Maybe OT:
Why does a Marcus J have reverse tuners? Marcus' own bass was from the 70s and would not have reverse tuners as stock. Did Marcus have reverse tuners added to his bass when he was customizing it?
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Vintage reverse tuners... Why God why!
- Thread starter WillyW
- Start date
Maybe OT:
Why does a Marcus J have reverse tuners? Marcus' own bass was from the 70s and would not have reverse tuners as stock. Did Marcus have reverse tuners added to his bass when he was customizing it?
Not quite sure.. Again,I used to own a '77 Jazz Bass and that was the reason for purchasing the Marcus Miller.. You might be right.. Maybe he used Reverse Tuners on his '77....
"Modern", non-reverse tuners utilize left handed threads on the worm but reverse tuners have right handed threads on the worm. Left handed threads probably comprise less than 5% of threads in the hardware world. When Kluson, or whoever, made the first tuners the worm was likely turned on machinery set up for right handed threads.
Leo chose to utilize a clockwise wrap around the string posts (as viewed from the front) with the strings heading back toward the bridge under the posts. Had he designed his headstock differently with a counter-clockwise wrap, ala Hagstrom, then the reverse tuners would function as though they were non-reverse from an ergonomic perspective.
For people who don't like reverse tuners then blame it on Leo; it's his fault for picking the wrong string post wrap direction, although I doubt he cared one whit about the tuner direction.
Leo chose to utilize a clockwise wrap around the string posts (as viewed from the front) with the strings heading back toward the bridge under the posts. Had he designed his headstock differently with a counter-clockwise wrap, ala Hagstrom, then the reverse tuners would function as though they were non-reverse from an ergonomic perspective.
For people who don't like reverse tuners then blame it on Leo; it's his fault for picking the wrong string post wrap direction, although I doubt he cared one whit about the tuner direction.
Funny, I ditch standard tuners on my fenders for pure vintage reverse wounds. I prefer them.
Why shouldn't tuners need to be turned clockwise to tighten? Almost all screws, bolts and nuts need to be turned clockwise to tighten; wheels turn clockwise to move a vehicle forward; clock/watch hands move clockwise to indicate the forward movement of time. Hmmm, I guess wheels move counter-clockwise if you look at a vehicle from the other side. This. . . is. . . all. . . so. . . confusing. 
Then better one of these, the Korean are casting stuff while the US are milled, for cast is an absolut tone killer.
Why shouldn't tuners need to be turned clockwise to tighten? Almost all screws, bolts and nuts need to be turned clockwise to tighten; wheels turn clockwise to move a vehicle forward; clock/watch hands move clockwise to indicate the forward movement of time. Hmmm, I guess wheels move counter-clockwise if you look at a vehicle from the other side. This. . . is. . . all. . . so. . . confusing.
Well, on reverse tuners you would be turning the tuner keys clockwise if the string post wrap was counter-clockwise. Buy an aftermarket neck with a big paddle headstock and profile it so the string wrap is counter-clockwise and you're done. Easy-peasy.
Same as Hendrix, he also was never complaining on reversed tuning pegs ... *LOL*
Well now, that's REALLY muddying the waters. Next you'll suggest using alternating reverse/non-reverse tuners on the same bass - just to make things interesting.
Well now, that's REALLY muddying the waters. Next you'll suggest using alternating reverse/non-reverse tuners on the same bass - just to make things interesting.
I like it! I suggest random rather than alternating positions though.
This is just like my old 1965 Plymouth Valiant that had left hand threaded lug nuts on the right side of the car and right hand threaded lug nuts on the left side of the car, allegedly to prevent loosening. Chrysler and Fender; two peas in a pod.
Yes, just throw in one reverse tuner, randomly. That should be confusing enough.
My first car was a '64 Plymouth Valiant, complete with 3-speed shifter on the steering column and slant 6 engine. The distributor cap on that engine was down very low, and whenever it rained and I drove through a puddle the engine would stall and I would have to wait 15 minutes or so before I could restart the engine. Fun times. . .
There's goofiness everywhere. My '65 Hagtstrom has non-reverse tuners (replacement Schallers) on it but since the string wrap is counter-clockwise the tuners effectively operate as though they were reverse tuners. None of this matters much if you just stay focused. I have 4 basses with reverse tuners on them. I just mentally know what the configuration is when I pick one up and tune accordingly. It's not that complicated.
My 60s J has "reverse" tuners. It's a nice bass. It stays in tune. I tune it once before I play and I'm done! I have other basses tuned a half step down and drop D. I take them with me. When it's time to switch, I switch. Probably a bigger PITA than the reverse tuners! Lol.
Well, we ARE bass players after all and, according to many guitarists, we get confused easily.
Actually, it's the newer tuners that are reverse. The pre-CBS Kulsons are the correct way.
