Removing Sperzels / going back to Kluson style

[Theo 413]

So I just got my hands on a '79 LP Deluxe and it's a hearty slab of Norlin-era mahogany, exactly what I've been wanting. My only issue is that a previous owner added Sperzel locking tuners.

I want to return her to a more original look and replace the Sperzels with some Kluson style tuners or something similar. I'm not going for 100% authenticity, but something close. I know the Sperzels usually require drilling or reaming of the existing peg holes. Does anyone know of a good direct replacement tuner, or what the appropriate size bushing would be to make this work?

Any help or suggestions would be great!

these are some of the style tuners I'm looking at:

 

[chef]

You can get different knob/buttons for your Sperzels directly from them I think.

I replaced Grovers on my LP Custom with Sperzels, and the hole in the headstock was the same. The screw in the back of the heasdstock was different. Can't comment on Klusons though.

FWIW, I have been very, very happy with the quality of the Sperzels and have them on 2 of my guitars. Bulletproof as far as I'm concerned.

edit: http://www.sperzel.com/Catalog/5Catalogue.pdf has the types of buttons you could retrofit onto your existing machines.

 

[Theo 413]

You can get different knob/buttons for your Sperzels directly from them I think.

I replaced Grovers on my LP Custom with Sperzels, and the hole in the headstock was the same. The screw in the back of the heasdstock was different. Can't comment on Klusons though.

FWIW, I have been very, very happy with the quality of the Sperzels and have them on 2 of my guitars. Bulletproof as far as I'm concerned.

edit: http://www.sperzel.com/Catalog/5Catalogue.pdf has the types of buttons you could retrofit onto your existing machines.

Hmmm...I kind of like the ivory-style buttons. Not exactly tulip shaped, but they might just do the trick. Thanks for the suggestion, I might just give that a go before replacing the entire set.

 

[solteroblues]

yeah, the holes for sperzels should be the same, the difference is that they use a little pin instead of a screw to hold them in place, and that location will be different. I put sperzels on the kit that I built.

But, you shouldn't see the left over hole after you replace them, as the new tuner should cover it up easily. I would probably replace the button, too, instead of changing it all out, the sperzels are nice

 

[rikko]

I love the Grover/Gibson "nickel" keystones. No drilling!
Look cool, work well, and they add a little weight.

 

[Theo 413]

I love the Grover/Gibson "nickel" keystones. No drilling!
Look cool, work well, and they add a little weight.

Yeah, I like those too. I had them on my LP Traditional. I think those have the same hole diameter as Sperzels too - 10mm.

 

[chef]

On a side note, when I called Sperzel for a replacement washer, I talked to Mrs. Sperzel. I had a mounting question, she said "hold on, let me get my husband on the phone." Talked with the man himself. Washers sent free of charge in the mail. Point being is they are good peeps.

 

[noodlesatf]

Hipshot now has a tuner upgrade kit that is no drill.

Tuner Upgrade Kit for 3+3 Headstocks > Store > Hipshot Products

Works with the standard and locking variants. D04 is the button type that is most LPish. These absolutely smoke the Grovers. I've never owned a set of Grovers that didn't have at least one bum tuner with crunchiness/skipping.

 

[chef]

Hipshot now has a tuner upgrade kit that is no drill.

Tuner Upgrade Kit for 3+3 Headstocks > Store > Hipshot Products

Works with the standard and locking variants. D04 is the button type that is most LPish. These absolutely smoke the Grovers. I've never owned a set of Grovers that didn't have at least one bum tuner with crunchiness/skipping.

Those look cool.

Also to note with grovers, especially if buying off Ebay or lesser known sites is that there are a fair number of counterfeits floating around - there was a thread a while back about that.