Can I fit Sloanes on this bass?

mjt0229 · #1 12-06-2008, 04:41 PM

My bass has a buzz coming from the scroll that's been getting worse over the past few months. I'm starting to suspect that something in my tuning machines may be the culprit, but I can't prove it, because I haven't actually found anything that's obviously loose.

You'll see from the pictures below that this bass clearly suffered some kind of trauma to the scroll at some point, but it was before I owned the instrument and I have no idea what happened or how it was repaired.

What I'd like to do is install a set of Sloane tuning machines, but I'm not sure how easily they'd fit onto the scroll. Have any of you experienced (or inexperienced) luthiers installed new machines on a bass whose scroll is cut for individual machines? How different are different types of machines?

I've attached two detailed images.

JoeyNaeger · #2 12-07-2008, 12:21 PM

Why don't you have the bass checked out by a luthier to see if they can identify and fix the buzz before you invest in an expensive (albeit awesome) set of tuners.

Phil Rowan · #3 12-07-2008, 12:25 PM

Have you tried the ol' "rubber band around the tuning pegs" trick? Takes care of my tuning machines' buzzing (and yes, I'm cheap).

**Matthew Tucker** · #4 12-07-2008, 01:27 PM

The sloanes have a different shaped base and probably different peg tapers. So if your machines are let into the wood, the inlet part will have to be filled flush with the cheeks and retouched before fitting the new machines. You will be able to use the old peg holes, but they may need bushing or reaming to get a good fit. Those tuners you have on there look just fine; Joey's right, Sloanes would be an expensive fix for a buzz!

Also ... slide a sliver of business card under the strings in the nut slots. If the buzz disappears, you know what to do!

Heifetzbass · #5 12-07-2008, 08:29 PM

The tuners you have aren't cheap either... I will gladly take them off your hands if you need to "get them off your bass"!

I would have that crack checked... also make sure one of the strings isn't touching the inside edge of the peg box... sounds simple, but that is often the cause.

BG