Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi,


Maybe it is just me, but I am always tuning my ric


are these tuners (machine heads) a problem?


what about the tuners for 59.99 on ebay, anyone try those? are they any good?



and, I can only find chrome on ebay


where do I get black ones?


So, how do I solve my "keep my instrument in tune" problem>?


what did you do to solve yours?


thanks!


lovin' the ric......


big al

I have a BT '88 4003 also. It stays in tune, as do all my Ricks. Those Schaller tuners work very well, and I would think that they aren't your problem.

But what the problem is, I don't know. Could something be loose? Have you had this problem with more than one set of strings? How many windings do you have on the tuner's posts?

I concur with Jeff ... I don't have such a tuning problem on any of my basses (or other guitars) ... it could be either too many or too few windings around the spindle. Can you take a picture of your tuners and post it for comparison?

ok, I will take some pics

just looking, I see at least 4 windings per string...some more



and I am using rotos....RS66LD

.45 to .105's




hmmmmm, I have other basses, and I had no movement like this....


I am not picking on the ric, just wanna adress the problem, and fix it


My bridge is ok, and I occasionally make sure the screws are tight, they have been......

so, I will post some pics....


any other ideas?



big al

I'm out of ideas because I've never had this problem. I've had 22 Rick basses, and none have ever had a problem with going out of tune. I played a '68 4005 once that had really loose open-backed Kluson tuners, but although they look similar those tuners are a very different design from yours.

How long does it take for it to go out of tune?

Big Al, did you check the tightness of the screws in the gears (the large Phillips head screw in the picture below) on the back of the tuners?
Because tuners stay put only due to friction, it's clear that something is affecting the friction in yours. We'll get to the bottom of this!

those screws are tight...

Now,
what about the tuner shafts.....they come thru the headstock.....

there is a sleeve around them, and it looks kinda flimsy.....


what kind of "sleeve" should go around that tuner shaft?


any diagrams, or pics or thoughts?

thanks!


big al


and, the neck relief on a rick should be zero, or "flat" right? trying to set up the action as well....

Big al

Although I also doubt that it is your tuners, I have learned to never say never. If you do find that you need a set you can find black replacements to fit the same footprint here: http://www.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php ... tail&p=218

hmmmmm


the more I look at it the peghead bushing....


mine might be replacements or just junk....


I gotta take it apart and post a pic or two

(I know I have been sayin that, gotta find my digital camera)



hey, thanks for that link, Now I am GASSIN' for a hipshot bridge!

and, they seem a little cheaper on ebay.....



same stuff right?


big al

dang camera!

this is the story

the peghead bushing lookss like a hard plastic and is flush with the headstock



wouldnt the peghead bushing be.......

metal

have a "grommett like" bump over the headstock surface, instead of being flush?


help....

if anyone can take a close photo of the headstock, right at the tuner to peghead bushing to headstock surface contact point, it would help


I think I am gonna need to get new peghead bushings....


do they sell them seperate?

or do I have to get the unters to get hte bushings, that is................
IF thats the problem


big al

thanks!

The bushings in the headstock should be metal, so it sounds like yours are some sort of replacements. Certain plastics are self-lubricating, so that sounds like it's the most likely source of the tuning problem.

I'll try to take some close-ups and post them.

doctorwho wrote:The bushings in the headstock should be metal...

They aren't on my '88 with BT.

Here is a not-so-clear pic of my '91: Oh, they're black plastic bushings.

thanks!

now I know what I need


gonna be impossible to find I am sure...

big al

I stand corrected.

Yes, I just went to the chiropractor ...

I guess I need to get the Redneck and Tuxedo out and check their bushings.