Fender Tuning machines...

TimDrakeMusic · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:45 am

Hey guys, quick question here. Are the standard tuners on MIM and MIA guitars different in any way? I'm assuming the standard American tuners as they're listed on eBay are higher quality. Would I be correct to assume this?
Reason for asking is that as I was changing my strings a couple days ago the tuner for the B string was skipping a little. I figure that if I'm going to change them I may as well upgrade to something better considering I've only had this guitar for about 10 months and they are already giving me issues.
AS always thanks in advance for any help.

Retroverbial · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:20 am

The MIM and MIJ/CIJ re-issues used to be equipped with vintage-style machines made by Gotoh, which I found to be perfectly serviceable. However, FMIC has apparently switched to a lesser-quality tuner from Ping at least on the Ensenada-built instruments. They're what we used to refer to in the service as "numbah fawkeen tien, gee-aye"!

I routinely toss them in the trash and replace with genuine Kluson repros.

Arjay

TimDrakeMusic · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:21 am

Here's a link to the tuners I'm looking at.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-American-Ser ... 1580wt_864

TimDrakeMusic · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:31 am

I might consider the vintage tuners if I didn't have to drill the headstock to mount them. I'd like to stick with something that'll mount in the same manner as the stock tuners.

Retroverbial · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:38 am

TimDrakeMusic wrote:

I might consider the vintage tuners if I didn't have to drill the headstock to mount them. I'd like to stick with something that'll mount in the same manner as the stock tuners.

+1

Hopefully you'll be able to find something that will be a drop-on fit. Drilling holes in a headstock is always a risky proposition.

Arjay

TimDrakeMusic · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:44 am

Retroverbial wrote:

TimDrakeMusic wrote:

I might consider the vintage tuners if I didn't have to drill the headstock to mount them. I'd like to stick with something that'll mount in the same manner as the stock tuners.

+1

Hopefully you'll be able to find something that will be a drop-on fit. Drilling holes in a headstock is always a risky proposition.

Arjay

Yeah, I'm sure it's a job I could accomplish, but I think I'll give the American Tuners a shot. If they're no better, then I'm out 50 bucks. And one of the main arguments I hear for MIA over MIM guitars is the hardware so I think I'll go that way.

Miami Mike · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:16 am

I love the vintage tuners and wish that they were still standard issue.

tbazzone · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:24 am

The Am tuners are good I never had any issue with them. I perfer vintage.

fendermandan · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:44 am

TimDrakeMusic wrote:

Hey guys, quick question here. Are the standard tuners on MIM and MIA guitars different in any way? I'm assuming the standard American tuners as they're listed on eBay are higher quality. Would I be correct to assume this?
Reason for asking is that as I was changing my strings a couple days ago the tuner for the B string was skipping a little. I figure that if I'm going to change them I may as well upgrade to something better considering I've only had this guitar for about 10 months and they are already giving me issues.
AS always thanks in advance for any help.

Hey Tim,

Did you pull the trigger on those American tuners? If not I can send you just one of them in the mail to replace yours. The tuners are from my 09 MIM Strat. I prefer vintage tuners and equip my guitars with those so I have a set in my parts bin that I am not planning to use.

These are looking exactly like an american ones from the ebay listing with Fender logo and all. So if you want just a one of them PM me I'll take a picture and we can arrange something.

Dan

53magnatone · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:01 am

If you are going to all the trouble of replacing the tuners, I would consider others.
On these is the ratio 12 to 1 or 14 to 1 :?:

Either way I find anything less than 16-18 to 1 is inadequate for precise tuning.
Look into the Gotoh's mini 6 in line 18 to 1 ratio, they come in locking or non.
They are more expensive but when I switch tuners, tuners are the one item on a guitar that must be top quality.
You can find them at www.stewmac.com

TimDrakeMusic · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:32 pm

fendermandan wrote:

TimDrakeMusic wrote:

Hey guys, quick question here. Are the standard tuners on MIM and MIA guitars different in any way? I'm assuming the standard American tuners as they're listed on eBay are higher quality. Would I be correct to assume this?
Reason for asking is that as I was changing my strings a couple days ago the tuner for the B string was skipping a little. I figure that if I'm going to change them I may as well upgrade to something better considering I've only had this guitar for about 10 months and they are already giving me issues.
AS always thanks in advance for any help.

Hey Tim,

Did you pull the trigger on those American tuners? If not I can send you just one of them in the mail to replace yours. The tuners are from my 09 MIM Strat. I prefer vintage tuners and equip my guitars with those so I have a set in my parts bin that I am not planning to use.

These are looking exactly like an american ones from the ebay listing with Fender logo and all. So if you want just a one of them PM me I'll take a picture and we can arrange something.

Dan

Thanks Dan, But I'm going to go with a full set and just upgrade them all before one becomes a problem during a gig.

TimDrakeMusic · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:36 pm

53magnatone wrote:

If you are going to all the trouble of replacing the tuners, I would consider others.
On these is the ratio 12 to 1 or 14 to 1 :?:

Either way I find anything less than 16-18 to 1 is inadequate for precise tuning.
Look into the Gotoh's mini 6 in line 18 to 1 ratio, they come in locking or non.
They are more expensive but when I switch tuners, tuners are the one item on a guitar that must be top quality.
You can find them at http://www.stewmac.com

I looked at those tuners, and they look like I'd have to drill a hole to mount them. Is that right? Excuse my ignorance, on this one. I think I should just pull one of my tuners off and have a look.

53magnatone · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:57 pm

You will at least have to drill a small hole for the tuner screw, as for the tuner shaft diameter, to enlarge those if need be you will need a reamer, which enlarges the hole at the base but not at the other side, so that you have a hole that is tapered so that your tuner shaft fits snugly not loose.

JamesVRoy · **Posted:** Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:46 am

TimDrakeMusic wrote:

53magnatone wrote:

If you are going to all the trouble of replacing the tuners, I would consider others.
On these is the ratio 12 to 1 or 14 to 1 :?:

Either way I find anything less than 16-18 to 1 is inadequate for precise tuning.
Look into the Gotoh's mini 6 in line 18 to 1 ratio, they come in locking or non.
They are more expensive but when I switch tuners, tuners are the one item on a guitar that must be top quality.
You can find them at http://www.stewmac.com

I looked at those tuners, and they look like I'd have to drill a hole to mount them. Is that right? Excuse my ignorance, on this one. I think I should just pull one of my tuners off and have a look.

I agree, it's safer as you suggest to take one off and have a look. Find out the diameter of the hole which will likely be 11/32" or 3/8." Find out if they're mounted with just screws in the back or with a threaded post and nut through the front. Some of the later MIA Fender Tuners also had no screws and were anchored by a small pin in a positioning hole behind the tuner and the nut on the post through the front (which appear to be the type you posted from eBay). There are several adequate replacements you can get, at the link provided and elsewhere.

TimDrakeMusic · **Posted:** Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:11 am

jamesvroy wrote:

TimDrakeMusic wrote:

53magnatone wrote:

If you are going to all the trouble of replacing the tuners, I would consider others.
On these is the ratio 12 to 1 or 14 to 1 :?:

Either way I find anything less than 16-18 to 1 is inadequate for precise tuning.
Look into the Gotoh's mini 6 in line 18 to 1 ratio, they come in locking or non.
They are more expensive but when I switch tuners, tuners are the one item on a guitar that must be top quality.
You can find them at http://www.stewmac.com

I looked at those tuners, and they look like I'd have to drill a hole to mount them. Is that right? Excuse my ignorance, on this one. I think I should just pull one of my tuners off and have a look.

I agree, it's safer as you suggest to take one off and have a look. Find out the diameter of the hole which will likely be 11/32" or 3/8." Find out if they're mounted with just screws in the back or with a threaded post and nut through the front. Some of the later MIA Fender Tuners also had no screws and were anchored by a small pin in a positioning hole behind the tuner and the nut on the post through the front (which appear to be the type you posted from eBay). There are several adequate replacements you can get, at the link provided and elsewhere.

Well, thanks to a friend I now have some American tuners headed my direction, so I'm good for now. Thanks for the opinions.

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