flatestring Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Can Anyone recommend upgrades to pickups and tuners? Any known brands and models that will fit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Grovers Rotomatic 102 are the standard tuner upgrade: http://accessories.m...WELAID=26023899 (They come in 14:1 and 18:1 gear ratios) As far as pickups, how much do you want to spend? An inexpensive upgrade would be GFS: http://www.guitarfet...ckups_c_26.html They also sell reasonably good replacement tuners if you're not feeling the coinage for Grovers: http://www.guitarfet...ners_p_278.html Personally, I like their locking Sperzal knockoffs: http://www.guitarfetish.com/Sperzel-Style-Locking-Tuners-3x3-Chrome_p_1172.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Try Grover Imperials for top notch tuners and for pickups try Bareknuckles-they really are a knockout-pun intended. www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatestring Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 Try Grover Imperials for top notch tuners and for pickups try Bareknuckles-they really are a knockout-pun intended. www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk Thank you all but one more thing, Are these mods or are they direct fit replacements? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Flatestring, Are these the type of tuner you currently have? If not, a pic might help. If they are, then they are 8mm holes. If you want to check: Remove a string, remove the screws, remove a tuner and measure. Should take about 5 minutes. Use a correct size screwdriver and take your time. The screw heads can be easily stripped. You will have to do that much anyway when you replace them. If you are not comfortable doing that then you are probably better off taking it to a tech. (not trying to be rude, just stating a fact) If those are the type of tuner you have: Most (not all) replacements require you to remove the bushings and open the holes to 10 mm. Stewmac, whether you buy from them or not, is a good reference. They have spec tabs with their tuners pages and tell you what size holes you need. Others, that do not list that info, often have 800 customer service or contact info. If you buy from Guitarfetish they have a technical info contact page. It may take a day or two to get a return answer but Jay has always gotten back to me. Even if you use 8mm replacements, chances are the screw holes will not line up. No big deal. We can talk more about that once we know what type of tuner you currently have. Also, tell us what country you live in so we know what dealers we can suggest. Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epi-curious Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I put a set of Mean 90s in one of my G400s and love the sound. I put 11's on for strings and couldn't be happier with the sound. As for humbuckers, my favorite GFS at this point in the Alnico II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Here's a photo of the rear of the headstock of an Epi Junior that had the same type of pressed-metal tuners the Specials have. The stock tuners were replaced with GFS and the holes had to be enlarged to 10 mm using a $12 hand reamer from the hardware store. On this one the holes are still visible and that's par for the course, there are no good-quality tuners that fit those cheap tuner holes that I know of: I will probably fill and refinishe the back of the headstock to cover the old holes eventually. Here's another shot of a similar Epi where the holes were filled and smoothed, and the headstock repainted to hide the old screw holes: Here's the reamer I use: http://www.amazon.co...97340731&sr=8-5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatestring Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Flatestring, Yep those be them Willy! Are these the type of tuner you currently have? If not, a pic might help. If they are, then they are 8mm holes. If you want to check: Remove a string, remove the screws, remove a tuner and measure. Should take about 5 minutes. Use a correct size screwdriver and take your time. The screw heads can be easily stripped. You will have to do that much anyway when you replace them. If you are not comfortable doing that then you are probably better off taking it to a tech. (not trying to be rude, just stating a fact) If those are the type of tuner you have: Most (not all) replacements require you to remove the bushings and open the holes to 10 mm. Stewmac, whether you buy from them or not, is a good reference. They have spec tabs with their tuners pages and tell you what size holes you need. Others, that do not list that info, often have 800 customer service or contact info. If you buy from Guitarfetish they have a technical info contact page. It may take a day or two to get a return answer but Jay has always gotten back to me. Even if you use 8mm replacements, chances are the screw holes will not line up. No big deal. We can talk more about that once we know what type of tuner you currently have. Also, tell us what country you live in so we know what dealers we can suggest. Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Thank you all but one more thing, Are these mods or are they direct fit replacements? If the tuner replacement requires holes to be opened to 10mm I would call it a mod. Like Brian, the replacements I have done on 8mm have required removing the bushings and opening the the holes to 10mm. GuitarFetish does have some tuners that might be direct replacement. I have no experience with them so I can not speak of their quality or fit. They are the Vintage style at the top of the page and the Vintage green key in the middle of the page: http://www.guitarfetish.com/Gibson-Style-Three-On-A-Side_c_6.html To find out you would have to contact them and ask if they would drop directly into your Epi SG Special without removing the current bushings. Maybe other members will know of other brands that might be direct drop in. I do not. As to old screw holes, as Brian shows, they can be made to disappear by refinishing the back of headstock. You can also simply make them less obtrusive by filling them with shavings of matching color crayon wax, smoothing them over with your finger, and then polishing. Some people simply run the new screws in. I prefer to use a large needle as a prick punch to start the screw hole. I then drill the holes using a pin vice: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00940737000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1 Care must be taken as the bits are very small and fragile. I also use a small straight edge across the back of the tuners to make sure they are straight. Let us know what you decide upon as we will be very interested in your choice. Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatestring Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 If the tuner replacement requires holes to be opened to 10mm I would call it a mod. Like Brian, the replacements I have done on 8mm have required removing the bushings and opening the the holes to 10mm. GuitarFetish does have some tuners that might be direct replacement. I have no experience with them so I can not speak of their quality or fit. They are the Vintage style at the top of the page and the Vintage green key in the middle of the page: http://www.guitarfetish.com/Gibson-Style-Three-On-A-Side_c_6.html To find out you would have to contact them and ask if they would drop directly into your Epi SG Special without removing the current bushings. Maybe other members will know of other brands that might be direct drop in. I do not. As to old screw holes, as Brian shows, they can be made to disappear by refinishing the back of headstock. You can also simply make them less obtrusive by filling them with shavings of matching color crayon wax, smoothing them over with your finger, and then polishing. Some people simply run the new screws in. I prefer to use a large needle as a prick punch to start the screw hole. I then drill the holes using a pin vice: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00940737000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1 Care must be taken as the bits are very small and fragile. I also use a small straight edge across the back of the tuners to make sure they are straight. Let us know what you decide upon as we will be very interested in your choice. Willy Thank You Willy , very informative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatestring Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Thank You Willy , very informative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Some people simply run the new screws in. I prefer to use a large needle as a prick punch to start the screw hole. I then drill the holes using a pin vice: http://www.sears.com...=1&blockType=G1 Care must be taken as the bits are very small and fragile. I also use a small straight edge across the back of the tuners to make sure they are straight. This is exactly right. I use an ice pick - or a small drill bit on a press with the depth set not to exceed the screw shank length. The biggest risk is breaking off the bit in the head of the guitar. Buy the highest quality (new/sharp) hardened drill bits you can find. In any case do NOT screw directly into the headstock, you can split the wood or break the screw head off. It's hard to recover from that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatestring Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Grovers Rotomatic 102 are the standard tuner upgrade: http://accessories.m...WELAID=26023899 (They come in 14:1 and 18:1 gear ratios) As far as pickups, how much do you want to spend? An inexpensive upgrade would be GFS: http://www.guitarfet...ckups_c_26.html They also sell reasonably good replacement tuners if you're not feeling the coinage for Grovers: http://www.guitarfet...ners_p_278.html Personally, I like their locking Sperzal knockoffs: http://www.guitarfetish.com/Sperzel-Style-Locking-Tuners-3x3-Chrome_p_1172.html Like Guitarfetish but I cant find dimensions/ specs on there site and I sent 3 emails to request them and no dice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trewblue Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Was wondering if anyone has put GFS dream 180's or their "crunch" HB's in a SG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Like Guitarfetish but I cant find dimensions/ specs on there site and I sent 3 emails to request them and no dice. GFS is a lot like Wal-Mart - "Always the Low Price" (but no sales support). If you want exacting specs and someone to answer the phone, go to Stewmac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Lunatic Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Regarding the Guitar Fetish Grover lookalikes: The ones pictured are Jinho brand, apparently the same ones that came stock on my Dot, and I think they're as good or maybe even better than the genuine Grover 102s that I installed as an upgrade on my acoustic. I'll add that, unless you're replacing the tuners for personal cosmetic reasons, you're probably wasting your money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatestring Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 Was wondering if anyone has put GFS dream 180's or their "crunch" HB's in a SG. I plan on these http://www.guitarfetish.com/Crunchy-PAT-High-Output-Humbucker-Black-Neck-Pickup_p_511.html they do have sound demo files http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS_WAV/H01CleanB.wav & http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS_WAV/H01DirtyB.wav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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