Replacing tuning machines - D-140

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Hey all,

first of all: I´m glad to be here and looking forward to get in touch with other Guild lovers.

I recently got a Guild D-140 westerly in natural which I adore. Very much a very fine instrument! I like it a lot. Though there is one thing: the tuning machines. I just dont like the look of them (otherwise, the operate perfectly I guess) and would like to change them.

Guild states these are "Guild Vintage 18 Open Geat Tuners" in nickel, though I cannot really find them and honestly: these are closed tuners, aren´t they? Cant see an open back or something. I´m not very familiar with dreadnought tuning machines as I play mainly electric guitars. https://guildguitars.com/g/westerly-d-140-nat/#toggle-id-1

When finding replacement tuners, I would like to find the installed ones first (to check size and stuff). I would like to use new tuners without having to change anything or drill new holes or something.

What I´m looking for: ivory/cream coloured tuning pegs instead of nickel but I´m really struggling to find out which way to go.

Could anybody please chime in?

Very much appreciated!!

Please note: sorry for my english and when shopping new tuners, I´m from europe so ordering in USA wouldn´t be the best thing for me.
 

krysh

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Welcome, post well post often. I can't help with this, but someone should chime in soon.
If you have different Tuners than on the Guild website, posting a photo would help to identifiy them.
 

jedzep

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There's a fair number of replacements out there fitting that footprint. My Martin 00-18 had them and I went to StewMac to look at what they had, but found these that work well on Amazon that were drop ins and didn't cost nearly as much as the StewMac Waverly option. You have to be careful about the post outside diameter as it fits into the press in bushings, which must also correlate at the outside diameter to fit snugly into the peg head. Tuners shown on that Guild site show what appear to be copies of Grover G93 open back single machines, found on newer small bod Martins and others.


These have screw-on buttons which means the screw head shows from the edge, if that bothers you.


 
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@krysh thanks for your kind words, much appreciated.

(deleted)

@jedzep thanks to you too, very good input! Both of your tuner recommendations would need an extra hole, right? The tuners on the D-140 have just one screw...

Thanks to both of you!
 
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jedzep

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jedzep

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OK, Grover Sta-Tite or copies on yours. I replaced the Sta-Tites on my Martin OM21 with these, which also dropped in easily, simply needing screw holes drilled. These worked well and pretty much covered up the off center Sta-Tite hole. They offer relic or shiny nickel.


Stew Mac has good measurement stats and technicians will get back to you with question. I'd recommend registering an account with them. A word of caution, mark the depth on your drill bit so you know when to stop. It's too easy to blow through on the other side of the head stock. If you're unsure you can bring them into a good music shop and have a luthier affirm they can be used and install for a few bucks.
 

jedzep

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I also hate those clunky looking scallop button machines, and if I buy a guitar that has them on, I order replacement machines before the guitar even gets to my door.
 

Brucebubs

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I looked at pictures online - they are sealed gear tuners like Grover Rotomatics with washer and screw-in bushing on front and one locating screw at 6 o'clock on back.
They will most likely have a 10.0mm hole in the headstock.

A drop-in replacement - no drilling - really restricts the choices.

These Hipshot tuners may be a good option. They can be installed individually or using their 'no screws' design.
xs1OUhXm.jpg


They also have a wide selection of tuner button options
sWSofYkl.jpg


Another option is Gotoh SXN510V open gear tuners with a washer and screw-in bushing - it has 2 locating screws on back but you can choose to use one or drill and use both. They can be ordered with different buttons too.

Fa7IJ5Ml.jpg
QB6mR1Cl.jpg
 

SFIV1967

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@Towomba : The tuners were changed on the Westerly Collection models not long ago, I would say in 2020. (maybe even the manufacturer was changed...)

Also the labels changed. I bet your guitar still shows a label like this on the left? The new generation with open gear tuners has the "Made to be played" label on the right and no mention of "Westerly Collection" anymore.

1616020154954.png
1616020423412.png


What year is yours? You will see it on the serial number on the neck block what years she was made.
It's either the year directly behind the G or another 1, 2 or 3 infront of the year. On your one it is G11x or G1x.

The below showing two 2018 and one 2019 made guitar:

1616020198939.png
1616020212123.png
1616020231239.png


Your one should be still from the GREE factory.


Ralf
 

PAPADON

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I put a set of ebony Grover style buttons on my D140ce. I liked the look but went back to the originals because although the wood and plastic buttons work well enough they just never seem to fit quite as well as the metal ones do.

1616033139089.png
 
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kostask

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I have used the Hipshot open back tuners (locking versions in my case) on an Epitphone Les Paul, and a Squier Stratocaster. They are very good tuners, exremely smooth, and finished very well. My two sets were made in Korea. The 18:1 tuning ratio is great, and it allows for very precise tuning, but isn't so high that you feel like you're spinning the tuning knob forever. I used their UMP plate system, and everything just dropped in, and should I decide to sell the guitars, putting the original tuners back is easy; no extra screw holes to try and cover up, and the original tuners would fit right back like they had never been removed.
 
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Hey all,

thanks a lot (again) for all your input, really helpful! Will look into some of the recommend tuning machines. Though I guess the "easiest" way is to simply change the tuning knobs, not the whole machines. Found some white knobs to replace (as they are screwed on to the machines). Maybe they will fit, maybe they wont. Lets see :)


@SFIV1967/Ralf: great knowledge, wow! Thank you sir.

Interestingly as to your reading of the serial, my guitar seems to be from 2015 (is that correct?):
2.jpg





while the quality control was made end 2018 (see the hangtag):
3.jpg



Label is the older version:
1.jpg
 

SFIV1967

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Interestingly as to your reading of the serial, my guitar seems to be from 2015...while the quality control was made end 2018 (see the hangtag). Label is the older version.
Thanks for posting those details!

1616060371880.jpeg
1616060543395.png


To me that could mean the guitar was produced in 2015 and somehow "lost" in the GREE factory (Grand Reward Education & Entertainment, see all the "GR" symbols on the edge of the label) and only in late November 2018 inspected and finally shipped, maybe they did a warehouse clean in the factory in preperation of the model changes?

I'm not sure if they changed the tuners in 2019 or 2020, at least a 2020 made D-140CE with open tuners had this sticker and new label:

1616061290137.png
1616061447684.png


A 2020 made D-240E had the G2 sticker and the additional factory serial number below stamped and they have yet again different style labels:

1616061642313.jpeg
1616061725314.jpeg


I have not figured out yet the meaning of the 3 vs the 1 or 2 behind the G. I always had a suspicion it could mean a new factory, but we need to wait until we find a hangtag for the G2 and G3 versions.
From today's point of view I think the 1, 2 and 3 are simply "generations". First I thought all 2xx models (the arched back models) have the G2 but now I see some new 2020 made 2xx models also mit G3. So maybe all are still from the GREE factory. And I see no new 2020 labels with G1 anymore, so G1 seems to be history now.

Ralf
 
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