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Gibson Firebird V T Steinberger tuner replacement/What will fit ???

bobdog

New member
Joined
Sep 12, 2017
Messages
1
Trying to find out what options are available,should I ever have need or desire to change out the stock Steinbergers....I'm looking for whatever would be closest to a direct swap (ie: not enlarging or having to "dowel" present holes)....someone mentioned that the Steinberger holes were 10mm & when I asked WD about their offerings,they said that their repro Firebird(banjo) tuners were 10mm & that if the Steinbergers were indeed 10mm,I'd only have to drill holes for the 2 mounting screws per tuner...Any thoughts or verification ???
 

Tommy Tourbus

Active member
Joined
Jan 1, 2005
Messages
871
I went down this road and decided it's best to leave the steinburgers in.

The steinburgers have a pin above the post that's into the wood on the front of the headstock to keep the tuners from rotating. Whatever you replace the tuners with, the pin holes from that pin will still be visable.

There's been some misinformation on this forum that the kluson reissue firebird banjos are a direct fit into the steinburger holes. They are not, they are slightly smaller, so you'd have to fill and re-drill, AND the pin holes would still be there. New tuners won't cover them

Hope this helps you in not wasting your money. I bought the klusons and attempted the swap based on the misinformation here.

The steinburgers are lightweight which helps with the neck heaviness, and work great, but when I had them off I saw how cheap they are. They're like 50% plastic! I eventually just sold the firebird and got a couple Historic versions
 

Tom99SS

Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2008
Messages
107
There's been some misinformation on this forum that the kluson reissue firebird banjos are a direct fit into the steinburger holes. They are not, they are slightly smaller, so you'd have to fill and re-drill, AND the pin holes would still be there. New tuners won't cover them

I used the reissue Kluson Banjo tuners on my 2016 Firebird T and did not have an issue with them. The bushings were snug and I even had to use a press for a couple of them.

Yes that small pin hole is visible but from any distance they are hard to see. Maybe I got lucky.
 

AA00475Bassman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
I own several Historic Firebirds with banjo tuners a big part of the Firebird vibe ! last fall I bought a 2016 USA T TB Firebird the Steinbergers tuners I would not consider changing these out for banjo's !
 
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gretsch8217

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2001
Messages
39
I happen to be looking for a set of the Steinberger tuners if anyone is inclined to sell theirs.
 

Uncle Gary

Active member
Joined
Oct 15, 2006
Messages
2,431
I used the reissue Kluson Banjo tuners on my 2016 Firebird T and did not have an issue with them. The bushings were snug and I even had to use a press for a couple of them.

Yes that small pin hole is visible but from any distance they are hard to see. Maybe I got lucky.

I also replaced the Steinberger tuners on the 2014 Firebird V with the reissue Klusons. They were a perfect fit (given that I had to drill mounting holes in the back, of course). Yes, half the pin holes in the face show under the bushings, but you cant see them from over three feet away.
 
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