Official Luthiers Forum!

Lance, how grateful we are for the OLF when in need!

This time, I'm having a bit of a situation w/ some tuners for an electric guitar I'm trying to finish up. I just tried to fit them to a pre-finished neck I've had around here for years. I think it was purchased from Stew-Mac, and I'm finally using it. Ok, so the mini- Gotoh-locking-tuners collar shaft is TOO short for the thickness of the peghead. The p/h is 9/16" thick (which I thought was industry standard). The collars won't catch the threads of the tuner housing IF I also use the washers. It appears that the tuners were designed for a 1/2" thick p/h max. What to do? I'm pretty well committed to using both the neck and tuners.
I could: 1)Thin the peghead to 1/2" on the back side.
           2)Countersink (carefully) a recess for the washers.

I hate both options. So--has anyone run across this problem, and what did you do? By the way, I am open to a 3rd solution like you wouldn't believe!

Thanks for any help--even if it's just sympathy!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

The only thing I've done in this instance is countersink the washers. Unless you can find a source for longer nuts. Maybe allparts.com?
You may try giving them or some music store/repair shop a call and have them check that old box of parts and pieces under the counter.John How38533.7285532407

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Steve,

How about symmetrical rabbets on each side of the peghead back (or one side, if it's 6-on-a-side), effectively countersinking the whole gear assembly? If ya make it pretty, it'll have a "sculpted" look.

Carlton

Not a bad idea Carlton, there was a guy at ASIA that drilled the tuner holes in his strat neck too big and so just sliced off that portion and glued on a contrasting color wood and redrilled the holes. Not the same problem but it shows you can do some strange things to a guitarJohn How38533.7282291667

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Steve,
I know you are committed to using the tuners you have but Gotoh makes tuners with adjustable posts.
Wouldn't you know it's available in a premier series. $$$$
They are 3+3 design.
Good Luck!

Gotoh also makes some tuners called their HAP tuners which means
height adjusting pegs. You can adjust them to the height of your
peghead!! Yippie!


oh ...walter beat me to the punch... well here is the PN's at all parts:

TK_7660-010
TK_7679-002

and there is a bunch of variations...

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Thanks guys.

I just buffed the top of the peghead--thus my reluctance to attack the top w/ countersunk holes, though that might be the best bet.
Countersinking the back ain't a bad idea. I'll certainly be thinking about these options.

Has anyone else come across this? (Oh by the way, the tuners came from All Parts.)

Again, thanks!
Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve,

I don't know if you read my post about trying to delaminate a headstock, but the neck I ruined was from trying to thin the backside of the headstock. I would try and avoid that option if at all possible. If I wasn't working at midnight, I may have been thinking a little more clearly and never tried it. I'm sure your skills are better than mine, but in hindsight I think it was a mistake to ever try it.

Good luck!

John