Official Luthiers Forum!

Just got my tuners in for my stew mac 000 kit. They came with no instructions but I think I can figure it out but I do have a couple of questions. The tuners are the Gotoh "mid grade" slot head tuners (the one's for about $60) from LMI.

The tuners are a bit longer than the hole is deep so obviously I have to deepen it a bit, no biggie. The holes are also quite loose compared to the tuner, haven't measured by how much though. Is this an issue or should the shaft be relatively tight in the hole? If this is an issue I expect I'll have to return these and get whatever tuners Stewmac had in mind when they drilled.


So, the tuners came with one bushing per tuner. I'm wondering if this bushing goes in the outboard hole or the inboard hole (medial vs. lateral). I'm guessing it goes on the outboard hole and the inboard hole just hangs free.

Nextly, do the bushings go in before or after finishing the neck? If pre-finish, what are people doing to keep finish out of the hole.

Thanks,

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Andy--

I usually go to Stew Mac and get a second set of bushings so both are covered. Its only 5 or 6 bucks. I put them in after finishing the neck and if there is enough finish in the holes to prevent them from being installed, I use a small dowel with sand paper to gently clean the holes. The tuner shaft should be loose in the hole, but snug in the bushing -- no side play.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Andy,
The bushes go on the inside to support the tuner post. The other end of the tuner post is supported already as it is mounted to the plate which is then screwed to the peghead. Hope this helps.
Cheers Chopper

Thanks.

To probe a bit more though - I'll have to drill the holes out a bit to fit the bushing and obviously, I can't enlarge the inside hole without enlarging the outside hole. That's not a problem I take it?

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

G'day Andy,
No it's not a problem, the tuner post shafts will then be supported by bushings on both ends,ie the bush on the end of the shaft and the shaft being mounted onto the tuner plate at the other end.
Cheers Chopper