Hey I was wondering if anyone could provide some feedback. I recently bought a fender jazz elite and I love it with one exception, the tuners absolutely suck. I have done everything I can possibly do to attempt to make them wind smoothly but they just seem to grind no matter what I do. I don't know if other people have experienced this issue. I don't want but an entire set of replacement if they also will suck. Ive thought about upgrading to hipshot but that would mean drilling a mounting pin in the back of the neck where as these tuners are mounted with pins that are not visible. Perhaps im marling to big of a deal out the issue... I would think for nearly 2 grand, that would also cover smooth winding machine heads. Any thoughts?
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Machine heads
- Thread starter Jmiah
- Start date
Can you let us know the specific things you've tried? That will help us offer ideas that maybe you haven't though of yet.
Have you discussed the problem with whomever you purchased the bass? Was it new or used? Did you try it before you bought it or was it online?
Reputable online dealers will work with you to make it right.
Good luck.
Reputable online dealers will work with you to make it right.
Good luck.
Well im going to try one last time to take each " troubled one off the neck take hex nut off and remove the washer and metal piece, spray with a lubricant, put em together, and gently tighten, and not over tighten and see if that helps. I dont know what else to do. The insides have die casting that were never grinded away leaving me to think the manufacturing process has gone way down hill on this stuff. I could be wrong though. I did some of these steps before but without lubrication.
Welcome to TalkBass.
If they are grinding after you have already cleaned them, lubricating them isn't going to help. There are rough spots in the castings or burrs on the machine work. The spots/burrs need to be removed. You can use a file and carefully clean them up. FYI Schaller made the tuners originally and they still market some that should drop in. The BM Light or the M4S Light should be a drop in depending on where your alignment pins are located. BM Light has the pins behind the worm, the M4S has the pins below the cog. Drawings for each are available here. Machine Heads Select the tuner you want to compare and scroll down to the drawing.
If they are grinding after you have already cleaned them, lubricating them isn't going to help. There are rough spots in the castings or burrs on the machine work. The spots/burrs need to be removed. You can use a file and carefully clean them up. FYI Schaller made the tuners originally and they still market some that should drop in. The BM Light or the M4S Light should be a drop in depending on where your alignment pins are located. BM Light has the pins behind the worm, the M4S has the pins below the cog. Drawings for each are available here. Machine Heads Select the tuner you want to compare and scroll down to the drawing.
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Okay yes I did see those rough spots before. I was actually stunned/shocked to see them on such a high end product. I thought about filing them down but had difficulty pulling the one for E string apart. Anyway I put i did finally it off and filter all the burs out, oiled them put em back on and now they work like butter. Unbelievable! I appreciate your help and support
For future reference, to get reluctant tuners apart, loosen the cog screw a few turns and then, palming the tuner with the post between your fingers, rap the screw with the screwdriver handle. That will pop the post loose from the cog, but keep it captive so no parts are lost. You can then finish your disassembly.
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JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
You've oiled them, and loosened the tension screw? If thats the case, take a nail file to the gears. One of those flat little metal ones like in a Swiss army knife would work perfectly. Just knock down the edges of the spokes a little bit. It won't catch anymore.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
I just use paraffin. It has no Teflon to contaminate the rest of your bass or other instruments, does the job, is readily available (cheap candles), and is VERY economical.
