replacing machine heads

[carlaz]

Among the things I've been thinking about doing to my guitar is changing out the machine heads.  I've got (I'm pretty sure) the original stock machine heads on my '90ish Gibson LP Standard.  They've been OK, but I'm increasing convinced that some wonkiness with the G-string slipping out of tune may be the fault of that machine head.

I'm no techie, but if it's easy enough I could replace these myself.  Can I get better quality replacement machine heads that I can just "drop in"?  Or are better quality machine heads the sort of thing with which my clueless blundering could screw up the guitar, and are best left to a pro?  (When I get my BKPs, I have no intention of trying to solder them in myself, but thought it's possible I might be able to handle machine heads if they were sufficiently basic?)

That having been asked, what are people's opinions on good machine head makes for LP-style guitars? :)

[Ratrod]

For a Les Paul you can't go wrong with a set of Grover Rotomatics. Very acurate, reliable and stable. They feel good too. It's dead easy to change the tuners. It's just one bushing and one screw. If I'm not mistaken you don't even have to drill any new holes.

[HJM]

Erm...you don't want to solder 'em in!!!

Two things to watch, the diameter of the hole, and the location of the little screw that secures the tuner.

[_tom_]

Erm...you don't want to solder 'em in!!!

I think he was on about the BKPs, not the tuners  :lol:

[HJM]

Erm...you don't want to solder 'em in!!!

I think he was on about the BKPs, not the tuners  :lol:

Oh yeah....to much pop last night :oops:

[carlaz]

Yeah, that was meant to come out as saying I wasn't gonna try soldering pickups on my own (certainly not gonna try soldering machine heads to anything!) :)

Don't have a soldering iron anyway!

[aisuru]

my opinion is this: don't bother. there's no real need to change tuners unless they're actually broken, or for cosmetic purposes. tuners do not slip. it's physically impossible. try pulling on the string towards the bridge if you don't believe me. of course if the tuner does slip when you do that, the tuner probably is broken  

if a guitar isn't holding tune very well, it's more likely to be the wood expanding due to temperature and moisture changes, or the strings being worn out. strings don't slip if they're strung properly.
click here

[carlaz]

Well, I'd certainly be happier if I didn't have to replace the tuners! :)  

I had been getting suspicious of the tuners simply because it's really just the G-string that's been seeming wonkier and wonkier; everything else seems to hold up pretty well. But I'll try carefully restringing them all first!  Tuners are 20-odd quid that could be kept for my BKP fund, after all .... :)

[HJM]

Might be worth checking the nut too - nuts can be evil

[Ratrod]

Might be worth checking the nut too - nuts can be evil

That's why they put them in asylums.

[HJM]

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Tim]

Well done Ratty :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[tech33]

Might be worth checking the nut too - nuts can be evil

les pauls are notorious for tuning problems, usually it is the nut slot is cut incorrectly, but changing the tuners is not necessarily a bad thing. The grovers are great and i have fitted them to my own les pauls. Definetly helps. Its usually a combination of factors, but  i think starting a one end and irradicating any issues along the way is the best bet. Start at the tuners and work to the bridge!

[Ratrod]

Lubing the nut with graphite from a pencil also helps to keep the guitar in tune.

[tech33]

would reccomend lubin the nut, but not with pencil lead, makes a mess and only works for a short time. Nut sauce is an excellent product and will last you for ages.
And you get the pleaseure of walkin in to your local guitar store and asking the assistant for sauce for your nut!!