Upgrading guitar tuners: what you need to know

www.stewmac.com/
Will you need to drill holes in your guitar if you put new tuners on it? How do you figure out which tuners are an easy fit, and which require more work? What about keeping the old tuners for resale value? StewMac gets questions, and Erick Coleman has answers.
If you have questions, please contact us through our webpage www.stewmac.com/email or visit our Facebook page / stewmac
For more information on tools and parts:
Tuner Bushing Press
www.stewmac.com/0460.html
3/8" Conversion Tuner Bushings
www.stewmac.com/3457.html
Guitar Tech Screwdriver Set
www.stewmac.com/3000.html
Vintage-style 3-on-Plate Tuners
www.stewmac.com/4095.html
Tuner Pin Drill Jig
www.stewmac.com/4857.html
Peghole Reamer
www.stewmac.com/0344.html

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

TIP FOR PUTTING SCREWS BACK INTO EXISTING HOLES: Turn the screw counter-clockwise(backwards) slowly until you feel it drop into the threading. This then uses the original thread track instead of reaming out a new one as this, over time, will strip out the hole.

[@whatarefriends4]

See I wouldn’t have done that!🤦‍♂️

[@__thatcarguy__4086]

This is also for necks

[@ramencurry6672]

You need a Medal of Honor. That sounds interesting

[@fdrsassbitch1557]

Thank you thank you thank you for this! I’m repairing my old fender dreadnought to give to a coworker that wants to learn guitar and I need all the tips I can get!

[@sayantanutbe]

This is by far the best video on tuner upgrade on KZbin. Very well done! Thanks!

[@ryanwilson5936]

I just took advantage of the Gotoh sale and ordered a set of 510 3x3 midsize in cosmo black from you guys. Thanks, can’t wait to install them!

[@budandbean1]

Enjoyed learning about new items like the bushings. It's good to know about, thank you!

[@mideastkid88]

Wow, super clear and concise advice here. No frills, only the important info is presented very clearly. Instant subscribe! Thanks for posting this!

[@5urg3x]

Suggestion: If you're going to upgrade to locking tuners, check which kind of tuners you've got already and see if the same manufacturer makes a locking version that has the identical post size and mounting holes. Most Ibanez guitars come with Gotoh tuners and I know for sure the locking Gotohs use exactly the same sizes and holes, so they are going to be a direct retro-fit -- that's exactly what you want. Pretty sure Fender / Gibson have the same kind of options. Fender's OEM locking tuners are pretty good too -- from what I remember they use a two pin design.

[@jmromero6381]

Gotohs fit on my Jacksons, too.

[@ThatOtherRaccoon]

EXCELLENT suggestion. I'm going to find some for my Ibanez too then.

[@5urg3x]

mark heyne Not true. Locking tuners do help with tuning stability, and also don’t require you to stretch the strings as much after you put them on, compared to conventional wrap friction tuners. They’re much faster too, of course. It’s a no brainer, really. And like I said, there should be no need to make new holes in the headstock.

[@tylerthompson1842]

Sure but a lot of ppl throw locking tuners into a budget guitar that comes with crappy off brands. It’s easy to just measure the new tuner with a caliper and open the up the holes.

[@5urg3x]

@@tylerthompson1842 …Or you can just get locking tuners that have the post size of whatever off brand your guitar came with, lol. It’s not like there’s any real advantage to getting any specific kind, they’re all variations on the same basic design 🤷‍♂️

[@Joe-mz6dc]

This is a very informative and very professional video. You guys deserve much respect. Thank you.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

3:15 A Reamer is the most important tool when putting Sealed Gear Tuners on Vintage instruments (which is great for improved tuning stability) cause it keeps those holes nice & clean.

[@JROC2112]

Thanks dude. Your video has helped me decide on which tuners I am going to get.

[@TechTaboo]

Wow. Incredibly informative. Tons of great info here.

[@Spartanm333]

Many thanks - real helpful. Just about to take the electronic tuners off of a Gibson SG Standard HP USA 2017 and replace with Grovers - was a little concerned about hole diameter and screw fittings - this makes things a lot clearer thanks. I am going to replace with modern Grover in chrome to match the rest of the guitar - much like the 2018 version of the same model guitar where Gibson themselves have now seen the light and dropped the E-tune.

[@senorsunset]

This was gold. Watch it all the way through lads.

[@tramlad2]

What a brilliant and informative video, i have some guitars i am modifying the machine heads on, i want locking ones, you have helped me so much with this lesson.

[@undercrackers56]

What an amazingly crafted video.

[@JohnnyGuitarRocks]

This is so informative - thank you!

[@randfur]

The best video covering the different peg types and how to identify them.

[@charlestew8792]

Suggestion for the drill jig....just use some carbon copy paper on the end of the tuner and let it mark the pin locations. Cheap but accurate solution. Great video.

[@RobCabreraCh]

That black SG is awesome! That's one of my dream guitars, an SG standard with P90s.

[@Valenspire]

Much appreciated, the tuners that I ordered had those pressfit bushes and I needed a little more information on what to do. (It's a unusual instrument but it uses the same pegs as those used in ukuleles)

[@shurdi3]

5:40 А classic carpenter's trick for that is to glue a dowel in there and re-drill the hole.

[@rocesboyanthony5343]

shurdi3 genius.

[@airgliderz]

He specifically mentions this if you watched the video

[@holmesteadready]

@@airgliderz he did?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Sealed Gear Tuners are a huge improvement because they allow the instrument to always hold tune. 4:19 They make Sealed Gear Tuners w/ a Vintage Tuner shape to them, good balance between look & tuning stability.

[@sgnt9337]

Good video. The callouts that were added really helped.

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

These are very solid videos. Well done.

[@avjake]

Kudos on the excellent video. I was thinking you guys should offer "aged" conversion bushings (if you don't already).

[@milowagon]

Great straightforward no nonsense information Stewart. Many thanks.

[@EyecareBacklog1]

Fascinating! Thanks for posting.

[@telecasterbear]

conversion bushings are great. I have used them on more than one guitar.

[@pikachuthegayatheist6215]

You can plug the holes with dowels and then re-drill the holes. That’s what I would do when I’m replacing those type of Tuner machines that have to have a larger holes with tuners require smaller holes, it’s simple you just take some dowels stick about the same diameter of the holes, Cut each dowel stick about an inch the size of the width of the headstock and then roll each stick in gorilla glue, and tap the sticks into the headstock evenly, and then regriel each hole when the glue dries. If it’s not even you can always stand it off and repaint the head stock, or run part of it through a bandsaw to cut the dowel sticks to an even level.

[@FlorentinoRebuildingCo.5644]

Perfect timing (for me anyways). I got slighky used Darco tuners for my guitar i keep in the truck. I'm planning on doing the work myself andvthis vid answered all my questions. Very interesting use of a reamer on correcting the hole sizes, instead of a drill or wooden dowel/drill-out steps. Since you a very lightly " filing-down" (so to speak) the insude walls of those holes. The reamer can dk the job in under a minute each. No glues, retouching paint of clear coat...and no noisy drill or drill press. That reamer is just as quiet as came. Makes sense.

[@einfussganger]

Helpful video. I've seen one brand (maybe Hip Shot), offers a cover plate that goes between the tuning machines and the headstock and covers those old mounting holes.

[@jeffreykercheval9177]

Awesome information! Thank you!

[@koonsickgreen6272]

Your tips are alway thorough and super. Thank you.

[@Wabin22]

Very interesting! I have what I think are Fender Ping tuners on my Mexico Deluxe strat, but I want to upgrade them to Gotoh's vintage style locking.. but I'm not sure if they will fit. I have never removed the original tuners so I don't really know what to look for in order to make it properly. My wish is to just have the new ones slide in without any problem, but I'm not sure on what to look for :/

[@KutayYavuzMusic]

Thank you for the valuable information.

[@matthewpocock4824]

Excellent tips. I'm about to put some Hohners on my 40 year old D-10 copy.

[@homeone4054]

What a brilliant video. Thank you for the info!

[@halbertking2683]

I love your tool box with all the stickers on it.It looks like mine.

[@robertthompson3606]

One area that needs to be considered is the thickness of the peg head and the length of new machines' string posts. I have an Epiphone ET-275 and its peg head is very thick. The string post of many machines is not long enough to get at least three turns on the EAD strings. People should be encouraged to check the specs so they waste time and money on a machines that will not work. Thanks for the good video Erick!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

5:33 So these are Press Fit Peg head Conversion Bushings, they're slightly bigger Press Fit Peg head Bushings that allow the Vintage tuners to work w/ enlarged holes.

[@Michael-zt6wb]

I've been mainly playing a Seagull acoustic for a long time (~7 years) and I pulled out my old Gibson dreadnought and couldn't believe how much smoother the tuners were on the Gibson than the Seagull.

[@fr3ak1shh]

Seagull tuners suck... 2 of the little plastic collars that sit between the button and the rest of the tuner broke, and it's incredibly hard to turn now. I've been putting off fixing it for a while now... but I think it's time! I did a little more research, and I think it's because the screw on the button was tightened too tightly. Not a big deal! In fact, I shouldn't have to upgrade my tuners at all. I'll just buy replacement plastic washers. Awesome!

[@nissebjorn9916]

Great tips and info!

[@seriseriom8445]

Thank you for the video. But i believe ist safe to assume people are able to see if their tuners fit or not and how to drill holes or use screwdrivers. Alot more interesting would have been to tell us how to judge the quality of tuners and what to look for in a good to excellent tuner.

[@Combustion47]

Fantastic tutorial, Thankyou

[@markmarygoddard2203]

Nice presentation!

[@robertlerma1029]

You are nothing like the real stew mac! ii wish we had the original stew!

[@TylrVncnt]

Lmao you mean Dan Erlewine?

[@MuDdLe1957]

Super helpful. Thanks.

[@RiffRock51]

No towel or something soft to protect the bottom of that SG when you place is on the wooden table? Other than that, great video, very well done.

[@MrSneakyPants]

Agreed, it's first thing that I thought. It made me uncomfortable.

[@pauldbrown1010]

Yeah, I was triggered too by that microaggression 🤣

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Agree. I love how Mr. Dan does his work. That guy is a total-pro. I use a Yoga Mat = best thing ever, for working on my Precious instruments. oNe LovE from NYC

[@tommilitello198]

There’s really no need for it,not setting it on the driveway it’s a nice bench

[@luissanders7907]

Amazing job.

[@Wargasm644]

I wanted to upgrade my gold keystone tuners on my Les Paul to locking versions. But I just decided to go with original keystone Grovers in Gibson packaging. Nothing wrong with old set. Just losing a bit of gold and I wanted to freshen it up a bit. No regrets. I used to never be a big fan of Grovers. But the ones on Gibson’s seem so much nicer. Perfect tactile feel and operation. Comparable to the Gotohs on my ESP. That’s why I got the Grovers in the “Gibson “ packaging. I don’t know if Gibson gets a better tuner than standard Grover packaged stuff. But it seriously seems that way?

[@MrDcseltzer]

Before you get into a discussion about replacing tuners, you should also talk about the mechanics of how they wear out. In my experience I never had tuners wear out, only the tuning plate which you put your fingers on but not the mechanisms itself

[@johnny6148]

great video. learned a lot. thank you.

[@TL-072]

3.25: "it keeps the holes round, square...& clean" that's poetry bro !

[@TheRealCowlick]

I think he means tight or snug and not the shape

[@klieglite]

thank you for all this fab info! clear, informative, and really well made video.

[@RJMCafe]

Good but would have appreciated you showing how you would install new tuning heads with different mounting tab locations. Would you drill pilot holes? Would you use a drill press?

[@robertstapleton3598]

Wonderful video!

[@DeafBunnysBand]

Great video! Nice breakdown of a lot of options to change tuners. Good food for thought. ROKKON!! \m/

[@stewmac]

Thanks for watching!

[@lurklingX]

this is fantastic. thank you

[@dinnerwithfranklin2451]

Really interesting video, thanks

[@you2vertigo]

Great demo....indeed !!👍

[@zheil9152]

Sucks Gibson stopped offering the Steinberger gearless tuners to you guys. They were my favorite tuner :(

[@MikaTarkela]

Very informative video, thanks :)

[@rjlchristie]

The first thing I'm interested in when considering a tuner is the gear ratio. Aside from configuration, the rest of the specs are of secondary importance to me.

[@LeeGee]

I like them to stay in tune for at least 20 minutes

[@rodrigovegetal8923]

Great video! Tks a lot!

[@Johngaltsghost]

Very informative!

[@johnbooth1556]

I was totally immersed watching this first-rate video, and I'm not even considering changing my tuners !

[@ajaysawant5391]

VERY USEFUL VIDEO THANKS

[@andrewmuelleranantababaji8073]

Well done informative video thank you

[@nick1512]

I have a les Paul that was made in 98 and the original tuners were Grover’s but it only had one screw that went on the bottom. The guitar is used so the previous owner took off the originals and installed vintage Grover’s with the pearled buttons. Too bad for me I like to keep it original but there was 6 more screw holes drilled and it bothered me so I went and put the vintages back on. I do like those tuners the best but I like to keep my guitars as original as possible

[@jimmymeyer7758]

Like finding a left handed ax, finding info on left handed reverse headstock tuners is also quite a chore,,

[@shawnfunstuff]

For the sealed gear tuners, can you simply replace the knobs/buttons by unscrewing the old, and screwing in a new one? For example, I want to replace the steel buttons with white/yellow plastic buttons for their vintage look?

[@joelopez4237]

Thanks so much!

[@heroindoses1991]

So I bought a chelecaster and they put vintage style press fit tuners on it but they drilled the holes to the bigger size the other style of tuners calls for, I want to get locking tuners for it but I think I'll have to drill holes regardless of the style I choose. Live and learn i guess.

[@omare.d.3367]

Thank you!

[@kenm423]

True luthier.Nice vid. Thanks

[@MidnightRumbler365]

I have a squire affinity that has all Tele electronics. Want to change the tuners so they lock. The originals each have a single indexing pin. Would u or folks reading here suggest a replacement locking tuner (6 long, not staggered) that has only one indexing pin so I don’t have to drill please? Tnx. Very informative video.

[@MIKE-ej6ud]

I bought a Chinese or Korean made Mustang and within the first year, had to change the tuners. I got locking tuners and it's great. All in, I have invested $410 including tax. It's a great deal on a great Fender

[@robertguise6343]

A better information vid well made Cheers

[@bongo_baggins]

That conversion bushing section at the end was weirdly satisfying haha

[@snapascrew]

Penis

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

NICE~! I'm thinking I want a wide-neck and the best option for a righteous sound @cost (?) is to convert a classical to steel, and I definitely would like to make that tuner conversion - all the way to lockers. Ever see that?? Best

[@hadleymanmusic]

Two pin tuners come in two pin distance differences? I need replacements that fit the small distance 2 pin but I need staggered chrome.

[@goodboyringo9716]

If using a tapered rimmer how can you get the hole the correct size completely thru the neck without over sizing the hole.

[@hadleymanmusic]

Ive two pin holes on my schector neck but fender replacement locking tuners the two pins are farther apart. I wonder what staggered chrome set will match the pinholes on the neck.

[@jimmynich4791]

You can get those Hipshot grip lock tuners with a mounting plate you don't need to screw into the headstock, expensive but potentially save a lot of aggro.

[@TheRichie213]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard with the chrome grover tuners. I want to put on aged pearl tuners, tulip shaped you would see on a Gibson Les Paul. Which ones can I order that requires no drilling?

[@peterwelsh1932]

Just got a 73 SG with highly necrssary/ sought after "Repaired Neck" mod. Anywho: came with installed replacement tuners and a bag with original Gibson tuners. Should I put old ones back in? How to test them for badness? Guitar won't stay in tune anyway. Could be the nut or the Bigsby or some evil curse. But new tuners didn't fix tuning problem; apparently

[@stonemuzza8311]

What are the best tuners for a les Paul? It’s a tokai. I think it’s based of the 1990s black Gibson but idk

[@snapascrew]

If my current stock tuners post height is 19mm what would happen if i installed tuners that otherwise fit but were 19.5mm instead?

[@LennytheBeater]

When you have the metal Grove tuners but you want the vintage looking ones. Can you use the Grove Tuners from 4:20 with only the bottom screw? Mostly it holds in place with the big threat through the head and the small screw seems only for positioning, am I right?

[@abd-ix5qd]

Are sealed gear chrome tuner heavier than the plastic open gear tuners? Lately I am into travel guitar choosing between Washburn Rover 10 or Martin Backpacker. But I want to replace their chrome tuners to reduce weight of the headstock. And plastic tuners are more airline friendly compared to the chrome one.

[@MrVision14]

Thank you Jesus this helped me so much.

[@jaamvlog4205]

Nice video

[@Me-tuber]

Thank you

[@robertmeloian548]

Hello, can you tell me the brand and model the one with indexing pin underneath the housing? My strat has these special holes for the indexing pin, it's just one hole in the middle. I can't find any tuners with just one indexing pin in the middle, so it could fit without any unnecessary drilling. Thank you

[@RobMods]

Those conversion bushings are a great idea! The only thing I'd respectfully add is to use just a little lubricant on the string posts where they rub on the inner surface of the bushings. And use a little lanolin grease on the threads of rusty screws before you return them to the timber.

[@TylrVncnt]

Why lanolin?? Stuff is sticky as all hell 😬

[@RobMods]

@@TylrVncnt Lanolin grease is great as a rust treatment, plus it doesn't run into timber grain like some other greases/oils. If you put rusty screws back into timber, there's a good chance the next luthier won't be able to get them out. The rust bonds to the timber fibres.

[@wesleyzimmerman94]

Some companies, like Graphtec, make mounting plates that match the screw holes on whatever is factory installed so you have no need to drill new holes.

[@jacquescousteau217]

I have a 1984 E series Japanese Stratocaster. I want to replace the Gotoh tuners with grovers. Does Grover make a machine head that will drop in ? Thank You

[@samstinkeringaround8961]

so all the guitar stuff is cool , but there is not hardly any videos for us bass players. Need some bass videos please. BTW you are the coolest guy at stewmac.

[@davidsimons5944]

I own an electric sitar which includes 7 metal guitar style geared tuners but I want to upgrade to locking ones. How do I find out what ones I have or need to get? Should I take one off & send it by registered return post to a specialist seller so they can see exactly what needs to be matched? Thanks.

[@nickyG7515]

Hey man, I am from the UK and I have a problem. I bought a Takemine P5J (NOT SURE IF THEY EVEN MAKE THAT MODEL NOW) Any way, I have to replace six machine heads for the Pro series, every site that had the same ones as mine had run out of stock. The nearest had an amber button on, apart from that not being just gold, it is the same. Would you go for those? I wanted to keep it as it was made, but it seems I am fast running out of options. T Y Any advice would be welcome

[@LENWOIS]

This guy is a genius