I want to put new tuners on my LP Jr, but I can't figure out which ones...

[Jazzy Jay]

Hi guys,

the guitar is a '88 Orville by Gibson Les Paul Junior. The stock tuners are old style Klusons (or Kluson copies) that don't work very well. They're not the 3 on a plate kind, but 3/3 singles. I also have an old Tokai Junior that the previous owner put Schaller mini's on. These work great but the 12 old screw holes are showing and I suspect the tuner holes were enlarged for the Schallers to fit.
Can you recommend a good replacement tuner that is a straight drop-in ? I will enlarge the holes if I have to, but I'd rather not.

Thanks,

Johan.

 

[Jazzy Jay]

Come on guys, is it because it's "just" an Orville that nobody wants to share their experiences ? Is it because I'm a foreigner ? Your president was our guest earlier this week and from what I've heard our Prime Minister got along great with G.W. I bet at least 50% of the participants here has changed tuning machines on one or more of their guitars. I haven't and I'm lost in the vast number of different types that are out there. I need your help. Pretty please ? :ahem

Cheers,

Johan.

 

[RocknTommy]

Sperzels :salude

 

[Crunchyriff]

I like PING tuners very much. The problem is I haven't found a decent online listing for their product line- let alone tell you if they have a drop-in for yours. I believe the line is listed under the KAMAN umbrella.

FWIW, I installed a set of PING tuners (with keystone knobs) on my 80 LP std that were just stellar.

 

[jwalker]

Replace with the same kind reproduction. The newer ones have a better gear ratio, try All Parts.

I you must switch type get old style Grovers loop your strings so it scratches the finish on the headstock and beat the rest of the guitar with a bicycle chain.

 

[hawkeye2u]

I put a set of Schallers on my Epi Lp Special
VERY NICE!!!

 

[Jazzy Jay]

Best way to enlargen pegholes ?

Thanks for your suggestions. I got a set of Sperzel Sound Locks. They're locking but without the thumbwheels. Now let's hope I won't have to enlargen the pegholes. If I have to, what's the best way to do this ?

Cheers, :salude

Johan.

 

[DaveTV]

Re: Best way to enlargen pegholes ?

.......... Now let's hope I won't have to enlargen the pegholes. If I have to, what's the best way to do this ?
Johan.

Don't.

Get a set of drop in's, and learn how to properly wrap the strings.

 

[Jazzy Jay]

Dude, I've been restringing guitars for over 20 years and I do the neatest wraps you'll find. It's just not really practical to get 2 or 3 clean wraps when you're quickly replacing a broken string on a dark stage in the middle of a song. I prefer to bring just one guitar to the gig because I rarely break a string, but if I do, I want to get on another one quick. Bedroom players don't need locking tuners, for gigging players they're a godsend. If I don't like the Sperzels, I have a spare set of good non-locking Schallers to replace them with. Believe me, I've considered every possible option to replace the crappy Kluson types and it just so happens that most good replacement tuners require larger pegholes. I don't like that, but that's the way it is. So here's the question again : how do I cleanly enlargen the pegholes without ruining the headstock face or moving the peghole center ?

Thanks, :yay

Johan.

 

[hawkeye2u]

You need to do the job with a reamer, if you want to enlarge the hole.
VERY GENTLY start by reaming out the hole until all fits, use back & front and DO IT SLOWLY & gently, snug fit is the best
Hope it helps

 

[bvmjethead]

Drop in locking replacement tuners for Lesters are coming.

Be patient.

 

[jholcomb]

I just put brand new Kluson three on a plate tuners on my Junior and they work and stay in tune GREAT.

 

[KangaBlue]

Buy drop in Klusons these days.

 

[garagemonkey]

I put TonePros Klusons on my 2007 Melody Maker reissue. They work very well. I used StewMac bushings in place of the old nut-style period-incorrect Kluson tuners that were on it.

 

[renderit]

If you are reaming for Grovers you only need to go in SLIGHTLY on the back of the head.

I love them on mine.

Just a better tuner...

As I recall, Schallers take more reaming both sides to get it done.

AND they have a weird offset screw I don't care for.

Good tuners though.

 

[ScumbackSpeakers]

I got my tuners for my 59 Jr, 64 Jr from Tone Pros through All Parts. They are the 3 on a plate type but work pretty well.

 

[LAY-PAW]

Tuning issues on a 3x3 headstock. Wrap the G-B-E strings so the wrappings go up towards the
top of the post, another thing is to have a luthier file the post-side of the nut so the strings
leave at the angle they need to be to go to the tuner. Use a dab of Labelle 206 lube in the nut slot
and bridge saddles if you want. Its the same stuff as Big Bends but 7 times cheaper

 

[GlassSnuff]

Some kind of record for a necro-post.

I agree with jwalker - we all put Grovers on those things in the '60s. It just looks right.