Old Fender Tuner Question - EXPERTS NEEDED!

**ExaltBass** · #1 06-01-2010, 04:23 PM

OK, I've got THREE 50's P-Bass Tuners that look like all the other ones I've seen - example on the left - and ONE Tuner that is like the others except... (example on the right) the top of the shaft is flat and not radiused.

Can anyone ID the misfit? (more pics)

period correct...

the other...

same from the other side

except for the rivet location

Pilgrim · #2 06-01-2010, 08:36 PM

Care to share info about why it matters? I'm curious.

**ExaltBass** · #3 06-01-2010, 09:00 PM

More wondering... It's curious that I can't match the odd one to anything.

walterw · #4 06-02-2010, 10:43 PM

funny, it's the one on the left with the mis-matched chrome post that looks like the oddball, while the one on the right looks like a normal all-nickel vintage key.

**ExaltBass** · #5 06-03-2010, 08:19 AM

^ That's possible. But, that's why I'm asking.

Pilgrim · #6 06-03-2010, 11:57 AM

Judging from the look, it has been on there a long time. Might have been a replacement for a bad tuner, just pulled from stock at the time it was replaced.

**ExaltBass** · #7 06-03-2010, 05:05 PM

I think I may just have been too 'anal' about this aspect

. I was truly interested in figuring this out, but Pilgrim's right, it really doesn't matter. I had a '69 tuner that's post matched the others, so I switched them out. I used Naphtha to clean everything - which brightened them all up. All in all... life is good! The tuners look and function well... and now they all match.

Now, I'm just waiting for my '59 neck to get back from a refret and repair.

Thanks for all the comments.

Pilgrim · #8 06-03-2010, 10:22 PM

Good point. When I think back 20+ years, if a tuner went bad they'd probably just grab one from parts or order whatever was the current part for the instrument. As long as it fit, most people were interested in restoring function more than chrome post vs. no chrome. Remember, at the time it was just a used bass, not a "vintage" instrument.

A-Step-Towards · #9 06-04-2010, 12:56 AM

99% positive that tuner is from the 60's , slightly just a slight bit newer, may even have been installed at the factory that way if the neck is a 59.

Here check out this add of 62' tuners, see how the shaft matches yours, hope that helps dave.

Cant wait to see your 59 body match to the 59 neck!

ebay ad
http://cgi.ebay.com/Orig-Vintage-196...item20b12a0d43

**ExaltBass** · #10 06-04-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

funny, it's the one on the left with the mis-matched chrome post that looks like the oddball, while the one on the right looks like a normal all-nickel vintage key.

Yeah, the left one (I have 3) are chrome posts - probably replaced at some time like Pilgrim suggested. Maybe all were pieced together from random parts??? I'll never know.

Quandary? Do I strip and replate Nickel and then age them, or just roll with it? I guess it's not that important, but the details bug me sometimes... know what I mean? I brought them to a plater friend and he suggests that I strip and replate - and age. We'll see.