White Button Tuners

[Allie]

I purchased some Kluson Deluxe white button tuners (they are a direct replacement) to replace the Gibson Deluxe tulip tuners on my 94 J45VS the problem being that the binding on the guitar is 'aged' or yellowed with time or maybe Gibson even did this when they made the guitar to give it the 'aged' look IDK I've only owned the guitar a couple of years, anyway the buttons on the new tuners are bright white and I would like to get them to look more like the rest of the 'white' binding......any suggestions on how I could do this? Thanks in advance for any help with this.

[ElChris]

I sanded my klusons down with a very fine grit paper, which took the new shine off. Then I dipped the plastic in coffee to get the tone closer to the binding on my 45. The coffee rubbed off long time ago though, so maybe some kind of hobby laquer would do the trick? I'm still trying to find a more permanent solution so if you figure it out please do share!

[blindboygrunt]

I think I recall someone on here (bigkahune?) Who found a brown sharpie gave the best results. Coffee wore off like you said. Sharpie then wipe excess off.

 

But hey ! I'm not telling you to do it and I wouldn't be doing it. But if you search bigkahune content the you should find what I've just reiterated .

I'd be ordering aged tuners and selling the white ones.

 

Good luck.

[Boyd]

We discussed this in my thread on replacing 1965 J-50 tuners. You can buy cream colored replacement buttons from StewMac, but replacing them might be difficult, depending on your skill level. Some people have purchased and then had a luthier install. http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Tuning_Machines/Vintage_Tuner_Knobs.html

 

Shoe polish is another method, but people report varying results. See this: http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Trade_Secrets/Making_new_tuners_look_vintage.html

 

You can also purchase new tuners that already have cream colored knob, which is what I did: http://www.wdmusic.com/kluson_3_on_plate_plastic_button_nickel_double_row.html

[Allie]

All good info here people, thank you for that. I have the three individual tuners on each side compared to the three on a plate, the only off white tuners I found were the three on a plate style. My gibby already has the three on a side style Gibson enclosed jade tulip tuners so that is the style I wanted to replace them with (no new holes and the shaft size is the same) I will consider all the ideas you gave me and let you know what I decide. I'm thinking the lacquer dip method may be my best choice. I'll know better tomorrow when my tuners arrive.

 

 

This is the type I have but with jade tulips :http://www.music123.com/accessories/gibson-vintage-nickel-machine-heads-with-pearloid-buttons

 

This is the type I had to buy and the buttons are bright white:http://www.music123.com/accessories/kluson-kbw-round-white-button-guitar-tuning-machines--3-per-side?rNtt=white%20button%20tuners&index=1

 

Hope this isn't too confusing.....I know I'm confused

 

Don't know why these didn't show up as direct links??? but if you don't mind just copy and paste to get to the links.

[Boyd]

Your second link doesn't work, I get this from the Music123 site "You have arrived here because the page that you are looking for no longer exists." I put the same tuners in your first link on my 1974 J-50, the originals are very stiff and one was broken.

 

The Kluson replicas are made by WD Music, there are a lot of options for the single type here:

 

http://www.wdmusic.com/tuners_kluson_original_stamped_steel_3_per_side.html

 

These look like the cream colored ones: http://www.wdmusic.com/3_on_side_kluson_nickel_plastic.html

[Allie]

Your second link doesn't work, I get this from the Music123 site "You have arrived here because the page that you are looking for no longer exists." I put the same tuners in your first link on my 1974 J-50, the originals are very stiff and one was broken.

 

The Kluson replicas are made by WD Music, there are a lot of options for the single type here:

 

http://www.wdmusic.com/tuners_kluson_original_stamped_steel_3_per_side.html

 

These look like the cream colored ones: http://www.wdmusic.com/3_on_side_kluson_nickel_plastic.html

Sorry about that, try this one: http://www.music123.com/accessories/kluson-kbw-round-white-button-guitar-tuning-machines--3-per-side?rNtt=white%20button%20tuners&index=1

 

I changed it in my original post too.

 

I really want to stay with the screw in bushings because that is what I have now and the washer marks are on my headstock and will show with the pressed in style bushings...also these look to be the heavier type casing like the Gibson Deluxe on the guitar now. Thanks for the reply though.

[jedzep]

I had success with sanding and black tea but my buttons were off the machines and could be soaked for a while. Beware, though, of the lacquer option as adhesion will be a problem over time.

[zombywoof]

I am not sure if I am getting you but buttons are buttons. It does not matter if you intend to use them for three on a plate or individual tuners.

 

Anyway, I agree with above. Soaking in tea is a popular means of aging plastic buttons.

[Allie]

I am not sure if I am getting you but buttons are buttons. It does not matter if you intend to use them for three on a plate or individual tuners.

 

Anyway, I agree with above. Soaking in tea is a popular means of aging plastic buttons.

 

The buttons are on the new tuners, they are (going by the picture of them) bright white....the binding on my guitar is yellowed considerably so if the new tuner buttons are as white as they appear in the pics they will look out of place with the rest of the aged white on the guitar. It may not even be an issue I'll know better when I have the new tuners in hand. I hope this clears up any confusion.

[Allie]

I had success with sanding and black tea but my buttons were off the machines and could be soaked for a while. Beware, though, of the lacquer option as adhesion will be a problem over time.

even though I will only be getting the lacquer on the buttons themselves?

[BigKahune]

I purchased some Kluson Deluxe white button tuners (they are a direct replacement) to replace the Gibson Deluxe tulip tuners on my 94 J45VS the problem being that the binding on the guitar is 'aged' or yellowed with time or maybe Gibson even did this when they made the guitar to give it the 'aged' look ....

 

Same thing here with my SJ TV. It came with closed back Gotoh vintage keystone tuners, and I switched to the closed back Gotoh vintage button tuners - but they were stark white. I tried the shoe polish trick, it didn't last. Then I did got a tan Sharpe - one at a time I colored the buttons, let them sit a minute and then wiped off the excess. I did it second time to get them a bit darker. . Good luck with your project.

 

White buttons shot and another shot of the buttons matching the binding after staining with sharpie -

.

 

 

.

[blindboygrunt]

I'd like to yellow my binding .

Can I soak the guitar in a bath of tea ?

[Allie]

Same thing here with my SJ TV. It came with closed back Gotoh vintage keystone tuners, and I switched to the closed back Gotoh vintage button tuners - but they were stark white. I tried the shoe polish trick, it didn't last. Then I did got a tan Sharpe - one at a time I colored the buttons, let them sit a minute and then wiped off the excess. I did it second time to get them a bit darker. . Good luck with your project.

 

White buttons shot and another shot of the buttons matching the binding after staining with sharpie -

.

 

 

.

That's what I'm talking about, The sharpe stayed on alright over time? no matter I guess anyway as long as I still have the sharpe I'll be able to redo them from time to time. it should be easy enough to do even with the tuners already on the guitar.

[BigKahune]

I'd like to yellow my binding .

Can I soak the guitar in a bath of tea ?

 

I know it's a joke, but for those interested --> Duane pulled it off very well - here's the thread with instructions - http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/117439-aging-your-bleach-white-binding/page__p__1595849__hl__binding__fromsearch__1#entry1595849

 

 

 

 

 

.

[BigKahune]

That's what I'm talking about, The sharpe stayed on alright over time? no matter I guess anyway as long as I still have the sharpe I'll be able to redo them from time to time. it should be easy enough to do even with the tuners already on the guitar.

 

I did mine with the tuners on back in 2013. Still looking great and haven't redone them yet.

 

 

 

.

[blindboygrunt]

It was a joke but ... Holy moly

[Allie]

I did mine with the tuners on back in 2013. Still looking great and haven't redone them yet.

 

 

 

.

Thanks, That's definitely the route I'll take if I need to color them.

[Boyd]

I really want to stay with the screw in bushings because that is what I have now and the washer marks are on my headstock and will show with the pressed in style bushings

 

One of the reasons I changed tuners on my 2008 J-50 was because I really disliked the look of those big washers and screw-in bushings. You are right that there will be a mark when you remove them, but I was able to sand it down with good results. I was a bit nervous, but it didn't take very long at all. Of course, there's always the chance that you could do some real damage if you sand it down too far, and some people may not be comfortable with that risk. I used these:

 

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Sanding_and_Polishing/Sandpaper_and_Finishing_Papers/Micro-Mesh_Touch_Up_Stick.html

 

Here's the 2008 J-50 with new tuners on the left and originals on the right FWIW. Stewmac sells the bushings to adapt the holes to the correct size. I used a small c-clamp to press them into the holes with a wood block to pad the headstock.

 

[blindboygrunt]

One of the reasons I changed tuners on my 2008 J-50 was because I really disliked the look of those big washers and screw-in bushings. You are right that there will be a mark when you remove them, but I was able to sand it down with good results. I was a bit nervous, but it didn't take very long at all. Of course, there's always the chance that you could do some real damage if you sand it down too far, and some people may not be comfortable with that risk. I used these:

 

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Sanding_and_Polishing/Sandpaper_and_Finishing_Papers/Micro-Mesh_Touch_Up_Stick.html

 

Here's the 2008 J-50 with new tuners on the left and originals on the right FWIW. Stewmac sells the bushings to adapt the holes to the correct size. I used a small c-clamp to press them into the holes with a wood block to pad the headstock.

 

 

Job well done. No contest

[Hall]

Wow Boyd! That is good work and nice at which to look. Well done.

 

steve

[zombywoof]

I'd like to yellow my binding .

Can I soak the guitar in a bath of tea ?

 

 

If nothing else it will answer the question of how well your guitar floats.

[Boyd]

Wow Boyd! That is good work and nice at which to look.

 

Thanks! Sorry - didn't want to hijack the thread though. Just pointing out that it isn't too hard to deal with the marks from the large washers and use tuners with the smaller diameter posts (if that's what you want). :)

[Hall]

Yes, and a "my bad" to Allie. Sorry for that one. Back to your original post.

 

steve

[bayoubengal1954]

I purchased some Kluson Deluxe white button tuners (they are a direct replacement) to replace the Gibson Deluxe tulip tuners on my 94 J45VS the problem being that the binding on the guitar is 'aged' or yellowed with time or maybe Gibson even did this when they made the guitar to give it the 'aged' look IDK I've only owned the guitar a couple of years, anyway the buttons on the new tuners are bright white and I would like to get them to look more like the rest of the 'white' binding......any suggestions on how I could do this? Thanks in advance for any help with this.

 

Allie--

 

Here is the thread I started about getting my results:

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/119430-finally-got-the-cream-butterbean-tuner-buttons-i-wanted-on-my-southern-jumbo-tv/page__p__1625354__fromsearch__1&do=findComment&comment=1625354

 

I did not have any luck locating the exact Sharpie shade that BigKahune used, so I had to go that route. The most important thing is to determine whether your replacement buttons need to have the rectangular hole or the round hole. I needed rectangular, but I also have the round hole ones in case you need to buy some below cost.