Sperzels in Gotoh/Grover tuner holes?

[AlexK]

Hi folks,

I finally got round to buying a neck and body from Warmoth after putting it off for a few years!

The neck I ordered is drilled for Gotoh/ Grover tuners ( I opted for this as my local guitar dealer can supply both of these brands easily).

As the Warmoth tuner hole page shows, the holes are 13/32" with a narrower 11/32" opening at the headstock face.

However, I've since decided I'd like to use Sperzels (mainly because of the staggered-height tuner posts but also because the satin chrome matches the Wilkinson vibrato and other players have recommended them). The Sperzels use a 25/64" hole which is smaller than the existing 13/32" but wider than the 11/32" lip.

I think I'll be ok filing the narrower lip to make a good fit for the bushings/collar of the Sperzels but I don't know what to do about the excess width of the 13/32" hole. I know it's only a 1/64" difference but that's still enough to cause a loose fit. I'm assuming a consistent tight fit is better tonally with less energy lost from the strings.

I haven't done the tru-oil finish on the neck yet. Perhaps if I applied it to the insides of the tuner holes it might build up enough to make a tight fit?

In my eagerness I've already bought some Sperzels! I can always use them on another guitar if necessary...

Any insights or suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.


Alex.

 

[Cagey]

I've always been a big fan of Sperzels myself, but lately I've been using Schallers because the locking knob is a little thicker and so is easier to turn. But, In this case I think I would seriously consider using the Planet Waves locking tuners because they also have the thicker locking knob and will fit in those holes properly if you ream that lip off. Unfortunately, the chrome has a polished rather than satin finish, so maybe that's a deal-breaker for you.

 

[AlexK]

Thanks for the reply Cagey

I'll certainly give the Planet Waves tuners some thought, probably over the weekend while lovingly sanding the neck prior to finishing..

My tuner priorities are: locking function, staggered-height posts to avoid needing a string tree and the right appearance, in that order.

The chrome PWs might be ok as the Wilkinson has a mix of shiny and satin chrome, as will the volume and tone knobs I'm ordering. Shame they don't have staggered post heights though.

I think I'll wait until I've done the finish on the neck to see if it builds up enough* for the Sperzels before I order anything else though.

*If anyone has any experience of whether this would work I'd love to hear about it! Any tonal efffect comments would be welcome too.

Cheers chaps,

Alex.