Tuning machine parts??

[WillieJ]

Maybe this a nuts, but...I recently had a guy set up my bass -- '76 P -- and he told me the tuning gears are pretty much worn out. Going deeper into the bass than I have felt the need to, he took apart the tuning machines, lubed things up real good (probably for the first time in 30 years, my bad) and found the plates the gears tighten up on were seriously worn. Suggested I buy new machines at some point in the near future.

Q1 - (which I discussed with him) why bother? They DO tune, after all, and hold tune ok. Well, in truth, thay can be sort of 'stiff' to work and a take a bit out 'touch' to work.

Q2 - Is it nuts to think "Hey this is an older instrument, I should keep as original as possible, and just replace the worn parts of tuning machine and preserve as much original metal as possible? I've found RI '70's tuners, but still not the same thing, patina, etc.

Q3 - I've been to my usual suspects - Allparts, Warmoth, guitarpartsresource - and no one has parts for these parts. Everyone has replacement tuning machines...but not components for tuning machines. Anyone know of a source?

Did a search for this and found nothing, sorry if this has been covered elsewhere. Appreciate your help.

[asad137]

If you're worried about originality, I would buy complete replacement tuning machines and swap them out with the ones you currently have. Keep the originals somewhere safe. If you ever decide to sell it, you can put the originals back on.

Of course, this doesn't address the "aged" look. Maybe you can 'relic' them yourself...?

Asad

[Son of Magni]

Originally Posted by asad137

If you're worried about originality, I would buy complete replacement tuning machines and swap them out with the ones you currently have. Keep the originals somewhere safe. If you ever decide to sell it, you can put the originals back on.

Of course, this doesn't address the "aged" look. Maybe you can 'relic' them yourself...?

Asad

Yup, that's what I did with my '76 P tuners

[megadan]

The D-tuner on my '74 Ric has a tendency to explode off when tuning it if you don't hold onto it

Sucks, but they're such nice tuners that I don't want to replace them. Some superglue might be in it's future, but you gotta be careful!

[tplyons]

If they start slipping or don't hold tune, replace them. I've played with some rough tuners, but you don't use them while playing. Once you're in tune, you're not playing with it, so why bother?

[Jazz Ad]

No need to replace them.
Take them apart, clean, put obvious bends back in place and invert pieces when you put them back together.
Works like a charm most of the time. If they feel rough, a bit of oil never killed anyone.