Tuner color preference by model - 12 strings - your opinions please

twocorgis

Venerated Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
13,923
Reaction score
6,520
Location
Lawn Guyland
Guild Total
18
Since I was weened on vintage Fender and G&L, I'm used to slotted posts. Some people hate them, but I can do string changes on them quicker. Fender/Kluson sold the idea as a "safety post" so you wouldn't get snagged or cut on the little bit of string end that sticks out of the tuner post on regular tuners. I didn't think that was a worry until I got cut a couple of times and snagged a bandmates sweater when I played guitars without the "safety posts".
It did take a couple of string changes to get used to it, but now I much prefer them. I may even try to find a set for the JF65-12 at some point. I have a bit of a conundrum with 12 strings now. I definitely don't need three, but the two jumbos are so good, and the D25-12 got away from me once and came back, so I don't want to let that one go again.
 

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
I think StewMac also used to have those tuners with cream colored tuner buttons. The order number for the black buttons is Item # 2521-B and for Cream it used to be simply Item # 2521 (without the B). They seem to not have them currently or anymore.

Ralf
 

RBSinTo

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2021
Messages
1,136
Reaction score
1,436
Location
Thornhill ( a suburb of Toronto), Ontario,
Guild Total
1
Colour of tuners and buttons?
The plainer the better.
In my opinion, gold tuners look schlocky, except or course on a Gibson j-200 where they just accentuate the tastelessness of the entire package.
But I digress.
Chromed tuners and buttons, or chromed tuners with black, white or creme coloured buttons are about as wild and crazy as I can abide.
RBSinTo
 

F-412Spec

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Messages
129
Reaction score
147
Location
South CA, USA
That particular guitar originally had nickel plated Kluson 6-on-a-plate tuners with metal knobs and personally I would try to go for something in a similar style, but it would be hard to score a good working, period correct set.
I have the originals, in good working order. These tuners were originally installed on all ten of my old Guild 12 strings, including the 412 AE176, two 512s, the 312s AS121, AS124, AS146, and some maple 412s as well. I have never liked those tuners. I did a reset, and built a new bridge to get rid of that dumb string spacing, so I figure I might as well put on some tuners I like.

I do prefer the open back Gotohs on my F512
Would you please post a picture of these for me? I think those are like the ones pictured below, which are 15:1 ratio. They must be cut down, correct?

Stewmacs are also 15:1 as I recall.

Since it's a 12 string, and I actually plan to tune and play it, I am considering using individual Grover 18-1 butterbean tuners, cut down to accomodate the fit. Grover minis and Schaller minis require drilling a larger hole, as I recall. I don't want to do this. As it is, I'll have to drill about 50 new screw holes for the individual Sta-Tites.
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2022-10-02 at 7.16.58 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2022-10-02 at 7.16.58 PM.png
    204.3 KB · Views: 68
Last edited:

twocorgis

Venerated Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
13,923
Reaction score
6,520
Location
Lawn Guyland
Guild Total
18
Would you please post a picture of these for me? I think those are like the ones pictured below, which are 15:1 ratio. They must be cut down, correct?
Mine are the same. I think if the original tuners are still in good working order, or can be made that way, I'd stick with them.
 

kostask

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
1,018
Reaction score
484
Hipshot makes open back tuners that fit onto their "UMP" plate, and don't require drilling the headstock. I don't know if they come in 12 string sets, but 2 3X3 sets should work fine. The UMP plates would cover up the existing screw holes, and make it look sort of like the plates of the original 6 on a plate tuners. They are 18:1 ratio as well. There are about 12 tuner button options.
 

hansmoust

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
9,201
Reaction score
3,505
Location
Netherlands
Since I was weened on vintage Fender and G&L, I'm used to slotted posts. Some people hate them, but I can do string changes on them quicker. Fender/Kluson sold the idea as a "safety post" so you wouldn't get snagged or cut on the little bit of string end that sticks out of the tuner post on regular tuners.
Historically interesting side note:


Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
 

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
They must be cut down, correct?
No, they come in sets cut like this with 6 in a row from Gotoh, either nickel or gold. You obviously need to choose the correct string post version.

1664877005850.png

The gold version can be bought directly from Guild Oxnard, at least in 2018 they offered them:
"Yes we currently use the Gotoh SE701 Gold tuning machines on our Guild F-512 guitar. They are sold as a set (6 Treble + 6 Bass) for $79.99. They are not up on our website yet, but if you'd like to purchase a set, I can send you a Paypal invoice! All I need is your shipping address."

But there are other vendors as well.

Ralf
 

West R Lee

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
17,740
Reaction score
2,662
Location
East Texas
I like gold on everything, and even custom ordered gold on my new guitar. There IS one line of Guild guitars that would just look wrong with gold tuners, and those are the DV72s and above. That design is a southwestern motif and just has to have silver tuners to maintain the theme.

West
 
Last edited:

F-412Spec

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Messages
129
Reaction score
147
Location
South CA, USA
I have the originals, in good working order. These tuners were originally installed on all ten of my old Guild 12 strings, including the 412 AE176, two 512s, the 312s AS121, AS124, AS146, and some maple 412s as well. I have never liked those tuners. I did a reset, and built a new bridge to get rid of that dumb string spacing, so I figure I might as well put on some tuners I like.

Well I got out my stash of parts from AS 124 and it turns out the original tuners are not like my others. They're real solid, very plain, heavy duty square cut 6-on-plate tuners. Now that I have the guitar back together, I guess I'll clean them up and see if I can live with the 12:1 ratio.
 

Attachments

  • GUILD AS 124 TUNERS - 1.jpg
    GUILD AS 124 TUNERS - 1.jpg
    128.7 KB · Views: 50
  • GUILD AS 124 TUNERS - 2.jpg
    GUILD AS 124 TUNERS - 2.jpg
    162.4 KB · Views: 42
  • GUILD AS 124 TUNERS - 3.jpg
    GUILD AS 124 TUNERS - 3.jpg
    161.2 KB · Views: 48

hansmoust

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
9,201
Reaction score
3,505
Location
Netherlands
Well I got out my stash of parts from AS 124 and it turns out the original tuners are not like my others. They're real solid, very plain, heavy duty square cut 6-on-plate tuners. Now that I have the guitar back together, I guess I'll clean them up and see if I can live with the 12:1 ratio.
That's what I was trying to advise you in post # 13.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
 

PreacherBob

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2022
Messages
996
Reaction score
1,849
Location
Leesville, SC
Guild Total
14
My 1972 F212XL has chrome independent Grover butter bean tuners, made to fit like strip tuners done by a luthier. He wanted to stay with the original color. EASY to get to works fantastic. Good thing is if one tuner craps out it can be replaced.

64C14040-E6A1-4DB8-B42D-676D8F0EDACD.png2AB5EFD3-AC4A-4F40-B189-15ED15698394.pngA4742278-5E9B-4B94-BD36-E363BAB4123D.png
 

PreacherBob

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2022
Messages
996
Reaction score
1,849
Location
Leesville, SC
Guild Total
14
Also I have Grover minis from a parts guitar in excellent condition I can send you for free. I won’t need them, I’ve scavenged all the parts I’ve wanted. D4-12, body was smashed beyond repair.

F4EB0091-C5DA-40AA-BD76-ABFB7B91991B.jpeg2EE51583-BC2A-4808-9887-C81F2B8237D8.jpeg
 

F-412Spec

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Messages
129
Reaction score
147
Location
South CA, USA
That's what I was trying to advise you in post # 13.
Yes; I can see that now. I thought they were the other style but I had not looked at them in a while.

Also I have Grover minis from a parts guitar in excellent condition I can send you for free.

I very much appreciate this offer, but I have decided to try the originals.

My 1972 F212XL has chrome independent Grover butter bean tuners, made to fit like strip tuners done by a luthier.

This was exactly my plan until I looked at the originals and saw they were different than I remembered.

The originals were installed with too-short #2 screws, most of which stripped. I'm going back with #3, and a bit longer. This guitar has had a hard, fun life. Looking forward to getting it back into action.

FYI whoever is following, the guitar is this one:

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/early-f-312-bridges-ebony-rosewood.203730/
 
Last edited:

F-412Spec

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Messages
129
Reaction score
147
Location
South CA, USA
Having had Mini-Rotomatics on my F-412, I can say they work well, but add a lot of weight.

My 412Spec. had full size gold Rotos on it. Weighed a ton. Worked great.
 

Attachments

  • Negative SCANS OCT 2022 317.jpg
    Negative SCANS OCT 2022 317.jpg
    221.6 KB · Views: 50
Top