are the 14-1 ratio tuners, iirc. The 18-1 base looks like it might cover more area though

Thanks

 

[chazmo]

Eric, if you're going with new, go with 18:1. You'll thank me later.

 

[Eric66]

Eric, if you're going with new, go with 18:1. You'll thank me later.

Yes, I’d go with 18:1 for sure
Thanks!