Hipshot Locking Tuners on Tribute Comanche?

[BrotherCharles]

Howdy Gang,

Have any of you replaced your Tribute’s stock tuners with a set of Hipshot locking tuners? I’m considering a set of their open gear tuners instead of the closed/sealed ones. The open gear design is 18:1 ratio; the closed gear Hipshots are only 15:1. I’m asking if anyone else has used these particular tuners because I’d like assurance that they’d fit well. If not these, then I would probably spring for another set of Grover 505C6s - I have them installed on another guitar; they’re superb!

I’m in Canada so I’d buy from NextGen Guitars.
https://nextgenguitars.ca/products/hips ... tions.html

[dhgleaves]

Howdy Gang,

Have any of you replaced your Tribute’s stock tuners with a set of Hipshot locking tuners? I’m considering a set of their open gear tuners instead of the closed/sealed ones. The open gear design is 18:1 ratio; the closed gear Hipshots are only 15:1. I’m asking if anyone else has used these particular tuners because I’d like assurance that they’d fit well. If not these, then I would probably spring for another set of Grover 505C6s - I have them installed on another guitar; they’re superb!

I’m in Canada so I’d buy from NextGen Guitars.
https://nextgenguitars.ca/products/hips ... tions.html

If you want to use the UMP (universal mounting plate) it won't fit on a Tribute (or any G&L) unless you modify it. The modification is apparently not that hard to do, but I haven't done it. If you don't mind drilling holes and using the mounting screws, then they should fit. There are a few brands that are drop-in replacements. You can search this site for more info, but they are Kiesel, Graphtech, and Sperzel (if you use the Ez-mount).

David

[BrotherCharles]

Thanks for the info, David.
I’d already tried to source out some Kiesel locking tuners, but they told me that they no longer sell to individuals - only to guitar companies.

Sperzels are soooo expensive.

Graph Tech are pretty pricey too, but apparently they're really good.

If you want to use the UMP (universal mounting plate) it won't fit on a Tribute (or any G&L) unless you modify it. The modification is apparently not that hard to do, but I haven't done it. If you don't mind drilling holes and using the mounting screws, then they should fit. There are a few brands that are drop-in replacements. You can search this site for more info, but they are Kiesel, Graphtech, and Sperzel (if you use the Ez-mount).

David

[dhgleaves]

Thanks for the info, David.
I’d already tried to source out some Kiesel locking tuners, but they told me that they no longer sell to individuals - only to guitar companies.

Sperzels are soooo expensive.

Graph Tech are pretty pricey too, but apparently they're really good.

If you want to use the UMP (universal mounting plate) it won't fit on a Tribute (or any G&L) unless you modify it. The modification is apparently not that hard to do, but I haven't done it. If you don't mind drilling holes and using the mounting screws, then they should fit. There are a few brands that are drop-in replacements. You can search this site for more info, but they are Kiesel, Graphtech, and Sperzel (if you use the Ez-mount).

David

Hmm, we've had other people recently contact Kiesel who said they did still sell the tuners, but maybe they have changed. I can see some of the Sperzels (with Ez-mount) on ebay for 70-80 USD. They're probably the better ones anyhow. David

[BrotherCharles]

@ David,

I recently did an email purge, so I haven’t the email to copy/paste here, but I’m telling the honest-to-God truth about the reply I received from Keisel.

I’ll pass on Sperzels - they’re only 12:1 ratio. Even older Grovers with 14:1 are too quick and imprecise for my liking.

I’ve messaged the Graph Tech folks, but I haven’t received a reply just yet. I really like the appearance and specs of the Ratio tuners. I just wish they weren’t so expensive. I also really like Grover 505 mini locking tuners, but I do prefer a more “Fender-ish” looking tuning peg on this type of guitar. If Graph Tech gets back to me with verification about what model of theirs would be a direct, drop in replacement, I’ll most likely take that route when funding permits.

[BrotherCharles]

I heard back from the folks at Graph Tech. According to Graph Tech, there are pretty much only two, 2-pin machine head mounting templates - one being Fender’s configuration, and the other being the Schaller/Graph Tech/Jin Ho/Ping standard. I saw a couple of pix on the Graph Tech web site of their tuners being dropped in (without any modifications) on G&L Trbutes.

I ordered a set of Graph Tech (staggered post) locking tuners in chrome.