vintage tuner care and feeding

[kiramdear]

Is it necessary or advisable to lube or do something to keep my mid-seventies bass tuners working properly? It seems they could function a little more smoothly...

[blueflamerick]

I've always used a drop of light machine oil, but some people don't like that because it can attract dust. I've read about using a dry lubricant like Tri-Flow, but I'd be very careful not to get any on the finish. I suppose graphite would work too. Whatever you decide to use, be very careful not to over-oil them.

By the by, it was nice meeting you yesterday Kira.

[kiramdear]

Hey thanks, Eric
I guess this bass has been sitting in its case for too long. Tri-flo sounds good and I have some here.
And I plan to do something about getting her out of the case more often
Oh, and I'll post some pics for you guys very soon

Really great meeting you, too, and all the swells yesterday. Sorry I had to split before your set, but I made it back to SF by dawn. Zzzzzz Love your blue-flame!

[paologregorio]

Cool! I learned something new about lubing vintagge tuners. Than ks for asking the question Kira, and thanks for answering it EK! It was great meeting you yesterday, KIra, and great seeing you again Eric!

[kiramdear]

Likewise, Paul Everyone was having fun!
Glad you survived the weekend. Wish I could have stayed for more of the music.

I think I just have to get the hang of these vintage tuners. Small downward adjustments are impossible so I have to drop the tension and bring it slowly back up. Fortunately it stays in tune OK. It hadn't been intonated or really set up right, I think Gary got it that way, but he tried to set the action for me. Two bridge saddles were backwards and the twelfth fret note was a quarter-tone sharp. No complaints to Gary, mind you, I just don't believe he used it much. I fixed the intonation, action, set the pickup height and sorted out the intermittency in the jack, so everything's cool, way cool. Shes' a splendid player and sounds beautiful

[jdogric12]

Small downward adjustments are impossible so I have to drop the tension and bring it slowly back up.

That's always the best way to tune anyways, I always drop first and tune up. Much easier to hear and execute.

[jps]

Small downward adjustments are impossible so I have to drop the tension and bring it slowly back up.

That's always the best way to tune anyways, I always drop first and tune up. Much easier to hear and execute.

I was just going to post that!

[johnallg]

Small downward adjustments are impossible so I have to drop the tension and bring it slowly back up.

That's always the best way to tune anyways, I always drop first and tune up. Much easier to hear and execute.

Also if a tuner has a little play in it, tuning up to the note there is no slack in it.

[kiramdear]

I just posted some pics of the bass here (page 2): viewtopic.php?f=12&t=383077&p=460349#p460349