Replacing Gibson min-ETune tuners on a Gibson SG

I changed the min-ETune electronic tuning system on my Gibson SG for a set of Tonepros Kluson tuning machines.

[@CliffBeattieWW2]

My mother and two of her sisters worked at Gibson when it was in Kalamazoo, MI. It was during WWII and all the craftsmen were off to war. They were not alowed to tell anyone at the time that the women were crafting and assembling guitars.

[@alecsneed5835]

CliffBeattie That’s really cool! Never heard that before

[@EspyHop2]

“Woman tone.”

[@ericdpeerik3928]

Oddly enough, guitars were on the war effort list, because of moral. So yeah, that's valid service to the war effort.

[@markvartok02]

Good job Susan! Encourages me to deal with this issue! Thanks!

[@SatireDaily]

Thank you, Susan! Just got a 14' futura and the etune is malfunctioning. Think I'll switch after seeing how easy it is.

[@OhNoNotFrank]

I've got the 2015 Les Paul, and have actually been quite happy with the auto-tuner. Problem is that the gears are made of plastic or other weak material that *will* break over time, leaving it useless. You can change to metal gears, but Gibson don't seem too eager to help out with info on where to get them, what kind to use and how to change them. So, I'm changing back to manual tuners as well...

[@pulktheband9106]

Great I always post the following reply READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@willk-lander5791]

Great vid! Looking at buying an sg future which still has the min-etune installed, this vid helped ease my mind if I need to/will want to change it. Rock on 👊

[@pulktheband9106]

READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@bbeenn]

Nice tip on the string unwinding! Thank you

[@BrencoGuitars]

Great video. It's funny how most videos on this system is people removing them

[@Thibz68]

About to replace that annoying tuner myself on my Les Paul .. Thanks for the vid ..

[@googo151]

THANKS SUSAN. I'M LOOKING AT A GIBSON DOUBLE CUT JR, AND HATE THAT G FORCE CRAP. RESEARCHING CHANGING THAT S...., AND ALSO, CHANGING OUT THAT ZERO BRASS NUT CRAP TOO.

[@leftienigeblank4320]

Hello Susan . I had an old '60's S.G. with a Bigsby . After years of bending strings to stay on those damn pins , occasionally having one snap at that point , I found a spongey ear-plug ( for workers in noisy jobs ) squeezed under just right . Cheers , Nige .

[@DangerRifai]

Cheers for this. I've got an Anniversary Edition Gibson SG with the min-ETune, and I love the guitar, and could even live with the tuners, as they work pretty well, like you say. The problem for me is that, like you, I play in loads of different tunings, which makes it a pain to retune. It ends up just being quicker with regular machineheads, so I'm looking at how to replace them. Thanks again.

[@pulktheband9106]

READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@HearGear]

I did the same on my Gibson Les Paul Futura 2014 model, but i put Gotoh locking tuners on mine... now it works great.. :D i have video about it on my youtube channel...

[@Sea-Dog5496]

Hello Susan. I am sure you get more than your share of comments on how you do things, in that you should do any given procedure their way. I like your videos and your approach to getting the job done. I have a small suggestion for you. On your "C" clamp, if you have a couple of small magnets you can use a forstner drill bit to drill out a hole in a small block of wood glue in the magnet in the hole and attache it to the faces of the clamp. The blocks are held in place on the clamp. Don't drill the holes for the magnet all the way through. Store them off the clamp and only use as needed. :-)

[@SusanGardener]

Nice idea. I’ll have to check later though if the pad on the end of the screw (I wonder what its correct name is) is alloy or steel. I know on some of my clamps it’s not magnetic.

[@jmccaintx]

Thanks for this video - it's very helpful.

[@PeterDad60]

My Gibson SG HP robot tuners died when I put the instrument (in it's aluminum case) in the back of a moving van on a during the summer when we moved. I guess the heat killed it. I have been tuning manual ever since and they do a good job of keeping in tune. however the robot tuners seem to be a lot heavier than a standard set of quality tuners and my SG HP has severe neck dive. So I have been wanting to install a quality set of tuners for a long time now.

[@leascaart]

I want to switch out my metallic locking tuners for the vintage tuners.

[@Fuff63]

I found this to be enjoyable and inspiring. I am going to change my acoustic Epiphone FT350Sc e-tuners with traditional ones for the very same reasons. Any quality brand suggestions are welcome here. Cheers.

[@kaskas55]

Gotoh locking tuners or Grovers. cheers!

[@w.l.h.]

I feel like I must be in the minority. I'm fully in favor of auto tuners, if they work well. I'm completely capable of tuning a guitar but changing tunings frequently is a hassle. Also, I just like inventions. Beautiful guitar, by the way.

[@ThePeps1776]

Could you provide a link to the 10.3mm conversion bushings?

[@agdtec]

I saw how you had difficulty using the c clamp with the blocks of wood. I have 2 very cheap clamps with maple buttons, super glued in place just for that type of situation.

[@charlesopyrchal1004]

Very nice. Thanks

[@gunsofsteele]

Got this on my LP Peace. It's kinda cool & kinda frustrating. All automatic tuning, standard, open, 1/2 step down are quick & cool but turning them by hand feels strange. And you have to tune by hand a lot. Think I'll switch too. Thanks for the video. Go StewMac!

[@gunsofsteele]

Update: installed from StewMac on my LP: Item # 3459 set of six 10.5mm round conversion bushings, Nickle $11.75 USD Item # 5144-C one set of Kluson 3+3 Locking Revolution Series G-mount Non-Collared Tuners $92.75 USD The bushings which come with the tuners are too small for the factory holes in the headstock so item 3459 is required. Pressing bushings in is simple. Use a small C-clamp & protect the guitar finish with thin cardboard. Take your time when you align the tuners. Use a straight edge. If in doubt, take a break and relax. Refocus then proceed. I lined up 3 on one side, center punched one hole to secure the middle tuner, drilled this one hole & snugged it in place just enough to realign all 3 tuners again. Removed the 1st screw, drilled 2nd hole, installed both screws while realigning all 3 tuners. Took my time, one hole at a time. Sure, I had to keep removing the 1st screw of each tuner to drill the 2nd hole but it's worth it to keep from scratching the finish. Snug all screws and tune / intonate. Don't stress over the shaft of the tuners feeling a little sloppy in the bushings. They are designed this way. Tuning stability is spot on. Cheers Mates! 😎

[@uspsdaveable]

I’ve got 2015 LP , When I first got it I thought it was a great system, so cool to watch it work...... then the battery went dead, can’t tune the guitar till I recharged it..... had to find the charger and then wait....... Now don’t get me wrong if you like this system great... but Gibson has given up on placing them on their guitars....speaks volumes. Just got some Grover locking tuners and will soon be putting them on, I also contacted Gibson for a new nut....the brass one is very soft, they are sending a titanium one to me. One shouldn’t need a manual to operate a guitar.

[@Hermannposch]

Well done! Thank you👍

[@lucasdeaver9192]

Thank you for this video. I recently bought and SG with G-Force tuners. I thought I'd give them a try. I came to many of the same conclusions about the reliability and having any need for such a thing. It seems they are trying to solve a problem that didn't need solving. I was also unaware of the inherent "neck dive" that SG's have. I'm planning on switching to Goteh Keystone tuners (a bit heavier than the Kluson's you put on) and hope it helps with the imbalance issue.

[@pulktheband9106]

READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@simonmoore2549]

May I suggest you use the super glue and masking tape trick to glue blocks to the clamp when doing this, might save the juggling with the two pieces of wood.

[@tisucasas]

Thank you so much.You are very polite.Good luck.

[@pulktheband9106]

If you take the time to Learn and READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@rreyv9721]

Hate charging the bloody thing too. Going to replace mine this weekend. 2016 les Paul.

[@jameslucas6589]

I'm so out of touch....never knew that this device exists. If it really works... awesome, I am eventually buying one if the cost is not ridiculous.

[@pulktheband9106]

READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@basarozmen]

Nice video, but you could set a pitch offset string by string. The tuner always sets the tune right on spot this way.

[@amirkhalid5449]

If you don't already know, this might be of interest: These auto tuners are supplied to Gibson by a German company, Tronical GmbH, which also sells on its website aftermarket versions for Fender Strats and Teles. Nelson DeSouza has a recent video on his KZbin channel, Woodeso's Guitar Mods, where he dissects a Min-E-Tune that broke down. He found many gears with broken teeth, and concluded that they were made of cheap and weak metal. DeSouza seems not in favour of keeping these devices on one's Gibson.

[@Panic42000]

Amir Khalid I had them on one of my Gibson’s for a couple of years and they worked perfectly. I took them off because I didn’t like they way they looked.

[@ericdpeerik3928]

Tronical, noted! Thanks!

[@pulktheband9106]

READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

I don't think I could live with those. They would drive me mad. I love how you described the Bigsby as an improvement. You cannot improve any guitar and certainly not an SG with a Bigsby. Oh, how I detest them. But I'm sure the Kluson style tuners will make all the difference.

[@SusanGardener]

I did wonder whether to take the Bigsby off as I rarely use it, but it does improve the balance a lot. The Bigsby is attached to the tail piece holes with a plate so there are no extra screw holes and I can remove it cleanly.

Susan Gardener That's the only type worth having in my view, so you can take it off after you realise how awful it looks with minimal regret. I can live with a little neck heaviness (but I'm not playing live), but have wondered if hanging a weight off the guitar near or at the strap button might help pull it down enough and only look like a wireless pack at worst. Anyway, keep up the good work.

[@rolanddeschain6617]

I took the bar off and replaced the spring with a piece of pipe to lock it down. Keep balance and improve tuning stability. Still a pretty tail piece.

[@OniDasAlagoas]

Hey, Susa, great video! Do you need to drill the holes or can you push and turn the screws without doing so?

[@geoffbruce1501]

Changed mine on my 2105 Midtown....they really were a pain especially when changing strings

[@tractordirt]

I suppose one could use collared tuners with the screw in bushings?

[@MegaGuitman]

I didn’t see you pulling on the strings to allow the auto tuning device to tune properly...it’s standard procedure to pull on strings when tuning manually or using a device like that on your sg

[@davidpenwell3432]

Was it possible the intonation was off on those notes reading sharp but In tune

[@hanserikkratholmrasmussen6623]

You just saved my SG from being sold ;-) I´m so sic of ETune that I hardly ever play this guitar (I´m more into acoustic anyway). The system is so heavy and it does not stay in tune for more than five minutes. Where do I buy a decent set of tuners?

[@pulktheband9106]

READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@01RogerR]

Wow. I've no experience of those auto tuners, but they obviously need further development. It must be nerve-racking to have to rely on them at a gig! Say what you like about the brand, but the Gibson SG in Cherry Red is a stunningly beautiful guitar, especially with the Bigsby mod. But I think that the SuGar SG will be better - when's the next "build" instalment coming?

[@pulktheband9106]

READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@tattoobysanto]

thanks ..Thumbn UP

[@androo-4648]

I’d love to do this but I don’t know where to start 😖

[@Damageinc.]

Why not just tune it by hand or replace the gears inside?

[@phayzyre1052]

Well done!! A buddy of mine has a 2015 SG that had this mini-tune crap on it; twice it went out of tune while in the middle of playing a live set. Well, there wasn't a third time because after the second failure he took it off and threw it in the trash where the rest of that Henry Juszkiewicz-era garbage belongs!

[@pulktheband9106]

Not crap at all ! READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@phayzyre1052]

@@pulktheband9106 You’re about the only one I’ve met who gives that thing praise because everybody I have run across since I’ve posted that comment did not like that robo tuner. And YES, we did read the damn manual, not once but twice especially after the first time it started going goofy on us! We even tried a fresh battery but it still at times acted up. Also, ask yourself this: if this tuner was such a great idea why didn’t Gibson continue with it? From what I recall they installed them from about 2014 to 2016 but due to customer complaints and people not buying guitars with it on it they ceased using it. If you like it, fine but as for me, I’ll pass.

[@robertkibbler1564]

Put your schoolgirl outfit on and start Rockin... LOL. Cheers Rob.

[@SusanGardener]

:-)

[@mykhough6614]

I never have liked these e-Tuners and wouldn't buy a guitar which had them. I like your method of stringing and will try it next time. Does it also work on locking tuners?

[@SusanGardener]

You don’t need it on locking tuners. The over-under locks the string, but on a locking system the extra winds are unnecessary

[@henryhunter5026]

Those Tronical tuners were terrible and had a bad reputation for the reasons you mentioned, at one time Gibson sent out sets of manual tuners to dealers so that they could replace them and make the instruments more saleable. I changed the Tronical tuners in my Midtown for Grovers, the holes were the right size for the Grovers and I only needed to drill one hole per tuner for fixing. When fitting push in bushings I use a nut and bolt with a leather faced large “penny “ washer either side put the bolt though the bushing, fit the nut and then slowly pull the bushing in by tightening the nut.

[@pulktheband9106]

READ THE MANUAL works perfectly you need to calibrate every string change then tune 1 string with a reference tuner follow the instructions and the other strings will fall in line with your chosen reference strings . Also most important increase the accuracy setting and use individual string mode ( long press on starting )it will tune slower but better. I have even calibrated to sweet tunings my Peterson tuner uses. It is a great addition to any guitar but you really have to learn how to use it to get the best performance

[@jotavetres]

I have the exact same guitar and the tune thing got on my nerves, I want to replace them, where did you buy the tonepros Kluson? do you have the exact model SKU

[@micmica1827]

Professionals will always prefer to use simple mechanical equipment rather than automatic electronic with microprocessors

[@heelf5277]

GORGEOUS angel 😍.... LOVE YOU

[@Bizman62]

How about attaching the bottom protective piece to the clamp with double sided tape/masking tape + super glue?

[@tisucasas]

What "size" of drill do you use to make the holes in the back of the headstock? I have to buy it and I don't know what it is.Thanks a Lot.

[@SusanGardener]

I think I used a 1.5mm drill

[@JDODify]

Wow. That's awful. I think the newer G Force ones are better cos I tried one in a shop in Bristol a few months ago.

[@calumdoran2005]

16:23 imagine if the headstock breaks lmao

[@chris61981]

What is the tool you use to make the tiny pilot holes on the back of the headstock? How many mm are they?

[@SusanGardener]

1.5mm drill bit

[@chris61981]

@@SusanGardener no I mean what size are the holes we see you drill at 18.12?

[@SusanGardener]

They are 1.5mm holes as far as I can remember - the screws are very thin.

[@freddyc.d2536]

Hi, the bigsby and lightweight tuners fix the neck dive in your SG ?

[@SusanGardener]

Yes they do

[@freddyc.d2536]

Thanks Susan!

[@squareyes1981]

As far as I'm concerned, they should all be given flying lessons. I'm not a Luddite but what a complete faff these things are.

[@TomTobin67]

Those silly robo tuners are a joke. Its a band-aid (plaster) on a gushing wound. Ya figured Gibson would fix the problem but nooooo, they'd just put a flippin' robot on the headstock and call it a day. Instead, they need to stop it with the 17 degree pitchback on the headstocks and do what Fender does. Fenders don't have much headstock repairs or tuning problems. Gibson needs to get it together.

[@kardRatzinger]

Min-etune is the worst. I replaced them on my LP with literally the cheapest chinese machine heads (wanted to buy Klusons, but my shop didn't carry adapter bushings and I decided I just can't wait for them to be shipped) and they are infinitely better in terms of tuning speed and accuracy.

[@RobinErhage]

I bought a goltop 2016 hp standard today, it had the kluson tuners, could this be original or more Likely, did they remove the robo tuners?