The heal transition and the volute areas need a little more work to get them a tiny bit neater
the volute and heal are gonna be great after final sanding..
More like this?
Heal is almost done, just a small bump I need to remove
@koendb Oh, I didn’t read Matt’s comment before I typed my comment, he used the same joke before me. That doesn’t happen very often. 🤣 @mattbeels
Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸
I installed tuners yesterday evening. Gotoh vintage style staggered to be precise.
They look great, but boy are they a pain in the butt to install !
These bushings are 8.30mm and leave little room for error.
I did a couple of tests in mdf using a drill press and that was no big success, I could not get these tuners to line up properly.
The only way to make it work, I found, was to stick a 15cm ruler to the back with double sided tape, line the tuners up against it.
Remove tuners, slightly enlarge the front of the peg holes with a reamer, so the bushing can be pushed in a bit by hand ( just a few mm at a time ),putting back the tuners, make sure they still line up. If one tuner seems to go out of line, use the reamer to correct the peghole a bit. I did this until I got all bushings in bout half way, repeating the process.
Then I drilled screwholes tuner per tuner, going back to correcting the bushing angle slightly when the tuner is getting out of line.
I used beeswax on both bushings and screws at all times.
After all holes where drilled and tuners where sitting firmly, I removed them all again and enlarged the pegholes a little more with the reamer to make sure I would be able to push them in with quite some force.
Reinstalled the tuners and screws, then I used a 8mm socket and a glue clamp to push the bushings in.
They are not completely in right now maybe half a mm left, but it only requires a final push and wont (hopefully) affect alignment anymore.
I could not get these tuners to line up properly
Sounds like you need a CNC router. I had a similar problem lining up just three a side. I plugged and redrilled 4 of the holes, and two of them twice. I eventually got it close enough by elongating one side of a hole and filling the other side with superglue, then drilling again to make it round.
Sounds like you need a CNC router.
I need a bigger wallet and space to put all these things. 🙂
To be honest, I like this tedious method as it is relaxing and I am training my patience and accuracy at the same time.
I just wasn't expecting this to be so difficult.
And I think it turned out quite ok, there is just a slight imperfection on the two last tuners, they don't line up 100% but it is really minimal.
Installing vintage style tuners is a pain. The biggest problem are the bushings as there isn’t a standard between manufacturers and getting the right size hole is also annoying as they are always some weirdo 6.24 or whatever and some bushings are tapered, grrrrr. Be warned: forcing them in too much and you’ll crack the headstock! I never did that but have heard the horror stories. Stewmac (of course) have special reamers for this job and as a repairman I have the whole set! $$$
Then of course getting them lined up on the back, yee-haa!
It looks like you did a good job though, congrats!
Speaking of Stewmac I notice that you have their cam clamps $$$. When you need more search for them here in Europe. Klemmsia (the original German brand) or Bessy (also German, weird) or whatever brand as it’s a common clamp sold under many different names.
Practice on scrap...
The biggest problem are the bushings as there isn’t a standard between manufacturers and getting the right size hole is also annoying as they are always some weirdo 6.24 or whatever and some bushings are tapered, grrrrr.
Indeed ! Ill stick to modern ones from now on 😀
Speaking of Stewmac I notice that you have their cam clamps $$$.
Yeah I just have one though, I have all the clamps I need for now. I did not know of the Klemmsia brand when I bought this one clamp ( just to see what this clamp was all about really, ordered it together with some other stuff I actually needed).
Stewmac was the first company I came across when sourcing guitar related tools. In the meanwhile, I found a lot more convenient and cheaper web stores. Stewmac is my last resort in most cases 😎
Stewmac (of course) have special reamers for this job and as a repairman I have the whole set! $$$
Yup I was almost tempted to buy it, but I am not going to, I am not a professional, nor seeking to become one. So buying this does not make any sense for me.
Sometimes it’s easier to start jobs like fitting tuners by hand if you haven’t got a jig to line them up, because the more pressure you put on a drill bit the more likely it is to slide with the grain away from the centre. Brad point bits also don’t have a round point which makes super accurate work more difficult. Work the drill bit by hand until it has a defined mark in the wood then go to the machine.
I had the same problems as you when I started and used to get stressed, but after years of repairing factory made instruments I’ve found that some of them are not that accurately made either so I stopped worrying about it.
I usually take before and after pics of repairs now so that if someone complains I can show it was like that from the factory.
Some people call me a tool, others are less complimentary. Tools being useful things.
@rocknroller912 Indeed, I used a pilar drill only for the initial holes. But I indeed scored the initial contours of the holes manually ( turning the drill head manually, once I got the brad points exactly where I wanted them). I would measure again when I had a clear recessed area. Only then I would line up the drill again with that recess and very slowly drilled the holes. I knew that this part was done pretty accurately. But still not 100% of course. Reaming the holes for the bushings allowed me to correct that slight imperfection. By doing it manually and really patiently and slow, It went pretty good. I still do prefer modern style tuners though, less finicky 🙂
I usually take before and after pics of repairs now so that if someone complains I can show it was like that from the factory.
@rocknroller
That’s good pratice. I always look over the guitar with the customer when they drop it off. Checking for obvious problems and making a few adjustments (always the truss rod!) so as to minimize surprises. I dislike having to call them later with bad news although it can’t always be avoided.
I will photograph certain jobs so the customer can appreciate what goes into it but I also have done it to cover my back.
Practice on scrap...
Use that carefully and the bottom of the nut slot should be flat, and perpendicular to the end of the fretboard.
ordered the 1/8" one straight away! thanks @tv101
Arrived!
@boo yeah that is probably a lot cheaper and does the job just as well. I initially though of using my side level file, which has a 45 and a 90 degree angle, but the file is just a bit too thick for a fender nut slot , I can still use it for other types of nuts though!
Where did you get yours from?
Where did you get yours from?
@koendb There are three different sizes.
https://www.gluedtomusic.com/products/378/hosco-saddle-and-nut-slot-level-files-3-mm/
Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸