Changing the tuner "buttons" on a late 70s Guild D50...

[edgarmadhook]

Why would you, I hear you ask? This is very typical me, obsessing over detail, often unecessarily.

Long story short, I switched out the entire tuners on my 6 year old M-120, changing the silver ones for ivory ones with a higher ratio, made by Kluson.
They work great & really look the part. Far better than the chrome & kinda cheap looking stock tuners. A real step up in appearance and performance.

I’d like to try the same thing on my old 70s D50, but just to buttons. It comes with perfectly good Schaller tuners but I’m having a hard time removing the button completely. I can unscrew the button from the shaft but I can’t remove the screw from inside the button.



Has anybody any experience with this?

 

[hansmoust]

I’d like to try the same thing on my old 70s D50, but just to buttons. It comes with perfectly good Schaller tuners but I’m having a hard time removing the button completely. I can unscrew the button from the shaft but I can’t remove the screw from inside the button.



Has anybody any experience with this?

Hello edgarmadhook,

There should be no problem removing the knobs from Schaller-made Guild tuners. I've been working with Schaller M-6 tuners since they came out in the late '60s and I never had a problem removing the knobs. Just turn the screw counterclockwise, take the screw out and pull-off the knob. You may have to use a little force, but they should slide off without problems. Make sure that you don't loose the little washers in between the knob and the housing!

I came across a set once where a previous owner had super-glued the screw in, so it would not come out by itself, which is something I've never seen on Schaller M-6 tuners. If that's the case with your tuners you better leave them alone and learn to live with the original look.

Good luck!

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[edgarmadhook]

Hey, thanks for the reply.

The buttons come off easily but the holding screw seems to be set in the button. It rotates freely but doesn’t come out.

I think I can buy a separate ivory button set & separate screw/washer set to complete the job.

I’ll report back in a few days.

 

[hansmoust]

If that happens you should push the stem (the black part) that holds the button at the opposite side where it comes out of the housing when you turn the screw. That should help free the screw.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[edgarmadhook]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

For the record, these are the parts I've bought...

Schaller M6 Std. Grained Ivory Buttons

the worlds finest selection of Customparts

www.crazyparts.de

Schaller Tuner Button Screw Kit C

Accessory set For 6 knobs (screws 12 mm, nylon washers, disc spring washers), Suitable for Schaller M6, Da Vinci & OF-Series machine heads, Screw surface: Chrome, Schaller No. 21200200

www.thomann.de

 

[karlo]

I want a set!

 

[chazmo]

Neat, Edgar... Good luck with the transplant!

 

[GGJaguar]

For the record, these are the parts I've bought...

Those will look nice!

 

[edgarmadhook]

All done

It was a very simple upgrade. I just released a little of the tension in the strings, unscrewed the chrome buttons (keeping a finger pressing against the base of the shaft to stop it from popping out the other end) and replaced the buttons using the new screws I bought. I made sure all the old washers stayed in place.

Like I said already, these are excellent tuners. Just as good as the single-line tuners on my '59 Jazzmaster. They just look a bit bulky & robotic. I like to thing I now have the aesthetics of vintage-style tuners with the performance of modern ones.

Incidentally, does anyone know the ratio of late 70s Schaller M6 tuners?

Before...



After...




And alongside my M-120 with similar upgraded tuners...



I'm very happy how it all turned out. The ivory tuners on the D50 match the nut & binding perfectly.

 

[GGJaguar]

Excellent results!

 

[hansmoust]

Incidentally, does anyone know the ratio of late 70s Schaller M6 tuners?

That particular version had a 12:1 ratio.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[edgarmadhook]

That particular version had a 12:1 ratio.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

That surprises me but I guess they're just very well made. They're very detailed & never drop out of tune.

I actually removed the first one completely from the headstock. Hearing the lacquer crack made me realise this is the first time it's been done. Fortunately I didn't cause any visible chipping. The shaft fell straight out, along with the washers (which I almost lost), and I noticed just how nicely machined it was.

 

[karlo]

That looks great!

 

[chazmo]

Very nice, Edgar! Looks great!

 

[karlo]

My box has Grover tuners

 

[edgarmadhook]

My box has Grover tuners

Do the buttons have set screws? Surely you'd be able to find ivory replacements.
Just make sure the buttons are compatible with the year of your guitar. Some only fit 80s models, not earlier.

 

[karlo]

I found these:

Tone Ninja Grained Ivoryoid 07 Style Buttons (6) fits Hipshot, Grover | Reverb

Tone Ninja Grained Ivoryoid 07 Style Buttons (6) fits Hipshot, GroverManufacturers Part Number: BTN-QH11-6 NOTE: This listing is for the buttons ONLY, not the tuners. See our store if you are looking for tuners.Tone Ninja's Q series buttons are crafted from natural materials from sustainable sou...

reverb.com

IDK, maybe I'll just stick to the stock buttons