How to Install Tuners for the First Time

In this video I discuss how I installed tuners for the first time on my Fender style neck, using household items. This is part of a series/playlist I'm doing on a Telecaster (or "partscaster") build.
I used Gotoh SD91 Relic Nickel tuners.
Go to @3:13 to skip the introduction talking.
*UPDATE - Someone commented with this excellent tip: Buy a cheap bolt, nut, & two flat washers and press the bushing in slowly & evenly by tightening the nut & bolt. BRILLIANT!
/ ncsink
www.cdbaby.com/Artist/NathanSink
open.spotify.com/artist/5X9hJ...
geo.music.apple.com/us/artist...
#decal #waterslide #fender

[@acalderaTube]

Thanks for the super honest how-to video, appreciated that you are using household items (like the wax from the candle) and that you included what works and what doesn't so you're sharing your learning experience!

[@NathanSink]

Thanks for the kind words! Glad it was useful.

[@myriad926]

I'm loving your videos! They've been a huge help with a partscaster I'm making as well. With every video I kept loving that intro riff in your opening logo for each video. And then I finally watched all the way to the end of one of your videos and realized that you're an artist too. Been listening on Spotify. Good stuff!

[@NathanSink]

Jay Lyles thanks so much for the kind words. 😊 I appreciate it!

[@guitarhack210]

Great job ! Enjoying you’re venture into fixing , building , guitars , big help , nice opening jam

[@NathanSink]

guitarhack210 thanks so much! 😊

[@WayBehindTheSun]

That trick with the channel lock pliers is SO COOL it blew my mind! I used the pick and the block and it worked GREAT! Love the vid!

[@NathanSink]

Nice! Glad it worked for you!

[@WayBehindTheSun]

@@NathanSink like a charm!

[@benasslick67]

That intro song is so smooth

[@NathanSink]

Ben Asslick thanks, but I can't take credit. 😊 It's a Mateus Asato lick, & he plays it SO much better than me: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYGrhmOYmtxssJo

[@benasslick67]

@@NathanSink haha I was talking about the song that plays in the beginning of your videos your channels theme song I guess

[@NathanSink]

Ben Asslick oh, thanks! I CAN take credit for that one, haha. That's one of my original songs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKS6Xmqcrd-ff80

[@claudehopper9813]

Excellent job of answering all my concerns , with a new neck it's too easy to get ahead of yourself and then damage the finish or be stuck filling holes and redrilling . Good music also thanks

[@NathanSink]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad to help!

[@matin3415]

Keep it going 👊

[@SebastianMehenka]

Meniscus is the name of the bubble on the top of the water. Great video!

[@NathanSink]

Ah, excellent! Thanks!

[@SebastianMehenka]

@@NathanSink no worries mate, keep up the amazing work!

[@FrontRowRock]

Great video.. I really enjoy your videos. Working on my first build and am learning alot from you. I am no expert, but I would not force them in the way you did. Any change in wood density through moisture absorption is likely to crack that headstock.

[@NathanSink]

Front Row Rock thanks! Always glad to help. 😊 I hope I don't get any cracks. 😬 Time will tell. But that's the main reason I opened up the holes like I did with the reamer: to allow the bushings to go in better.

[@FrontRowRock]

@@NathanSink I didn't see you ream from both sides. I may have just missed it. Reaming from both side and meeting in the middle assures the optimum diameter. Me thinks maybe that's why they started so easy but had hard time penetrating to the bottom of the well.😆 Story of my life. Again thanks for sharing. You have helped many with this video

[@cripmeister9104]

I made a tool for pressing in/pulling out bushings. It involves a long bolt, a wing nut and a small block of wood with a hole in it - you'll figure it out :) Counter sinking the tuner holes a tiny bit first is a good idea to avoid chipping.

[@NathanSink]

I should make a tool. I just don't do the job very frequently & when I do I'm too impatient to wait. 😂 Definitely a good tip on the counter sinking!

[@surezzrosevelt]

Bro, your song very nice & sounds good. I will download on My Apple music.

[@NathanSink]

Thank you!!

[@riffafrank]

Thanks man

[@NathanSink]

Glad to help!

[@georgepeirce4415]

Thank you for all of these tutorials, they’ve been a huge help. Tuner install is the next step in my start project. How long did you let the nitro dry/de-gas before installing? I’m worried about cracking the finish if I do it too early. Thanks!

[@NathanSink]

Thanks! I’d let the nitro dry for 2 weeks minimum after your final coat, then you can wet sand (something that still eludes me 😬) & polish as desired. You can always do a “fingernail test” in an inconspicuous area of the neck (like the heel part) by pressing your fingernail into the nitro to see if it indents or if it’s fully dried. All the best.

[@icelord98]

This helped me out so much, thank you! What size drill bit did you use?

[@NathanSink]

I'm not positive. I THINK it was a 5/64" bit. When I did my Strat, that's definitely the size I used: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6fZnZ6rr6yGo5Y

[@ryangregohara]

When I swapped the tuners on my d28 the bushing was too big as well. I just put the busing on a drill to spin it and took sand paper to it...the wall thickness was enough that I can remove enough for it to fit in the headstock hole without touching the wood.

[@NathanSink]

Interesting approach! Thanks for sharing. :)

[@jessejaime4913]

I would have used a bolt, a nut and 2 washers to press in the bushings into the head stock. If you don’t have that lying around you can get at Lowe’s or Home Depot for $5.

[@NathanSink]

That’s a great way to do it too! I should get some of those for the future. Guess I’m too lazy & use what I have lying around. 🙂

[@megagatvol]

Great instructional vid..thankyou from the UK..two questions ..how do I watch all of your previous videos and where could I purchase a Fender replacement neck like the one on your video ?? cheers, Hendry

[@NathanSink]

Thanks for the kind words. 😊 The playlist for this Tele can be seen here: kzbin.info/aero/PLT0llhi52k8pp3H2q35ec51SN8f2VOgfR I also have a playlist for a Strat that I built (also with a custom neck): kzbin.info/aero/PLT0llhi52k8pfgZILIgbDUVNXc24g5T1E

[@128ajb_02_Music]

to find replacement fender necks, check out WarMoth.com. not sure if they have a UK page or even UK support, but worth checking out

[@NathanSink]

Oh yeah, I guess I never fully answered this question. This neck actually came from Musikraft. Warmoth is great too (I have a friend who's used lots of their stuff), however, for me they didn't have the options I was looking for.

[@infidel6249]

Good job.I have the butterscotch deluxe tele with reverse switch.I will be changing the modern tuners out also so this video was very helpful.Thank you.I want to nitro my neck so i will be watching your video for that also.

[@NathanSink]

Infidel 62 thank you! Here is a video I did with basic instructions for a nitro finish: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYbPaGN8qruGp68 I'll also be doing another video soon about how I sanded the back of the neck & applied a True Oil finish.

[@IHurricane]

If i get kluson tuners will they fit a modern strat? Because i got the kluson style tuners from fender that use the 2 pin mounting system and in wondering if they'll fit Edit: the hole thingy is 10 mm

[@NathanSink]

You’ll definitely have to get the 10mm to 8mm adapter bushings. I’m not sure I understand which tuners you currently have. In the worst case you’ll have to drill some new holes & the existing holes might show. Hope it works out.

[@danielgriffith3633]

Good vid. What's the option if bushings are slightly smaller than holes ?....model airplane glue ?

[@NathanSink]

Thanks! If the bushings are slightly smaller than the holes, I’ve used tape before. You can see an example at about 25 minutes into this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gILHYodmnqaVb6M

[@Bliggick]

What do you think about using a drill with sand paper taped around the bit?

[@NathanSink]

As long as there’s no power connected to the drill! 😂 It seems like that could go wrong really fast.

[@matthewworden6095]

Thanks for the video. I have one question though. Would you say the bushings have to be in all the way? I’m trying to get mine in and they won’t go in all the way.

[@NathanSink]

Yes, they should go in all the way. Take it slow & ream the holes out a little more if you need.

[@matthewworden6095]

@@NathanSink Thanks for the tips

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Very interesting. I just bought a warmoth neck to replace a fender japanese strat neck and the holes were ordered on the warmoth neck for vintage tuners like yours.. I thought the holes were big enough for the bushines, but I see like your's they're not. Which I don't understand.. Why do they not drill the holes big enough in the first place so that you can just push the bushings in ? So are the bushings supposed to be tight in there? I'm totally confused.. Sorry.. Thanks for this very much though.. Tim

[@NathanSink]

I think the idea is that you’d rather have them snug (& have to ream them out a bit) verses loose. It’s always easier to take away material. All the best.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

@@NathanSink Great looking tele by the way.. I'm more a strat or LP guy, but that was a good looking tele..

[@NathanSink]

@@hoosierdaddy2308 thanks!

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

@@NathanSink Absolutely man!

[@TheLookingOne]

Hey Nathan, What are the disadvantages to installing tuners so that the tuner knob axles are CLOSER to the bridge than the tuner peg axles? For that orientation, are sealed tuners strong enough to prevent the string tension from pulling the tuner peg gear away from the tuner knob gear?

[@NathanSink]

@@TheLookingOne hmm…I’m trying to figure out what you’re saying but I’m not sure I understand. 🤔

[@TheLookingOne]

@@NathanSink Hey Nathan, most installs have the tuner knobs closer to the top of the headstock.than the pegs. That way, string tension pulls the top of the peg down toward the bridge, the hole in the head leverages that so the tension pushes the gear end of the peg up toward the tuner knob gear. Does that clear it up? That's the common way. I'm thinking about positioning the tuners the other way around (with the tuner pegs closer to the top of the headstock than the tuner knobs) The string tension will then tend to push the 2 gears apart. I'm wondering whether in sealed tuners, the tuner 'case' will be able to resist that force.

[@NathanSink]

@@TheLookingOne I think I get it. It would essentially be like putting right hand tuners on a left-handed guitar (or vice versa)? I would imagine they could handle it fine, but don’t hold me to it. 😉

[@TheLookingOne]

@@NathanSink You got it Nathan. I think I'll take a chance. But I want to get second opinions from experienced minds. Cheers

[@shusterme]

and how about the Gotoh SD91 itself? are they any good?

[@NathanSink]

The standard SD-91 tuners are great. I have them on several of my guitars.

[@joebubbit]

Howdy, what's the tune you play there? One of those, I know I know it-just can't recall.

[@NathanSink]

It's a random jam by Mateus Asato from his Instagram page (which I don't think is even up anymore). I looked but I couldn't find it. 😐

[@ricial8611]

What size drill bit did you use?

[@NathanSink]

I'm not positive. I THINK it was a 5/64" bit. When I did my Strat, that's definitely the size I used: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6fZnZ6rr6yGo5Y

[@sebwarren7918]

What size screws do you need?

[@NathanSink]

Pretty sure they are: Sheet Metal, Round Head, Phillips, #2 x 3/8" Stainless, Nickel Plated

[@qyoo620]

Recently bought a brand new 50's reissue Stratocaster neck, and the bushings sat just like yours, so I don't think it was in any way the result of your lacquer job. For the final squeeze in I used an ordinary c-clamp with two squares of thick veg-tanned leather to protect the headstock. Worked a treat!

[@NathanSink]

That’s a great way to do it! Good idea. 👍🏻

[@theguitarguy5019]

4:07

[@syduzzamansyd4530]

what's the song name? @14:15

[@NathanSink]

It’s a song I wrote & recorded called Stones Unturned: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3SYmoysa857h9E

[@syduzzamansyd4530]

@@NathanSink man it sounds great! you're awesome!!!

[@syduzzamansyd4530]

@@NathanSink subbed and found your Spotify!

[@NathanSink]

@@syduzzamansyd4530 awesome, thanks!

[@stiiimes]

Good god the endless filler & digression...

[@NathanSink]

It's nice that KZbin provides the ability to speed the video up or skip around, huh?