Changing Tuners

[25%moreCOWBELL]

How much of an ass pain is it to change out tuners? I've currently got a set of 3+3 Grover Rotomatic Tuners 18:1 on my guitar. If I wanted to swap these out for some locking tuners is that going to be something I want a shop to do for me or can I just pop in a set of Locking Grover tuners without doing to much surgery on the headstock. I don't mind a little woodwork but I don't want to be some cockmonkey and F^%$ up my guitar.

[indeedido]

It is plug and play, provided the holes in your headstock are the same size. If they are, just pull the old ones out and put the new ones in. If your new tuners require a larger hole, you will need to ream it out with a drill bit to make them fit.

[25%moreCOWBELL]

Anyone got any suggestions on "the" brand of locking tuners to use or are they all just about the same damn thing in the end.

[sagebrush]

Originally posted by 25%moreCOWBELL
Anyone got any suggestions on "the" brand of locking tuners to use or are they all just about the same damn thing in the end.

Grover had some good lockers . You should be able to get close to the same modal keys you have so no cutting or slashing on your head stock .

[DeadOrAlive]

I never change the tuners unless they're the perfect fit. I remember the low E tuner crapped out on my acoustic. Had to replace the whole damn set, but the new ones were a perfect fit and keep in tune pretty well for the price.

[sagebrush]

Grovers 40$ 6 in a line or 3 on 3 locking

[Nitro Express]

My two cents on locking tuners is they are only an advantage if they are used with a guitar with a straight sting pull (like a Stratocaster) and are not really an advantage on a guitar where the strings change angle at the nut (like a Les Paul). On a Les Paul type nut the strings tend to get hung up at the nut so changing tuners won't make a difference.

[GAR]

The Sperzels' Deluxe locking ones rule.

The tool you need is called a tapered reamer with t-handle, they come in like onequarter to half inch size tapered. You twist it a few turns then back it out to fit the tuner till it is just about snug.

[Nitro Express]

Originally posted by GAR
The Sperzels' Deluxe locking ones rule.

The tool you need is called a tapered reamer with t-handle, they come in like onequarter to half inch size tapered. You twist it a few turns then back it out to fit the tuner till it is just about snug.

Yeah I ordered one of those from Stewart McDonald. Man, those reamers are expensive! They ream you with the price! Beats trying to do the drill bit trick.

[GAR]

Don't they sell them at Home Depot where they sell drill bits?

[sagebrush]

Originally posted by GAR
Don't they sell them at Home Depot where they sell drill bits?

Yea they do and there only like 3$ .

[dvogel1570]

I did it on one of my guitars. The machine head screw holes never line up between manufacturers, so you will probably get 1 or 2 extra holes per. Plus you're spending $160+ for the heads.

An easy option is to tie a knot (similar to the first part of tying your shoe) before winding up the excess. As long as your winding is tight, you're good to go.

Changing out the machine heads also hurts the value of the guitar. If you have a cheap guitar... you're better off tying the strings, or getting a new guitar.

[ELVIS]

Tying the strings ??


:rolleyes:

[Nitro Express]

Home Depot? Naw, you need a specific guitar tuner hole reamer!

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Tuner_installation/Peghole_Reamers.html

LOL!

You don't need to tie no stinking knots! Just because it's in the book The Ultimate Guitarist doesn't mean it's true. Hey as long as the string is wound around the post enough times and isn't overlapped, it will hold tune.

[indeedido]

Originally posted by dvogel1570
Changing out the machine heads also hurts the value of the guitar. If you have a cheap guitar... you're better off tying the strings, or getting a new guitar.

I do not agree with this. Upgrading parts do not devalue a guitar. If anything it increases the value. Removing stock tuners that are usually junk and replacing with a nice set of Schallers is more inviting to people. Now, it has to be done correctly, nobody wants to buy a Les Paul, with new tuners, and have extra set of holes back there. They should be covered by the old tuners or filled and painted.

[dvogel1570]

Upgrading to you = non-stock = de-valued. It's like puting a set of headers on a muscle car from the 70's. It was great at the time, but today their just not worth as much. Sure, you'll always find someone who digs your upgrade, but as a whole... de-valued.

[Nitro Express]

Are we playing guitars or investing in guitars? Who cares about the value, make it the way you want it and then wear it out playing it. Dings, worn frets, rust, worn plating, dirt all ruin the collectors value but how in the hell do you play the thing without getting it worn and dirty?

Life is for the living. Yeah, that new guitar you bought might be collectable 50 years from now if you leave it in the vault with the original tag on it but how old are you going to be then?

Just play the damn thing and put whatever you want on it.

[BrownSound1]

If you have a cheap ass guitar, then why not put some quality shit on it? Some cheapies can be made into pretty good axes with some minor upgrades. Hell I've got one cheapo strat copy that isn't worth a dime on the street, but I wouldn't take anything for it. It plays fairly good, and has a great tone...what more can you ask for. I rank it with my real Strats as far as usefullness.

Now I wouldn't do a thing to a vintage guitar, other than play it.

[sagebrush]

I understand not putting new stuff on a 58 les paul but a 86 or 94 strat come on . I buy guitars to play and not to hope in 20 years i can make 100$ on it . Iv got some old guitars and i love them and i play them and i have changed things on all of them but that don't kill there value to me . I think if you are going to buy something to save to make money on in years to come buy bonds not guitars . Guitars are made to play and fender, jackson,gibson,esp and so on make guitars everyday so we as players can have what we want and the parts people make parts so if we don't like it stock we can make it what we want .

[Nitro Express]

I think the whole collectors fad has driven prices of guitars up. It gives Gibson an excuse to price gouge. Some of the fret work I've seen on Les Pauls going for $2000 deffinately indicated nobody who plays is going to buy the the thing. Then you look at a cheap Korean guitar and the fretwork is actually pretty good.

My main noodling guitar is a Wolfgang special. It's never in a case. I toss it at the couch when I'm done playing. Our three year old squibbled on it. I stick stickers all over it.. It's never cleaned. It's a ratty looking thing. A real ugly guitar but man, she's broken in and a pleasure to play.

It's like hogging some from an average looking chick. It might not be the most sought after fuck but she's going to put out everytime and sometimes, the average fuck turned out to be amazingly good. LOL!