Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:08 pm


All times are UTC - 5 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 5:42 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:14 am
Posts: 982
Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
City: Shefford
State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Didn't get any response on the repair forum, so maybe I'll do better posting here.

I have a project in mind where the Steinberger gearless tuners used on the Gi*son/Epiph*ne Firebird would be perfect. I can't find anywhere that sells them. Stew Mac used to, but no more. Gi*son will only make available for warranty repair.

I found a Firebird at a reasonable price. If I cannibalize the Steinbergers, what can I use as replacements to sell the guitar on? The headstock is a bit weird -- will standard tuners fit along the edge?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 9:01 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5743
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
When you find out, let us know....

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:41 am 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:28 am
Posts: 183
First name: Leonard
Last Name: Duke
City: Kalamazoo
State: MI
Zip/Postal Code: 49001
Country: USA
Focus: Repair
Status: Amateur
Maybe banjo tuners? There are some real nice geared banjo tuners (not the friction ones). Standard tuners would just look wrong to anyone who loves Firebirds.



These users thanked the author philosofriend for the post: Tim Mullin (Wed Sep 07, 2016 2:39 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 2:39 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:14 am
Posts: 982
Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
City: Shefford
State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
philosofriend wrote:
Maybe banjo tuners? There are some real nice geared banjo tuners (not the friction ones). Standard tuners would just look wrong to anyone who loves Firebirds.

Indeed, banjo tuners were my first thought, for the reasons you stated. The problem being that all the "true" banjo tuners on the market seem to be 1:4 gear ratio -- not very appealing on a guitar!

But, Kluson made the "banjo-style" tuners used on the original Gibson Firebirds and I found they have recently reissued this format tuner, made in Korea with 1:12 planetary gears. Supposedly, they look identical to the vintage Firebird tuner, but much higher quality. Anyway, I've got a set of those coming from a reputable eBay Kluson dealer. I now have an Epiphone Firebird here, acquired at a really good price and in near-mint condition. Will resell it once I've swapped out the tuners and done a complete service. Will post some pics in a week or so.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 10:26 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:14 am
Posts: 982
Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
City: Shefford
State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
The Steinbergers have been swapped out and are now ready for my harp guitar project. I learned a few things about Firebirds along the way. The picture below shows the Steinbergers installed on an Epiphone Firebird:
Attachment:
Image-1.jpg

I thought I would replace them with a set of reissued Kluson banjo-style tuners, as used on some Gibson Firebirds:
Attachment:
IMG_1038.JPG

BUT, I discovered that the Epiphone actually has a smaller headstock. With less real estate, the Klusons looked out of place. So, I wound up installing a set of Gotoh M6 minis (6 inline treble side), and they look OK.
Attachment:
FullSizeRender.jpg

The Epiphone was sold on yesterday and the new owner is pleased as punch. The Steinbergers I was looking for only cost my time to do the swap.


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 1:56 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5743
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
WIN!

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 2:58 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:17 am
Posts: 995
Location: United States
City: Tyler
State: Texas
I thing the mini Gotohs look great.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 7:01 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:14 am
Posts: 982
Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
City: Shefford
State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Glen H wrote:
I thing the mini Gotohs look great.

I found that the knobs on the regular M6 Gotoh were too big. As my wife was going to a conference in North Dakota, I got LMII to send a set of minis to her hotel -- worked out great.
Got a set of Klusons on eB*y if anyone's interested.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:08 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:33 am
Posts: 1513
Location: Canada
Thanks for the info… I was looking to replace the tuners on a MIM Jag. I it for bought for next to nothing, and was thinking of going either the Steinberger/Firebird banjo style.. My reamer situation is limited though.. anyone know if a Jag tuner holes would be compatible with either of those tapers you used? is there kind of industry standard for electric tuner holes? Or what taper a new MIM Jag would have if I need to tweak the holes slightly to accommodate something else?
The only tuner replacements Ive ever done were drop ins..
This Jag fret scale works with my smaller war torn hands and thats why I wanna fix it up, with some Lollars, tuners.. and maybe hard tail conversion.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:34 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:14 am
Posts: 982
Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
City: Shefford
State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
From the pics I see on the web, the Jaguar uses cast body tuners that drop into a standard 10mm hole. No taper. The Steinbergers would drop in, but require an additional 1/16" hole drilled for the locator pin just beside the main hole. Steinbergers will be expensive. Klusons will drop in, but will possibly overhang the edge of the head stock. There are many M6 style cast tuners that would drop in to the 10mm hole.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:52 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:33 am
Posts: 1513
Location: Canada
Awesome info… just what I needed.. much appreciated!!
cheers
charlie


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com