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Old 04-02-2022, 08:14 PM
RainBox89 RainBox89 is offline
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Default Gibson J45 with Grover Sta-Tite Tuners: What Else Will Fit?

Hi,

I purchased a used J45 that someone has installed Sta-Tite open gear tuners on. However they did it, the tuners don't seem to fit OR they're at least missing a crucial bushing on each of the tuners. There is a 1-2mm gap between the headstock and where the top washer is, if that makes sense. I can try to post a pic if it would help.

Anyways - without having taken the tuners off yet, does anyone know if these Sta-Tites were a clean swap with the original Gibson deluxe white button tuners that would have come with the guitar from the factory? Is there perhaps another good white button after market set I could swap them for? I'm trying to determine this before I go off and buy a new set. I understand I may need to provide some more details for this questions - any help is appreciated.

Thanks!
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Old 04-02-2022, 08:48 PM
drive-south drive-south is offline
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If the originals were Kluson style the Grover Sta-tite is not a direct swap.
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Old 04-02-2022, 08:52 PM
RainBox89 RainBox89 is offline
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Would the Gibson deluxe white button tuners be considered Kluson style? Forgive my ignorance.
https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Gear/Tu...MH-060/default
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Old 04-02-2022, 09:14 PM
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Yes. Those are meant to look like Klusons. Btw, I recommend the Gotoh copies over the Klusons.
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Old 04-03-2022, 02:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RainBox89 View Post
Hi,

I purchased a used J45 that someone has installed Sta-Tite open gear tuners on. However they did it, the tuners don't seem to fit OR they're at least missing a crucial bushing on each of the tuners. There is a 1-2mm gap between the headstock and where the top washer is, if that makes sense.
Could it be that the hole in the headstock was originally step-drilled, and the press-in bushings of the Sta-Tites are longer than the originals and are bottoming-out on the step?

If so, slightly deepening the step might fix it?

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV, I’m not a luthier, just an enthusiastic amateur, etc….
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Old 04-03-2022, 07:31 AM
drive-south drive-south is offline
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My Gibson AJ came with Sta-tite style tuners. I don't recall ever seeing a J45 with Sta-tites. They usually come with Klusons or Grover Rotomatics.
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Old 04-03-2022, 09:39 AM
Gee Man Gee Man is offline
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I swapped out the Golden Age 3-on-a-plate tuners on my J45TV for white button Waverlies and had to order bushings from StewMac to make them work. Huge improvement in form and function I might add.
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Old 04-03-2022, 11:13 AM
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All the J-45 tuner upgrade discussions I read seem to focus on the Standard, which uses six individual tuners. I want to go 21:1 with my 50s J-45 Original, which has 15:1 Grover strap tuners. I found strap replacements (Stewmac’s Golden Age brand, which look attractive), but they’re still 15:1. I have a chat message out to Stewmac to see if they can help. Of course, I sent it on Saturday night!

I suspect there would be marks left on the back of the headstock if I put on individual Waverly or Gotoh 21:1s. Is my concern misplaced?

I’ve brought this up a few times over the past month, but I’ve never (yet) heard from anyone who’s done this on their 50s Original.
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Old 04-03-2022, 11:28 AM
RainBox89 RainBox89 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drive-south View Post
My Gibson AJ came with Sta-tite style tuners. I don't recall ever seeing a J45 with Sta-tites. They usually come with Klusons or Grover Rotomatics.
Right. To confirm, this guitar ORIGINALLY came with Gibson deluxe white oval tuners. A previous owner switched them to Sta-Tites. I’m thinking they’re missing a bushing that would need to be added to make these work.

So, what’s a good reliable replacement for the original Gibson deluxe white button tuners? I’m fine with either white button style or tulips.
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Old 04-03-2022, 01:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gee Man View Post
I swapped out the Golden Age 3-on-a-plate tuners on my J45TV for white button Waverlies and had to order bushings from StewMac to make them work. Huge improvement in form and function I might add.
So you took out the strap tuners and replaced them with individual tuners? How does the back of the headstock look?
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Old 04-03-2022, 02:23 PM
drive-south drive-south is offline
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Gotoh is the preferred supplier for Kluson style tuners. White buttons look best on a J45. Check with Japarts.ca
They are located in British Columbia, CA.
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Old 04-03-2022, 03:06 PM
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I suppose I’ve kind of hijacked this thread with my little concern, but I feel like I’m screaming into a pillow.

Strap tuners, 21:1, anyone?
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Old 04-03-2022, 04:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drive-south View Post
Gotoh is the preferred supplier for Kluson style tuners. White buttons look best on a J45. Check with Japarts.ca
They are located in British Columbia, CA.
Allllparts has ‘em. Click for image.
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Old 04-03-2022, 04:24 PM
Sasquatchian Sasquatchian is offline
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My 2020 J45 Southern Jumbo came with the Grovers from the factory. They didn't slip but it was like driving an old 1950 Ford truck with half a turn of slop in the steering. I replaced them with the new Waverly 21:1 open back tuners, which, at first glance are a direct drop-in but in reality the distance between the screw holes is 1/10th of a mm longer on the Grovers and was enough to cause the Waverly's to go all wacky, with a ton of free play in them. After plugging the holes and re-drilling using the Stew-Mac jig, it was like they were a different set of tuners. That being said, I really could not tell a bit of difference between the 16:1 and 21:1 tuners. If the Gotoh open backs are half as smooth and precise as their mini 510 tuners then that's where I'd go next.
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Old 04-03-2022, 06:20 PM
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OK, I’ll stop haunting this thread and go away now.
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