How to Fix a Stripped Sperzel Thread

[Updown]

Thought I'd toss this in here, just in case it happens to anyone else.

Yep …  I stripped a Sperzel thread when mounting some recently. :doh:
I should've had my  :glasses9:  on.
(Don't laugh, you might need them too oneday, when you get to my age)

Thought i'd have to buy a complete new set.
As I don't think you can buy individual ones. (not sure on that thou)  :dontknow:

Anyway I fix it up  :icon_biggrin: …. By using some plumbers tape around the thread of the stripped tuner !!

Now tightens up perfectly .... All fixed and $$$$ still in my pocket  :icon_thumright:

 

[Strat Avenger]

How did it get stripped?

 

[Updown]

I just knew someone would ask that  :laughing7:

:doh: Wasn't wearing my glasses & I must have had it on a slight angle when I started screwing it on.
Only happened on one tuner peg thou.

I have done about 6 or 7 necks using these tuners & never happened before !!

Just sharing my Up's & Down's in guitar building as things DON'T always go to plan  :toothy11:

Cheers UpDown

 

[bbl4ck]

Funny you should mention this.  I just had the same experience this past weekend with a set of Sperzel tuners I was putting on TeleBomb.
I am normally a fan of Schaller locking tuners, but I decided to give the Sperzel's a try because they are considerably lighter, look more period correct, and I wanted to use black pearl tuner knobs.

All of the tuners installed just fine; except one which I had a bear of a time getting threaded.  I too thought I was going to have to buy another set of tuners.  :sad1:
After a good half hour of jacking with one tuner, it finally threaded.  :toothy10:

The other thang that really tripped me about these tuners was that the pegs on the b and high e seem like they are just barely long enough.
They only stick up ~1/8 inch above the headstock.  The hole the string goes into is just barely visible. 
I have not strung her up yet, but it sure seems they could of made it a bit easier.
Anyway, I was not really impressed with the quality of the Sperzels' and doubt I will use them again.
Just sayin'.

 

[Updown]

Good I'm not alone  :toothy10:
Yep I 1st thought that about Sperzels ... That the nuts seem to be made with a plastic type of material.  :icon_scratch:
That seems to be the cheapest part on them.

They only stick up ~1/8 inch above the headstock.  The hole the string goes into is just barely visible. 

They are meant to be like that, so you don't need the string tees.

Besides that little hic-up, mine have all been OK  :icon_thumright: string up just fine.

 

[bbl4ck]

They only stick up ~1/8 inch above the headstock.  The hole the string goes into is just barely visible. 

They are meant to be like that, so you don't need the string tees.

Besides that little hic-up, mine have all been OK  :icon_thumright: string up just fine.

Yea, I am aware of the staggered height for elimination of a string tree.  I am all for that...
I am just sayin' the sperzels' seem to be more extreme when it comes to this aspect.
I have Shaller, Gotch, Planet Waves, Steinberger, and now Sperzel; all locking tuners.
I have never used string trees on any of these necks and all is well  :headbang1:

Anyway, I am sure all will work out fine in the end.  It was just a challenging install.
Cheers &  :rock-on:

 

[Updown]

:redflag:  Struck another problem with the Sperzel tuners.  :sad1:

Was putting them on last night onto my Wenge / Wenge neck for my Purple Flame Strat (which is almost completed)
All were going on smoothly, until the last one.
Thought I had the same problem as I had in my OP.
Took it off to fix … But
Struck another problem, that has never happened to me before. 

The Pin decided to stay imbedded into the headstock.  :doh:  WTF !!
(could you hear me swearing my head off) 

Thought … Holy Crap !! 

Walked away from it, had a smoke / drink and thought ... :icon_scratch: ...  how the bloody hell am I gunna get that out.
(I've seen how others get broken screws out etc)
But ...
Couldn't get a grip on it with pliers etc.
Didn't want to drill around it.
Didn't want to screw something into the pin (so I could grab onto that) as it would widen the original hole.

I know  :sign13:
Went straight to my Dremel kit and found the #107 bit (the one that is in the little square compartment)
Looks like a engraver bit (not sure on that thou)
I knew the pin was hollow, so I just needed to get something inside that could latch or grab on the bottom / side of the pin, to pull it out.
Just had the bit between my fingers, got it inside of the pin, and ……

BINGO out it came …  :blob7:

Lucky I have a spare set.

Motto to this story is ..... always think before tackling a problem  :icon_thumright: 

Here's the proof

 

[Cagey]

I'm glad that worked out for you!

I think I'd have left it in. The pin would have lined up with the hole in the tuner body it came out of, or you could have removed the pin from a new tuner body and let the old one line up as well.

 

[Updown]

Yeah could have, but ...
That one was stripped and the pin come out, it's in a parts box now  :laughing7:

Rather get it right !!
Tossed a complete new set on, there 6 in line angled tuners, so I have spare of different sizes now  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Cagey]

I was going to mention that Warmoth sells tuners piecemeal, but I forgot you're on the other side of the world from them. Good to have spares, though. Could happen again.

 

[Jet-Jaguar]

I have Sperzels on four guitars (damn, I have sperzels on four guitars ... I need lessons to go with my guitars) ... anyway on the jazz-caster, one of the nuts was stripped before I even had a chance to put it on. I sent an email to the company, and they sent me one.  They didn't email me to tell me, so got impatient and ordered a set of nuts off ebay for 15$.  The nut from Sperzel arrived the very next day.

The only other problem I've had is with used sperzels, and I'm not really sure the problem is with the tuners, it might be the strings getting stuck in the nut (or it might have been me being impatient when I was drilling the peg holes, as I didn't do the best job. I wish Warmoth would drill them - I'd pay $20 just to know it was done well.)

 

[Updown]

(or it might have been me being impatient when I was drilling the peg holes, as I didn't do the best job.
I wish Warmoth would drill them - I'd pay $20 just to know it was done well.)

Sperzels on all mine.
I bought a stew mac jig, some 8+ necks ago..... never looked back.
Sure it might be expensive, but it does a perfect job.
Right tool ..... right job .... :icon_thumright:
Also noticed on this set that stuffed up, most of the pins looked rusty  :dontknow:

Just a boggy set ....

 

[DangerousR6]

Looks like you lucked out with the dremel tool removing the spring pin Murray. But another alternative for gripping something that needle nose or other pliers won't grip is to use a pair of flush cutting dykes. Or as I know them, gate cutters in the plastics industry. These are used for snipping excessive plastic from parts in plastic molding. They also offer great gripping power for broken off screws, or in your case a spring pin. They've pulled me out of many a jam.

 

[Dan025]

yeah diagonal cutters (aka dykes) can make a perfect gripping tool. they are often overlooked as they are truely a cutting tool but with a controlled grip they can provide quite a grip on stuck pins, cotter pins, screws, springs, rods and anything else you dont mind damaging. this is just one in a long list of the creative misuse of tools that can really save your ass.