Schaller ultralight bass tuners / pics of new neck

[tfarny]

I got this in the mail yesterday!!! Have to say this is the finest stick of wood I've gotten from big W. Absolutely perfect in every way. This piece of Wenge looks a lot different from most pics - there are pores but not that many, mainly the back is smooth, shiny, and slick. Very happy.
But, I got the ultralight tuners that W sells, and there are these two guide 'buttons' in place of screws. It looks a lot harder to drill indentations for these than I expected - there are two per tuner, and they've got to be the right size and position. Has anyone done this, and do you have any advice beyond 'line em up and go for it'?

 

[GoDrex]

I'm not sure what anyone else would do, but I'd probably put the tuners in the holes and get it straight and press down hard on the back to make some indentations in the wood and then drill in those spots.

Wenge is really cool. I wish I could order up my neck project now. :laughing3:

 

[Jorundr]

ooohh, Can't wait for my own wenge/ebony neck to arrive. Very nice!

 

[bpmorton777]

it'd be nice if they had one of these for bass tuners.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Tuner_installation/Tuner_Pin_Drill_Jig.html

Brian

 

[ByteFrenzy]

I'd probably make a template for it - drill a hole the size of the tuner shaft in a scrap of plexiglass, transfer the pin locations, drill them, glue a piece of dowel the same diameter as the tuner shaft in the big hole.

They actually drilled the headstock for the Schaller Lites? When I built my Thinline I was told they wouldn't because it wouldn't align... It's probably more authentic with the BMLs but I'm sure the balance would have been better with the Lites.

 

[SkuttleFunk]

I absolutely refuse to use tuners with alignment pins  :sad:

if you have the 9/16" tuner hole, off the Schallers for a good set of Hisphot Ultralights with clover keys and your problemo is solved

all the best,

R

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I have been wondering about this for a while, so I guess I'll ask.  If you were to get a neck that has the BML light (17 mm) holes, which tuners would you go for that do not have the pesky guide holes?  Thanks in advance
Patrick

 

[bpmorton777]

hipshot = .669"

BML = .562"

you'd have to ream the holes bigger.

Brian

 

[Patrick from Davis]

BML Lights are not the same diameter as BML's.  Why, dunno.  But BML Lights are 17 mm which equals 0.6693 in. so that sounds like it will do...  Sweet
Patrick

EDIT...  Well now I have looked into it a bit, and am confused about what sized holes are required.  There are 3/8" and 1/2" ultralights and heck if I can determine what size holes they go to.  Hopefully someone has a simple solution to a problem that I am making hard.

 

[tfarny]

The BML lights and regular BMLs that warmoth sells are both 11/16, I just got off the phone with W, and they agreed to swap me for the regular ones. I would have gone with the hipshots but the holes are different, and anyhow I appreciate their willingness to swap these out for me. So it'll be a smidge neck heavy maybe. No biggie, it's not like I'm about to become a stand-up gigging bassist anytime soon. This neck is amazing.

 

[SkuttleFunk]

1/2" Ultralights = 11/16" hole just like standard Fender tuners

3/8" Ultralights = 9/16" hole just like a standard GB7 tuner

all the best,

R

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I figured it had to be something rather easy.  I keep getting confused on the peg size vs. bushing/nut size for the peg and so on.  Then add in metric and heathen sizes and I am usually lost.  Someday I'll understand it out of experience, whee.
Patrick