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Post new topic mullen tuner ratio?
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Author Topic:  mullen tuner ratio?
Scott Appleton


From:
Ashland, Oregon
Post  Posted 22 Mar 2004 6:22 pm    
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Does anyone know the ratio for these sperzel tuning
keys?
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 25 Mar 2004 7:27 pm    
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I think it's 12:1 for the standard (open) ones, and 16:1 for the Trim-Lok (locking tuners). At one time, they made a 15:1 sealed unit, too. Grover standards are 12:1, and their Imperials are 14:1. Gotoh standards are 20:1, 18:1, and 16:1, and the locking style are 18:1. Kluson standards are 14:1, and the Deluxe are 15:1. Schaller's are 14:1. Most tuning keys are higher ratios now (14:1 to 16:1) than they used to be (12:1). Keys for bass guitar usually start at 20:1, and go up to 25:1. (If you have older keys, the ratios above may not match.)

To compute the ratio of your keys, simply count the number of turns of the key to make one full turn on the peg. (Tip: Removing a key and sticking a toothpick in the string-hole makes this task easy and accurate.)
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Gary Lee Gimble


From:
Fredericksburg, VA.
Post  Posted 26 Mar 2004 1:28 am    
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Donny, how can you tell what end of the tooth pick is right side up, for accurate counting.

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C Dixon

 

From:
Duluth, GA USA
Post  Posted 26 Mar 2004 8:37 am    
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Donny, looks like Gary pulled a "gotcha" on ya!

You figger?

carl
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 26 Mar 2004 8:48 am    
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Carl, Gary knows very well that "right side up" means the olive goes on the bottom! (LOL!)

Seriously, I suggested the toothpick because it can be hard to determine exactly one full rotation of the peg with a 15:1 key just by "eyeballing" the hole.

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Scott Appleton


From:
Ashland, Oregon
Post  Posted 27 Mar 2004 1:10 pm    
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Thanks Donny, I am having some trouble with these
tuners. There are some dead spot where I cant get
an accurate change past about 3 cents so I go back and forth untill I hit it. This is way too much monkey
biziness for me so I am thinking of changing to a higher ratio.
Scott

------------------
Mullen S12
Acoustic 165 100W tube
71 Tele, Regal 45, Gretch
Lap, Columbia Lap, Line 6
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 27 Mar 2004 4:44 pm    
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Scott, you may find that the problem you think is the tuners is really caused by friction at the roller-nut. At any rate, I'd remove the roller shaft, polish it by hand with a good metal polish, and then re-install it and oil the rollers (making sure they aren't binding at the nut). Make sure your strings are pulling in as straight a line as possible where they come off of the rollers and go to the keys. A little sideways pull will add a lot of unnecessary friction, and cause tuning and hysterisis problems (strings returning flat and sharp).

Now, all this will take a little time, but it's "cost-free" (unlike replacing all those tuning keys!), and it may just solve your problem.

I'd try it.
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