Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: kellar on January 30, 2008, 09:01:11 PM
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I am going to replace the stock grover tuners on my Epiphone Les Paul. I have checked out all the major brands: Schaller, Gotoh, Sperzel, Planet Waves, Kluson. Any advice out there from those of you who have spent some money upgrading your tuners? Which seem to work the best. The Planet Waves looked awefully intriguing with the trim-lock system but the lower price made me a bit hesitant.
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I've always found Sperzels to be pretty good. I have them on three of my guitars, one of which is getting on for 8 years old, and the tuners are rock solid, no problems.
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I'm an Ibanez geek however I would recommend either Gotoh's or Grover's. It just depends for what guitar really.
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Sperzels, easily my favourites, I had to replace my stock ones for my Jackson DK2 a while back, and they're quite simply the best additions to that guitar (until I get some BKPs that is).
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Yep, put Sperzels on my PGM a week ago. They're completely awesome.
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Gotoh!
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Depends on what type of tuner you're replacing - personally I like to use the screw holes for the original tuners if at all possible, so I can get the guitar back to original condition if I decide to sell it.
If they're full-size Grover Rotomatics, Gotoh SG301s will fit the existing screw holes, so will Planet Waves. Sperzels will need new holes drilled, and they won't hide the existing holes either.
Were you planning on getting locking or regular tuners? If you're not going for locking, I don't know if it's worth replacing the Grovers. All the brands mentioned are excellent, but I wouldn't say they work any better than the Grovers. Unless you want to change the look or reduce the weight.
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Tonepros do a special version of the Kluson tuner with the traditional "keystone" knob - tulip shaped. They seem to have a finer ratio and a nice feel - have put them on a few guitars and been very happy - uses same screw holes too
(http://www.tonepros.com/images/TPK.jpg)
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Feline - would they be a good upgrade for a gibson SG?
Where can you get them from? You?
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Well, I am looking for locking tuners that will fit the previous grover holes. The stock tuners go out of tune a lot and I have been wanting to replace them for a while. I don't really want to make any new holes though. I noticed the Planet Waves were mentioned, will they fit the old holes?
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Grover do locking tuners which should fit the existing holes and screw holes. they are the same dimensions as ordinary grovers, except the post is longer, although i think they've shortened it on newer ones.
tuning problems may be caused by the nut, have you tried a little lubrication? would be cheaper and easier than new heads.
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Yeah, I'll be replacing the nut at some point as well. This has been kind of my project guitar. I am basically upgrading all the stock Epiphone hardware.
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Feline - would they be a good upgrade for a gibson SG?
Where can you get them from? You?
Yes they will work fine on an SG especially good replacements for similar looking ones.
We stock them......
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I have the PW trim tuners on a Strat, and they're alright. Quick to change strings, and hold tuning pretty well, even on a strat with a trem.
One thing to say is that if you take your strings off to put them back on (to fix wiring on a strat for instance) they are a bitch to get back on. I'm cheap and had a few problems in that area, but for a LP you should be fine.
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Feline - would they be a good upgrade for a gibson SG?
Where can you get them from? You?
Yes they will work fine on an SG especially good replacements for similar looking ones.
We stock them......
Aha! Sounds very interesting...
How much are they a set, and are you open on Saturdays?
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Actually, no need to answer Jonathan - I just checked out your website (duh!).
I might be after more than just machineheads. I'm in need of at least one fret-dressing and various bits of hardware and some advice. It sounds like you are the guys for the job - and you're only a bus-ride away!
(Might not be tomorrow - the wife has plans for me, apparently, and the next few weekends are busy, but I've got some time off soon)
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I have the PW trim tuners on a Strat, and they're alright. Quick to change strings, and hold tuning pretty well, even on a strat with a trem.
One thing to say is that if you take your strings off to put them back on (to fix wiring on a strat for instance) they are a bitch to get back on. I'm cheap and had a few problems in that area, but for a LP you should be fine.
Yeah - I like the PW from a design perspective but from a workshop point of view they are a nightmare - as you said when doing electrics work etc you can often have to take the strings off a couple of times and it is all but impossible to reuse strings with the PW so you end up wasting strings