MSA Classic Plastic Body Tuning Machines

Instruments, mechanical issues, copedents, techniques, etc.

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Michael Hutchison
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Joined: 15 Sep 2011 9:39 am
Location: Indianapolis, USA

MSA Classic Plastic Body Tuning Machines

Post by Michael Hutchison »

Hopefully the picture says it all:

Image

I just bought this steel, and a couple of the tuning machines are broken as you can see. I can wedge a block of wood between the shaft and the ledge for the next tuner as a temporary fix, but I'd like to replace all of them.

Can somebody direct me to either a direct replacement, or preferably, something with a metal body that won't be as likely to break in the future?

If it helps, the SN is 1C3122

Image

Thanks for any help.
- Mike
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Erv Niehaus
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Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

They look like Schaller tuners.
Do a search and you should be able to locate some.
On the ZB I recently rebuilt it had Schaller tuners and they were similiar to the style on your guitar.
However, they were different enough that I had to buy them from a company in Germany.
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Michael Hutchison
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Location: Indianapolis, USA

Post by Michael Hutchison »

Thanks

The weird thing is that screw hole, which is at 9 o'clock when viewed from this angle. All the tuners I've ever seen have the screw hole offset at about 7 o'clock (I suppose to allow for closer spacing on an inline guitar head stock.)
- Mike
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Erv Niehaus
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Post by Erv Niehaus »

Michael,
The Schallers on my ZB had two screw holes and one was at 9 o'clock.
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Michael Hutchison
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Post by Michael Hutchison »

Okay, I think maybe I found what I need?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Schaller-M6 ... 4d2bba32fa
- Mike
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Michael Hutchison
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Location: Indianapolis, USA

Post by Michael Hutchison »

hmm, looks like these grovers might fit as well, for less moolah.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GROVER-ROTOMATI ... 27fa745a3c
Last edited by Michael Hutchison on 6 Mar 2015 8:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Mike
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Erv Niehaus
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Post by Erv Niehaus »

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Michael Hutchison
Posts: 55
Joined: 15 Sep 2011 9:39 am
Location: Indianapolis, USA

Post by Michael Hutchison »

For the sake of completeness, after some looking around I found these Wilkinsons

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151345176510

... for $27 per 3&3 set, and I'm happy to report that they fit in my MSA's keyheads with no modifications needed (I'd read others had to bore out the holes to 10mm on older guitars). And I have 2 spares just in case.

Thanks
- Mike
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