Please help on how the knobs can be replaced?
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Moderator: Brad Bechtel
So my guitar is not an UltratoneJack Hanson wrote:Actually, the guitar in the photo is a Gibson Century-6 that was manufactured from 1947 to 1951.
I've replaced several of the white plastic buttons on old Klusons with StewMac ...
A far more elegant solution is to replace the original Klusons with modern Gotoh SD90s
Thanks. That is a great site. I just don't know which one to get. I left a message with them. Also, need to learn how to install new ones.Jon Light wrote:This link includes both the parts and a tutorial on how to replace them. I am NOT saying that any one of these is the correct replacement part. This I do not know. You will need to confirm this by comparing measurements, or hopefully someone who is an expert in the Gibson tuners can comment.
https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Pa ... Knobs.html
The Kluson Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois was one of the major suppliers of tuners for Gibson, Rickenbacker, Fender, Valco, Harmony and dozens of other string instrument manufacturers from 1925 until they folded in 1981. The brand name has since been reacquired and Kluson products are presently being manufactured in Asia.Surinder Singh wrote:Firstly, what is Kluson? What plastic buttons should I order from StewMac?
How complicated is the process to install new knobs? Would I have to unscrew the tuners shanks from the guitar body?
Thanks. The tuner seems to be fine, just the plastic button/knob is bad.Frank James Pracher wrote:I'm for replacing the buttons.. I've done many of these over the years, most of the old tuners have plenty of life left in them.
Hello Jack,Jack Hanson wrote:
StewMac produced both a video tutorial and a data sheet on replacing the plastic buttons. Scroll down in the listing above to view. Personally, I use a slightly different method. PM me for more info if you like.
Differentiating between the Century and the Ultratone has been a source of confusion for decades. The differences are more cosmetic than structural. Electronically they are exactly the same. The quick and easy way to identify the original versions is the Ultratone was white and the Century was black. The excellent book Gibson Electric Steel Guitars 1935-1967 by A.R. Duchossoir will tell you everything you want to know and more about Gibson lap steels.
Yes, no problem. You can melt, glue, or do both. You may have to drill out the tuner key some, my '41 EH150 had pretty fat shafts. Get spare ones to practice with, they are cheap! When I used a torch I took the tuner strip off the guitar, it's very easy to do.Surinder Singh wrote:Thanks. The tuner seems to be fine, just the plastic button/knob is bad.Frank James Pracher wrote:I'm for replacing the buttons.. I've done many of these over the years, most of the old tuners have plenty of life left in them.
Can I just put the knobs on the shanks without unscrewing the tuner itself?
Thanks, Gene. The names are very useful. I looked through many of these useful sites.Gene Tani wrote:I've gotten vintage parts for banjos, guitars etc from Bob Smakula: http://www.smakula.com/VGP.html
You can try other vintage dealers like Gryphon, Carter's, Elderly. If none of them have the buttons, I can give you other dealer names (there's dozens).