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Any Rotomatic love ?


PiedmontPicker

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Agree with stein - the Rotomatics on my J-45 black nut Standard has been a topic here.

 

The steel-mill (as I call it) is a bit heavy and doesn't really belong on a 45, , , or do they. .

I'm split-minded about it, but now when they are turning matt, the expression really comes together up there.

The guitar is dark-slightly-mud-burst and all in all this hue, the sound, the brown leather tr-cover, , , and the tuners begin to blend. Besides they roll like fish in oil.

 

 

 

Don't think they'll go anywhere soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1416965170[/url]' post='1594877']

lol, ok here's to 4 pages! I would add that although rotomatic tuners may seem somewhat heavy and rugged looking on certain guitars, they are in my mind very solidly built and extremely reliable. I would say they look a bit heavy, but not necessarily ugly on my Hummingbird. It is for this reason that I have not yet removed them from my Hummingbird although I would prefer the tulip tuners for this guitar as far as looks go.. However both quality and reliability in any aspect on any guitar are things well worth having, and can even exceed how the guitar looks, providing they do the job. And rotomatics certainly do the job well!

........ And your earlier ...Post#13

 

Honestly, I think it's just great that so many Gibson customers are so eager and willing to tear their Gibson rotomatic tuners off, and then pay to replace them with the tuners Gibson should have put on in the first place! It must be a great help for the Gibson profit margin! ...Oh yes I know. Gibson still does put those nice original tulip tuners and ivory button tuners on their guitars...the higher priced models which they charge well above the $2000 and $3000 for. <br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">My Gibson 2013 Hummingbird standard for $3100 came compliments of Gibson, with those ugly, thick, heavy rotomatic tuners that look like they were torn from a Mack truck engine. ...Yet coincidentally, had I just paid $3300 to $3800, for a true vintage..or new vintage hummingbird...(instead of the mere $3100 for the standard HB)...suddenly those nice tulip tuners appear once more.

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I feel in exalted company with my 2010 black nut J-45 standard....

Em7 and BluesKing777 being fellows of the fraternity..anyone else?

I toyed with the idea of changing the Roto's at one stage. But inherent laziness won out again. It was purely an aesthetic whim...they work great.

 

 

 

Ha Ha!

 

 

I had to go and play the J45 for a minute [mellow]

 

 

It has been my resident DADGAD guitar for a few months with some lessons I have, and ok in that role but better for something like blues......

 

 

So first thing I did was re-tune from DADGAD to Standard - the Rotos are very smooth and easy to use and it is now in Standard tuning with a minimum of fuss.......

 

 

 

Oh the decisions - is it a bit like changing new car wheels for different looking car wheels?

 

 

Well, that will be just a bone nut and saddle then, Mr Luthier! Perhaps extract a touch more tone out of the girl? [biggrin]

 

 

 

 

BluesKing777.

 

 

 

Edit: add a splash of Virtuoso Polish while I am at it, and there we are like new again...apart from the small ding in the lower bout where I hit the edge of the music room door....

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Quote: "If your Sound is No Good.

 

It's probably NOT your Gibson or Martin Guitar.

 

Nor even the Machineheads, that they have fitted, that are at Fault.

 

The Real Problem, lies Elsewhere, far Closer to Home, involving Far More Time, and much Harder to Fix."

 

- Snipped for Shortness -

 

Quote: "Hey Anthony, did it ever occur to you that most people change tuners not because they think they impact on sound, but because they might like the look of something else, or for some other aesthetic or practical reason, such as the weight of the parts or their gear ratio?

 

Holy cow, talk about over-analyzing things! It's just a freakin' guitar!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Respect.

 

You are entirely wrong.

 

This is simply NOT the case at all!

 

 

 

MOST people change their Tuners, to Qualitatively Improve Tuning Stability.

 

Or to Replace a Machinehead that is Genuinely Faulty or been Broken because of Entirely Avoidable Accidental Damage.

 

Reliable Tuning Stability, has the most Beneficial Impact on Sound that can be considered. However Good a Guitar might be, if it's not in Tune, it will Sound Bad to the Ear of the Listener.

 

This is Pretty Basic Stuff, that Changing Out a Brand New Rotomatic Tuner, will bring No Improvement to at all. Subsequently and Consequently, it is Not by Tradition a Normal Practice for New Guitar Purchasers to Swop Out Machineheads.

 

 

 

 

There are some very High End Tuners Manufactured.

 

For people with very deep pockets, that insist upon owning the Finest Available.

 

That are for Specialist Application, and usually known about and fitted by Experienced Luthiers.

 

But that is an entirely different Ball Game Altogether, and the Guitars and Work Involve a completely different Class of Demographic.

 

 

 

Here is One Example.

 

http://www.rodgers-tuning-machines.com/TunerStyles/Stauffer.html

 

 

 

 

 

The incoming modern notion.

 

That has appeared since the onset of the Internet.

 

That encourages Machineheads to be swopped out Largely for Aesthetics.

 

Is Born and Fed, Largely to Neurotics, by the After Market, Retro Fit Industry, that although occupying a role for Replacement Parts.

 

Always wants a Bigger Slice and Wishes to Grow Demand by convincing gullible people that they need to buy something, that in reality, they genuinely don't.

 

If you wish to Buy into that Faulty Concept, that is of course your personal freedom of choice. The mistake is that via the Internet, people are pushing this Idea to the Extent.

 

That some individuals falsely consider it to be Normal Practice to Swop Out New Tuners. When by any Standard of Measurement of Guitar History, Heritage and Tradition, that is Simply Not the Case.

 

Though there are Fine Individuals that Desire and Demand Rolls Royce Quality and are happy to pay for it. It is the case, none the less, that the Internal Drivers for this need of Avatars to Project Status, often comes from and is Direct Compensation for, a Deep Seated Inferiority Complex.

 

And some, need to be always looking for Incremental Improvement in their Musical Instrument. Mentally Projecting a Psychological Defence Mechanism that is Directly Transferred onto their Instrument to Explain, Justify and Everlastingly Compensate for their Innate Lack. In Talent, Ability in Performance and Genuine Achievement as a Musician.

 

 

 

 

 

I once was told in a Lecture given by an Eminent American.

 

"That the Average North American is someone that Buys Things he Doesn't Need, with Money he Doesn't Have, to Impress People He Doesn't Like."

 

As I recall, he was making a remark on the American Budget Deficit, (currently running at $483 Billion). 'At the end of FY 2015 the gross US federal government debt is estimated to be $18.713 trillion, according to the FY16 Federal Budget. Of this gross amount, debt Held by the Public: Other is estimated by usgovernmentspending.com at $11.520 trillion, debt Held by the Public: Federal Reserve System (i.e. monetized debt) is estimated by usgovernmentspending.com at $2.072 trillion and debt Held by Federal Government Accounts is estimated at $5.122 trillion.'

 

 

 

 

As a Famous Journalist asked me, "Does he mean us?" I afraid the truth is, "He Surely Does!"

 

 

 

 

Having more Money than Sense is Not a Crime.

 

Yet to a Guitar Collector to whom "Original Stock" is Absolutely Everything.

 

You will Appreciate that Swapping Out Machineheads on a New Guitar is Akin to a Criminal Act.

 

Most Especially when it's an Entirely Avoidable, Completely Unnecessary, Additional Expense, that often involves, Unforeseen Damage by Amateur Hand.

 

 

 

 

Again, as the Famous Journalist asked, "Does he mean us?"

 

The truth is, "He Surely Does!"

 

 

 

 

 

Clearly.

 

My Post Hit on a Very Raw Nerve.

 

Thank You for the Humility Shown, Openly Identifying Yourself.

 

As Someone of the Class I had in Mind, when Composing and Finalising the Post Above.

 

The Psychology Involved, where Personal Identity and Status is Determined by Customising Instrument Parts.

 

Where Individuals consider that they can Improve on the Research, Development and Design Aesthetics of Great Manufacturers.

 

With Little to No Experience Whatever, No Mean Time Before Failure Research Available, and No Component Testing Resources Whatever at their Disposal.

 

But can, none the less, do a Distinctly Better Job and make Significantly Better Decisions than the Actual Manufacturers, who Designed, Created, Built and Successfully Marketed the Original Product in the First Place.

 

 

 

 

With respect.

 

Is Entirely Self Delusional.

 

When Put at its Very Best. Indeed, it's the Case.

 

That a Faulty, Psychological, Mode of Thought is Involved.

 

Please think all this through a Little More Deeply, and you will See.

 

The Implication and The Indication of what you have written and declared above.

 

 

 

 

Is that YOU would Purchase.

 

A Brand New Guitar.

 

You Didn't Like the Look Of.

 

You Didn't Like the Sound Of.

 

You Didn't Like the Playability Of.

 

You Didn't Like the Technical Specification Of.

 

And You Didn't Like the Weight and Balance Of.

 

 

 

 

 

THAT! Is the Reality of what you have written.

 

 

 

 

Clearly.

 

There is something Very Deeply Wrong.

 

With this Type of Cognitive and Psychological Mode of Thought.

 

If you Really take the Time to Stop and Read what you have Written and Understand its Complete Implication.

 

 

 

You can only come to One Conclusion.

 

 

 

I say.

 

Take your Time.

 

Search for and Buy the Guitar you Like.

 

The One that that Suits you. Perfectly in Every Respect.

 

 

 

 

Again, with respect.

 

 

 

Your approach to Purchasing Guitars.

 

Reminds me of the Bride entering the Church on Her Wedding Day.

 

She Looks down the Aisle, and She Looks at the Altar, and Finally, Her Gaze comes to Rest On You.

 

And at that Moment, on the day, She's waited all her life for. Through Her Mind, Goes a Very Clear and Deliberate Sequence of Thought.

 

 

 

 

Aisle, Altar, You!

 

 

 

 

It's not the way to Make Great Music.

 

With Extremely Few Exceptions of Genuine Note.

 

Virtually, All the Very Best Guitarist throughout Musical History.

 

Played Stock Instruments, as Originally Designed and Conceived by Manufacturers.

 

The Idea that Swapping Out, Grover Rotomatics will add anything at all of Quality to Your Performance.

 

 

 

Is Complete and Utter Nonsense!

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I agree w/ BluesKing777 - the question of whether or not to replace the Rotomatics seems most comparable to changing out the wheels on your new car. Your new, high-performance sports car. Just like I believe Alfa-Romeo puts what they think are the best working and looking wheels on their cars - I think Gibson puts the best tuners on their acoustics. But, as been mentioned by ABuckeridge - you can always find more expensive gear. Slightly better looking, better working and better after-marketed. I appreciate Any tuner that looks better than the old Klusons on my '64 LG1.

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With Respect.

 

You are entirely wrong.

 

This is simply NOT the case at all!

 

MOST people change their Tuners, to Qualitatively Improve Tuning Stability.

 

Or to Replace a Machinehead that is Genuinely Faulty or been Broken because of Entirely Avoidable Accidental Damage.

Respect back to you for your days as a guitar-doc, but I think you should know that between 90 and 95 % of the tuner-changers on this Board, do it for style, idea of the 'right match' and romantic aestetic reasons.

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Respect back to you for your days as a guitar-doc, but I think you should know that between 90 and 95 % of the tuner-changers on this Board, do it for style, idea of the 'right match' and romantic aestetic reasons.

 

=D> BINGO!!! =D>

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Respect back to you for your days as a guitar-doc, but I think you should know that between 90 and 95 % of the tuner-changers on this Board, do it for style, idea of the 'right match' and romantic aestetic reasons.

 

+1 from me

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So, fickle pickle, less than 24 hours later I have veered back to leaving the J45 tuners and guitar as IS! Save the money! (Especially after it had a nice Virtuoso polish.....).

 

 

Stuff - there is usually a catch!

 

 

Here is an analogy...

 

 

The dog insists we walk it every night ( at the same exact time!).....the Better Half had a nice new pair of running shoes even though the only time we run is if the dog gets away and she kept saying how nice they felt. I had a worn out very famous brand on - with the air suspension yukk yukk hoo hoo that had now blown out from too many miles and went squark squark sqeek squeek as I got along... So I got the Boss to bring me home a new pair and of course, they are too small by a hair and are fine to start with but blistery feeling after a 100 ft!

 

SO

 

I went to the shoe shoppe my self and braved the mmmmm--madding crowds and all that and bought a very famous brand of running shoe that looks...well superb! And fit...superb!

 

 

Crux of the story....

 

 

When we get back from walking the dog in my new famous brand shoes, I wipe my feet on the doormat, but I notice the gravel from the walking track is STUCK in the tread of the shoes. I try to flick the gravel out, but it is stuck and won't come out without getting a stick to it.... Of course, when I wear the same shoes to drive to the shop later, the gravel comes out under my accelerator pedal to form a nice little pile under my feet! (And a nice pile of little gravels where I sit at home to take said running shoes off!)

 

 

What does it all mean? [omg] :angry: [mellow]

 

 

BluesKing777.

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It means Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which makes you a good candidate for owning too many guitars. And for hanging out here.

 

 

 

OCD? Me? Never! I just like the guitar to be shiny shiny shiny and the shoes to be lined up STRAIGHT in the closet.....

 

 

Too Many Guitars? Huh! See Chart:

http://www.musicademy.com/2012/03/flow-chart-do-you-have-too-many-guitars/

 

 

BluesKing777.

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Well darn, looks as if this thread is about done. Almost 12.5 hours since the last post. It was fun while it lasted. Maybe we can have T-shirts made up. "I survived the great tuner change-out thread of 14' ".

Maybe even have some quote from Anthony on the back.

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Why does Grover not make a green tulip that would be a true direct swap for their Rotomatics? No drilling, no bushing, no posts that are too short. I think they make a metal keystone and a big ivory button, why not a tulip? This would let someone try them on a j 200 or j 45 standard without drilling more holes in their head stocks. Then if it does change the tone they can put the big buttons back on and pretend it never happened.

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Why does Grover not make a green tulip that would be a true direct swap for their Rotomatics? No drilling, no bushing, no posts that are too short. I think they make a metal keystone and a big ivory button, why not a tulip? This would let someone try them on a j 200 or j 45 standard without drilling more holes in their head stocks. Then if it does change the tone they can put the big buttons back on and pretend it never happened.

 

 

So we CAN get just different buttons?

 

 

 

 

BluesKing777.

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Why does Grover not make a green tulip that would be a true direct swap for their Rotomatics? No drilling, no bushing, no posts that are too short. I think they make a metal keystone and a big ivory button, why not a tulip? This would let someone try them on a j 200 or j 45 standard without drilling more holes in their head stocks. Then if it does change the tone they can put the big buttons back on and pretend it never happened.

 

They do. They're the Grover 135 series. Straight swap, no messing about.

post-62550-083962200 1417257464_thumb.jpg

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Quote: "Respect back to you for your days as a guitar-doc, but I think you should know that between 90 and 95 % of the tuner-changers on this Board, do it for style, idea of the 'right match' and romantic aestetic reasons."

 

 

 

Thank you for your polite response.

 

Politeness cost nothing, and gentlemanly behavior, a commodity that graces and enhances Fora Life.

 

I appreciate the point you are making, in a free society its fair and I have no wish to argue against it, though to my mind, it is an entirely challengeable point.

 

 

 

Here are my reasons for stating that:

 

1.

 

The hypotheist suggesting it, incorrectly assumes that the minor number of individuals that regularly dominate this board, are properly representative, of the Guitar Playing hoards of Global Players.

 

I would suggest with the greatest possible respect, that it is not even the case that the sometimes heavily noise inducing individuals that regularly dominate this board. Are not even proportionately representative of the incredibly huge numbers of rather more quiet members and entirely silent readers from all around the world.

 

The Majority of which are understandably hesitant to proffer a different opinion to the prevailing line of thought. Lest they be railed upon, rudely treated and even cyber bullied into a public laughing stock, for having the temerity to own a mind of their own, that has a different, but genuine opinion. Therefore, the basis of the hypothesis, emitted from a small but highly vocal minority, is thus, falsely extrapolated to a far larger group, who are by virtue of their manifest reservations, extremely unlikely to spend their hard earned money, in this way.

 

 

2.

 

The "'right match' and romantic aestetic reasons" argument, in truth represents what is in fact a Wholly Subjective Opinion. It represents, a specific individuals, "Idea".

 

I was discussing with the Tenants that Rent a House the other day, the fact that they had Painted the Interior with Deeply Vivid and Boldly Strong Colours, and given the Garden a Complete Makeover that involved shifting a Ton and a Half of Material.

 

I explained the problem like this. "While it's nice that you've made the house into a home, when you first viewed this house you immediately felt attracted to it, you felt, YES, this is a Great Place to Live. This was because, it was By Design, intended by Specialists, to Create that Special Emotion."

 

"What you have done is to Create a Space that Specifically Appeals to You as a Distinct Individual, but one which most people would feel Very Strongly Oppressed By Indeed, with a Demanding, High Maintenance Garden, in Place of a Low Maintenance Garden, which in a City with a Fast Turnover of Very Short Term Residents, is the Exact Opposite of what they normally want."

 

"When you move on, the Entire House Interior will have to be Completely Repainted, to be Attractive for Overall Universal Appeal, and before you go the Garden will need to be Remade Over, to the Low Maintenance most Residents will Require. It is Simply a Huge Amount of Work and Complete Waste of Money, which by the way, You will have to Pay For if you Don't Restore the Property, before Leaving."

 

 

Here's the salient and relevant, concomitant case in point, regarding the Grover's.

 

Many people that had problems with Plastic Tulip Kluson's, did so because through carelessness, the Guitar had a bump and the corner of the Tuning Peg simply Broke Off.

 

Many suffered a Disintegration where the Metal of the Tuning Post was welded to the Plastic Peg. Often, they Eventually Cracked through Constant Use and simply Broke. More often than not, they developed a Clear and Distinctive Crack, prophesying their Forth Coming Demise.

 

To entirely avoid these Great Inconveniences to Professional Players and Completely Solve these Besetting Problems. Grover in their Wisdom, Sagaciously produced Gold, Nickel and Chrome Metal Tuning Heads, that the Player will probably NEVER have a Single Problem with, ever, in a Working Professional's Scenario. The Issues and Difficulties of the Past have been swept away, by Expensive Design and Tooling Improvements that have Issued Out in the Manufacturing of a Superior Product.

 

But despite this Complete Elimination of a Debilitating Difficulty, most especially, a Great Inconvenience for Players in Other Countries around the World. There are those, (perhaps who have Not Experienced the Inherent Difficulties) who argue for, and appear to Wish The Problems Back, purely for the benefit of their Strongly Trumpeted, Highly Individual, Subjective Opinion. Presumably, they are equally happy to Drive, an Unreliable Vehicle, because they think a Certain Car "Looks Cool", whatever that means!

 

 

 

A Professional Driver needs a Car that gets him where he wants to go.

 

Not one that will Break Down Sooner, as a Scientifically Measurable, Provable Fact, backed by Many, Many Decades Indeed of Empirical Evidence.

 

I would argue that it's better to Go Forward towards the Future in Design and Manufacturing Improvement, rather than Backward. As Going Backward, is the Subsequent, Consequent, Inevitable and Irremediable Repercussion of this "Swap Out's" Regressive Step.

 

It's better for Fora Readers to be aware of this factual information, than completely unaware, and sucked in by Subjective Opinion. Because this "Change Out is being mooted by many as an "Improvement" when the Reality is, as the History of the Evolution of the Guitar Proves, and Everyone who has Witnessed a Damaged Plastic Tulip Knows, it's actually, Quite the Opposite.

 

 

3.

 

Back in the day.

 

When here in the U.K. American Guitars faced a Protectionist Trade Embargo. And when they were Finally Allowed into the Country, Faced a One Third Price Hike by virtue of Customs Excise Duty and Taxes.

 

I was in a privileged position, with far more experience of American Guitars than the Average Professional Player. Many used, often inferior, Home Grown or European Instruments, whilst the best found Secondhand Instruments coming their way. Eventually, Special Orders, paved the way for Prohibitively Expensive Models to be Marketed.

 

You cannot possibly imagine, the way a Player like Jimmy Page's Eyes would Light Up at the Sight and Feel of the Large Buttoned Grover Tuners, you would immediately discard from your New Instrument. Or how Eric Clapton's Whole Demeanor would be Transformed at just the Sight of a Very Basic Stock, Original Specification American Guitar.

 

And they would Perform, Sonic, Musical and Commercially Successful Recording Wonders with these Instruments they SO Revered. Yet for some Extraordinary Reason, like the "Look" or the "Weight" of the Tuners, Selected and Fitted by the Manufacturers as the Best Solution for that Model, with a Wide Range of Tuners Available to them. Certain Individuals here appear to be Incapable of Performing At All Musically, unless these Dastardly Tuners, that Players like Li'l Jim and Eric would fall over themselves for, have been replaced by Provably Inferior Products.

 

With All Due Respect, If you could only realise, what Complete Nonsense is Being Strongly Advocated. How it would be seen by Certain Guitar Lovers at the Very Top of the Guitar Game.

 

It would be Laughable, if it were not for the Damage. Many are Likely to Cause.

 

 

4.

 

Some Individuals had stated that Changing Out Tuners, is Like Changing Wheels on a Car.

 

Indeed, it could be argued that some Top Guitarist's have used Highly Modified Instruments they have put their name to, which have been Reproduced for Marketing Reasons.

 

The Big Failure of this Line of Logic, is that it Completely Fails to take into Account, that the Finest Work of the Entire Body of Work of these Artists, was All Accomplished on Original Stock Instruments. And with very few, but notable exceptions, that is Virtually Universally the Case.

 

But let's go back to the Changing Out of Wheels Scenario. This is something I know a little about. Indeed, One Company I have "an interest" in, produces a Class Leading, World Beating Product, that provides no less than 5,000,000 Customer Options. Yes I do mean 5 Million. In point of fact, so many, that in any Single Production Year, it is Highly Unlikely (though Not Impossible) that Two Identical Products will be ever be Manufactured. Furthermore, with a long waiting list, should the Customer Change Their Mind about Technical Specification of Optional Features. They can do so far into the Build Process, right to the Final Stages, and their Wishes Accommodated.

 

One Interesting Piece of Science we have Commissioned and Used, involves a Thorough Study of the Manner in which Trees Grow. How they Distribute Additional Material where it's needed, to Provide Strength, whilst Minimising Material where its Advantageous, to Enhance the Flexibility of the Living Material, to Actively Respond to Ever Changing, Actuating, External Stimuli. Armed with this Knowledge, One Division has Created, Designed and Manufactured, a Brand New Concept, and in fact an Entirely New Wheel. In addition, Other Major Components have undergone Complete Reworking, Minimising Material where it is of No Genuine Advantage, and Enhancing Strength by Extra Material where it Most Counts. All simply by Studying How Trees Grow.

 

 

5.

 

Earlier, someone mentioned 70's and 80's Gibson's.

 

My first Gibson was a Parson St. Kalamazoo Model, a Semi-Acoustic 335.

 

I suppose I think of the "Golden" Ted McCarthy Era Gibson's of Parsons St. as Best.

 

But out in the Oxford Countryside, amongst the Gentle Roll of Hills with Tree Lined Fields.

 

I have an Extensive Instrument Collection ready for action at a Private Producer Recording Studio.

 

If you have seen James Taylors Collection, you will have a little idea of what it's like. All the Guitars are kept in Hard Cases.

 

Like James, the Guitar Lines are Dual Stacked with One Line Above a Lower One, but there are a few Differences, one being that there are Many, Many More Walls of Instruments.

 

They are kept in Bespoke Built Racks of My Own Design, and Dust Covers Front the Racks for Obvious Reasons. Whereas James Sticks Tape to his Cases with the Instrument Type, mine have Big Luggage Labels, with the Brand, Model, Finish and Serial Number, so I have an Idea of what's in them.

 

Two of these Racks are filled with Gibson Guitars from the 70's and 80's. So I understand precisely what the writer is trying to say about them. But whereas I suspect most of those Instruments he alluded to were Secondhand Models that had been Upgraded to Rotomatics by Players, Mine are mostly Fitted with Large Rotomatics, but As Brand New, Mint Condition, Vintage Models featuring the Best Brazilian Hardwoods.

 

The Salient Point is, Guitarists Preferred, Bought, Sought Out and Highly Prized the Rotomatic Tuners above virtually all others of the same period. I qualify my statement with virtually because if you paid double to triple the price, there is no doubt that if you could find them in the Country in which you lived, which unless you lived in America you couldn't, then they did exist, at a price. However all things being equal, Grover Rotomatics set the Standard by which all other were judged, during that Era.

 

 

6

 

My sixth point will seem strange to some, no doubt.

 

Yet I make it, as I have made Earlier Reference to the Scientific Studies regarding How Trees Grow and this is Really the Essential, Salient Point of Referring to the Guitar Collection kept in the Security of The Country Estate.

 

Although James's Guitars seem to be Standing Upright. In fact they are Leaning Over Quite a Lot. Mine Lean the Tiniest Possible Degree and are Kept, Virtually Upright. Each One, Held in Place with Dividers, Built into the Racks by Design.

 

Now some people, Store Guitars on their Side. This is How you should leave a Cello for a Short While for instance, so it doesn't Fall Over and Damage itself. My Luthier is currently Carving a New Neck for a Cello, that has Experienced such a Problem.

 

So there is a Certain Logic to Laying a Guitar Case on its Back or laying it on its Side, in that it won't Fall Over Easily and Get Damaged. Indeed Chris Martin has a Prototype Collection that is Stored in just this way, however it is not entirely clear what the Rational Behind This Is.

 

The thing is, what I have noticed about Trees and the Manner in which they Grow, is that usually, unless there is some Extraordinary Environmental Factor at Work, they always Grow Upright. Aspiring Upwardly, Towards God in Heaven. Spreading Ever Upward and Outward Seeking the Sun and Rain.

 

With the Uttermost Respect, Chris, May God Bless Him and his Family. Appears not to have cottoned onto this Fundamental Principle of the Manner of Tree Growth. Either it is a Factor that has Not Been Properly Recognised Thereabouts. Or it's Possible that when the Racks for Guitar Storage were Fabricated, the Workmen got the Plans the Wrong Way Round.

 

 

"How can such a Thing Happen" You Ask?

 

Well I have been helped greatly, by a "Lad" whose Parents used to take him to a Tiny Church located directly behind a 200 Year Old Music Shop, in Oxford City, belonging to a Good Friend of Mine.

 

The thing is, I used to Believe that the Sky Scrapers in Manhattan were built that special way because the Ground Floor Space was Limited and Expensive and the Granite Underneath permitted the Large Heavy Building to have Foundations of the Correct Strength.

 

Anyway, this "Lad" told me otherwise, "No it's not the case" he said, "The Sky Scrapers in Manhattan were built that way, because the Builders, actually got their Plans the Wrong Way Around, and by exactly 90 Degrees. They were Originally Intended to be Built Long Way's, but because of this Elementary Mistake, they Built Upwards, instead of Sideways".

 

It seems possible that "Chris's Workers" have made a Similar but Diametrically Opposite Mistake, as the "Lad", and a Former Student here later, an Actor, "Hugh Laurie", explained to me happened in the case of Manhattan Island. Or its equally possible, that No One at Chris's Marvellous Factory, is Properly Cognisant with this Abecedarian Factor, regarding "The Way Trees Grow".

 

They Grow Upright, and none of the Instruments in My Collection, Stored in this Manner have never needed a Neck Reset, and Never Ever Looked as if a Neck Reset was going to be Ever Needed. They Exist as they Lived and Grew and Flourished and Blossomed into Adulthood and Maturity. And the Majority of the Woods Grain, and its Sensitive Inner Chemical Life, so Subject to Variation in Environmental Change, Continues on in as Close a Manner as it Existed, when it was First Harvested.

 

The Necks are Straight and True Today, (I always work from a Dead Straight Neck) Exactly as they were when First Adjusted and Setup, immediately after they were First Purchased. The Finely Close Grain, the Product of Hundreds of Years in a Dark Forest. Lives as True Today as it did All its Life. They are Regularly Checked and Properly Maintained, and all the Electrics too, as is Necessary. I have never had any Problem With or Needed to make any Further Adjustment whatever to any of these Guitars. And Part of the Reason I Believe, (there are Additional Factors Special to my Methods of Guitar Care) is that I have noticed, what others have spectacularly failed to note.

 

Tree's Grow Upwardly.

 

 

7.

 

Is it worth Gibson offering Non Custom Shop, Standard Consumer Options?

 

The point of a Standardised Product, the result of Good Initial Design Concepts, Long Standing Positive Consumer Feedback, Warrantee and Service Experience, and a Successfully Marketed Model, is that it reduces and eliminates Expensive and Wasteful and Unnecessary Stock Levels, Reduces Capital and Running Costs, Improves Profitability and Enables a Company to Market their Product at a Sustainably Competitive Price Point.

 

However, Broadly Speaking there are Four Basic Types of Consumer Customisation and depending on which avenue a Specific Company takes, it may or may not work well for them. I say may or may not, because the more Options you Provide, the Higher the Stock Levels of Various Parts you need to have, the More Finished Stock you Need to Keep, or as in the case of a Company I have "an interest" in, the Greatly More Complex, Sophisticated and Razor Sharp the Lean and Mean Production Operation needs to be to be Successful, State of the Art, in Fact.

 

Any Company that needs to Immediately Satisfy Consumer Demands on Delivery, is going to have to keep a Wide Range of Stock of Every Variation of Every Model in Distribution Warehouses, and this in my Opinion is a Recipe for Commercial Suicide. It's just not a Viable Business Model, and will most likely force the Business Potential to go down the Pan. The Fundamental Driver that Underlies the need to provide such a High Degree of Customisation on Premium Products, is the Sense of Personal Identity where the Individuality of the Customer is SO important, that is Completely Overrides almost every other aspect of the Product.

 

I, Me, Mine! But it adds significantly to the Purchase Price, as it Increases Capital and Running Costs along with Additional Part Stock. I've no doubt that Gibson could easily implement Consumer Customisable Options, that are Ideally Factory Fitted and at a Moderately Affordable Cost too. I think it's an Idea Worth Exploring with Proper Marketing Research should that predicts its worthwhile. But the inescapable reality of the consequence of this Perfect Solution, is that Prices would Escalate, Spiraling Upward as the Costs Associated with Constantly Available, Additional Varieties of Parts being Stocked would be Passed Forward to Consumers.

 

What this means in Real Life, is that Everyone Who is Happy with the Design and Build of Stock Tuners, would, (over time as these Costs eventually Became Incorporated into the Overall Cost Equation as they do), end up Paying Extra for their Stock Guitars, to Provide for the Tiny Minority, who are Simply SO Sensitive, as to Require these to be of a Particular, and Lower Quality Type.

 

It just doesn't make Commercial Sense when viewed in the round, and is bound to be a point of sore resentment to the Average Purchasers of Gibson Guitars.

 

Whether Gibson fits your Tuners for you, or you Retrofit them yourself.

 

You have merely Devised, a Less Professional, Less Reliable.

 

More Expensive, Musical Instrument.

 

 

8.

 

The Grover 102 Rotomatic Series.

 

Is Lubricated for Life as a Factory Sealed Unit.

 

It Measures 10.5 from the centre of the screw hole to the centre of the post.

 

 

The Grover 135 Vintage Series.

 

Provides no technical specification for the above distance but is commonly regarded as a suitable if inexact replacement in that regard.

 

It will require an additional hole to be drilled for the second screw. As it will not hold properly without side to side movement being induced with just one screw.

 

In addition, you have to consider the Overall Length of the different Machineheads. 27.05 - 32.2 and their Design. The Vintage 135 works by Digging into the Finish and Gripping the Back of the Headstock.

 

This will leave a Visible Impression in the Finish and Wood in addition to the extra screw hole neither of which will be entirely covered should you ever wish to replace the Original 102 Rotomatic Machineheads. I think its worth knowing that, as it will Actively Result in a Monetary Devaluation of your Musical Instruments, Intrinsic Worth should you ever wish to Sell it, or another, wish to Buy it.

 

 

9.

 

There is Another Additional Factor that should be borne in mind.

 

Whilst the Grover 102 Rotomatic Series, is Largely Maintenance Free.

 

Lubricated for Life as a Sealed Unit that is Truly Unnecessary to Service.

 

The Plastic Tulip Grover 135 Vintage Series has a Open Aperture on the Back.

 

This is so the Worm Gearbox can be Lubricated from time to time for Smooth Turning.

 

Traditionally, Guitar Players use Sewing Machine Oil, or Three in One Oil straight from a Can.

 

The problem with this approach, is more complex than it is with Traditional Open Worm Gearbox Tuners.

 

These can be Lightly Smeared with Vaseline or Lithium Grease or even Lubricated with Sewing Machine Oil.

 

 

10.

 

But in reality, NONE of the above is really Suitably Ideal.

 

The correct solution is to use a Propriety "Dry" Grease which will Not Attract Dust and Grit, which will Stick to the Lubricant.

 

Once it does, the Contamination will then be drawn into the Worm Gearbox, and add to Wear and Unreliability of the Tuners, and Inexorably Diminish their Running Smoothness.

 

The other problem that more often than not occurs with these particular type of Tuners, is that because of the Oiling Aperture, Guitarists commonly imagine that the correct thing to do is to place the Oil Nozzle to it and Gently Squeeze.

 

 

 

However they do it, the result is usually the same. Typically, Excessive Oil runs over the Machinehead, Smothering the General Area with Oil. It often runs under the Machine Head Plate too.

 

The Effect Overtime of such Practice's, Performed Regularly with the Highest and Best Intentions in the World. Is that there is a gradual, but relentlessly, unremitting incursion of Oil into the Drilled Barrel Hole, where it seeps into the Wood.

 

Dependent upon the Year of Manufacture, the Headstock Angle will be pitched at 17 or 14 Degrees. The Salient Point being, this form of Headstock is Strongly Susceptible to Carelessness Accident and Misuse. It can be broken very easily, but the Good News is, Great Luthier's can Repair It.

 

However, should the Breakage Happen, anywhere near a Headstock Location that has been Regularly Oiled, and the Fine, Unfinished, Internal Wood, gradually turned to a Mushier Version of its Former Self, by virtue of year after years of having been Absorbing Oil, Deeper and Deeper into its Inners.

 

And the Breakage Occurs Around such a Delicate Point, weakened with the presence of a Hole. The Poor Luthier is going to have Great Difficulty in getting Oil Soaked Wood, to Glue to Oil Soaked Wood, and Provide you with a with a Lasting Repair that is going to be Entirely Satisfactory, and Hold Up to the High Tensions Placed Upon it.

 

For these reasons, the Ideal, Correct Manner in which to Lubricate and Maintain such types of Machineheads with these Designs, is to Completely Remove the Machinehead from the Guitar. Replace Parts, Maintain, Adjust and Lubricate them as is Necessary, and then Replace them on the Guitar. And usually, all things being equal, this work is best performed by an Experienced Luthier, as if you do it yourself, you are likely to Wear Parts Out and that's often when Slippage and Damage to the Finish Occurs.

 

 

11.

 

The Grover 135 Vintage Series is a Fine Machinehead of Quality.

 

The Essential Point that appears to have been Entirely Forgotten during this Discussion.

 

Is that the Lubricated for Life, Smooth Turning, Grover Rotomatic 102 Original Series was Specifically Designed to Completely Eliminate All These Inconveniences for the Professional Musician.

 

This is the Story of WHY people changed Kluson's for Grover's. Now of course, you can purchase a Kluson Style Grover to replace a Grover. But I hope you can see why it's Entirely Questionable to do so, on a New Guitar, OEM supplied with Original Rotomatic's.

 

 

This is of course, quite aside from the fact, that you will instantly Void Your Warrantee.

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