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Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 12:54 pm:   

:There seems to be regular questions about tuning machines, so I'll try to clear things up some. I'll cover guitars from around '80 on. Maybe somebody else can discuss 70s machines.


Early '80s

Many Ibanez guitars used tuning machines with an inline mounting screw in the early '80s.

Here are Velve tuners from an'81 AR100. Notice the mounting screw inline with the peg. Sometimes these tuners will have slippage problems because there is no way to adjust the tension

velve1


Here are the Velve tuners from an '81 AS200. They have inline mounting screws like the ones pictured above, but they also have a a small tension wheel which allows you adjust the tightness of the machine. These are stable when the wheel is tight, but sometimes the wheel loosens up, resulting in slippage.

velve2

These tuners can be hit or miss, and IMO, a replacement can improve stability and usability.

Grover Rotomatics are a drop in replacement for the inline style tuner. They are available in conventional or locking versions.

Grover Rotomatic
roto

Grover Locking Rotomatic
rotolock

Here are some Rotomatic knockoffs, which work quite well, and are available on eBay for around $25 a set. Not quite as nice as the real deal, but still quite usable.

rotocopy






Early/Mid '80s on

Sometime around '83, Ibanez switched over to the Smooth Tuner style, which is characterized by an offset screw, which is about 30 degrees off axes from the post. These tuners were as far as I know, manufactured by Gotoh. Early ones said Ibanez on them, and later examples had the Gotoh label. In the late '80s some trem equipped guitars came with Magnum Locking tuners, which are just the locking version of the Gotoh. Gotoh tuners are very solid and stable. If they need to be replaced, I recommend staying with Gotoh.

Here are the Goto offset tuners, which are virtually identical to the Smooth tuners:
Gotoh

Here is the locking version recommended for use on non-locking trem equipped guitars.
Gotohlocking


And here is the Gotoh 510 tuner, and expensive but very well made, and ergonomic tuner.
510

Here is the 510 Locking Delta. It has a 21:1 tuning ratio, which allows finer tuning, and has locking posts. They are really nice, but cost around $100.
510delta

If anyone wants to add anything, please feel free to do so.

-Sven
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 12:48 pm:   

Sven~ Great work on a much discussed issue here.

I just picked up an '80 LR10 that has tuners that are different from those pictured. They are very light weight and not the best tuners in my opinion. It is the only component on this fine old guitar that appears to be cheap.

I'm considering replacement with more sturdy models like the Grovers and would appreciate your recommendations. I haven't taken a photo yet, but found another '80 with the same tuners on another website as a sample.

Take a look:

LR10 Tuners
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 12:53 pm:   

Sven~ Great work on a much discussed issue here.

I just picked up an '80 LR10 that has tuners that are different from those pictured. They are very light weight and not the best tuners in my opinion. It is the only component on this fine old guitar that appears to be cheap.

I'm considering replacement with more sturdy models like the Grovers and would appreciate your recommendations. I haven't taken a photo yet, but found a IBZ catalogue picture with the same tuners as a sample.

Take a look:

LR10 Tuners

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