The Steel Guitar Forum

I've got an old Emmons with skimpy Kluson tuning pegs and one of the pegs broke.
My new Carter has big, fat Sperzel pegs that look like they could tune a bass guitar!
Question: shold I replace the skimpy original pegs with new heavy duty ones or keep it "original"?

I'd change them, Tony. Especially, cause
one is already busted.

But, I think you will have to ream-out the
tuner holes and re-drill for the set screw
if replacing with Grovers, Sperzels etc.

Reaming may not be too difficult, but one screw hole so close to another might be
inviting fatigue. Those new holes will all have to be tapped out, too, of course.

The easiest replacement, obviously, would be with a new set of Kluson's. But I think we're all aware of the differences in tuning
keys.

chipsahoy

Mike Cass replaced the Kluson's on my 75 PP with Goto's (sp?). The screw holes in the new keys needed to be drilled larger than they come stock, they are working fine for me.
JE:-)>

Any opinion as to "ruining the value"?

Tony, I went thru this a few years ago soon after I got my P/P. Because of the scarcity of quality Klusons that are identical to the originals, I went with some Chinese Ping tuners that are supplied for 6 string guitar. It took about 4 packs to do the job and a little reaming of the mount holes on the tuners to fit, but I'm quite happy with them. They look pretty well identical and the only real difference is that the string end-mounts instead of side mounts resulting in a different stringing method. But if Cass is using Gotoh's for them, I'm sure they're fine.

By going with the Gotoh's and making the screw holes in the keys bigger to fit the stock Emmons/Kluson size screws, you do not alter the stock keyheads one bit. If I ever wanted to put it back to original, assuming I could find 20 good Klusons, it would only be a "screw driver" job to put the guitar back to stock.
I had at one time put Schallers on the E9th neck of this guitar and had drilled out the keyhead to get them to fit. Mike Cass had to find me a new keyhead when he did my restoration.
Making the keys fit the keyhead and not altering the keyhead is the best way to go IMHO.
JE:-)>

I've probably messed up a guitar or two by putting good keys on it, but what good is it if you can't tune the damn thing?? I had to play "swap the keys" on a single neck Emmons last week to get the best keys on the 4, 5, and 6 strings.I don't want a guitar I can't tune or a gun I can't shoot because I might mess up the value of it. If you just want something to look at or an investment that's another story. To me, most of the value of an instrument is the satisfaction I get from playing it. If I can get my money back or make some when I'm finished with it, that's great.
Get the best keys that fit with the least modification and then play the dickens out of it!
I hate tuning keys. Just my opinion.

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Doug Earnest
The only Zum Keyless U12, Fender Cyber Twin

30.aug.2002
Hello...
I see on the web that
Klusons are made again (owned by WD Musical Products): www.kluson.com
part no. SD9005MN
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and Shaller in Germany are making look alikes: www.schaller-guitarparts.de
part no. ST6B
Gear ratio 1:16
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Kind regards
Henning
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
Henning Kock
(pedal steel guitar, piano, keyboards, vibraphone)
Henning K. Music
111 Aarhusvej
DK-8300 Odder
Denmark,
Europe
phone 8654 2959
--------------------------------------------
e-mail address: henningkmusic@hotmail.com
.........
webpages:
pedal steel guitar: www.geocities.com/Nashville/1520 www.steelguitardanmark.subnet.dk (information)
.........
piano & keyboard: www.sitecenter.dk/henning-kock www.danskmusik.com/dmfbook/selskab/html/henning_kock.html
.........
and for musical instrument products wholesale (to dealers): www.henningkmusic.subnet.dk

Henning


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<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Henning Kock on 29 August 2002 at 11:53 PM.]</p></FONT>