How to Replace Klusons w/ Grovers on a Les Paul

How to replace the original Kluson tunner / machine heads with kidney bean Grovers
Gibson Les Paul Classic
Tapered reamer

[@HUNT4MUSIC]

MayMan, thanks for the video. I just completed the switch on my "Orville" Japanese Les Paul. I went from the stock Japanese Kluson style , to a set of Grovers I had farmed out from a guitar that was not ever going to be played. Usually I have my tech/amp guy do this type of upgrade/repair - but with the help of your vid, I pulled it off without a hitch. I'm sure most pro techs would just grab a drill & get it done - I do not have that much confidence and have botched more that one DIY adventure. Once I had the tapered reamer, I felt comfortable going for it - and it came out perfectly. It still felt wrong to start reaming bigger holes in such an awesome guitar, but it was not getting played due to tuning issues, and times are tight - so with your help I was able to do my most invasive guitar upgrade yet. The result is perfect tuning & a chance for this guitar to be my co-#1, along with my 1999 American Fender HH Big Apple Strat. THANKS.

[@buddhamus]

Nice quick video. Not sure if I trust myself to do the job, but it's nice to know how it's done.

[@ebonhawkoffroad]

hell yeah!!!!! this work , with no damage done . thank you for posting this vid.

[@mattbmichaelis]

Awesome video. Great job! Going to try and do it on my Epi LP now.

[@davidmoya8340]

damn those neon green fret inlays are choice!

[@TheFoxNamedBlue]

Thanks, this will help when I change to Grover machine heads in the future.

[@dbvetter7485]

Thanks for the video, I need to do this to mine.

[@scottstone686]

Helped me out a lot! Thanks!

[@RobotShlomo]

I have an Epiphone Casino, and I've never liked the tuners on them. They just feel cheap, and I've always wanted to change them. Thanks for posting this.

[@pleasebekindtwnty4sven]

Dude you are AMAZING IN ALL WAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MrRRSP]

It looks awesome.

[@DeeTee79]

Thanks for the video, I think I can do it myself, cheers for sharing

[@cmartin1959-qq2mi]

Thanks for posting man !

[@Ster8edger]

really helpful vid man !

[@drivelikejoewho]

Thanks for posting.. plan on removing my Klusons on my Explorer Melody Maker and replacing with Grovers.

[@rockriff8889]

It would of been worth paying a little extra for the locking grover tuners . Even more tuning stability and super quick string changes.. The Gotoh locking tuners are a excellent choice as well very accurate and stable tuning with their 1 to 21 gear ratio..

[@letterpool]

thanks for posting! i wanna buy a studio but hate the damn green looking tuners. good job thanks again!!

[@thomascolley254]

Whygold tuners on a chrome guitar?

[@consular_rhukaan3822]

Do the screws from the old tuner still fit back into their original screw hole tightly after being took out and put back in?

[@ninjamastergordon9115]

I have never owned a Les Paul before, and when I got my 2006 Studio and seen that it had the Gibson Deluxe Tuners, i was so excited. I've always wanted to put them on my strat cause they look cool and vintage, but now I have to wonder are they really even worth it? Guy at a shop 2 years ago told me that the Klusons on the strat would be better the modern tuners I already have on it. I haven't had any problems with the turnovers on this Les Paul yet but now I am suspicious. So what are the issues?

[@IamBloved]

Alright sounds perfect, thanks

[@MrHermango]

If Gibson just sold guitars with upgraded tuners as of this would be unnecessary.

[@menezesgb]

Hi man! Thanks for the video. I am intended to replace the stock kluson from my gibson les paul classic as well, but I am confused on which grover model i should order. I want the regular chrome 18:1 kidney shapped grover. Thanks for any help.

[@The1970sInfatuate]

Thanks for the advice. It's still very confusing with some Grover tuners because some have a separate bushing piece, and other Grover tuners themselves have their own threaded bushings right on the tuners themselves rather than separate bushing pieces. I have an '02 Les Paul Classic, and those metal bushing rivets are harder than hell to remove. I've tried, and they would never come out. I don't know what other method to use :(.

[@rogermorales]

thankyou very mush for youre advices, I was about to order ones but It is scary for me to drill or send it to drill , I rader not mess up my beloved guitar.

[@ivansandoval777]

is there a version that has 2 holes per tunning machine? the holes look horrible

[@quoimagueule628]

Klusons very good look vintage and quality

[@hrvojeodak9226]

Thanks for video

[@utsabgurung5930]

does the holes have to the exact size for the tuners to fit in? so that it wont get loose?

[@popitn2nd]

Hi! What if you want to put back the Kluson tuners?

[@deepblue1963]

Quick question...about how long does it take to ream one hole? a few minutes?

[@airHavana667]

Great vid! Wouldn’t the tapered reamer create a conical shape hole where a cylindrical shape is needed? I see once the fasteners are in place it works fine, just observing, and I do prefer hand tools too- especially for a job like this. Cheers

[@gettin_while_growin7]

Have the same lester classic,only mine is a 2000 and doesnt come with pickup covers,and has 1960 on pickgaurd,with that slim thin 60's neck

[@metallimatt10]

Hey if this has been done, is it impossible to put original tuners back on if you wanted? I picked up a used one that has some Grovers on, not the same as yours and I honestly can't tell if he bored it out or not

[@quaark]

My Les Paul Studio 2010 TonePros Tuners have a hexagonal bushing similar to the one on the grovers... Does this mean I still need to use the reamer? I have done some modding on my other guitar(Ibanez) like replacing pickups and tuners, but I'm afraid to do anything that can damage the wood itself.

[@xxxgabaxxx]

tks for the video dude

[@IamBloved]

Will I have to ream the hole out on my Epi Les Paul? Or will it fit? I want to have gibson modern nickel machine heads installed

[@Loddentidster]

Are grover tuners better than Klusons? I've got an Epiphone LP Standard with Grovers, but I've recently upgraded to a Gibson SG Standard, witch has Klusons.

[@jakashh]

Aw, but the klusons look so much better!

[@LouieLively]

What size is the reamer? And what's the measurement you put on the reamer?

[@loadi2865]

I used a drill did a fine snug job..( tried it on a piece of wood first to make sure of a snug fit ). PS don't push the drill let it do its job.

[@reyns7749]

The grovers are a good choice

[@Geotubest]

Thanks for the great presentation. Well done!

[@SickPig99]

Would Fender Klusons work on a Les Paul?

[@taurus38splul]

Might I suggest you install the other screw as well to keep moister out. I have a 1988 LP standard and one of the machine heads got striped they seemed to be cheaply made.

[@123elvislives]

Very helpful Thanks 🇦🇺👍🇦🇺👍🇦🇺

[@nicolasrodriguez2153]

where did you bought the guitar and how much it cost?

[@jphormiga]

yeah, what's the size of the reamer?

[@VictorAvinashSinha]

One question When did Pepsi change their logo. I saw an empty bottle in your dustbin.

[@1991stratplus]

What do you guys think of the Kluson Revolution 19:1 locking tuners, no extra holes, no reaming required. I like them myself.

[@sv1201]

Excellent tuners and look completely authentic, unlike Grovers. No extra drilling either - they are drop-in replacements.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

@@sv1201 High are you satisfied with the klusons revolution??

[@keithwhitehorn5811]

I never had any problem with Klusons, and I have retrofitted Grovers on a couple of guitars under the delusion that the were better. To my out I found out there was no difference. The scale length of a LP, and the headstock-rake is the reason for the tuning problems many of us have tried to 'cure' by swapping tuners.

[@ricklarmer461]

Couldn’t you just order ones that’ll fit without reaming out wood? I’d like to upgrade my LPJ soon. Thanks

[@rikh78]

the Classics all have "snot green" inlays, they don't look as bright in real life, but they are not the same colour as the normal pearl ones

[@guitarguitar773]

For the people questioning why he'd put Grovers on instead of the Kluson style tuners is because Grovers have a higher gear ratio (typically 18:1) whereas the Kluson style only have a 14:1 gear ratio. The Grovers are a lot better for fine tuning and stay in tune very well.

[@mattbmichaelis]

hey where did you find your tapered hand reamer? I've went to 4 hardware stores and can't find one....

[@GW00d5]

Amazon

[@clusha2]

keep the phone steady dude, you gave me sea sickness

[@faltaalgo8819]

Hi man, could you please spell me the name of the tool you use to make bigger the holes? How do you call it? i'm trying to find one myself but no way. Cheers from Barcelona.

[@onemeterpeter7137]

Reamer. It reams a hole to a bigger size.

[@onemeterpeter7137]

6 yrs late..

[@hamedfaqirzai8388]

What size reamer are you using?

[@RobotShlomo]

It looks like a 1/8 inch to a 5/8 inch reamer. I got a 1/8 to a 1/2 reamer from Harbor Freight that was $2.99, but it's not very sharp took quite a long time. I also had to put a bit more force behind it than I wanted to. So you might want to spend the extra money, and get a better quality tool.

[@xogmusic]

Which Grover tuner type is this?

[@adamn2022]

Harry Maes 0:09 Grover Kidney Beans...first nine seconds of the video

[@Fugettaboutit]

You should do workout videos, too. ;-)

[@Wargasm644]

I like the Grovers, but I would’ve stayed with the keystone or “tulip” shaped tuning buttons. Grover makes gold keystones. But if you want the 18:1 ratio you’ll have to buy the kidneys then swap out to keystone buttons. Or buy the Gibson packaged keystones which are 18:1. Have a nice day.

[@runningwithscissors0911]

Thanks - just what I need. Just not a fan of those vintage Kluson tuners.

[@CLELDKFKEJ]

I love you.

[@jaytaylor9232]

What happened to the inlays? Fluorescent yellow highlighter?

[@SDPickups]

1960 inlays turned green over time, Gibson copied it. You can get rid of it by leaving it in the sun or a UV light.

[@arranfox1554]

SDPickups does this really work? How long does it take roughly? Thanks for the advice

[@philipthefish83]

The Klusons look so much better than those gold ones. Why the change man?

[@secondthought2320]

You can afford the $100 for new gold locking tuners but not $10 for the strings, which are already gone because they have been stretched and used!

[@richardsyoutubechannel995]

Both look good but in my opinion the klusons look best

[@stephenjoseph4981]

I have a 2008 LP Classic. I have Kluson tuners on it. I thought about changing them to modern Gibson tuners. However, the thought of reaming the holes out to fit modern tuners it's not appealing in the least. Why they aren't all standard sized is beyond me. Also, having to leave one screw hole exposed looks amateur. I also swapped out the original pups for '57 Classic and Classic Plus. Big upgrade! Making changes to this guitar doesn't bother me. Since this was a 40th birthday gift from my family, I will never sell it.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

High are you satisfied with the klusons??

[@VictoryGuitarShop]

When I ream my holes I go from both front and back so the tightest and smallest fit is in the center of the thickness of the wood. This way the holes will taper equally towards the center. I agree the original Klusons they put on some Gibsons are terrible, they even put these on their expensive "Historic Reissues". Be carefull tightening the nuts because you can flatten the lacquer too much and it will make dimples. As soon as it gets snug you should stop VP

[@cheburascka]

Grover looks good, but with tulip button for Gibson!

[@SDPickups]

Thanks for posting this, Grover doesn't give you ANY instructions at all.

[@roberteasleysr9108]

SDPickups n

[@roberteasleysr9108]

Oops

[@cmartin1959-qq2mi]

you can just put a screw in that extra hole too.

[@markmarsh27]

My brand new Custon Les Paul stays in tune AMAZINGLY well. ...better than any guitar I've ever had. .... So if the Grovers are that much better than the Klusens it came with, why the F**K didn't this $10 000 guitar COME WITH GROVERS????

[@1450JackCade]

Pro-tip for reaming out the whole, you usually only need to go about 1/3 of the way into the hole. So only use the reamer on the back side of the headstock. (The potential perv jokes in that sentence are unintended.) To get the exact size right, I did what he does on this video with the reamer, then drilled the hole out all the way through, with with the exact sized bit. If I did it again, I'd only drill about 1/3-1/2 of the hole out.

[@nobby322]

The classic tuning pegs are the precise reason why I chose the studio model. I just personally dig the aesthetic value of the vintage Les Paul look. I have those bean shaped pegs on my Ibanez AS-75 and god damn is it ugly. Anyway just personal preference, so to each his own. (:

[@newsboysfan77]

I agree with you! I have the kidney bean grovers on my Les Paul from Epiphone, and they are ugly~

[@grifalton]

a couple of years ago I think

[@fretboardmaster70]

My mistake, The fakes have 3 screws. Take back what I just wrote.

[@rockriff8889]

The fakes at first glance are the same.The difference is the embossed Grover logo on the tuner .It looks shit.and not defined. And the gearing is not smooth... Most Chinese fake Les Pauls come with them fitted..

[@michaelevans512]

I wouldnt worry about installing push pull knobs. They came with my 2013 Gibson les paul studio. I never use the push pull feature. I don't think it sounds very good on a les paul anyway. I never use the single coil feature

[@frankyfurbo1]

Yes, and Jimmy Page never used the push/pull pots in Led Zeppelin. However, if you're going for that Coverdale/Page sound, go for it. :)

[@ERIC-65]

I'd keep the Klusons !

[@swang1664]

The taper on that reamer is ridiculous you've made a massive mistake using grocers I got them on my gibson SG 61 reissue and they are absolute crap! Want to put kluson a back on but because someone has reamed the holes I'm kinda stuck unless I can find some sort of bush! Don't do it folks it ruins the look of the whole guitar I think the best route is to use some nut sauce or a bit of pencil lead on the saddles and nut etc!

[@BenLubin]

those inlays

[@GuitarSamurai62]

Why gold tuners? All your hardware is chrome.

[@lucakaluso3257]

Like the Jimmy Page "number 1" :)

[@onair646]

LOL! Replacing those wonderful Mechanix with fucking ugly ass Grovers. No place in Hell for you! .D

[@modsoul1]

I know, right? Hideous

[@cmartin1959-qq2mi]

pretty obvious your a dumbass noob. probably a fucking punkass kid.

[@edgeger]

change a classical tulips!!!! what a !?!?!

[@raydowley1038]

Gold? rest of the hardware chrome or nickel everyone to their own I suppose

[@happyhomelesshomesteaders158]

Step bit should work hand held

[@cedom505]

go to Sears on-line. CT

[@fretboardmaster70]

Liked your informative post. I am just going by what I have observed so please don't take offence. 1. Your Truss rod bell cover has only 2 screws. Original Gibsons have 3 screws. The Fret Board inlays are also a strange colour.Even classics are not that green looking. This tells me that *perhaps* your Guitar is a Chinese Fake? Probably your modifications have turned it into an awesome Guitar anyway. As long as you are happy. Keep Rocking.

[@ropersnoop]

1. Pretty much every Les Paul I've seen and played for the past 25 years have 2 screws in the truss rod cover

[@wibblegorm]

Why would you do this?

[@rks6395]

Don't like the half moon Grover button, I've got four les pauls changed buttons to keystone style looks alot better.my opinion

[@trevorwesterdahl6245]

Here is link to correct type of reamer: www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Tools_for_Tuner_Installation/Peghole_Reamers.html

[@tabletop77]

Why do people wanna put Grovers on Gibsons? Never understood whats wrong with the original Klusons...had a few Gibson guitars and never had any issue with them whatsoever.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

Thanks you helped me allot..i like klusons tulips and i want to give a try.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

Thanks for your opinion.. I like the klusons tulips and i want to give a try to my epiphone

[@VictoryGuitarShop]

I have 2 Les Pauls that have had those terrible "vintage" tuners replaced. Gibson sells those as vintage and they are more money than standard Grovers, seems like a scam to me. These "vintage" tuners do not hold tune well at all. If I had a vintage Les Paul I suppose I would use them so as to not have to change the size of the holes and devalue the guitar but that is anther story. Yes it is very important to use a reamer and not a drill bit, the drill bit can cause splinters and also can wedge itself in the existing hole and split the headstock. I use a reamer from both sides and stop just when the new tuner is snug. By going from both sides the smallest part of the hole is in the middle and the outer dimensions are the same and not as oversize as if you went from one side only. I used the "Gibson Deluxe" standard tuners that come factory on many other Gibsons, they are actually made by Grover. They look the same but are more substantial, also the threaded nut is a more secure fit for added sustain and tone.

[@stephenstrings]

+VictoryGuitarShop It would be honest and valuable for you to be objective about putting heavy tuning machines on a Les Paul. The Les Paul has the strap mount around the 16th fret making it already a "head heavy" instrument. Putting heavy tuning machines on makes it even worse. There is also the fact that heavy machines encourage head breaks. I disagree that the lighter tuners cause tuning difficulties. It's usually the nut behind the wheel. Joke .

[@peterleveillee1321]

+Peter Stephen I am being nothing but honest. Those so called 'vintage" tuners are nothing but trouble. I have had a lot of bad experiences with them either with my own guitars or my customers.

[@johnmcclinton9124]

Klusons are problematic? I didnt know that. Doesn't changing the machine heads diminish the value of the guitar? IDK? I think the change was a downgrade. But I've only been playing 55 yrs.

[@RobotShlomo]

Depends on if it's a valuable guitar to begin with. I just put Grovers on a 2002 Epiphone Casino, and I would have gladly paid the extra money to have them on in the first place. Epiphone already uses them on the better quality Casinos now.

[@LockeySniper]

your inlays.

[@ConorLawlor]

Don't tell me grovers are sh1t - I just bought six!

[@SDPickups]

I guess Jimmy Page and practically all the classic rock heroes were dumb? All those guys wanted more weight on the headstock , plus those Kluson tuners are junk.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

Why junk?

[@jamesmurphy5499]

Didn't fancy showing us how to use the tapered reamer then!? :facepalm;