Lubricant?

[seamonkey]

Hi. I have a NOS J45, that is technically 20 years old. It has the Kluson style Gibson Deluxe tuners. What is the best product and technique to maintain them without removal? Thanks!

[Boyd]

Some of those old Klusons can be really bad. I got my 1974 J-50 when it was new and they were very stiff from day one. Got my 1965 J-50 a few years ago and did everything possible to flush/clean/lube the original Klusons and finally just replaced them. The vintage style Klusons that are now made by WD products are very nice though, they have a higher gear ratio and work very smoothly. http://www.kluson.com

 

I don't know anything about Klusons from the 1990's, but I suspect "it is what it is" and you will eventually have to replace them if they bother you. Be very careful about using any lubricants, I found that out the hard way. I used a little lithium grease on some tuners and it definitely helped. Then several months later when the weather got hot, I opened up the case one day and there was sticky goo all over the headstock and neck of the guitar. I was baffled at first until I realized that the heat liquified the lithium grease and it ran out.

 

So if you use something, use it sparingly, and I suspect that won't be enough to make much of a difference. Here's an article about cleaning and lubricating tuners though: http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Guitar_Tuning_Machine_Installation_and_Repair_Inform/Lubricating_guitar_tuners.html

[seamonkey]

Some of those old Klusons can be really bad. I got my 1974 J-50 when it was new and they were very stiff from day one. Got my 1965 J-50 a few years ago and did everything possible to flush/clean/lube the original Klusons and finally just replaced them. The vintage style Klusons that are now made by WD products are very nice though, they have a higher gear ratio and work very smoothly. http://www.kluson.com

 

I don't know anything about Klusons from the 1990's, but I suspect "it is what it is" and you will eventually have to replace them if they bother you. Be very careful about using any lubricants, I found that out the hard way. I used a little lithium grease on some tuners and it definitely helped. Then several months later when the weather got hot, I opened up the case one day and there was sticky goo all over the headstock and neck of the guitar. I was baffled at first until I realized that the heat liquified the lithium grease and it ran out.

 

So if you use something, use it sparingly, and I suspect that won't be enough to make much of a difference. Here's an article about cleaning and lubricating tuners though: http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Guitar_Tuning_Machine_Installation_and_Repair_Inform/Lubricating_guitar_tuners.html

Thanks!

[badbluesplayer]

Tri-Flow is good. It's a teflon infused light oil. Get it at a bike shop or hardware store.

[seamonkey]

Tri-Flow is good. It's a teflon infused light oil. Get it at a bike shop or hardware store.

Thanks!

[Boyd]

It really depends on what is wrong. If it's rusty or something, lubricant might help. But from what I've seen, they just aren't all that well-made. It's cheap bent metal pieces, not machined from a solid block of metal. By all means, give it a try. But I'd just use whatever household oil you have around instead of buying some special expensive stuff, since I really doubt that it's going to make much difference.

[seamonkey]

It really depends on what is wrong. If it's rusty or something, lubricant might help. But from what I've seen, they just aren't all that well-made. It's cheap bent metal pieces, not machined from a solid block of metal. By all means, give it a try. But I'd just use whatever household oil you have around instead of buying some special expensive stuff, since I really doubt that it's going to make much difference.

 

 

Thanks!