Gibson "R" (fill in the number) owners.. Tuners?

[RJM/rydog2223]

The time has come.... to perhaps change the tuners on my CR8. I've had the guitar going on five years... if you can believe that one! Anyways I've swapped out other parts to my liking and have always thought about changing the tuners but never did it. I'm a big fan of the Kluson Tone Pros and was gonna go aged via RS Guitarworks but then I saw the aged Grovers on their site.... I've always liked the look of Grovers on a Historic. So those that have done either of them or both I would love to hear from ya on what you preferred. Thanks so much for your time.

 

[RJM/rydog2223]

Anybody?? Grovers vs. TonePros??

 

[musicofanatic5]

Ever since the sixties when it was so fashionable to do (and there was little information available telling people that their tuning problems had to do with their nut, not the tuners!), I thought Grovers looked dumb and clunky compared to the keystone button Klusons. Functionally, I prefer the light weight of the Klusons, as well.

 

[hank]

I always keep Kluson styled tuners on my Historics. Grovers, although good are not authentic ........ to me.

 

[lespaulreedsmith]

I changed the Kluson Tonepros on my LP Traditional plus top to Grover Deluxe vintage Keystone style (direct swap) and I am extremely glad I did. The Klusons would not hold a tune on that guitar for 10 minutes much less a day and the Grover Deluxe Kluson type will hold a tune for days (so I know my tuning issues were the Kluson Tone Pros slipping). Maybe I got a bad set...?
As far as the regular Grover rotomatics? They are great tuners imho but they will be a tad heavier probably (not sure)...

 

[GuitarsFromMars]

Lighter is better.

Identical if possible.

I never change tuners unless there is some mechanical fail, on the part of individual units.

 

[Jahn]

I got those aged Klusons from RSGuitarworks for my R8. Kinda uneven on the aging, the metal bits some look "overrusted" and one tuner looks "underrusted" haha, but you know it's all cosmetics anyhow. The buttons look great to me, nice and yellow see through spidery instead of green and globby so that's what sealed the deal for me. As for the actual ability to stay in tune, they do that job, so there you go. Here's my set:

BTW, grovers are the right tuners for 60s Starfires, so here's a look at a set I sourced for my '65 Guild Starfire VI. These are real deal USA nickel rotos, you can tell by the rounded look to the housing. Now that's a smoothly aged patina done by...time.

 

[b3john]

I changed the Kluson Tonepros on my LP Traditional plus top to Grover Deluxe vintage Keystone style (direct swap) and I am extremely glad I did.

A shame that Grover won't make those with metal knobs...

As far as the regular Grover rotomatics? They are great tuners imho but they will be a tad heavier probably (not sure)...

I read somewhere the net difference is 5 oz. but I've never weighed them for myself.

 

[Jahn]

Oh and BTW, from the front, the factory tuners from the front, then the aged RS klusons. I like the latter.

 

[rockinlespaul]

I love Grovers on a Les Paul. What's there not to like?

 

[RJM/rydog2223]

Hey thanks for the pics Jahn! It seems like the consensus is the Kluson style. I don't know though.... There is just something classy about some Grovers on a Gibson. Thanks for the info!

 

[Jahn]

Well here are some tuner ideas - if you want to stay with the Kluson lightweight gear, but have a classy metal look for the buttons, how about the metal tulip buttons on a kluson, like below?

 

[b2sc]

I'm a big fan of Grovers on LPs.

 

[RJM/rydog2223]

Well here are some tuner ideas - if you want to stay with the Kluson lightweight gear, but have a classy metal look for the buttons, how about the metal tulip buttons on a kluson, like below?

Hey cool thanks for the pic!! Something to think on for sure.....

 

[sidekick]

You will have to ream your headstock holes if you go for Grovers... Plus, they are heavier, taller posts, etc.,.. Understand that many like the 'kidney shaped' button look though...

Although not really necessary on a non-trem guitar, I like the Gotoh locking Kluson type for dead-easy string changing and no significant wrap on the machine post.

Some guys buy what they feel are their prefered best-made Kluson repro and then change the buttons to Uncle Lou's for the swirly vintage vibe.

 

[Andy J.]

Put on a set of stock, non-aged TonePros on my old '96 Standard when the original tuners disintegrated: they were great. My R7 came to me with a set of RS aged Grovers installed: they are great and the aging looks great. I've never heard the R7 with the lighter-weight original tuners, but keep in mind that adding weight to the headstock might change at least the acoustical sound of you guitar to a degree.

 

[jpage]

Why?

 

[RJM/rydog2223]

Awesome thanks for the info guys. I'm not really hip to enlarging the holes on the headstock. Question for those "in the know". I've seen the aftermarket tips. Are these hard to change out?

 

[vortexxxx]

Kluson for re-issues at least

 

[sidekick]

Awesome thanks for the info guys. I'm not really hip to enlarging the holes on the headstock. Question for those "in the know". I've seen the aftermarket tips. Are these hard to change out?

Not so often "in the know" these days... but I do know about changing the tips and this is one way...

Place the new "Kluson-type" machine head in a small vise, (best to cover the 'held' backing plate/cog area with a small piece of rag so it doesn't get scratched) so that it is firmly, (without crushing it) held... Heat a reasonably powerful, clean soldering iron and on the post, (very near the "outgoing" tip) heat the post so that it gets real hot... You will then be able to fairly easily, wriggle/slide the plastic tip off... Heat the post hot again and carefully push/slide the replacement tip on.... Allow to cool, remove and repeat the procedure for the remaining tuners... Worked for me and I didn't burn myself...

Some guys dab a drop of super glue on post before pushing on the new tip. But that is up to you... Some guys use those little blow-torches instead of a soldering iron.

Not too hard to do if you take your time and care... Because some replacement tips, (like Uncle Lou's) can be pricey...

Alternatively, a local tech should be able to do it for you, but will take the cost up.

Some repro Klusons appear to have nice swirly buttons already on though... I only did it, because I wanted some Uncle Lou's on a set of, (originally) "snot-coloured" locking Gotohs to go on a replica LP.