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Sperzel locking tuners. Good idea or bad idea?

1

1989powerbass

Jul 11, 2026
8
5
#1
Hello,
I'm new here but not new to playing bass or guitar. Got a question. I picked up a set of sperzel locking bass tuners off ebay a few months back. I'm building a 1989 epiphone power bass with a kahler(wanted a bass tremolo since the first time seeing primus). The sperzel tuners don't fit the head stock(too small). Sperzel has discontinued the bass tuners due to lack of sales. So they don't care to answer fitment questions anymore. Questions I have are: 1. Are sperzel tuners worth plugging the tuners holes and redrilling them so they fit? 2. Is there another tuner brand that has good stability when using a tremolo? I've always used sperzel for the locking tuners on my guitars and gotoh for none locking. Bass wise gotoh or badass for tuners. I'm kind of brand loyal when i find something that works. Any help would be appreciated.
 
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#2
You can plug & drill or fabricate a spacer to fill the void…I’ve seen people wrap the assembly with aluminum HVAC tape. I was always able to add 2-3 string wraps but, with a whammy and in theory, you want to minimize the afterlength for decreased compliance an enhanced tuning stability.
 
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#4
1989powerbass said:
I may figure out how to make a spacer. I really don't want to have to plug the holes and redrilling redrilling them if the sperzels don't work as planned. Do you know what materials people have used for spacers?
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Brass tubing. Go to a hobby shop; most sell brass tubing in 30 cm (12") lengths and different diameters that nest nicely. You can cut to length and even solder them into one another if you so desire.
 
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#5
1989powerbass said:
I may figure out how to make a spacer. I really don't want to have to plug the holes and redrilling redrilling them if the sperzels don't work as planned. Do you know what materials people have used for spacers?
Click to expand...
For some reason, I’m thinking along the lines of thin-walled white nylon spacers. What’s the OD of the machine head and ID of the mounting hole? We’re looking for “close” as a gap variance can be remedied via the aforementioned tape.
 
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#6
sissy kathy said:
Brass tubing. Go to a hobby shop; most sell brass tubing in 30 cm (12") lengths and different diameters that nest nicely. You can cut to length and even solder them into one another if you so desire.
Click to expand...
Genius! If close, you can cut an open seam with a Dremel and spread so it fits the machine head. Kind reminds me of bird-banding.
 
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#7
There are (were) aluminum spacers available for exactly this purpose. I have some installed.

I have mixed feelings about the machine heads themselves. I love how compact they are, and I love the shape of the buttons. But the actual mechanisms can be stiff and seem to suffer from poor machining.
 
#8
Do you use locking tuners on your tremolo-equipped guitars? If so, do you find they improve the tuning stability? I'm skeptical of the tuning stability benefits of locking tuners on guitars myself, and I think most guitar players are probably 50/50 for and against. That said, since you already have the tuners, and you're not modifying the bass to fit them, I like the idea of fabricating a spacer for them, that way you can swap out them out for something else if it turns out you don't like them. I'd reach out to someone who does 3D printing, they can fabricate something with the right dimensions, material, and color for you.
 
#11
They serve a purpose…more so for guitarists than bassists IMO. I do believe the Sperzels are reversible. They were stock on Carvin guitars and basses but that was years ago. Pretty much a white elephant as they were never drop-ins for more conventional footprints and vice versa.
 
#13
I have a new old stock set of 2x2 satin chrome bass keys sitting in my parts bin upstairs. The earliest versions of these keys are not reversible but after a certain point they started to make them that way. Uncertain of the exact year.

A good portion of the aluminum necks I’ve owned over the years have had them installed. Most all of those manufacturers using them have since switched over to Hipshots due to scarcity.

Owner / inventor Bob Sperzel passed away back in 2014- this obviously affected the company and is at least part of the reason for its decline in production.

Unfortunate but like everything else, nothing is permanent.
 
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#14
ctmullins said:
There are (were) aluminum spacers available for exactly this purpose. I have some installed.

I have mixed feelings about the machine heads themselves. I love how compact they are, and I love the shape of the buttons. But the actual mechanisms can be stiff and seem to suffer from poor machining.
Click to expand...
Do you remember where you got them? I've had good luck with sperzel tuners and the quality of their construction. I've heard they have a high reject rate in house. This was due to using machine tooling from WWII. Their Facebook page says they stop production to upgrade their tooling and machines.
CoughSyrup said:
Do you use locking tuners on your tremolo-equipped guitars? If so, do you find they improve the tuning stability? I'm skeptical of the tuning stability benefits of locking tuners on guitars myself, and I think most guitar players are probably 50/50 for and against. That said, since you already have the tuners, and you're not modifying the bass to fit them, I like the idea of fabricating a spacer for them, that way you can swap out them out for something else if it turns out you don't like them. I'd reach out to someone who does 3D printing, they can fabricate something with the right dimensions, material, and color for you.
Click to expand...
I have 4 guitars with sperzel locking tuners and one with Grover locking tuners. I'm also a kahler tremolo person. Even with dive bombing all 5 stay in tune. Once the strings are fully stretched I have no problems. The 3D printing is another good idea.
Mr Joshua said:
You’re lucky you got a hold of those. I’ve been trying to find those for a long time and not been able to obtain any from what I’ve seen locally here in Cleveland they’re closing their doors.
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I tried calling them but it said the number wasn't in service anymore. I emailed them and got the response they don't make the bass tuners anymore. Their Facebook page said they closed to upgrade their machines and tooling to meet quality expectations. I read somewhere they were still using WWII era machines. I hope they aren't going out of business. I like their guitar tuners(hopefully the bass tuners are just as good). It's nice to find a US company doing everything in the USA. From manufacturing to the plating is done in the USA.
cataract said:
I have a new old stock set of 2x2 satin chrome bass keys sitting in my parts bin upstairs. The earliest versions of these keys are not reversible but after a certain point they started to make them that way. Uncertain of the exact year.

A good portion of the aluminum necks I’ve owned over the years have had them installed. Most all of those manufacturers using them have since switched over to Hipshots due to scarcity.

Owner / inventor Bob Sperzel passed away back in 2014- this obviously affected the company and is at least part of the reason for its decline in production.

Unfortunate but like everything else, nothing is permanent.
Click to expand...
 
#15
If anyone wants to know. Schaller makes locking bass tuners. I was searching Google about sperzel and just they popped up. Bummer is like sperzel locking tuners they aren't popular so you have to order them directly from schaller in Europe. I might order a set if they fit my head stock without making spacers.
 
#16
1989powerbass said:
Do you know what materials people have used for spacers?
Click to expand...
I don’t know what would be typical, but bushings would be most easily made from brass, aluminum, or Delrin, a medium density plastic. Do you leave any job (machine) shops where you live? Those materials are pretty common as bar stock, and could be made on a lathe in about 10 minutes by an experienced machinist. The trick is getting exact measurements for inside and outside diameters.
 
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