Andy40's first build - ST-1

Ok, Noob city here. I got a set of Allparts Economy 'Vintage Kluson Style' Tuning Keys. Which requires 8.75mm diameter (11/32") hole.

I must say I didn't consider the hole diameters in the Pitbull headstocks are approx 10mm.

I know they are not expensive tuners but i really want that style and I need a work around.

Been tossing up gluing a wooden dowel in the tuning holes and re-drilling or maybe fitting a plastic washer on the outside of the bushings to fit the 10 mm hole.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hey Andy, probably the easiest fix will be to glue dowels into the existing holes and re-drill 11/32" hole.
Unless you can find a bushing that will fit in the hole.
Existing holes are 9.5mm from my experience.

Check the shaft diameter, if they are 1/4" then a set of Adaptor Bushings may be the easiest fix.

good idea Weirdy, you are always lurking around the background ready to answer curly questions.
You sure you aren't a bass player ? (in the background hahah)

Thanks guys, sounds like i need to recheck my measurements. I'll check out both of those options when i measure properly.

Second vote for conversion bushings. Although you might want to check how well your existing holes line up as these kits seem to always have a wonky one. With regular machines that wouldn't be a problem, but as the klusons share fixing screws with their neighbour, alignment could be an issue.

Thanks for that pabs.

The conversion bushings do seem the easiest fix and wont require me to re-finish the headstock, but I too did get that impression that there is a small gap between the existing holes due to the wonky alignment but considered a small washer on the shared fixing screws may bridge that gap?? not sure need to check this out. I've also got to check my measurements to see if the 10mm diameter is going to be too big (Wokks thinks it might be 9.5mm) and I should make sure the shaft diameter is 1/4".

The wooden dowel option will take longer and may require me to re-finish the headstock due to sanding (if needed) but it will also allow me to re-drill the headstock holes to so that there's no gap with the shared fixing screws.

Andy try and fit the Kluson tuners and see how the alignment is. Easy to drill out the holes to 10mm if need be for the bushes seems a much easier fix

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wokkaboy

You sure you aren't a bass player ? (in the background hahah)

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Now I'm tempted to throw myself right in front of the mix for the band Woks...

The ST-1 I'm currently building has holes closer to 11mm for the tuners. I recently purchased the grover tuner upgrades which have a 9.9mm shaft. So there is roughly 1mm of play in the positioning of each tuner. I'm tossing up between doweling an redrilling, with a 10mm bit from the bottom and a 8 mm bit from the top for a tighter fit, or making the holes smaller with some tubes made from paper and wood glue, or possibly super glue.