Post by CTGull on Feb 14, 2020 6:34:06 GMT -5
Many times vintage Yamaha tuners are missing covers, or worn & sloppy, or some have already been replaced. Finding spare tuners for a 40 to 50 year old guitar is difficult. Typically you have to buy a second guitar for parts. Finding a direct replacement isn’t easy because the shafts on the old tuners are 6mm (.236”) vs. today’s standard of ¼” (.250”), and the chances of the mounting holes lining up is zero. The vintage Yamaha tuners have between 14:1 (early strip tuners), 15:1 (FG-150 & FG-180 tuners) and 16:1 (most closed back tuners) gear ratios.
The following tuners are lighter open back (0.3 lbs per set) vs. heavier closed tuners (0.6 lbs per set). And they look great too. They can also be used to replace the Strip tuners on the FG-75, FG-75-1, FG-110, FG-110-1 & FG-140.
For ease of replacement, I recommend Stew Mac’s “Golden Age” restoration tuners. www.stewmac.com/parts-and-hardware/tuning-machines/solid-peghead-guitar-tuning-machines/golden-age-restoration-guitar-tuners-3and3/ $57.55 for bright nickel and $79.60 for relic nickel. They have the same 6mm (.236”) shafts as the original Yamaha tuners. The mounting holes won’t line up, but that’s a minor problem. The downside is they only have a 15:1 gear ratio, not as good as the following Grover tuners.
Installation is easy, just remove the old tuners, install the new ones in the existing bushings, line them up straight, drill new mounting holes thru the mounting holes in the tuner, and install the screws.
I’ve recently heard the tuners used in Yamaha’s new FG/FS series guitars are identical to the tuners used in the FG-150 & FG-180. I sent them a message 2/13/20, asking for the part number, price, and a dimensioned drawing.
A BETTER OPTION, although more complex, are Gover’s Sta-Tite V97-18 tuners. They have a more precise 18:1 gear ratio. But because they have the modern ¼” (.250”) shafts, you’ll have to change the bushings. Beware there is an older 14:1 version that is slightly less expensive. I recommend spending the few dollars more and getting the higher ratio tuners, the tuning will be more precise. www.stewmac.com/parts-and-hardware/tuning-machines/solid-peghead-guitar-tuning-machines/grover-181-sta-tite-97-18-series-3and3-tuners/ $55.52 for nickel, $90.43 for gold.
But, not only are the shaft diameters different, the Grover bushings are .344 dia over the knurl. The existing tuner bushing holes are approx. 9mm (.354”). And, of course, the mounting holes won’t line up. See REPLACEMENT TUNERS for vintage Yamaha FG - Grover Sta-Tite V97-18 for more detail.
The following tuners are lighter open back (0.3 lbs per set) vs. heavier closed tuners (0.6 lbs per set). And they look great too. They can also be used to replace the Strip tuners on the FG-75, FG-75-1, FG-110, FG-110-1 & FG-140.
For ease of replacement, I recommend Stew Mac’s “Golden Age” restoration tuners. www.stewmac.com/parts-and-hardware/tuning-machines/solid-peghead-guitar-tuning-machines/golden-age-restoration-guitar-tuners-3and3/ $57.55 for bright nickel and $79.60 for relic nickel. They have the same 6mm (.236”) shafts as the original Yamaha tuners. The mounting holes won’t line up, but that’s a minor problem. The downside is they only have a 15:1 gear ratio, not as good as the following Grover tuners.
Installation is easy, just remove the old tuners, install the new ones in the existing bushings, line them up straight, drill new mounting holes thru the mounting holes in the tuner, and install the screws.
I’ve recently heard the tuners used in Yamaha’s new FG/FS series guitars are identical to the tuners used in the FG-150 & FG-180. I sent them a message 2/13/20, asking for the part number, price, and a dimensioned drawing.
A BETTER OPTION, although more complex, are Gover’s Sta-Tite V97-18 tuners. They have a more precise 18:1 gear ratio. But because they have the modern ¼” (.250”) shafts, you’ll have to change the bushings. Beware there is an older 14:1 version that is slightly less expensive. I recommend spending the few dollars more and getting the higher ratio tuners, the tuning will be more precise. www.stewmac.com/parts-and-hardware/tuning-machines/solid-peghead-guitar-tuning-machines/grover-181-sta-tite-97-18-series-3and3-tuners/ $55.52 for nickel, $90.43 for gold.
But, not only are the shaft diameters different, the Grover bushings are .344 dia over the knurl. The existing tuner bushing holes are approx. 9mm (.354”). And, of course, the mounting holes won’t line up. See REPLACEMENT TUNERS for vintage Yamaha FG - Grover Sta-Tite V97-18 for more detail.
