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Guitar Repair and Maintenance
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Topic starter
10/05/2006 4:07 am
I have an old acoustic guitar that sounds and plays great.
The tuners have a white plastic washer and a black grommet between the turning key and the main body.
One of the washers has fallen off, and another is broken and coming loose.
Is it OK to replace only the white washers?
If so, where do I get them?
I checked one or two guitar parts dealers without luck.
ACE hardware might have something close
The tuning keys are a bit loose when you back off, but the guitar stays pretty much in tune.
Does this mean that I'd be better off replacing all of the tuners?
I found someone on Ebay that makes gold ebony tuners that appear to be a great bargain.
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZearlcrQQhtZ-1
Thanks!!
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Paper-in-oil caps rule!
10/05/2006 1:06 pm
check out this site.
they are a good parts house. nice catalog.
they may have re[placement parts exactly or close.
but they definately have tuners.
24/05/2006 2:52 pm
If I was in that situation (which I have been before) I would remove a tuner or 3 if they are one unit, remove the ferrile, or gromet as you called it and I would take it to a guitar shop to size it properly and buy all new ones, new ones will fit tighter, they are inexpensive and since the existing ones are old you'll probably have another one go defective before long.
The last one I did, I took the whole tuner assembly in and I found some metal ferriles which were for an elecxtric guitar actually, but I found some with a tight snug fit. I had to ream out the holes very slightly before I could press them into the headstock. THEY HAVE TO GO IN STRAIGHT, and since I did not have proper tools for installing them I used an old tunner assembly as a guide to align them properly. This is a fairly precision job- you have toget it just right.
The result for me was great, I had tight fitting tuners that didn't move and helped keep the guitar in tune.
However, you might want to just get some that are actually made in the proper dimensions, probably plastic so they will slip right in. If the holes in the headstock are worn then mybe you can coat the ferrile with something to help it hold better, or maybe something as thin as kitchen plastic wrap might work. I do not know what a trained lutier would recommend so I am avoiding suggesting 'glue'- as someone may want to remove them again someday in the future.
In any case I would replace them all though. You need to get the right dimensions- particulary the hole in the wood of the headstock and the diameter of the tuner shaft- which probably is standard on most acoustics but not necessarly. It is easier I think to just take one into a shop and match them up.
I have no specific training in working on guitars and some things can be tricky but that is how I've done it.
Phangeaux
BadBadBlues
24/05/2006 3:56 pm
I've been missing one for 4 years(keep forgetting about it) hasn't hurt anything yet. Tuning stability is stiil really good maybe I'll get one this weekend.
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