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Double Bass Looking for tuners for American Standard

L

lostinbass

Feb 12, 2005
28
0
Jonesborough TN
#1
I've recently purchased a mid-50's vintage American Standard that apparently had suffered a nasty fall at some point. The neck has been broken off thru the heel and repaired (solid so far), and one scroll is missing in action...
I can live with the neck damage and repair, but more irritating is a "dead spot" in the G string tuner. I can tighten the string up no problem, but if it's sharp and I need to remove tension, the tuner just spins like it has no load on it, then makes an awful snapping sound, the string goes way flat, and the whole process starts over again.
I would like to replace the G-D tuner set with an original if I could find one, but would go with a new set that would fit if that is a possibility.
Looking for parts, suggestions or recommendations on a knowlegeable luthier here in the east TN/western NC area that might be able to help out. Would also consider a complete neck with working tuners as this bass is a boomer and is worth the hassle to repair in my opinion.

Thanks,
Don Anderson
 
#2
Your problem is likely wear at the end of the string shaft where it fits the large gear. It is turned down there from round to square and I'll bet the square portion has worn down. A decent machinist can make you a replacement in half an hour. First just make sure the screw on the outside of the large gear is tight...
 
#4
Thanks for the input, Arnold - you're not the first to suggest that I might have a screw loose :hmm: .
The square end of the string shaft isn't slipping inside the tuner gear either, but your suggestion got me to taking a closer look at things and I think the problem is related to the square section of the string shaft being bent in relation to the centerline of the round portion of the shaft.
When I back the tuner key off to lower the pitch of the string, the key moves about 1/4 turn without rotating the tuner gear, and I can move the key shaft back and forth by 1/32" to 1/16" between the two brackets that hold it in place. This creates a space between the worm gear on the key shaft and the tooth on the string shaft gear gear that it should be engaging. As the space gets bigger, it seems like the tension on the string causes the string shaft to suddenly rotate until the gears engage again. That's what causes the awful snapping noise I'm hearing and the pitch of the string goes way flat.
If I pull the the tuner gear off of the string shaft and rotate the tuner key, the key shaft rotates nice and true, and it doesn't move back and forth in between the mounting brackets, which tells me that it's probably not bent, and that the problem most likely lies with the string shaft.
Kinda tough to explain...One way or another it looks to me like I need a new string shaft. And you're right, it'd probably be alot easier to find a decent machinist to make a new part rather than locating a replacement set for a 50 yr old bass. Now if I can give up playing it long enough to take things apart and shop for a new part...
BTW, my Cleveland seems to be enjoying the (hot and) sunny south as much as my wife and I are since we've all escaped upstate NY. It gets to spend more time soaking up the AC than I do...
Thanks again for your help,
Don
 

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