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Anyone retro fitted C64 style tuners to their bass?

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:00 am
by pag
I am sure there was a post ages ago about this.
I would like to fit the old style C64 type tuners (smaller ferrules) to a bass thats got the wider ferrules
on it at the moment.
Did anyone come up with a way of fitting a bush or something to accomodate the smaller ferrule?

Thanks.

Re: Anyone retro fitted C64 style tuners to their bass?

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:16 am
by Kopfjaeger
Pete,

Yes, I have. A year ago I purchased a 1965 4001 that had Schaller m4's on her. I wanted to return her to factory so I picked up a vintage set of tuners. Since the ferrule are smaller in diameter, I needed to fill the slightly bored out hole in the headstock. Since the Schallers were only slightly larger, I got lucky. I had some scrap maple laying around the workshop so I took a block plane and shaved off a bunch of strips. I then used a micrometer to select the strips that best fit the thickness I was looking to fill. I measured the length cut them with a razor and glued them into the bored out holes int he headstock. I used 4 sections of 3/8 wood dowel with friction tape to pad it out to create a tight fit to make sure the veneer maintained a round shape and was pressed against the hole.

I then used the same wood dowels and wrapped them with fine sandpaper and cut the new holes to size. My vintage ferrules all pushed in firmly with hand pressure and a wood block.

If lets say you have Grovers in your headstock, you may be able to use pre made maple or hardwood edge veneer. It's thickness will be more consistent and will save you the bother of planing off a ton of strips to see what works best.

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Sepp

Re: Anyone retro fitted C64 style tuners to their bass?

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:31 am
by pag
Excellent!
I will give it a try when I get the tuners.

Thanksa ever so much.
pete.