Why are some Kluson tuning knobs green and some are off-white/yellowish?

[Guithartic]

I imagine, the real original plastics turned green as they aged. What about the Gibson Kluson-style ones on my 2020 Gibson Les Paul Standard ‘50s? Are they made of the same type of plastic? Will they turn greener over time?

 

[Wrench66]

No.

 

[LtDave32]

I imagine, the real original plastics turned green as they aged. What about the Gibson Kluson-style ones on my 2020 Gibson Les Paul Standard ‘50s? Are they made of the same type of plastic? Will they turn greener over time?

The old, original ones will rot to nothing over a long period of time, say 50 years.

But Kluson has been Kluson in name only for several years, owned by WD and made in Korea. I'm sure the knob plastic is different from the original.

 

[Dolebludger]

The old, original ones will rot to nothing over a long period of time, say 50 years.

But Kluson has been Kluson in name only for several years, owned by WD and made in Korea. I'm sure the knob plastic is different from the original.

That’s right. My 1961 Gibson SG LP Standard is one owner, but a guitar I seldom play anymore due to a too-wide neck. In 2009 I took it out of its case and the keystones were all shriveled and brown. I tried to turn one and it crumbled to dust. The certainly weren’t green, and they were original Klusons. At that time, I was able to order identical Kluson tuners, installed them, and kept what was left of the originals. The replacements aren’t turning green either.

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

That’s right. My 1961 Gibson SG LP Standard is one owner, but a guitar I seldom play anymore due to a too-wide neck. In 2009 I took it out of its case and the keystones were all shriveled and brown. I tried to turn one and it crumbled to dust. The certainly weren’t green, and they were original Klusons. At that time, I was able to order identical Kluson tuners, installed them, and kept what was left of the originals. The replacements aren’t turning green either.

Any pics?
We love guitars!

 

[CB91710]

Yep... the original knobs were celluloid, and the color change was just the beginning of the deterioration.
They would off-gas, and the gas would accelerate both the deterioration of the "plastic" parts as well as anything metal.
"Cel Rot" is a big problem for collectors of straight razors, as the handles were made of the same material, and would destroy the blade.
If the goal is preservation, catching the deterioration in the early stages can be slowed by keeping it well ventilated, but that's a catch 22 for guitars, as they are best protected in the case where sunlight and ozone won't react with the finish.

Modern plastics are far more stable, even more stable than plastics in common use in the 70s. UV and ozone will eventually cause deterioration, but the by-products of the deterioration are unlikely to be corrosive to the metal parts of the guitar.

 

[LtDave32]

Any pics?
We love guitars!

Yeah.. @Dolebludger , let's have a peekat that '61..

Break out that bad bear..

 

[Dolebludger]

Cannot do. I take pics, try to post them, and get message thar they are too big. I’ll have son-in-law help me tomorrow. He knows more about this computer stuff than me!

 

[smk506]

Cannot do. I take pics, try to post them, and get message thar they are too big. I’ll have son-in-law help me tomorrow. He knows more about this computer stuff than me!

If you or he can edit the pics on your phone and crop them just a little it should change the file size enough to let you post the pics.

Alternately, if your posting from your iPhone, there’s a button on the bottom of the screen where you select which pic/s you want to post that says something like ‘show selected’ if you click on that you can manually choose a smaller file size, but it compresses it and the pics don’t look as good. It’s easier though.

 

[smk506]

Cropped image

Compressed image

 

[Joe Desperado]

 

[Joe Desperado]

 

[Joe Desperado]

 

[Note Milker]

View attachment 684277

Is that a Murphy lab? Nice checking. The keys do look correct too! How do they do that?! Sorry, I had to. It's fun here...

 

[Note Milker]

The old, original ones will rot to nothing over a long period of time, say 50 years.

But Kluson has been Kluson in name only for several years, owned by WD and made in Korea. I'm sure the knob plastic is different from the original.

I thought Kluson was USA. They went rino? And I just bought a bridge, looks pretty nice. Too bad they did that....

 

[LtDave32]

I thought Kluson was USA. They went rino? And I just bought a bridge, looks pretty nice. Too bad they did that....

WD bought the Kluson name. They are made in Korea.

That being said, they are not bad.

And I feature the Kluson aluminum stop-tail on my builds.

 

[Note Milker]

I got the bridge and stop tail for my traditional. Pretty nice nickel plating. I was going to try the locking klusons with the plastic buttons, don't like the idea of drilling new screw holes for grovers. Might still get the klusons, the stock tuners are nice, just takes too long to re string. Just throw money at it, 120 bucks, not too bad, anything else you to check out?

 

[Maggot_Brain]

I thought Kluson was USA. They went rino? And I just bought a bridge, looks pretty nice. Too bad they did that....

I prefer Made in Japan 'Gotoh' bridges and Made in Germany 'Faber' aluminum tailpieces

 

[Dolebludger]

To start with, I still can’t get a pic on my 1961 SG LP Standard to post here. I guess technology has outrun me (and my friends). If you want to see what it looks like, just find a pic of a reissue that Gibson has been selling on and off since 2013. My 61 looks no different.

Tuners? I prefer Grover’s, from a player standpoint (though I put Klusons on my 61 for historical correctness. Bridges? I like Gotoh, but whatever suits you is fine. Tailpieces, I like MILLED aluminum or brass. Those zinc castings that come on some guitars just suck tone.

 

[CB91710]

To start with, I still can’t get a pic on my 1961 SG LP Standard to post here. I guess technology has outrun me (and my friends). If you want to see what it looks like, just find a pic of a reissue that Gibson has been selling on and off since 2013. My 61 looks no different.

Tuners? I prefer Grover’s, from a player standpoint (though I put Klusons on my 61 for historical correctness. Bridges? I like Gotoh, but whatever suits you is fine. Tailpieces, I like MILLED aluminum or brass. Those zinc castings that come on some guitars just suck tone.

Is it the file size? If so, open it in Windows Paint and resize it by 50%.... that's always been enough for me to upload.

Then click the "Attach File" button at the bottom left of your editing box and browse to the file.