Author Topic: Tuning problems - Sperzel tuners? (Read 10321 times)

Crazy_Joe · « **on:** July 03, 2007, 06:46:53 PM »

Basically my Les Paul's tuning is a bit dodgey so i want to change the tuners as these feel really loose and it keeps going out of tune, the nut looks alright so i'm guessing a new set of tuners is the way to go.

I want to do it myself but i don't want to drill new holes in my guitar becuase i will $%&# it up, Machinehead in Hitchin charge £32 to only drill the holes so i'm not going to them. So i need a straight swap or a screwless tuner.

So far i have found:

Sperzel - expensive but screwless and locking. Though it says "Threaded bushings and a rear pin allow installation without screws." What does that even mean??!
http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/ViewProduct.aspx?productId=896

And Grover which looks like a straight swap as the screw part looks in the same position as my tuners now but i'm not sure.
http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/shop/products.php?category=215&product=4373

Here is the guitar they are going on:

WezV · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2007, 06:53:19 PM »

The screwless ones have a little pin/nubbin that sticks up from the body of the tuner into the headstock. You still need to drill a hole for that to fit into. Infact its easier to drill the holes for screws than it is pins because its easier to make sure the screw hole is in the right place

indysmith · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2007, 07:06:48 PM »

did yu get the guitar from japan? if so the neck's probably just taking a while to stabalise after being moved around quite a bit thru different environments and climates - mine did; wouldn't stay in tune AT ALL for a week or two - but now it never seems to lose tune.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2007, 07:08:05 PM »

Nope it was in the UK. Would you say those Grover tuners are in the same screw place as the tuners on there now?

WezV · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2007, 07:51:13 PM »

Quote from: Crazy_Joe

Nope it was in the UK. Would you say those Grover tuners are in the same screw place as the tuners on there now?

in the world of assorted guitar parts i have leant the lesson that life is rarely that easy - although i would say the grovers are probably the best option for your headstock and the chances are they will fit or be quite close anyway

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2007, 07:52:42 PM »

I personally like sperzels and they do their job so well

this tool does make it way easier to fit them though.
Actually having a pair or more of these makes life so much easier when it comes to fitting them.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Jigs/1/Tuner_Pin_Drill_Jig/Pictures.html#details

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #6 on:** July 03, 2007, 07:55:22 PM »

ooo that could be very useful Feline, thanks!

WezV · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2007, 08:49:20 PM »

yeah its a great little tool that really does make drilling these holes a doddle - didnt mention it because i didint think you would want a specialist tool for a one off job. But i suppose with the exchange rate as it is its actually pretty cheap , and stew-mac are brilliant to deal with.

Philly Q · « **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2007, 09:10:58 PM »

Quote from: Crazy_Joe

So i need a straight swap or a screwless tuner.

Another alternative if you go the straight swap route - the Grovers will probably fit if the existing tuners are mini-sized; if they're full-sized you might be better off with Schallers:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Schaller_M-6_Guitar_Machines.html

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

this tool does make it way easier to fit them though.

Brilliant! :D I've never seen that one before. Yet another nifty gadget added to my StewMac wishlist.

Mr Ed · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2007, 10:32:51 AM »

Quote from: indysmith

did yu get the guitar from japan? if so the neck's probably just taking a while to stabalise after being moved around quite a bit thru different environments and climates - mine did; wouldn't stay in tune AT ALL for a week or two - but now it never seems to lose tune.

That's a good point.

When I got my Tokai SG (now sold) it wouldn't stay in tune for bloody anything but then after about 3 weeks of regular hard playing it suddenly just *became* stable. Dunno why, I was so used to practising and having to retune every time I stopped but then, bam, problem solved just as I was looking at buying a new bridge, tailpiece and tuners.

Ratrod · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2007, 05:57:13 PM »

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

I personally like sperzels and they do their job so well

Now, that's the truth.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2007, 06:25:14 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: Crazy_Joe
So i need a straight swap or a screwless tuner.

Another alternative if you go the straight swap route - the Grovers will probably fit if the existing tuners are mini-sized; if they're full-sized you might be better off with Schallers:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Schaller_M-6_Guitar_Machines.html

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS
this tool does make it way easier to fit them though.

Brilliant! :D I've never seen that one before. Yet another nifty gadget added to my StewMac wishlist.

How do i know if it's mini or not haha?

The Schaller tuners look like they are more the same size though i have to say. The screw bit looks like it's in a better place than the Grover's too.
Thanks for that suggestion!

Philly Q · « **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2007, 07:29:20 PM »

Quote from: Crazy_Joe

How do i know if it's mini or not haha?!

Good question, there's not a massive difference really, and a lot of manufacturers use minis even on 3x3 headstocks.

If you look in the tuners section on the StewMac site they have specs for almost everything, including diagrams with exact measurements.

Looking at your pic, it's a bit hard to tell but judging by how big the keystone buttons look compared with the tuner bodies, I'd guess the big Schallers would be a closer match. Could be wrong though.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #13 on:** July 04, 2007, 07:35:19 PM »

In comparison to the Gotoh tuners on my Ibanez i would say the Les Pauls are bigger, so i'm guessing that it doesn't want a mini sized tuner.

lifted · « **Reply #14 on:** July 04, 2007, 11:04:49 PM »

I would go with the "self locking" grovers that they have. They will fit with no extra hole drilling. I liked sperzels until I got a new neck and removed them from old neck and the cheap, soft, metal of the bushings stripped out to where I couldn't use them for the new neck. The grover mini locking are great, there's no dial to tighten, you just put the string through hole, start tightening to pitch, and they lock inside. There is a slot on top of the post to unlock when destringing. I will try to find you a link if you want