Members Nsomniac Posted September 2, 2012 Members Share Posted September 2, 2012 So, I got one of those $89 SG Juniors at Guitar Center...was kind of taken with it when I played it. Never had a humbucker guitar before, and while it's not going to replace my strat or my tele, it's just a fun change of pace. So while I'm content with most of it for the price, I don't think I can live with those tuners. What should I put in it that would function satisfactorily without a huge price tag? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeatherAnnePeel Posted September 2, 2012 Members Share Posted September 2, 2012 Grovers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members IBDBB Posted September 2, 2012 Members Share Posted September 2, 2012 wilkinson are the cheapest i've found that work wellthe epi tuners are kinda odd though, so you may end up with an extra screw hole with no matter what you replace them with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BryanMichael Posted September 2, 2012 Members Share Posted September 2, 2012 A great luthier and tech I know gave me some advice once, he said that most "modern" tuners were just fine. As long as they don't slip, they are fine, and that includes most modern production tuners. He said that the NUT was where most tuning issues arise. That said, if you want something that has the look and feel of quality, but don't want to pay the price of the guitar over again...the wilkenson's mentioned above are the ticket IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members IBDBB Posted September 2, 2012 Members Share Posted September 2, 2012 A great luthier and tech I know gave me some advice once, he said that most "modern" tuners were just fine. As long as they don't slip, they are fine, and that includes most modern production tuners. He said that the NUT was where most tuning issues arise. That said, if you want something that has the look and feel of quality, but don't want to pay the price of the guitar over again...the wilkenson's mentioned above are the ticket IMO. completely agree with this as well. I have 2 of the Epi SG Jr's, and those cheap Epi tuners are very stiff, mine stick all the time. I've always left my tuners alone and just made sure that I have a bone or tusq nut, as long as the tuners don't stick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members smorgdonkey Posted September 2, 2012 Members Share Posted September 2, 2012 As above...and tune up to the note never down to the note. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted September 2, 2012 Members Share Posted September 2, 2012 wilkinson's from here: http://www.azguitarparts.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nsomniac Posted September 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted September 2, 2012 Thanks all for the help...as the price is certainly right, I'll go with the wilkinsons if I don't find something more premium at a good used price or something. And I'm definitely planning to replace the nut as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crisco Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 A set of Ping's would be my choice. They can usually be had for about $20and they hold tune very well.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EEJDBO/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=15468033939&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=289485036375542567&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B000EEJDBO And in some cases less than $10:http://www.amazon.com/Chrome-Guitar-String-Tuning-Machine/dp/B005LMPB9M/ref=pd_cp_MI_0and these have that angled screw and I just stumbled upon this thread:http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2944344-23-Epiphone-quot-Upgrade-quot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members warriorpoet Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 A set of Ping's would be my choice. They can usually be had for about $20and they hold tune very well.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EEJDBO/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=15468033939&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=289485036375542567&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B000EEJDBOAnd in some cases less than $10:http://www.amazon.com/Chrome-Guitar-String-Tuning-Machine/dp/B005LMPB9M/ref=pd_cp_MI_0and these have that angled screwand I just stumbled upon this thread:http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2944344-23-Epiphone-quot-Upgrade-quot The Pings work pretty well. Heck, Taylor uses them for OEM on their $$$ acoustics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fuelish Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 ... most "modern" tuners were just fine. As long as they don't slip, they are fine, and that includes most modern production tuners. He said that the NUT was where most tuning issues arise... Agreed...the nut, and just have to add proper string winding to the fray .... improperly wound strings make many think their tuners are at fault... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Redglittercoffin Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 As long as the tuners aren't loose, rattling or wonky they are probably fine. They might not last as long as Grovers, Schallers or Sperzel but for a few years I'm sure they'll do the job. Also, expensive tuners tend to be smoother and have a more precise gear ratio, but that's more icing on the cake in my book. As other have said, tuning stability has more to do with a quality setup (including a properly adjusted nut with polished grooves) and how you attach the strings to the tuners. If the nut is made from a cheap plastic it probably won't polish, changing it to Graphtech TUSQ or Corian might help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cats-o-caster Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Schaller copies of Klusons, hi quality and original look Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Canadian Jeff Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Are you: 1) wrapping your strings around the post properly during changes?2) sure your nut isn't binding? It's kinda unheard of for worm-gear tuners to 'slip'. More often it's bad restringing practices and/or a poorly cut nut which are responsible for poor tuning stability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluesnapper Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 SGs can have a tendency to be neck-heavy - depending on what yours feels like you might not want to use heavy tuners like Grovers as this can make the strap slippage/neck dive problem a bit worse. But I agree - the ones on there already are probably fine. Lube up the nut first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nsomniac Posted September 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Are you:1) wrapping your strings around the post properly during changes?2) sure your nut isn't binding?It's kinda unheard of for worm-gear tuners to 'slip'. More often it's bad restringing practices and/or a poorly cut nut which are responsible for poor tuning stability. I'm certainly not the world's most accomplished or experienced stringer, but I've imagined I do a pretty fair, careful job of it. Maybe I need to raise my game a little. And there is that plastic nut. Part of my trepidation about the tuners is just feel...I don't actually see it slip, it just FEELS loose...like I'm tuning my kids' SpongeBob ukulele. (And of course the big issue that started this, it doesn't stay in tune very well). Could be it's just a different feel than I'm used to, who knows. So maybe I'll change the nut first and see what difference that makes before I do the tuners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kit_strong Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Cheap guitars, expensive guitars., for me the answer is always the same. If I'm replacing the tuners it's going to be Hipshot GLO locking tuners every time. Sure there are cheaper options that will do just fine but when the difference between good enough and top shelf parts is only $20-30 why compromise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PeaveyPlayer Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Unless you are having problems with the tuners, then chances are they are fine. A new guitar will probably not have a lubricated nut. You can remedy this by removing the string from the slot, color the slot with a pencil, place the string back in the slot and check for binding. I can't say that I invented the pencil lubrication trick. I saw it done on a Taylor guitar and since then I have been doing it to all of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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