Vanschoyck Posted October 10, 2015 Posted October 10, 2015 I've found two possible solutions: get upgraded Grovers or a set of Grover style Gotohs. What I would like to know is if anyone here has a better idea. The Grovers that came on my 575 are not going to be workable in the long run. I never had trouble with them until my 535 and now my 575 and I'm going to do something about it at some point. What I would like is, ideally, not to end up with an extra hole in the back of the head stock. On the other hand, it would be cool if I could end up with something a little nicer looking while I'm at it. Ebony key nobs would be extra nice but I'd like your ideas. Any of you modders got some thoughts for me?
Spectrum13 Posted October 11, 2015 Posted October 11, 2015 Gibson sells Grovers with keystone buttons. No drilling direct replacment. Gotoh 510 are my choice for smoothness and style.
Millennium Maestro Posted October 11, 2015 Posted October 11, 2015 Grover 102C or Grover 502C(Locking)
Vanschoyck Posted October 11, 2015 Author Posted October 11, 2015 Grover 102C or Grover 502C(Locking) Are Grover 102C not what it came with?
samwheat Posted October 11, 2015 Posted October 11, 2015 Real MOP buttons not plastic. I have them on my Heritages. Made by Allparts but available cheaper here: http://bayoucables.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=24&products_id=108
PunkKitty Posted October 11, 2015 Posted October 11, 2015 I don't understand why the stock Grovers will not be workable with your guitar. If they need to be lubed, you can buy some gun lube with a long, thin metal tube that can be used to lube them. WD sells a bunch of different replacement buttons if you want to dress them up. http://www.wdmusic.com/grover_replacement_tuner_buttons.html
PunkKitty Posted October 11, 2015 Posted October 11, 2015 This is the gun lube that I use for tuners. http://smile.amazon.com/Sentry-Solutions-TUF-GLIDE-Applicator-2-Ounce/dp/B000Q82HSY/ref=sr_1_80?s=sports-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1444569592&sr=1-80&keywords=gun+lube
Vanschoyck Posted October 11, 2015 Author Posted October 11, 2015 I don't understand why the stock Grovers will not be workable with your guitar. If they need to be lubed, you can buy some gun lube with a long, thin metal tube that can be used to lube them. WD sells a bunch of different replacement buttons if you want to dress them up. http://www.wdmusic.com/grover_replacement_tuner_buttons.html Well, I had them serviced when I had the guitar set up and they improved somewhat. But they still lurch when I try to turn them. I can't get a smooth turn. I'm able to get the guitar in tune, so I could live with them, but they just don't operate the way they should, or the way that Grovers have worked in the past. I have a number of guitars with the same brand and even another with the same exact tuners, and they all work fine. But my recent 535 and now my 575 both have real problems. One time is an aberration, two times in a row makes me wonder if there's something new happening at Grover.
PunkKitty Posted October 11, 2015 Posted October 11, 2015 Well, I had them serviced when I had the guitar set up and they improved somewhat. But they still lurch when I try to turn them. I can't get a smooth turn. I'm able to get the guitar in tune, so I could live with them, but they just don't operate the way they should, or the way that Grovers have worked in the past. I have a number of guitars with the same brand and even another with the same exact tuners, and they all work fine. But my recent 535 and now my 575 both have real problems. One time is an aberration, two times in a row makes me wonder if there's something new happening at Grover. Like most other companies, Grover outsources some of their work. I've noticed that some Grovers I bought recently have the trademark from this company stamped into them. The work is less than consistent. I really prefer Gotoh tuners.
goSteelers Posted October 11, 2015 Posted October 11, 2015 Graphtech makes tuners called "Ratio", which vary the tuning ration per string -- fatter strings get a higher ratio, etc. I've never tried them, but it sounds like a great idea. They also sell little metal plates that optionally go under the tuners to hide the holes from the old tuners. You may have better results if you chose the tuners separately from the buttons. I've replaced the buttons on some of my tuners with wooden ones. I've had good luck with ones from this guy: http://www.nicholsinlay.com/tuners.php. He doesn't make ebony, however. The ebony ones I got from here: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/ didn't fit because the edge isn't beveled where the beveled bolt head is. I thought about beveling them myself, but didn't. The were good about taking them back. Also, not all button posts are the same diameter, so you need to make sure the buttons fit the posts well. There are a bunch of people sell ebony buttons on ebay, but you would need to make sure they fit the tuners that you choose.
Vanschoyck Posted October 11, 2015 Author Posted October 11, 2015 Like most other companies, Grover outsources some of their work. I've noticed that some Grovers I bought recently have the trademark from this company stamped into them. The work is less than consistent. I really prefer Gotoh tuners. I'm leaning toward Gotohs. Possibly this https://www.allparts.com/TK-7740-010-Gotoh-3x3-Chrome-Keys_p_3940.html. They look like they would drop right in, but this is not an area that I have experience. I've never had to change out a set of tuning keys before. My local luthier has suggested Gotohs that would create an extra hole as the mounting screws are at an angle. I have to decide how important that is to me.
Vanschoyck Posted October 11, 2015 Author Posted October 11, 2015 Graphtech makes tuners called "Ratio", which vary the tuning ration per string -- fatter strings get a higher ratio, etc. I've never tried them, but it sounds like a great idea. They also sell little metal plates that optionally go under the tuners to hide the holes from the old tuners. You may have better results if you chose the tuners separately from the buttons. I've replaced the buttons on some of my tuners with wooden ones. I've had good luck with ones from this guy: http://www.nicholsinlay.com/tuners.php. He doesn't make ebony, however. The ebony ones I got from here: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/ didn't fit because the edge isn't beveled where the beveled bolt head is. I thought about beveling them myself, but didn't. The were good about taking them back. Also, not all button posts are the same diameter, so you need to make sure the buttons fit the posts well. There are a bunch of people sell ebony buttons on ebay, but you would need to make sure they fit the tuners that you choose. Those rosewood buttons look really nice, thanks for that tip.
PunkKitty Posted October 11, 2015 Posted October 11, 2015 I do really like the Grover locking tuners with the cam mechanism. I think they are the 106 series.
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