Going From Grover Rotomatics to Gibsons or Klusons with the "Tulip" or "Keystone&quot

[Eddie Rondack]

Anybody done this? Does the screwhole on the grovers match up with the bottom one on the Keystones?

 

Thanks!

[Rollie LeBay]

Rotomatic specs:

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/1/Grover_Full-size_Rotomatics/Specs.html#details

 

Gotoh Keystone specs:

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/1/Gotoh_Vintage_Keystone-style_Tuners/Specs.html#details

 

And you can look at the specs for others by browsing from here:

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners.html

 

If I had to guess, I'd expect some differences necessitating some filling and drilling, but that's just a guess. Check the specs.

 

Uncle Buck

[Rosewoody]

I have replaced Rotos with Deluxe Tulips, and the bottom holes and shaft hole lined up. All I had to do was drill the top holes, easy.

[PickitPaul]

I was thinking of doing this on my Hummingbird which has the Grover Rotos. So i just have to drill a hole? What size drill bit? Are the Keystones a better gear ratio than Grovers? The Grover looks like a thicker post, so will the hole be too big for the Keystones?

[ballcorner]

 

And you can look at the specs for others by browsing from here:

 

 

Uncle Buck

 

Nice link! Thanks Uncle Buck.

[Rosewoody]

Try this link for info:

 

http://www.bryankimsey.com/tuners/

 

When I replaced my Rotos, I placed each tulip Grover (not Gotoh) in position and lined up the holes, marking where the upper screw should go with a sharp punch. Then I drilled with a very SMALL bit a screw hole, then I checked the depth and size driving the screw in, then drilled a little deeper with a slightly bigger bit, and so on 'til satisfied I had the right size/depth.

 

I did this freehand; the right way would be to use a drill press probably. The Grovers were a close match for each other, but I don't know if Klusons or Gotohs would be.

 

I don't know about the ratios, should be in specs, but the Keystones are a nicer looking tuner, IMO. They weigh about the same as Rotos; heavy. They come in nickel, gold, and chrome.

[AlexanderL]

I reccomend these:

http://www.toneproskluson.com/models.html - TPKB3 Series Tuners

 

Just drill a second hole. I did it on my Modern Classic J-45.

And they are better tuners than the original Klusons....

[Eddie Rondack]

Thanks Rosewoody, that's exactly what I was looking for... I knew that Waverlies would fit that way but wasn't sure about the Gibson "tulips".

 

I'm changing them out for purely aesthetic reasons... I've never been a rotomatic fan. I'm going to replace the Grovers on a '98 Blues King Electro I just bought. I'm not worried about the functionality at all, they still put them on SJ-200's and the one's I've had in the past never caused me a minute's trouble.

 

The first place I looked for an answer was at the Grover specs on the stewmac website... not very clear, though, and some critical measurements omitted... or maybe I'm just dense...

 

Glad there was someone out there with a simple answer for a simple man! Thanks so much!

[Eddie Rondack]

Thanks Rosewoody, that's exactly what I was looking for... I knew that Waverlies would fit that way but wasn't sure about the Gibson "tulips". I'm really hoping that they fit the same way the Grovers and Klusons mentioned above do... I'll let everybody know how it comes out with them. Not sure who's making these for Gibson these days.

 

I'm changing them out for purely aesthetic reasons... I've never been a rotomatic fan. I'm going to replace the Grovers on a '98 Blues King Electro I just bought. I'm not worried about the functionality/reliability at all, they still put them on SJ-200's and J-185's, don't they?

 

The first place I looked for an answer was at the Grover specs on the stewmac website... not very clear, though, and some critical measurements omitted... or maybe I'm just dense...

 

Glad there was someone out there with a simple answer for a simple man! Thanks so much!