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Topic: Replacement Bakelite Tuners? |
RB Jones
From:
Burlingame, California, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2003 3:39 pm |
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I have a stock-as-a-rock B6 Rickenbacher and the tuners have a lot of play in them. Has anybody found any replacement tuners that look close to stock and can be installed with no alterations?
I want to be able to put the originals back on someday when I get too old to play and want to just hang it on the wall to look at.
RB |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2003 4:13 pm
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These are the closet thing that I have found ...
http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/GTM28.htm
They require a few "passes" with a round file to enlarge the hole in the bakelite by about 1/16" ...
The holes in the tuners also have to be "stretched" abit ... but the head of the mounting screw hides it ...
If you don't mind the "Martin" name on 'em ... they are the closest thing in size to the originals that I ever found (and I looked REAL Hard last spring).
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www.horseshoemagnets.com |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2003 4:14 pm
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If you find some, please let me know. I have searched in every conceivable place I could think of and I struck out. NO replacement tuner I found would allow me to replace the strips withOUT some modification and/or drilling.
Sad indeed. Wherever Rickenbacher got these tuners and who ever made them left NO legacy as far as I can tell.
Here are the problems I faced:
1. Post holes not aligned the same.
2. Size of the posts did not match.
3. The height of the posts were not the same. Mostly too high.
4. Mounting holes were not the same.
5. Spacing between posts was not the same.
7. Shape of the post top area was not the same.
While I could find on or two of these problems cured in a specific strip, NO strip I found solved all the problems.
Incidently, on my 7 stringer, the spacing on the 4 keystrip, is NOT consistent. This I feel was highly unusual, but that is the way Rick designed them.
I did find ONE answer to my dilemma. And that is a individual mini-Grover tuner like Emmons used to use on their PSG's. In fact I bought 3 right and 4 leftys thinking that Grover could make the posts longer.
(Note: All the other individuals were unacceptable I felt. Tom Brumley's were replaced that way and it looks awful).
I would have had to drill and tap one hole and drill a single hole (hidden by the mini Grover tuner) to use them; and I personally think they would have enhanced the guitar greatly. Only problem is, the post is too low on these mini's. The string hole in the post would be 70% covered up by the tail stock. I called Grover and they were as useful as you know what on a bull.
So I simply gave up on the idea.
Good luck; and again, if ya find some PLEASE let me know,
carl[This message was edited by C Dixon on 20 February 2003 at 04:20 PM.] |
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RB Jones
From:
Burlingame, California, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2003 4:27 pm
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Rick, Thanks. I don't mind altering the tuners, and I've never minded having C.F Martin on anything, but I can't bear to take a file to the Rick. Do you mean you have to open up the holes for the string posts 1/16th inch?
RB |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2003 4:54 pm
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I felt EXACTLY the way you do.
Then I talked with Wayne Tanner (Mr. Rickenbacher) ... who is "THE" expert on all things Bakelite ...
He had not heard of these Martins before ... and once I told him the dimensions he suggested reaming the holes ... not the filing down the tuner posts.
It literally took about 5 light passes with a round file ... Bingo
I never felt the Bakelite was in danger ... Unlike drilling, doing it by hand gave me total control at all times.
I HAD to do it though ... the prewar that I had was missing the entire tuner ...
I have several on various Rickys that are loose and wobbley ... I just live with it ... but if you HAVE to replace ... these are the best I found ...
[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 20 February 2003 at 04:57 PM.] |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2003 6:37 pm
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Have you thought about Grover Sta-Tites? They have the vintage "butter bean" chrome tuning buttons. Have the prewar look and are reasonably priced, about $35.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2003 7:41 pm
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In last springs "search" I sent the following specs to Stewart McDonald, All Parts and Elderly:
Diameter of post = 7/32"
Height of post = 1" (from back of headstock)
Distance between mounting screws = 15/16"
Distance between adjacent posts = 1 3/8"
Distance between top mounting screw on 1st and bottom mounting screw on 3rd post (for strip tuners?) = 3 5/8"
The only response I got back was from Elderly ... after I had already ordered the Martins from them ... The guy was nice and admitted he was at "a loss" ... I told him about the Martins and he said he'd pass that on ...
I learned of the Martins from the Forum's archieves .... Great place ain't it 
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www.horseshoemagnets.com |
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RB Jones
From:
Burlingame, California, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2003 4:34 pm
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Thanks for the info guys. I'll check out both sets and get back to you with the results.
RB |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 13 Sep 2003 2:18 pm
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Gerald, I just got some Grover Sta-Tites ...
Close but no cigar ... but they are about the same as the Martins and were cheaper.
Time to break out the round file ... at least this time it is brass not bakelite 
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www.horseshoemagnets.com |
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