Google is not helping me! SG Standard -- Sperzel locking tuners/drop-in replacement?

[guitarrhinoceros]

So …

I ordered a pair of locking tuners from my Sweetwater rep yesterday. I trust the guy, so I didn't bother looking the tuners up myself. I just told him what I needed -- which is a set of locking tuners for my SG Standard, that come in a chrome finish and will be a drop-in, no modification replacement. After checking with their luthiers and doing some fact finding, he told me the Sperzel's are the way to go.

That was yesterday. Today, I used some of my free time to look up these tuners and haven't found really anyone talking about them being a drop-in replacement. Needless to say, I'll be a bit pissed if I wasted my time trusting my Sweetwater representative. Anyways, does anyone here have experience with these tuners on their Gibsons? Please share with me your opinions on the Sperzels.

Note: Yes, I know of to change a string. I also know that locking tuners will do nothing for my overall tuning stability over a properly cut nut and strung string.

 

[guitarrhinoceros]

 

[DaveG]

I love Sperzels, but they're not a drop-in replacement for any other tuners that I've found. Does your SG have vintage style tuners or Grovers on it?

 

[guitarrhinoceros]

I love Sperzels, but they're not a drop-in replacement for any other tuners that I've found. Does your SG have vintage style tuners or Grovers on it?

My SG Standard has the Kluson style tuners on it.

 

[guitarrhinoceros]

Gibson calls them Vintage style tuners

 

[guitarrhinoceros]

What do you think? Drop in replacement?

 

[realmarshall]

Depends what you mean by drop in. The peghead holes will be correct and will not need re-drilling, but Sperzel's do not use a securing screw(s) to keep the tuner from rotating, but use a locating pin instead. This means you need to drill a shallow hole in the reverse of the headstock to take the locating pin, and there will be a spare hole where your current screws are.

The locating pin hole is covered by the Sperzel's, and you can either fill the old screw hole or just put the screws back (least work involved) although they have no functional purpose.

Sperzel's come with a template for the locating pin but MAKE SURE you put a piece of tape on the drill as a depth marker so you don't drill too deep.

Hope that helps

 

[AprioriMark]

They're probably not, but don't waste your money paying someone to do it. Get one of these reaming tools from your hardware store and take material out slowly from both sides of the hole:

Sperzel has some crazy into out there about what holes will and won't fit the tuner. They're the best tuners out there, imo, and that tool has made it a simple job for me many times. I've never even slightly chipped the finish with it, and have via several other methods.

-Mark

 

[DaveG]

The Gotoh vintage-style lockers are advertised as a direct retrofit, with no mods required. I haven't used them, as I'm happy with the vintage tuners on my LP Standards... but I'd go with the Gotohs if I decided to change 'em. There are good reviews of them here & on the LP forums:

http://www.wdmusic.com/gotoh_kluson_style_locking_tuner_3_3_nickel.html

 

[guitarrhinoceros]

Annoyed. I got the tuners in today. After detailed email correspondence about my guitar and the type of tuners I needed, my rep sent me six in-line tuners instead of 3x3 locking tuners. Unbelievable. The only plus? I got some candy out of the deal (which I will eat and will not give back, since it is a perk when ordering from Sweetwater).

 

[bob-i]

In my over 50 years of playing and piddling with guitars, I have never EVER seen a drop in replacement other than the exact same tuner. I also have never taken a hit on resale by changing tuners. JMO

 

[cmatthes]

Sperzels require a 10mm (or 13/32")hole. I think the Klusons are a little more narrow, but I have dropped them in as replacements for a set of Gibson Deluxe tuners with no mods.

 

[guitarrhinoceros]

Sperzels require a 10mm (or 13/32")hole. I think the Klusons are a little more narrow, but I have dropped them in as replacements for a set of Gibson Deluxe tuners with no mods.

Yeah, I ordered the Kluson Locking Tuners from GC. I try to never order from GC, but I did some research and they appear the only ones that state plainly that they should fit newer Gibby's without modification.