mmukav Posted January 1, 2020 Report Share Posted January 1, 2020 (edited) Hi all, and Happy New Year! New member here. Just picked up a new Gibson G-45. So far, really like it. But I'd like to change the tuners for a more vintage look. Something like the green key vintage tuners. Has anyone switched out theirs? On a G-45 or J-45? Much difference between the two as far as tuners? What have you changed over to? Any problems? Thanks..... Edited January 1, 2020 by mmukav added pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted January 1, 2020 Report Share Posted January 1, 2020 Rotomatics just look so flippin' wrong on any J45. While it did not involve any Gibson surgery, I replaced the original open gear strip tuners on one of my Harmony Sovereigns with a set of Grover Sta-Tites and have been more than happy. I even like the metal buttons which kind of surprised me. If you cannot live with metal buttons or hanker for strip tuners, there are a ton of choices such as the Stewmac Golden age tuners. Unfortunately Antique Acoustics no longer offers their version of the Kluson open gear tuners. These were the standard replacement tuners when restoring old Gibsons which is not surprising as Willi Henkes is one of the owners of the company. Might be worth being patent and seeing if you can score a set used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted January 1, 2020 Report Share Posted January 1, 2020 1 hour ago, mmukav said: Has anyone switched out theirs? On a G-45 or J-45? Much difference between the two as far as tuners? What have you changed over to? Any problems? Those are the mini Roto's on your G-45? The smaller footprint of the mini's would likely be better at allowing a set of 3-on-a-plates to more completely cover the location of the previous screwholes. Maybe the people at StewMac would be able to confirm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmukav Posted January 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 (edited) @62burst--yes, they're the mini grovers. I love the guitar and am going to keep it, but every time I look at it I see those metal keys and cringe. I just feel the vintage look would be much nicer. And as far as contacting Elderly? I emailed them right before I saw your comment!! I'll let you know how they respond. I know I'll need to drill new screw holes, but I'd rather not have to ream the shaft holes. Edited January 2, 2020 by mmukav Sp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 17 minutes ago, mmukav said: @62burst--yes, they're the mini grovers. I love the guitar and am going to keep it, but every time I look at it I see those metal keys and cringe. I just feel the vintage look would be much nicer. And as far as contacting Elderly? I emailed them right before I saw your comment!! I'll let you know how they respond. I know I'll need to drill new screw holes, but I'd rather not have to ream the shaft holes. Those Grover 205's mini rotos use a 10mm peghead bushing, so you may need to use conversion bushings with most of your tuner options. Go on stewmac.com and look at their tuner options, as well as the 3/8"/10mm conversion bushings. Be sure not to get the 10.5 mm bushings. If you go to three-on-a-plate tuners (like closed-back or open-back Klusons or replicas thereof, such as Golden Age), you need to check the stringpost spacing on your peghead to make sure they will work. This would be the classic tuner configuration for a J-45. If your stringpost spacing doesn't line up for three-on-a-plates, look at Grover Sta-Tite 97 individual tuners. They are pretty classic-looking. I put a set of these on my original 1950 J-45 back in 1971. They are great tuners for the money. You will still need the conversion bushings. Most of the tuners Stewmac sells have dimensioned drawings on the website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALD323 Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 (edited) I have the 2019 Mahogany J-45 M light cherry burst with mini rotos on it......they don't look bad, they just don't look right. So I've bought a set of the Black Ebony wood replacement BUTTONS..exact same size that screw on and off....and it looks great now, much classier, no gaudy glitter of the sparkling Sally Star rotomatics! Great price too..perfect fit... no mods needed just a small phillips screwderiver. Here is where I got them, and they look way better in person. Just an option you might consider. ...These are specifically for mini rotomatics size only..a direct replacement. https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-6-Small-Tuning-Key-Buttons-ScrewsFor-Grover-Tuners-Rotomatic-EBONY-/292756198779?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10#viTabs_0 Edited January 2, 2020 by ALD323 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmukav Posted January 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 @ALD323---hmmm........interesting. @j45nick--thanks. I'll see what Elderly has to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmukav Posted January 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 (edited) I went with ALD323's idea and replaced the tuner buttons. I like it. Still may go with the Kluson Vintage Keystones sometime in the future. Edited January 8, 2020 by mmukav added pic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 better already. 👍🏼 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soreeyes Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 hi all, I recently picked up a g45 studio and was slightly underwhelmed by the tuner look, so researched here and thanks to the post I decided just to change the buttons and tr cover, I like it, all for around £9. interesting guitar, was supposedly new but set up out the case was strange, no neck relief at all, graphite in the nut slot, and it felt tight to play, anyhow I loosened the truss a good half turn maybe more and took 2mm of the saddle and it has come to life, don't know if its a keeper yet but time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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