Contact him at info@singlecoil.com. Make sure the string is running in the bridge groove, then bring up the pitch and stretch out the string. Old tuners get stuck because, in the past, they were lubricated with grease rather than oil. He also likes to compress the tremolo bar after every adjustment he makes to the tuning pegs. No slipping, never went wrong. As you can see in Photo 1, these tuners were in pretty bad shape: The brass was really tarnished, the buttons were scratched and covered with dirt, and the gears were so packed with hardened grease they wouldn’t turn. If the ones I have break, they will get replaced with locking tuners. All Rights Reserved. To illustrate these techniques, I’ll use antique brass tuners from a 1924 German classical guitar that came into the shop for a full restoration, but you can apply the cleaning and restoring principles to a variety of guitars with non-sealed tuners, including flattops, old-school electrics, and even basses. So it was time to bring in the big guns. Michael likes to put the string between his forefinger and his thumb, and push in different directions across the speaking length of the string. I did put a set of locking klusons on my partscaster, and tbh they are complete pain in the ass. I wouldn't go to the trouble to replacing functional ones with locking tuners though. I’m going to show you how I accomplished these goals, but there are many ways to achieve similar results. Never force a tuner to turn because chances are good you’ll break off its button or damage the gears. Strat-Talk.com is an independent, member supported forum and is not affiliated with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Let them soak for an hour. However, I bought a Robert Cray neck on ebay and the tuners are vintage, but not split. I knew once they were working I could make them look nice, too. - Walt Kowalski, "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." To keep some patina on the brass, you’ll need a glass, as well as salt, flour, and vinegar. In that case, simply add some flour to thicken the solution and mix it up once more. The problems begin when guitarists attempt to do the very thing that the locking tuners do away with: the need to wrap your string around the post. Oh yeah—keep a working fire extinguisher handy. But if any of your tuners don’t budge, grab the bowl you used previously and put the tuners in it with the buttons facing upwards. Confession time, I've had Fenders with vintage Klusons since 1981 and I never poke the string down the hole, I just go across the slot just like it was the hole in any other tuner. If not, wear a safety mask or respirator. I would love to change my username, but I fully understand the T&C's (it was an old band nickname). Again, it’s also important to remember that temperature, position, how forcefully you play, and the type of strings you’re using all play an important role in your instrument staying in tune. It’s a good idea to wear gloves and goggles and, again, work outside if you can because this paste smells pretty rank. Over the decades grease solidifies, especially when the tuners aren’t in regular use. Keep repeating this step until the string is in tune. ). 2. I think they look the best (from the back), it's very easy, tool less design. Thread the string through the hole in the peg. If you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner—a device typically used to clean eyeglasses, jewelry, and watches—put the tuners into it, fill it up with water and some liquid cleaner, and run the device for 90 seconds. I do intend to buy a set for one of my partscasters that has a set of vintage style Allparts tuners. I really like the ones where you stuck it down the hole. To contact the forum owner hit the Contact Us link. So please feel free to call me Dave. Terms Of Use. You don’t need a professional unit for this; any consumer model will do. Once the tuners are warm, put them on the newspaper with their shafts facing upwards and drip the naphtha into them (Photo 2). Sometimes it takes several shots of naphtha to coax tuners back to life. Make sure you have the correct string and thread the new string through the back of the guitar. I've had resissue strats before with the "split" tuners - I know how to string those. If you’re working with vintage tuners, be sure to prevent the naphtha from contacting the buttons. Initial cleanup. Again, if you’re working with vintage buttons, don’t let the naphtha touch them. I was tempted to put locking tuners on it, as I don't think the guy whose receiving the guitar will be that comfortable with traditional style tuners. Discussion in 'Stratocaster Discussion Forum' started by joezap, Oct 2, 2010. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. Pull the string tight with one hand and hold it there with a capo. If you tune your guitar and change your strings with your guitar laying down, you might have tuning stability issues. PRS locking tuners are brilliant, but the Kluson retro styled ones....not so much. So after 40 years of having a guitar(s), today I had the first need to change strings on a guitar with vintage tuners. Your Pedalboards 2020: Part Deux, 1. My favourite tuner. 6-in-line (Strat style) tuner string posts are loosened by turning counterclockwise. Privacy Policy | It’s also important to remember that temperature and humidity can affect tuning stability as well. Photo 2 — Photo courtesy of singlecoil.com. Brass tarnishes over time (this can range from a little patina to almost black), and you’ll likely see some verdigris on brass parts if they’ve been subjected to moisture. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." Now pour naphtha into the bowl until the tuner gears are submerged. If the mixture becomes too liquid, it won’t work properly. In this Sound Pure Gear Tip, guitar specialist Michael Buckley runs us through his process for changing strings using locking tuners. © Sound Pure LLC 2018. We’ll look at both procedures, starting with how to clean the tuners while retaining some natural patina. I like the Gotoh vintage style locking, even though I don't own any at present. You could also pull down on the string with your left hand and pull up with your right hand. "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Older, pre-plastic materials can disintegrate if they come in contact with naphtha or any other solvents. When not working at his guitar workbench, he plays country, rockabilly, surf, and flamenco. The ball end of the new string should be taught against the bridge. At this point you need to make a decision: Do you like to have some patina left on the tuners or do you want them to shine like new? They look very close to vintage, are very smooth, and lock facilitating quick string changes. Doing this helps the string to remember what position it’s supposed to stay in. Look sharp! Get a hair dryer and a can of naphtha, and lay out some newspapers. But yeah, as someone who actually loves restringing a guitar, the vintera with its vintage style tuners are definitely my favourite of the bunch to sit down & take some time with. You’ll face a similar situation with vintage nickel tuners and hardware because, like brass, nickel can also build up a cloudy patina. Soak the gears for a while, then remove them from the bowl, dry them with a paper towel, and see if they turn. Mildly exasperated the first time the top E slipped out...then I watched this: Confession time, I've had Fenders with vintage Klusons since 1981 and I never poke the string down the hole, I just go across the slot just like it was the hole in any other tuner. Here are Michael’s steps: Constantly stretching the strings as you bring up the pitch is very important. Guitar Advice | Electric Guitars, Gear Tips. If you have other proven techniques, please share them in the comments section. We felt that the guitar wouldn't look quite right with locking tuners on. Get watching. Slide the string out through the back of the guitar. My favourite tuner design (note: I've never tried thumbweel locking ones). Michael explains that the most important thing about changing strings is making sure everything is taught and running in line. Agree - love the vintage ones on my telecaster. Warm up the tuners with the hair dryer—this will speed up the deep cleaning process. All Rights Reserved I found this on the Stew Mac site, hope it helps. The goal is to create a creamy paste, so add the vinegar slowly. Rig Rundown Best-Ofs: Blues-Rock Pedalboards, 1. They have 2 holes in them (instead of one hole). A chemical pipette will also be very helpful, but if that’s not available, a small spoon will do. Often these two steps are all that’s required to get the gears moving again. If you read my column regularly, you know I typically focus on electric guitars and useful ways to mod them. In this case, only one of the six tuners came unstuck—the others remained immobile. The ball end of the new string should be taught against the bridge. Snip to predetermined length, pop in, wind up, job done. Remember, if you decide to retain some patina, you can always change your mind down the road and polish them until they shine like new, which is what my customer requested. Loosen the locking tuner. But recently I started throwing some acoustic-oriented topics into the mix (“Conquering Classical Guitar String-Changing Terror” and “Cleaning Up an Acoustic from the Inside”), and since then I’ve received numerous requests for another column dealing with acoustic guitars. I know it sounds daft, but utilising what works perfectly well on every other guitar means in four decades I've never put aside the minute or two it would take to learn how to do it the Fender way. Slide the string out through the back of the guitar. Making sure the ball end is flush, pull the string taught. Read more about: Electric Guitars, Gear Tips. I started out with nothing..... but I've still got most of it left (Seasick Steve), I'm sorting out a Francis Rossi Tele at the moment. Truth be told, my favourite tuners are PRS Phrase 3 locking tuners with the open back. First Look: PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo. Michael also likes to do bends at every fret on the string, going chromatically all the way down to the nut. Repeat this process several times, and then try to turn the tuner shafts. Hooked: Nels Cline on the Yardbirds' "Over Under Sideways Down", 4. You don’t have to do this all the way, but just enough so that it’s holding. Notes Trey, “I’m gonna show you how to use the locking tuner the way it’s meant to be used." I have never had this type of tuner on any of my guitars, but looks pretty interesting. Then, with the tuners still in the bowl, brush them thoroughly with a soft toothbrush. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Tighten the locking tuner. Dissolving the hardened grease. - Homer Simpson. I wish I never bothered with them. I just never restrung a guitar with these types of tuners. Finally, carefully rinse the tuners under cold running water. So this time around we’ll look at effective DIY methods for restoring vintage tuners. https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/172761/drofluf, https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/189575/francis-rossi-wedding-gift-guitar-modding-project#latest. He’s also a hardcore DIY-er for guitars, amps, and stompboxes and runs a website on the subject (singlecoil.com). */, Copyright ©2020. With the capo holding the string, you can thread the string through the tuner post . You’ll experience tuning issues if your strings are getting caught or snagged. Dirk Wacker lives in Germany and has been a guitar addict since age 5. Hopefully you're a tad thicker than a string. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons! The chap is going to have to learn how to get to grips with changing strings! Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing. Once the tuners are back in working condition, it’s time to enhance their visual appearance. A word of warning: Naphtha is highly flammable and you shouldn’t inhale its vapors, so wear gloves, goggles, and work outside or by an open window if possible. Turn the tuning peg so that the hole is at the correct angle (see above image). Ribbon Mic Drum Overhead Shootout: Royer R121 vs. Coles 4038 vs. Shure KSM 313 vs. AEA R84, SDC Drum Overhead Shootout: Miktek C5 vs. Schoeps CMC6 vs. Neumann KM184 vs. Peluso P84.