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Post new topic Replacing tuner buttons on 1949 Gibson BR-9
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Author Topic:  Replacing tuner buttons on 1949 Gibson BR-9
Steve Ahola


From:
Concord, California
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2011 12:29 pm    
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Can you replace just the buttons on these tuners (as many sellers on eBay have suggested) or do you have to replace the whole tuners? These are one piece tuner assemblies on each side of the head with 3 tuners on each side labelled "Deluxe" with the parallel lines like corduroy.

Has anybody here installed the #4095 Vintage style 3-on-plate tuners at Stew Mac?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Vintage-style_3-on-Plate_Tuners.html

I also see that Stew-Mac sells the #0111 cream colored buttons and the instructions sound like it is something within the grasp of a mere mortal could do (no need for Super Luthier!). Any tips on replacing just the knobs? (The tuners themselves don't slip.)

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Knobs/Tuner_knobs/Vintage-style_Replacement_Tuner_Knobs.html

Thanks!

Steve Ahola
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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2011 1:07 pm    
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Frank Ford's Frets.com has an article on replacing tuner buttons.
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Andy Sandoval


From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2011 1:16 pm    
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I was reluctant to try and replace tuner buttons on a couple of my old lap steels but once you do it, it'a a piece of cake. Stew Mac has directions on their website.
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Steve Ahola


From:
Concord, California
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2011 2:25 pm    
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Brad Bechtel wrote:
Frank Ford's Frets.com has an article on replacing tuner buttons.


Thanks for the link! It looks great- only I would recommend not holding the button in your hand while enlarging the hole with a drill. Just reading that was very painful. Sad

It is simple enough to measure the depth of the existing hole and mark that on your drill bit (blue masking tape works great). I would wrap the button with a small piece of a shop rag and then use needle nose vise grips set to hold it loosely. That way I could expect to have all of my fingers and thumbs intact when I was done.

Between that article and the instructions at Stew-Mac I will definitely give it a shot!
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Joe Snow


From:
Argyle,Texas, USA
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2011 2:40 pm    
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heat the shaft, push the new buttons on. works like a charm.
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Peter den Hartogh


From:
Cape Town, South Africa
Post  Posted 6 Aug 2011 5:12 am    
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Heating the shaft only works for plastic buttons because they can melt.

The imitation ivory buttons do not melt at all and are much harder.
Some tuners have small "wings" on their shafts.
I used a Dremel tool to create tiny slots in the buttons for a tight fit.
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Steve Ahola


From:
Concord, California
Post  Posted 6 Aug 2011 1:22 pm    
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I just removed the strings and I really should replace the whole tuners, not just the buttons. So has anyone here used the #4095 Vintage style 3-on-plate tuners?
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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 6 Aug 2011 9:40 pm    
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Those are exact replacement for the Kluson tuners used on my Fender Champion. I have not tried them on a BR-9, but they were the standard "go-to" tuners for most guitars in that era.
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