Machine Head Upgrade

TomCat

Hi All....Specifically Alan as the resident GG (Guitar Guru)

I'm looking to upgrade the tuners on my ARC 300 as the stock ones are not very good with loads of backlash....Obviously cost cutting....

These are the current tuners

I have Grovers on the Artwood, which I really like.

I'm looking at getting these in chrome

MID-SIZE ROTOMATICS® (305 SERIES)

Are these the correct tuners to get.

http://www.grotro.com/Mainoriginalrotos.html

I'm looking at the 305C

Gearhead

I ain't no guru but if you want Grover I'd go with these:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Grover_Full-size_Locking_Tuning_Machines.html

Whichever you go with, the thing to watch out for is hole size - take one tuner bush out and measure its outer diameter with a vernier to make sure. Interpreting the size you measure, you should take into account that both imperial and metric are being used (but you were aware of that).

TomCat

Thanks Gearhead

The midsize ones seem to match my tuners better regarding the mounting screw position.

Who does Grover here in SA?

Gearhead

Actually the point was these are locking :-\

TomCat

Gearhead wrote Actually the point was these are locking :-\

Hmmmmm.......worth serious consideration........thanks Gearhead.

Locking tuners would work well here as I also have fine tuners on the tailpiece.....

needleshy

i am hearing nothing but good comments on the Planet waves locking tuners from somone with them on his guitar... thinking of gettin a set for myself.

Gearhead

TomCat wrote Locking tuners would work well here as I also have fine tuners on the tailpiece.....

In general there can be confusion about locking nuts vs. locking tuners (not saying you suffer from this..). The locking tuners will not make any difference as to the use of fine tuners.

Locking tuners lock your string before winding it up, so you can take all the slack out before tuning up. This leaves you with a tuned guitar with just half a winding or maybe one full winding on the post. Less creep and no detuning because of creep when using tremolo are the most important advantages.
Locking nuts lock your string after you have wound it onto the post and tuned to pitch for the first time. If you unwind your fine tuners at the bridge before putting on new strings (you only use them to tune) you can forget about the tuners on the headstock while the strings last. One would mainly use locking nuts on tremolo guitars with serious whammy range, so after a dive bomb the strings return to pitch.

Hope it helps 8)

Attila

Hi TC

I have a set of Gotoh SG510s on my one archtops, can recommend them, smooth as butter.

attila

TomCat

Gearhead wrote
TomCat wrote Locking tuners would work well here as I also have fine tuners on the tailpiece.....
In general there can be confusion about locking nuts vs. locking tuners (not saying you suffer from this..). The locking tuners will not make any difference as to the use of fine tuners.

Locking tuners lock your string before winding it up, so you can take all the slack out before tuning up. This leaves you with a tuned guitar with just half a winding or maybe one full winding on the post. Less creep and no detuning because of creep when using tremolo are the most important advantages.
Locking nuts lock your string after you have wound it onto the post and tuned to pitch for the first time. If you unwind your fine tuners at the bridge (you need them) you can forget about the tuners on the headstock while the strings last. One would mainly use locking nuts on tremolo guitars with serious whammy range, so after a dive bomb the strings return to pitch.

Hope it helps 8)

Thanks Gearhead....Shows you learn something everyday......

I'm going to have a look at these for Mariann's AFS as well. Should help the Bigsby as well.

Bob-Dubery

Attila wrote Hi TC

I have a set of Gotoh SG510s on my one archtop, can recommend them, smooth a butter.

I like Gotoh as well.

Tom, if you're thinking of ordering from Stewmac then
a) They have a very good selection
b) They provide diagrams showing dimensions, positions of holes etc. Take a little time and measure carefully and you should be able to find something that will be a "drop in" fit with no extra drilling (and probably filling) required.

If in doubt get Mando at Music Connection to advise. I don't think anybody is stocking good quality machine heads at present. That's not a comment on the crumminess of SA, I found the same thing in the UK. I wanted a new set for my Morgan and all the stores I contacted said they didn't carry stock and would have to order in.

Have you tried adjusting the current machine heads?

AlanRatcliffe

Those are knockoffs of Gotoh tuners (Cor-Tek maybe?).

The Grovers have the screw in a different place (closer to the housing), so you'll still need to dowel and tap new holes.

The Gotoh should be the best fit (providing they are fairly accurate copies). http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/1/Gotoh_Large_Schaller-style_Knob_Tuners/Pictures.html#details

Attila wrote I have a set of Gotoh SG510s on my one archtops, can recommend them, smooth as butter.

+1. The nicest tuners around. I've been trying to find the locking/staggered version of the 510 for a while.

I've got the Planet Waves on my Sanox. The string cutting thing is NICE! Not as smooth as the Gotoh or Schaller locking though, have a little bit of lashback. and being thumbwheel locks, they add a bit of weight to your headstock (although not as much as the Shallers).

TomCat

Alan Ratcliffe wrote The Gotoh should be the best fit (providing they are fairly accurate copies). http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/1/Gotoh_Large_Schaller-style_Knob_Tuners/Pictures.html#details

Thanks Alan.......

Anybody doing these in SA?

Bob-Dubery

TomCat wrote
Alan Ratcliffe wrote The Gotoh should be the best fit (providing they are fairly accurate copies). http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/1/Gotoh_Large_Schaller-style_Knob_Tuners/Pictures.html#details
Thanks Alan.......

Anybody doing these in SA?

I've recently been through a similar exercise. I was told that nobody in Jo'burg is stocking good quality machine heads at present. Of course they can all order from Stewmac, but then so can you.

However I'd still have a word with my friendly local guitar shop. They might not have a set, but they might well have odd machine heads lying around and so will be able to check the fit.

Also you will be able to print accurate drawings from the Stewmac web site that show diameters and positions of all the holes that each type of machine head requires. That's another way of checking the fit.

TomCat

Thanks Bob.

I'm having the same sort of fun trying to find 10" Alnico Guitar loudspeakers in SA.

Seems I'll need to go the import route... :-\