Bass tuner bushing / hole size

[swarfrat]

Got my new neck. It's a beauty. The new neck is drilled for BML tuners (17.5mm). Measures 0.690". Squier neck holes measure 0.708 after popping the bushings out. It's clear that some compression/force fit is required but how much?  Bushing OD is 0.722 and my calipers between the teeth measures 0.700". So it's not just "tight" or even "real tight" - there's some serious convincing that needs to take place.

Is this normal press fit, or do I have a Squier/nominal size mismatch and need to get some BML tuners?

 

[PhilHill]

If your wanting to use the Squire tuners, that sounds like the holes in the new neck are about .015 undersize at least. That's too small for a press fit without danger of cracking the head. If the Squire neck holes are .708 then you need to get the new ones out to .705 at least, I'd say. You only want to try to compress a couple of thousands.

 

[swarfrat]

Well phooey. guess I'm ordering tuners. No way I'm wallering out a brand new Warmoth neck so I can use Squier tuners. They seem ok, sobi won't call them "substandard" but they're certainly "down-market" and larger than the gold standard.

 

[PhilHill]

In my experience with metal, .002-.003 was considered a tight press fit. Hardwood would allow more compression than that, but I really don't think you could go that far.
And a reamer for that size can get expensive, so yeah, I'd guess your best bet would be the BML's. I don't know offhand what they cost right now, but like you said, you'd rather not modify a new neck just for middle road tuners. Hope it works out OK for you. :icon_thumright:

 

[swarfrat]

Gotoh GB640 Resolites OTW. Surprised I hadn't heard of these yet - there's a bunch of threads  on TB and even a few here.

 

[PhilHill]

All Right. There ya go. :headbang: