12 String Tuners - Vintage vs Modern

[rivesono]

Thank you! My question is will old style Klusons fit a modern 360/12 snugly size-wise?

[Folkie]

I don't know the answer to your question, but if it turns out you do want to replace your tuners with Ric-branded Kluson reissues, I'd be happy to sell you a set I got from Pick of the Ricks a few months ago. I was planning on replacing a few of the tuners on my 360/12c63, but my tech advised against it. The tuners are still wrapped and unopened. The price is $34.00 plus shipping.

Thanks,

Robert

[rivesono]

Thank you Robert. For that friendly a price tag I might want to try them on for size. Why would your tech advise you against installing them though? I´m curious. Best regards, Kai

[jdogric12]

Don't do it. They won't work as well. However, actual vintage Klusons are great!

I have received a pm from someone in the know that says the new Schaller-made "Klusons" do work great and thought I would pass along the info. Can't speak from experience, as I think the latest "Klusons" I've played were late 90's, early 00's.

[37012player]

Kai,

The modern Schaller tuners are drilled through for the side tuners with a step (two diameters) on the 12 strings. The minimum diameter is for the post itself which is approx 7mm (metric), after finish is applied for the modern instruments.

The vintage and reissue kluson and kluson knock offs have post diameter of 1/4" or 6.35mm so you will have excessive clearance on the side mounted tuners for which the reissue vintage type tuners will not like as it will over stress them despite the new versions having a UHMW plastic bushing (the originals did not have this feature and are more prone to slipping).

You may want to consider a bushing (one method described above I think) if you decide to go this way or risk a limited tuner life. The other method I have seen is to "plug" the holes and re-drill them through and at the same time address any clearance issues.

Hope this helps.

Si...

[Folkie]

Thank you Robert. For that friendly a price tag I might want to try them on for size. Why would your tech advise you against installing them though? I´m curious. Best regards, Kai

Well, to make a long story short, I noticed some extreme tightness in two of the tuners on my 2012 360/12c63, and some extreme looseness in a few of the others. I consulted the Rick expert, Larry Davis, via e-mail, and he told me to oil the tuners. When the oiling didn't help, he concluded that the problem tuners needed to be replaced. So I ordered up a set of vintage keywinds from POTR.

However, when my local tech had a look at the guitar, he said the real culprit was the sloppy posts in the bushings on the headstock, and that as long as the guitar was staying in tune, I shouldn't worry about how the tuners felt.

So, I'm left with an unopened set of replacement keywinds (POTR Part #00565), with bushings and mounting screws.

If you're interested, I can send you the tuners immediately.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Robert