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I've replaced almost everything on my epi les paul... and I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised at how big the improvement was.

Now I'm thinking of finishing off the job by replacing the machine heads. Any suggestions which ones I should get?

And I'm also wondering how much difference it makes? Would it make it hold its tune perfectly? Or are there other problems with the guitar that contribute to this?

Thanks...

I always push the Gotoh SG30 sets, however Allparts do a set which has tulip buttons which look nicer than the standard Gotoh buttons. Gotoh buttona are in any case interchangeable. The view shown here is the gold one but they do them in chrome as well and at only 35 bucks they are very good value.
I can personally testify to the quality of these units so don't think that just because they are cheap they aren't any good...

They do need to be professionally fitted though. the headstock needs to be reamed out to just under 10mm so that the stub on the gear housing is a snug fit and there will be holes left over from the kluson copies.

An alternative with the same footprint as the Klusons is made by both Grover and Schaller. My experience of these is negative however as they fit them to the Gibson Les Paul and SGs and i see many that have spontaneously disintegrated.

Thanks heaps for your help.
I'll be sure to check that out...


Originally Posted by octavedoctorThey do need to be professionally fitted though. the headstock needs to be reamed out to just under 10mm so that the stub on the gear housing is a snug fit and there will be holes left over from the kluson copies.

A few years ago I tried swapping out tuners on an older Epiphone and the stock holes for the stock tuners was larger than the bushings on the tuners I was replacing it with- the quot;Klusonsquot; off an R8.


Originally Posted by The Golden BoyA few years ago I tried swapping out tuners on an older Epiphone and the stock holes for the stock tuners was larger than the bushings on the tuners I was replacing it with- the quot;Klusonsquot; off an R8.

That may well have been the case; there are slight differences in size between the plug ferrules for different tuners and it could even be that the Epi you were replacing the tuners on had already been fitted with sealed gear units. However trust me on this, if the Epi spuds is upgrading has the original cheapo Kluson clones the holes will be too small for any decent tuners with sealed gear housings and locking ferrules.

This was an older Epi (think like 5 years) and it had the oval shaped faux pearl button E-branded quot;Grovers.quot;

FWIW, you'd be better off using a reamer to open up the holes, as opposed to trying to drill them out with a quot;standardquot; metal-cutting bit. I've seen headstocks spit from using the drill-bit method.

Are there any good quality tuners that drop straight into the stock holes?


Originally Posted by larry_emderAre there any good quality tuners that drop straight into the stock holes?

Exactly...
That way I could just do it myself.


Originally Posted by larry_emderAre there any good quality tuners that drop straight into the stock holes?

I had trouble finding replacement tuners for my one of my Epi's... is this because Epi's use the metric system?

Anyways, try stewmac or allparts.com. they sometimes carry metric parts or list the dimensions of the replacement tuners.... that should help...


Originally Posted by spudsExactly...
That way I could just do it myself.

None that are any good.

The best stability is offered by sealed units with locking ferrules, properly fitted.

I'm often asked what is the most common source of faults on the guitars I see.

Owners attempting their own repairs and upgrades without the skills and knowledge to accomplish them, actually.

Swallow your pride and pay a good tech to do it.