The correct filler for "near-miss" screw holes

[Brookfielder]

I Just received new Kluson tuners, the two strips of three, for my 67 MM SG. When I set them into the old holes in the headstock the screw holes don't line up properly. Looking through the screw holes in the tuner plates i see approx 30% of the screw holes in the head. My first thought is to fill the screw holes in the headstock with an epoxy, but I thought I should ask for other opinions before I do something irreversible. I could also remove material in the holes that the tuners go though to move the whole strip up enough, but again, irreversible if it is a bad idea.

Suggestions?

[Brookfielder]

No Ideas?

I also considered plugging with round toothpicks and glue? I have been warned about filling with dowels though, due to varying expansion rates of wood. Dowels installed in larger holes have apparently been known to cause cracking if put into the grain in a particular way..

Still looking before leaping. know what I mean?

[lowb5str]

Did you check at stew-mac?

[RayLibby]

Toothpick with wood glue on it. Drill a pilot hole and you are good to go.

[e/2 Explorer]

Personally, I would look for correct fitting tuners and not damage and destroy any potential resale value. If you don't care, that's one thing but if you ever plan to resell it, expect to be disappointed by how much epoxyed Kluson's or filled holes hurt the value

[Brookfielder]

I wish that I could say that such a subtle difference in repair could positively effect the resale of this guitar, but sadly it isn't the case with this axe. It was modified at some point by a drunken blindfolded axe-murderer and I am picking up the pieces.

Some very nice Schallers were installed last, and the holes that the tuners to pass through were probably enlarged with a rock and pin-punch. These were installed after there were six single Kluson style tuners, which would have been replacements for the original two strips of three Klusons. So there are screw holes and impressions in the back of the headstock from three different styles of tuning machines, the holes are a disgrace, and the black face of the headstock has impressions made by the washers and torque applied to tighten the Schallers, not to mention the splinters that came away from the edges of the tuner holes. The cleanest way I can see is to go back to the strips of three tuners, which would cover up the majority of the carnage. I'm confident that all of the current production Klusons will be identical, and there is no way to know for sure if some vintage pegs will line up until after hunting them down and paying the bucks to find out, Then I would probably have a loose old set of pegs.

With the amount of reckless modification this poor guitar has seen, it could never be a serious collectors item, but I think I can steer it back in a direction that is more original than when I got it in 1984, make it look nice and clean, and make it into a good player!

Resale would be nice if I ever planned on parting with this guitar, but I couldn't do it. After 26 years with me it's family. Warts and all!

If there is no structural case against filling the offending holes with wood, I guess I'll go that way.

I'm not contradicting you. If I was doing repairs to the Guild I inherited from my Dad, I would be thinking much more carefully about maintaining originality e/2!