hey all,

i modded my MIM strat with the Grover Klusons a few months ago, and something has been nagging at me ever since. when there is no pressure on the tuner (i.e. the strings are off) they rattle and wiggle around in the set. now obviously the first and the last in the line don't do it, but it seems like a couple of them, the D and the G strings, do. it doesnt affect my tuning, it doesnt really hurt anything, im just concerned that they might fall out some day and im wondering if that is even a legitimate concern.

thanks!

_________________
Gear list:
2004 Epiphone Casino
----Peerless, USA electronics
2001 "Firewood" ES-335
----USA electronics, Gibson and DiMarzio PAFs
2001 Cort NTL20 Jumbo Acoustic
2007 Hofner Copy
Vox AC4TV/V112TV
Voice
Fingers
Cowbell

Kluson type tuners' shafts and collars are too small for the OEM holes in the MIM's headstock.

The collars won't fall out as long as the strings are in place, which is the only thing stopping them from sliding off the shaft and into oblivion. For the time being, the shaft is safe but read on.

Your biggest problem is the stretching aspect. You mention it as, "rattle and wiggle". This is the shafts and the collars themselves sloshing around in the aforementioned too large holes from the OEM tuners.

At the base of the shaft, interconnecting with your tuning button is what is called a, "worm gear". This gear is what makes the shaft turn when you turn the tuner button for whichever given string. Now in your situation, the shafts are not secured snugly in place. Rather, they are wobbling in a conical motion which is stressing the worm gear in a manner which should not be there at all (nor is it taken into consideration with the design of any premium tuner). This stress will continually pull on and stretch the gears, ultimately distorting their shape, causing premature wear and ultimately, mechanical breakdown of the worm gear itself. So yes, eventually the shaft is going to pop out too unless something is done quickly and effectively.

There are several remedies for this. The absolute easiest without having to get involved with screwing around with doweling or shimming the holes in the headstock or yet other tuner sets is this: http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/itemde ... ?item=3457
They're inexpensive, totally effective and life goes merrily on as does the intended natural life of your tuners.

_________________
You dig?

Hmm. Following on from Martian's post - I'm just not quite certain from what bynapkinart said at the top which issue we're dealing with here. If most of the tuners are tight but a couple are wobbling then it can't be for the want of conversion bushings - there won't be enough space for 'em.

The OP is not clear enough. Are we talking about the post wobbling within the tuner? Or the tuner itself not securely seated on the back of the headstock? Or, as Martian suggests, the whole assembly moving within the peghole?

We need a much clearer description of the symptoms to be sure of the right diagnosis. For starters, bynapkinart, are your posts already running through bushings or not?

If not, and yet most of the tuners are secure, there may still be a case for conversion bushings, but very likely all the holes will need to be enlarged a little to take them. There's a right way and a wrong way to to that - but it's complicated and I'll hold off on it till we know more...

Cheers - C