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Place to buy tuner gears?

funkmasterron

funkmasterron

Mar 22, 2010
120
105
Glen Allen, VA
www.youtube.com
#1
I'm restoring a old Japanese violin bass (don't know the manufacturer) and need replacement tuning gears which are about 13.5mm (outer diameter). The tuning shafts are fine and the gears are hidden by brass covers, so the finish doesn't matter. Looking around online, I don't see a great resource to purchase just the tuning gears (without purchasing new tuners as a complete assembly).

Any ideas?

TIA!

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#2
I have a huge library of leftover bass and guitar hardware. Boxes full of hundreds of old tuners and parts for old tuners. And the majority of them are from '60's-'80's Japanese instruments. When my friend Mike Lipe passed away in 2018, I had the sad job of cleaning out his shop and tools and machines. He had been a Luthier for 50 years. He had drawers and boxes full of hardware he had removed from customers' guitars during repairs and restorations. I've somewhat sorted it all, and I keep it here as a library for other Luthiers I know to pick through when they need an unusual part for a restoration or custom build.

So yes, I most likely have a couple of gears to fit your tuners in there....somewhere. I'm not going to spend hours digging, but I'll have a look. And if I find something that will work for you, I'll send them to you for a small shipping/handling fee. My whole point in preserving this collection of parts is to help folks like you restore a nice old instrument.

Help me in the search: Post some good pictures of the the complete tuner, the tuner with the cover off, and the gear removed. I may then ask you for a few dimensions to verify.
 
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#3
Sounds great, thanks so much for offering to help. I'm happy to pay shipping and even some more for your effort going through the parts. I'll send you some pictures tomorrow.

Bruce Johnson said:
I have a huge library of leftover bass and guitar hardware. Boxes full of hundreds of old tuners and parts for old tuners. And the majority of them are from '60's-'80's Japanese instruments. When my friend Mike Lipe passed away in 2018, I had the sad job of cleaning out his shop and tools and machines. He had been a Luthier for 50 years. He had drawers and boxes full of hardware he had removed from customers' guitars during repairs and restorations. I've somewhat sorted it all, and I keep it here as a library for other Luthiers I know to pick through when they need an unusual part for a restoration or custom build.

So yes, I most likely have a couple of gears to fit your tuners in there....somewhere. I'm not going to spend hours digging, but I'll have a look. And if I find something that will work for you, I'll send them to you for a small shipping/handling fee. My whole point in preserving this collection of parts is to help folks like you restore a nice old instrument.

Help me in the search: Post some good pictures of the the complete tuner, the tuner with the cover off, and the gear removed. I may then ask you for a few dimensions to verify.
Click to expand...
 
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#4
funkmasterron said:
I'll send you some pictures tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Post the pictures here, and we'll talk it through here on this thread. Then this thread will become a permanent reference for anyone else in the future who is trying to solve this problem.
 
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#5
Here is what I'm looking for:

1. 4x tuner gears, which have an outer diameter of 13.4mm and an inner diameter to support a 3.7mm diameter screw. Material/finish doesn't matter as it will be hidden by the brass tuner covers.
2. 2x brass colored strap buttons. This is something available online new, but would be interested if you have some for a retro/faded brass look to match the rest of the instrument.
3. A output jack plate that would accommodate a screw hole pattern of 34.5mm between the horizontal screws, and 20.5mm between the vertical ones. I have a jack plate but it's a different material than the back access plate -- would like it to be the same if possible (any material is fine if I'm replacing both plates). If you have something close, I could always drill new holes in the instrument.
4. A back access plate that would accommodate a screw hole pattern of 79mm between the horizontal screws, and 28.4mm between the vertical ones. I have a back access plate but it's a different material than the output jack access plate -- would like it to be the same if possible (any material is fine if I'm replacing both plates). If you have something close, I could always drill new holes in the instrument.

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#7
funkmasterron said:
I just noticed it has a screw hole near the neck pickup. Am guessing for a pickguard??

If you have any pickguards that would be of interest too.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm afraid I'm not having any luck in my digging. I've found hundreds of similar tuners, but all in the smaller guitar and mandolin sizes. Their gears are 11.8mm and 10.8mm diameter. I didn't see any in the bass size.

IMG_8592B.jpg


Here's one of four boxes of loose old-style, mostly Japanese tuners. I looked through the other boxes too, and didn't see any of the bass-size versions.

IMG_8591B.jpg


So, I'm sorry, but I guess I can't help you.
 
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#9
byacey said:
There used to be an online shop that would custom make gears according to your provided specs.
Perhaps these folks are what I recall:
Welcome to rushgears.com - Nobody makes custom gears faster!!!
Click to expand...

I don't think you want to go there....Those guys make real gears, which will be waaaay out of the price range here....

The "gears" in musical instrument tuners aren't really Gears. They are technically called Worm and Sprocket sets. A light duty inexpensive replica of a true Worm and Gear set. Their teeth aren't cut to the correct geometry to take high loads with minimal backlash. These sprockets have simple straight cut teeth that engage with a simple modified screw thread worm on the key shaft. It's a point-to-point contact, with lots of backlash. Low strength, short running life. But that's all that's needed on a bass tuner. They are designed to be really simple and cheap to manufacture.

These little brass sprockets are relatively simple to make up by anyone with a lathe and a mill. No special gear cutting equipment needed. I could certainly make them up here in my shop, but I don't do custom hardware anymore.
 
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#10
were i you (op) i'd scour various forums and other online sources for a dumpster grade instrument to use as a parts donor, or you can gut some other tuners and see what could be done about making the parts work.

were i me (and I am) i'd make' em. the key slots are generally broached, but for 4 pieces there's other ways around that.

are you sure there is no maker label or marking anywhere? even on the inside? nice looking bass to be entirely anonymous.
 
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#12
Thanks so much for taking the time to look.

Any luck finding any of the other items (output jack plate, back cover plate, pickguard)?

Bruce Johnson said:
Well, I'm afraid I'm not having any luck in my digging. I've found hundreds of similar tuners, but all in the smaller guitar and mandolin sizes. Their gears are 11.8mm and 10.8mm diameter. I didn't see any in the bass size.

View attachment 4663144

Here's one of four boxes of loose old-style, mostly Japanese tuners. I looked through the other boxes too, and didn't see any of the bass-size versions.

View attachment 4663143

So, I'm sorry, but I guess I can't help you.
Click to expand...
 
#14
I might be able to reuse one or so that I have. I'd be interested in what you have left over.

coy garcia said:
Do you need all 4? I replaced the tuners on my '67 grecco with these.. TK-7947-010 4-in-line Import Bass Keys- set of 4 pcs. I still have the original but I know at least 1 of them was bad. When I was looking for originals ebay wanted like over $50 for 1...so I opted for the cheaper set.
When I get home I can take a pic for you to look... they were side by side ones like yours
Click to expand...
 
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