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Topic: Sticky Schaller tuners |
John Russell
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 27 Jan 2016 8:20 pm |
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| I have a 25-year-old Zum 12-string and some of the tuners are very tight. No amount of oil seems to loosen them. I thought of buying a set of standard guitar tuners and replacing the worst ones but the steel guitar tuners don't have the screws that those for standard guitar do--they won't fit. Anyone else have this problem? |
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Bruce Derr
From:
Lee, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2016 9:14 pm
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| Some of the Sperzels on my mid-2000s Carter S-10 are very stiff. I actually bought replacements directly from Sperzel, but unfortunately the new ones weren't much better. (I heard later that those tuners had been discontinued for some time, so perhaps they had a set that was "new" but not recently built, i.e. old enough for the grease to have dried out a bit.) They are sealed and not meant to be re-lubricated, but in an old SGF post someone found that it helped to soak them in something like penetrating oil (I don't remember the particulars). I have not tried that. I plan on someday replacing them with Grovers, but it'll be a bit of a project because I have to drill new holes in the headstock for the different locating pins. |
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John Russell
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 27 Jan 2016 9:21 pm
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| I found a Schaller web site and sent a message. I'll keep you posted. |
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Carl Mesrobian
From:
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2016 9:25 pm
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Have you tried slightly loosening the tuning key?
_________________
--carl
"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2016 10:52 am
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Perhaps these would work for you?
This is what my Infinity has.
It seems they are intended for a compact keyhead so may not be appropriate.
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Carl Mesrobian
From:
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 29 Jan 2016 10:02 am
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Have you tried disassembling them by removing the button and spacer and putting a drop of oil down the shaft.
_________________
A.K.A Chappy. |
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John Russell
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 30 Jan 2016 4:52 pm
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My GFI had those Grovers. They were just fine except for one thing: the string winder wouldn't fit the knobs--the shorter slot that works fine on the Schallers (small knobs). Not a big deal but makes changing strings lots easier.
I removed the tightest one and oiled each side. No change. Also tried loosening the hex nut--no change.
I contacted the factory rep on their site and he requested picture of the tuners, which I sent. So far no response.
The tuners function pretty well, some of the tuners are real stiff. I played a gig last night with no problems. My other PSG has old Grovers and they're much easier to turn. Also other guitars I own have Schallers and they're OK. I have a 5-year-old Martin acoustic with what appear to be Schallers which are smooth as silk.
I'd upgrade if I could find the types that don't have the side screw mount. I guess I could just cut it off |
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Carl Mesrobian
From:
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2016 5:03 pm
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Loosening the hex nut will certainly not change the tension - the small screw holding the key on will affect tension - see pic
EDIT - see if the small washer between the key and gear housing is dirty or worn out.
_________________
--carl
"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown |
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