Need help/advice with vintage tuners on my Warmoth Neck

[ddd]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a complete newbee, sorry if this has been covered already (I did do a search, but couldn't find what I was looking for). Anyhow, here's the deal:

I just received my new Warmoth Strat neck (Indian rosewood/Indian rosewood -- its beautiful!!), vintage tuner holes (11/32s). Warmoth is out of the Gotoh vintage tuners I wanted (silver, right handed), so I got some Fender branded Vintage machines from Amazon ($32, not a bad deal).  The problem is that the bushings are too big for the holes -- they don't go in at all... I'd really rather not ream out the holes -- I don't have a reaming tool, and I'd rather not change the neck in case I want different tuners later...

How do the Gotoh bushings fit? -- do they generally just drop in (as I expect), or is reaming always needed. Since warmoth is out of the Gotohs I want (they apparently are coming from Japan -- who knows when they'll get them), where is another place to get Gotohs that will fit without reaming?

Net-net, I'd really like to just put in some tuners without modifying the holes - I'm open to other options as well.

Thanks in advance!!

DDD

 

[greenmean]

Hi,

here you can get those Gotoh Tuners: http://www.allparts.com/6-In-Line-Keys-s/169.htm?searching=Y&sort=9&cat=169&show=20&page=1

Usually the bushings hust fit in.

Here you will find the hole measure: http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/TunerHoles.aspx

 

[Jusatele]

first, having the holes reamed is not a major issue, any guitar shop can do it in less than 5 minutes
second, they make bushings for larger holes if you want to go back, Stick with the ones you received and have a shop ream the holes for you. Once on you probably will never change them.

 

[AprioriMark]

Make sure you consider the locking version of those vintage gotohs.  They are the same footprint, look the same, and are LOCKING for onl ya few bucks more.

-Mark

 

[pabloman]

Don't let Cagey see this thread :icon_biggrin:

 

[AutoBat]

i'm seeing "push in" and you're probably thinking you can give it a little English with your thumb.
they're press-fit bushings and take a fair bit of effort to get in, assuming they're the correct size of course, as the retrofits will *not* work unless you go with a bigger size first. (no need to retrofit if you're already the right size!)

otherwise, the comments above are all good.

 

[richship]

Do you have a link to which Fender "vintage" tuners you bought? I got some "F" logo tuners to go with a Tele build and had to drill out the holes.

 

[ddd]

Thanks everyone for all the great info!

Here's the link to what I bought

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Accesories-099-2040-000-Electric-Guitar/dp/B0002E2G2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301518990&sr=8-1

I definitely cannot push these in with my thumb -- even with a good bit of IRISH!  :icon_biggrin:

I think this is the same issue that the guy on the youtube "Warmoth Strat Build" (part 4) had:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzIyItNZ6Ic

I'll see if my local shop an open the holes up a bit for me. Thanks again!!

 

[richship]

Those look like they should be vintage size. I wonder if they shipped with conversion bushings.

 

[lp1958]

Even if they are the correct size I would be very surprised if you could push them in with your thumb.

There are many threads on this forum aobut inserting the bushings.  Have a search.

Both my Warmoth necks required a little work before I could start pressing the bushes in.  Not a lot though.

In both cases all that was needed was a little bit of time with some sand paper  to remove some of the excess finish then I used Gregs methods of pulling the bushes in using a bolt.  Others hammer them in.  ( I'm affraid I'm not that brave).  Even after sanding I would not have been able to press in with my fingers.