Hey guys,

Looking at upgrading the tuners on my 2006 American Standard Strat.
Realistically i'm not unhappy with the standard tuners, however aesthetically i'd quite like white/pearloid tuning buttons.

How easy is it/how do you swap out just the buttons? Or can anyone recommend a set of tuners that are chrome with white/pearloid buttons and will stand up to the Curt Mangan 11-54 strings i'm using? (Not sure if this is an issue).
Also how difficult is it to replace machine heads. I'm not sure what the configuration of drilled holes is on the strat as standard.

Many thanks in advance.

Matt

That can be done very easily.
Remove the nut on the front, remove the tiny screw in the back, pull the tuner out to the back. Install vice versa.

Standard drilling is 10 mm, vintage tuners are smaller (8,something mm, I believe 8,3mm).

Tuners with perloid knobs are available. Check shaft diameter before buying!
Expect to have to drill additional holes for the tiny screws in the back. Other manufacturers = different screw placement.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Thanks for the reply.

Do you recommend any?

What about just swapping the buttons? Is this possible?

Cheers
Matt

To the best of my knowledge, Fender Schaller tuning machines came in 4 possible colours, one of which is very rare.

Chrome - prolly what you have and extremely common.
Gold - less common than Chrome but still a few out there
Satin - even less common yet and one of my favs
Black - extremely rare special issue only.

I have never seen or heard of white pearl or white moto or abalone knobs for a Shcaller tuning machines for use on a Fender electric. If you do ever find some please let us know. I'd sure like to see what that would look like. You sometimes see those kinds of knobs on Grover machines on high end acoustic guitars.

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

I believer Schaller produced the SRV Gold and White button tuners.

The best I've found are these http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/6_In_L ... _SD9105MNP

but i'm not sure if these are compatible with the guitar or are able to deal with the 11-54's.

Thanks

Matt

Gotoh makes some:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Gotoh-Style ... p_395.html

Kluson as well:
http://www.sinewavemusic.co.uk/guitar-p ... d-161.html

I simply googled for a minute. You just gotta check, if they're awailable 6 in a row.
Otherwise it MIGHT eventually work with 3 by 3 but that's mostly a PITA.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Sprezel has custom buttons available everything from pearloid to pink....

http://www.sperzel.com/

Yes, I am sure lots of tuners can come with the knobs you want. The question is will those knobs fit your tuners. Is that not what you asked for? An option to change just the knobs? Or are you now considering changing tuners as well? Changing tuners can sometimes present obstacles.

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

He also asked for the possibility of exchanging the whole set of tuners:

---> QUOTE: Or can anyone recommend a set of tuners that are chrome with white/pearloid buttons and will stand up to the Curt Mangan 11-54 strings i'm using? (Not sure if this is an issue). /QUOTE

I would seriously recommend exchanging the whole set, even if you have to drill extra holes for the tiny screws on the back of the headstock.
Exchanging just the knobs can be a PITA, if you're not familiar with that kind of mod. Serious damage of the shaft and gear might be the result.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Just for the record (since no one has mentioned it specifically as yet) Schaller also offer replacement buttons, including in pearloid:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Tune ... Knobs.html

I know from experience that it is extremely quick and easy to swap buttons on both Schaller and Gotoh tuners, and I'm sure the same is true of the other brands mentioned, above. However, buttons are not interchangeable between brands, and what I don't know is whether any of those named on this thread would fit standard Fender tuners. The tuners on Am Std Strats are based on a Schaller design, but I believe are no longer made by Schaller (though I stand to be corrected on that). So whether you could just swap in those Schaller buttons I linked to... I don't know.

They are not stupidly expensive: you could just have a try, I guess. Or buy the equivalent set of real Schaller machines and swap them in.

One last tip: Ebay is also a good place to look for replacement tuner buttons. Though you do need to be absolutely certain of compatibility.

Cheers - C

_________________