Stripped Tuning Keys? Your advice needed!

[thegearguy]

So I just bought this Guitar Online. I found some problems that were not disclosed by the seller at time of purchase. Most Notably, It appears the holes in the head stock where the tuning keys go are too big for the keys. The bushings were removed and wrapped in blue painters tape so they would not fall out. They appear fine until you tune up and the tension begins to pull the bushings out. SOOOO my question is, can this be repaired with a new set of tuning keys? Or did someone mess this up beyond a quick fix?

Thanks

[chrisr777]

Can it be fixed? Yes. Not with new tuners. At least not with standard Fender tuners.

The real question is, why should it be your problem? Go back to the seller and have them do something about it or give you your money back. That goes beyond something they just forgot to mention.

[Dana Olsen]

Hey Thegearguy -

First, I agree with Chris, that's not just a small thing the seller forgot to mention, it's a lot closer to, well, fraud, in my opinion.

The traditional way to repair it is to remove the tuners, drill the holes clean, plug them with the appropriate sized and grain oriented dowels, then re-drill the holes and re-install the tuners.

It's repairable, but it'll probably cost $50-$100 to have the job done right by a pro. It'll take them several days to do the job - gotta wait for the glue to dry, gotta find the right size dowel, etc. I'm giving a wide estimate because from these pics, I can't see whether the size of the hole is the only problem, or just the principal and most visible and obvious problem.

I'd make the seller take it back for a full refund - hey, there's TONS of Teles out there that are fine guitars with no problems, you'll easily find another.

Hope this helps, Dana O.

[thegearguy]

Cool guys thanks

[chervokas]

Originally Posted by thegearguy

So I just bought this Guitar Online. I found some problems that were not disclosed by the seller at time of purchase. Most Notably, It appears the holes in the head stock where the tuning keys go are too big for the keys. The bushings were removed and wrapped in blue painters tape so they would not fall out. They appear fine until you tune up and the tension begins to pull the bushings out. SOOOO my question is, can this be repaired with a new set of tuning keys? Or did someone mess this up beyond a quick fix?

Thanks

Well, depending on what tuners are in there and what size the holes are you may be able to fix the situation easily with Kluson adapter bushings like these:

http://www.wdmusic.com/kluson_adapte...errules_6.html

[mslugano]

Bushings might fix it but I would be PISSED and demand my money back.

[RichieD]

Those bushings should help. Based on the two pics above, it looks like the previous owner was trying to use vintage spec tuners in a more current guitar.

[RussB]

Stew-Mac also sells adapter bushings. You need to first get the strings off that guitar ASAP, then use calipers to measure the holes in the headstock

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/T..._Bushings.html




was this a TGP deal?

[magicaxeman]

It looks to me like someone drilled it for larger barrel sized tuners (sperzels? Grovers?) and then decided to keep the tuners when they sold the guitar so whacked the original's back on.

Measure the diameter of the holes then replace the tuners with those that fit.

Of course unless the guitar was the bargain of the century I would want some money back from the seller or preferably the tuners he took off it.

[tbonesullivan]

I'd see if you can find out what that particular model should have had for stock tuners, and I'd also check out the pictures you have from before you bought it to see if you can pick out the tuners. There's no way they would have been able to be tuned to pitch without the bushings coming out.

This is of course one of the reasons I don't like the "vintage style" tuners, and much prefer modern tuners with tightening bolts around the peg.

[Sweetfinger]

My guess is that the guitar originally had 70s style tuners and someone has replaced them with the Kluson style 50s tuners. The 70s bushings are roughly .035" larger in diameter. Pull a gear and see if there are diagonal mounting holes for the 70s style gears hidden underneath the plate. If you need some of those bushings, I think I have extras.

[K-Line]

Originally Posted by Sweetfinger

My guess is that the guitar originally had 70s style tuners and someone has replaced them with the Kluson style 50s tuners. The 70s bushings are roughly .035" larger in diameter. Pull a gear and see if there are diagonal mounting holes for the 70s style gears hidden underneath the plate. If you need some of those bushings, I think I have extras.

I concur with the fine gentleman or woman. Sorry, gotta be PC these days. Fender bushing from the factory are always bigger than say the Gotoh bushings. Then you have the Korean made stuff that is smaller yet. A new set of bushings may do the trick but they are hard to find without a set of tuners included.

[RichieD]

Originally Posted by K-Line

they are hard to find without a set of tuners included.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Vintage-...ings_c_41.html

Less than $10 for a set of six!

[thegearguy]

Thank you so much for all the feedback!