You vote: Klusons on my MiM Standard or not?

[pc]

So I have this white MiM standard that I got for a stupid price. My favorite Tele is my Baja Tele, so job one was replacing the electronics and now I'm very happy with the sound. I really dig the SD Antiquity II pickups I put in.

I have this set of Kluson tuners with the adaptor bushings that I bought to use with a different Tele several years ago and never got around to installing. They fit fine, but would require me to drill holes for the mounting screw that goes between each tuner and of course on the far ends, on the underside of the headstock.

So, bottom line: I don't mind the tuners in there now. I just happen to like the look and function of Klusons. I also dont want to buy anything else, so the choice is just between leaving on the stock tuners or putting on the Klusons.

So just for kicks, if it was yours, what would you do?

[Gravity Jim]

I'd install the Klusons.

[Skip]

don't see why it matters so much...but as I know from my experience some guitars are made to change and a MIM bought for a great price is the best candidate...so guessing this is a long winded way of saying ditto to silent j

[NeoFauve]

Assuming they're slotted Klusons, quick string changes would be easier on stage, on the off chance thet you break one.

I like slotted Klusons. They're just so damn easy to use. I wonder why all tuners aren't slotted.

I'm in a "if it works, let it work" mode lately though.
If it's not for stage use, I might keep the stock tuners.

[Wilko]

Yeah, go for he Klusons!

[Cogs]

I'd say go for the Klusons. I like the vintage look but not the slop that so many of the original tuners develop. The new "old" ones work WAY better than the old old ones.

[thegeezer]

Go for it!!!

[NeoFauve]

WWTTKD?

What would the Tone King do?

[pc]

Tone King would likely do a shootout of a CS Tele with Klusons versus a MiM Tele with stock pickups, through a Klon Centaur, Barber Direct Drive, Fulltone '69, ADA Flanger and a Keeley-modded Boss analog delay pedal, into a dimed Marshall AVT.

The winner would be declared in a runoff.

Thanks to all for the replies. I believe I am sufficiently swayed to do some drilling for the Klusons.

One question: the bushings aren't threaded, by which I mean they simply press into place so the posts of the tuners fit snugly into the existing post-holes. But the bushings aren't tightly held in place per se, they just kind of sit there. Obviously they don't fall off if the strings are on the tuners, but should I do something to make them immobile? I.e. a drop of glue in the post hole?

Obviously I don't want to let glue drip into the Kluson gears, but I didn't know if others had worked with the adaptor bushings and what they'd done.

And Wilko--love the shot of the Klusons with the pearl buttons. They look really cool on a Fender guitar, since you don't see that too often. If I didn't already have this set with nickel knobs I'd think about getting those instead.

[Cogs]

I've dealt w/oversized holes & have snugged up bushings w/wood shims. They've got to be real thin, though. Superglue can mess up the finish if it is not applied perfectly. It gets the affected areas all cloudy.

[Gravity Jim]

The winner would be declared in a runoff.

That is, after he had set all the tuner knobs to 12 o'clock.

[Wilko]

The bushings don't need to be tight, but it can help. glue will hold 'em, but won't help the sound and will just be a pain later.

If they are too loose, the tuner shaft may or may not rest on them making the post bear all the string tension which is not desirable. You want to post to hit the bushing and mate to the wood under tension.

[pc]

Got it. Thanks guys!

[Don]

If the bushings are just a hair loose (they fit but aren't snug) I've found that regular white glue or even carpenter's glue is often enough to keep them in place.

[NeoFauve]

You might even be able build up a bit of a skin on the bushing, or in the hole, with a dried coating of the glue.

[curtisstetka]

Go with the Klusons, definitely. I love 'em too and have them on all my Fender-ish instruments.

[melody]

install em I say, If there lose I wrap them with teflon plumbers tape still removable but held snugly in place.

[NeoFauve]

Bit of a tangent here.
Is Fender the only company to use slotted Klusons?
Was it a Fender spec, or something Kluson had always offered?

Like I said in an earlier post, "they're just so damn easy to use" that way.
I can't recall seeing anything but Fenders or Fender clones with them.

[Kap'n]

Bit of a tangent here.
Is Fender the only company to use slotted Klusons?
Was it a Fender spec, or something Kluson had always offered?

Like I said in an earlier post, "they're just so damn easy to use" that way.
I can't recall seeing anything but Fenders or Fender clones with them.

Mosrite used them.

In fact, I'm considering replacing the keystones on my LP with the new Mosrite-style reissues, so I can go slothead on it.

[chuckocaster]

if it were me, i'd replace them with klusons and also put on the 3 saddle bridge with brass saddles. YMMV, but i think that would seal the deal.

[pc]

Klusons are going on today. I will likely replace the saddles, but probably with the 6 "mini barrel" brass saddles. The 3-saddle bridge is the only thing about my Baja Tele I'd consider changing. I agree that it's definitely more Tele-thentic, but just not my favorite thing.

[NeoFauve]

Mosrite used them.

In fact, I'm considering replacing the keystones on my LP with the new Mosrite-style reissues, so I can go slothead on it.

So they DO exist then.
Good to know.
I may put some on my lap steel.
Just about EVERY time I tune that thing I break the E or B string at the tuner post.

[pc]

Ended up as a no go. The bushings were way more loose than I realized, and I didn't feel comfortable with that much shimming. I can't imagine the MiM Teles have post holes bigger than the American ones, but I swear they were far more snug in the MiA Tele I tried them in a few years back.

The stock tuners are stable and solid, so the change was going to be mostly aesthetic anyway. Unfortunately it was just going to be beyond my technical prowess to make happen.

[Wilko]

you can measure the holes and get bushings off ebay.

I've done it a few times.

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-8-Conversion-B...item19c1b3a2bf

[Kap'n]

I might have some of the GFS bushings, which I thought were on the big side. I bought 'em for a neck I got from Chuck-O and they didn't fit, and I got some others. Let me look around. I'll give 'em to you if you want 'em.

[pc]

See, I'm a moron. Had no idea there were different sizes for the "adaptor bushings." Old Stew Mac said one size fits all for the non-vintage Fenders. Although as I said I did buy these several years ago.

Thanks Kap, let me know. If not I'll investigate Wilko's link further.

[chuckocaster]

they might use metric drill bits in mexico, i'm not sure. but that's sometimes the hang up with modding import guitars (regardless of country of origin) is that when converting from standard to metric they have to round up or down.

good luck on your project, i think the six saddle will be cool. i just like the old school bridges cause they look "right" to me.

[Kap'n]

See, I'm a moron. Had no idea there were different sizes for the "adaptor bushings." Old Stew Mac said one size fits all for the non-vintage Fenders. Although as I said I did buy these several years ago.

Thanks Kap, let me know. If not I'll investigate Wilko's link further.

There's not supposed to be, but there are.

The metric "big size" for tuners is 10mm, which is almost, but not exactly 3/8". It's larger by almost 0.019"

[Don]

That's a big difference! I put a regular set from Stew Mac on an '05 Hwy1 Strat and they fit very well. I assumed that the HWY1 Strat used the same tuners as an MIM Strat.