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I got this Harley Benton DC Junior a few years ago and it's been my main axe since.
Only issue is it has the worse tuning stability of any guitar I've owned, Not only going out of tune but getting it to correct pitch can be spotty in the first place.
Any ideas for replacement tuning machines? I've already replaced the nut with a graphtech one a while back and it only slightly helped when tuning up. I also don't mind drilling new screw holes if need be.
I have a Harley Benton too and changing the old plastic nut with a TUSQ got rid of like 50% of the problem, new Gotoh tuners did the rest: I can only recommend this brand, high quality at nice prices. And since a lot of their models come with ferrules both for metric and imperial, there should be no need to re-drill the holes. In any case always double check your measures. I heard good things about Kluson too but I never tried them myself.
Do you stretch your strings when you put them on new?
I do for both my guitars and this is the only one with tuning issues.
It's already had a few string changes and setups since I got it.
Don't, they're not the problem.
Check some setup videos and see it's not your methodology, check the nut for binding, check that the bridge isn't moving and neck is both cracked etc. And if you've only had problems with one set of strings, try another set and preferably source.
I would check your but first and make sure you get some nut sauce on there.
If you still feel like it's the tuners then I'm a big fan if the Wilkinson EZ-Lok tuners.
If my butt has no nut sauce, how do I proceed?
Ask a friend to sauce your butt for you
Gotoh SGL510Z MG-T XN EL5 height for Low E and high E: 21.5mm shaft height for A and B strings: 20mm shaft height for D and G strings: 18.5mm shaft
I put sperzel tuners on my sg. Pretty happy with them.
I've heard the Planet Waves are nice. Not sure if they would require drilling.
If your budget is too tight for locking tuners, maybe you can find some take-offs from someone who upgraded to an expensive set.
I bought these for my Les Paul last year. They fit perfectly.
Gotoh makes good tuners as well, just not sure you'd need them to be locking on a non-trem guitar, but to each their own 🙃
Agreed. I just like it to make changing strings slightly easier.
If they're the same spec as Gibson tuners, I believe Kluson makes some direct fit replacements
New Klusons are a bit out of my budget but I'm seeing people say they get put on eBay 2nd hand semi often so I'm keeping on the look out.
This seem like the best idea so far though thanks :)
I forgot to mention, on the 3x3 Gibson style headstock, the string pull angle is not great on both your E strings, and to less extent the A and B and could be binding. Another thing that just popped in my head - I'm not familiar with that particular model, but if it's a bolt-on neck, make sure the neck is tight and not moving at all. Another place to check is the bridge and tail piece, I'm assuming it's a Tune-O-Matic style. Check if you're having binding issues at the saddles, and that the threaded inserts (bushings) in the body aren't loose - this happens on Gibsons and Epiphones as well. If that's the case, take the bridge and tail piece out and carefully wick in some super thin CA glue to help stiffen them up
It's a glued neck with a wraparound tailpiece, but it has individual saddles like a tune-o-matic? I setup and intonated it a while back but I'll check it again when I can and see if the screw posts for the bridge have moved at all.
I also did have an 3x3 LTD guitar before this and didn't have as many issues tuning.
Yeah, just double check that there's no wiggle there or in the neck to rule those out, no sense throwing money at tuners if it's not going to fix the problem.
And I have an Ibanez that's 3x3, but the string angle at the nut is much less pronounced on it versus the Gibson/Epiphone angle, along with a shallower headstock break angle. Not saying it's your issue, but binding can occur there, although you did say you swapped it for a graphtech which should eliminate that as a point of concern.
Shit I missed where you said glued neck, you'd know if it was loose. Derp! Just check the bushings and the bolt/threaded rod they ride on and make sure there's no wiggle room there, a loose or wallered out threaded bushing can affect tuning stability. Just making sure you check everything before throwing money at it.