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Tuning Keys on a '78 Les Paul Custom (Silverburst)

wblakecannon

New member
Joined
Mar 2, 2021
Messages
3
Hey guys, about a year ago I bought a '78 Silverburst LPC. This was before prices went outrageous.

It's in pretty good condition, but far from stock cherry.

The tuning keys are kinda wonky. I'm not a fan. I was curious if anyone happened to know a model that would be a direct replacement. I looked at Schaller and Goteh and none seem to match the screw hole location. I'd also prefer locking tuners. I'm pretty lazy and I find myself replacing my strings much more often if they are locking style.

At last resort, since this guitar isn't stock I might just replace them with Sperzels as they are my favorite brand of locking tuners.

Thanks in advance.

IMG_3061.jpeg
 

catawompus

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2020
Messages
41
Hey guys, about a year ago I bought a '78 Silverburst LPC. This was before prices went outrageous.

It's in pretty good condition, but far from stock cherry.

The tuning keys are kinda wonky. I'm not a fan. I was curious if anyone happened to know a model that would be a direct replacement. I looked at Schaller and Goteh and none seem to match the screw hole location. I'd also prefer locking tuners. I'm pretty lazy and I find myself replacing my strings much more often if they are locking style.

At last resort, since this guitar isn't stock I might just replace them with Sperzels as they are my favorite brand of locking tuners.

Thanks in advance.

View attachment 13099
Maybe these would fit?

 

wblakecannon

New member
Joined
Mar 2, 2021
Messages
3
Maybe these would fit?

Hey thanks for the link. I must have missed that one. I'll think about it.

It appears I can order custom locking Schallers from Germany though! I just need to figure out if I want chrome or nickel. Not sure what would match the old hardware yet.
Screen Shot 2021-03-02 at 11.31.34 AM.png
 

wblakecannon

New member
Joined
Mar 2, 2021
Messages
3
As Catawompus suggest, the Schallers WILL fit. The old Gibson tuners on your guitar are made by Schaller (Just as the Nashville tone-o-matic at the time), and they are ordinary M6 models, with the exception that they say Gibson on the back, and the keystone buttom. This means that your keystone buttoms will fit a new set of M6 tuners, and I would expect that they also fit the locking version. But if this is important, I would suggest asking Schaller to make sure.
But are you really sure you need new tuners. I have never encountered a worn out M6, but have had a few that had to be cleaned and relubricated.
If the hardware on your guitar is original it is chrome. If it looks like nickel, then it need a good cleaning.
Thanks for you reply. I thought about keeping the stock ones but I think I'll use this as an excuse for lockers and 18:1. This isn't a museum piece, so I don't really care about it being authentic :). I'll keep the originals, of course, for safe keeping. That is why I was trying to find exact replacements; I can always go back.

I'm looking at the stock tuners, and I'm thinking they're chrome. They don't have that smokey/grey tint like nickel. However, when I ordered pickups (it came with SD '59s which I didn't like), the SD Saturday Night Specials I replaced them with are nickel. I guess I should match to the hardware and not the pickups?

Now the question is what length to get from Schaller. My stock tuners are 23.7mm. The locking posts come in either 21mm or 19mm. I'd imagine I'd want the 21mm? It looks like there's enough room if the tuners are 2.7mm shorter than stock. Screen Shot 2021-03-02 at 12.57.12 PM.png
IMG_3064.jpeg
 
Last edited:

Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
76_headback.jpg
 

gibson-r8

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
574
my 76 is chrome as well... a little rougher than yours though. Beauty Wilco..
 
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