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Topic: Hey builders - where to get tuners for FAT strings (.070) |
David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 31 May 2011 9:35 am |
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As more people explore seven (and eight) string guitars, and put together baritones, there's a real need for tuning pegs that will take a .060", even a .070" string. Sperzel must make them, Schecter uses Grovers on their eight-string guitars and Ibanez uses Gotohs on their eights - where do you buy these things? Is there a minimum order size?
Last edited by David Mason on 31 May 2011 7:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 31 May 2011 11:36 am
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David,
also try, www.elderly.com
I'm pretty certain you have to buy 6 at a time [that's how they're boxed]; obviously for a 6-string guitar. You can buy 3-in-a-line for classical guitars, but that probably ain't gonna do you any good.
It's a bi&*^ having to buy and breakup a set. You're paying for 6 tuners and using 1, or 2. But the real rub is that now you're stuck with the remainder which, of course, is inadequate to change-out another 6-stringer.
_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer. |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 31 May 2011 2:24 pm
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| I know the normal sources for six-strings, but the Sperzels, Grovers and Gotohs you get from those sources will not take anything larger than a .056", maybe a .060" string. Clearly there are special runs or posts that are made for the companies who are using them to build eight-string guitars, like Ibanez and Schecter; I thought one of the steel builders here might also know. I'm pretty sure Carter (and others) weren't drilling out the Sperzels on the bottom two C6th strings, and I thought maybe someone would know who to contact at Gotoh, Grover, or Sperzel to get the tuners able to take the larger strings. |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 31 May 2011 3:53 pm
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I guess I completely missed your whole point, David.
Are you referring to the dimension of the hole for the string on the tuner peg?
OK - I guess so.
Boy, I'm a dummy for sure.
....but not so dumb....find someone like myself who has many "extra" tuners kicking around; Get someone, or yourself, to rheem-out the peg hole. It's easy enough to do. Unless, of course, you're a perfectionist; I'm talking about a simple reaming-out of the present hole. Get the proper size bit and go at it. Let me know what you need/or want for a tuner[s]. I've got a few.
_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer. |
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Jason Hull
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 1 Jun 2011 7:57 am
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I have purchased tuners from Stewart-MacDonald over the years and put them on Emmons p/p's.
I never had a problem plumbing up that big, fat bottom string on the C6th neck and I use a 68 or 70. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 1 Jun 2011 8:04 am
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| I use an .064 on my Baritone guitar. But I use a Hipsht D-Tuner for guitar, not bass, as the 6th string machine. No problems. |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 1 Jun 2011 11:53 am
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| I drill or ream the peg holes to fit the string, then de-burr and polish. Takes about 5-10 min. |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 1 Jun 2011 12:56 pm
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The Buddy Emmons C6 'Tension Balanced' GeorgeL set uses a 079 compound wound on the bottom. It could be used as a transatlantic cable. I used one on the bottom of my U12 guitars for years. I would carefully drill out the hole until I could get it to fit. Did that on a ZumSteel first, then a Sho-Bud, a Fessy or two, and a push-pull. Worked for me. After I switched back to a 070 I had no problem.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12 |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 1 Jun 2011 2:47 pm
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The Sperzel link is much appreciated. I have a couple of old tuners heads I got for a console project, and it does indeed appear as though the bottom 2 Klusons were drilled by ShoBud, and the bottom two Grovers were drilled by MSA. I should've looked before posting, huh. 
But I'm still going to call the Sperzal folks, because somebody's really missing out on a market here. If a manufacturer were to go on the seven string forum, Unofficial Warmoth and a few of the builder's forums with tuner sets sized for baritone six-strings, seven and eight-string guitars, they could own a market niche. To get a .070" or something through the little holes, the usual fix is to peel the windings back, but you have to solder it or wrap it with fine wire or it'll just keep peeling. Schaller locking tuners are a favorite, but they gag on even a .058". |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 1 Jun 2011 2:50 pm
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| I've talked to Bob Sperzel a few times. He's always been very helpful. He's in town for me. Good guy! |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 1 Jun 2011 4:38 pm
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Wheeew!
Now I don't feel so bad; or dumb. 
_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer. |
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