Guitarfetish klusons

GuitarJonz · April 23rd, 2008, 07:17 PM

Anyone tried the Guitarfetish Kluson style tuners and conversion bushings? Looking for a review.

Conversion Bushings

Kluson-style tuners

Doug Ferguson · April 23rd, 2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarJonz

Anyone tried the Guitarfetish Kluson style tuners and conversion bushings? Looking for a review.

Conversion Bushings

Kluson-style tuners

Just installed these on a Squire Affinity, along with the bushings. The bushings press fit nicely into the pegholes -- no filing necessary (YMMV). I did need to file the edges of the tuners to get them to lie flat on the headstock. Nothing major -- just a bit off each side of each tuner (again, YMMV). You might want to go with the one's that are $5 more than the one's you're looking at. I know they've got the center hole and are constructed with better material to control backlash. I'm happy with them, They work well and look nice and vintage.

jwells393 · April 23rd, 2008, 09:37 PM

Doug ......... are those Wilkinsons split shaft? Can't tell from the Guitar Fetish ad>

Doug Ferguson · April 23rd, 2008, 09:39 PM

That they are, Jack. Great tuners for the price.

crowden · April 23rd, 2008, 09:56 PM

I bought some of the GFS Klusons for a new neck I' putting on my Squier VM Thineline but, since I have only now finished shooting lacquer on the neck, I haven't actually put them to use yet.

I can tell you this, they appear to be very well plated and made, feel solid, and are nearly identical in appearance as the Gotoh's. Their dimensional specs are slightly different from the Gotoh specs:

the "inner" 4 machines measure .941" in length as opposed to the Gotoh's .932".
the "outer" 2 machines measure 1.103" in length as opposed to the Gotoh's 1.115"
the posts stand a tad taller at 1.045" as opposed to the Gotoh's .965"
the posts diameters are slightly slimmer at .236" as opposed to the Gotoh's .249"

These are split shaft tuners.

As you see all of the visual differences are basically a thousanth of an inch here and there - close enough that I would call them "direct replacement".

However, the functional differences remain to be known. I figure, if they aren't up to snuff for my thinline, I can always yank them, get conversion bushings and put them on my Affinity tele. I should then be able to drop the Gotohs in w/out patching screw holes.

Sorry I couldn't be of any more help.

Ringo · April 24th, 2008, 01:29 AM

http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiklstnitusi.html

I asked about the Wilkinson vintage style tuners a while back, they look a bit nicer than the cheaper ones that GFS sells, anyone tried them?

BlimpyBoy · April 24th, 2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo

http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiklstnitusi.html

I asked about the Wilkinson vintage style tuners a while back, they look a bit nicer than the cheaper ones that GFS sells, anyone tried them?

I put the Wilkinson's on a MIM Tele neck I sold on eBay. I'd previously fitted original Fender "Kluson" tuners to the neck, but removed those to use on a new CIJ neck. Are you with me so far!

The Wilkinsons fitted very well, and the bushes fitted nice and easy. In terms of quality of finish and fit they were very very close to the Fenders. I never fitted the MIM neck to a body so I can't say how they play, but they look the part and the build quality is great.

bnjp · April 24th, 2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo

http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiklstnitusi.html

I asked about the Wilkinson vintage style tuners a while back, they look a bit nicer than the cheaper ones that GFS sells, anyone tried them?

I've used them twice now and really liked them. Here's a closeup.

JDRNoPro · April 24th, 2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo

http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiklstnitusi.html

I asked about the Wilkinson vintage style tuners a while back, they look a bit nicer than the cheaper ones that GFS sells, anyone tried them?

I used those recently and thought they were very nice at a reasonable price - seem to compare fairly well to the pings that come on MIM Classic series. Mine operate smoothly and hold well and the nickel plating looks good.

Jim

WrapAround · April 25th, 2008, 11:37 AM

A set of Kluson copy made by Wilkinson (http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiklstnitusi.html) that I received from Guitar Fetish was horrible. Each tuner had a lot of slop and all had wobbly shaft. The wobbly shaft may not have been such an issue, once they are mounted but the slop was quite bad.

allen st. john · April 25th, 2008, 11:43 AM

I put the "double line" Wilkinsons on a Squier 51, with conversion bushings. Mounted with no issues, and they work fine, just as well as OEM Fenders, and real "Kluson" repros.
I think that Wrap may have gotten a bad set.

spankdplank · April 25th, 2008, 02:28 PM

I have used several sets of the GFS generic Klusons, not the Wilkinson ones. They looked great, held tune, and turned smoothly. I was very pleased. All of the sets I have ordered came with solid shafts, however. I think the Wilkinson ones are split shaft and the GFS generic are solid, bit I'm not sure.

Billy Claire · April 25th, 2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarJonz

Anyone tried the Guitarfetish Kluson style tuners and conversion bushings? Looking for a review.

Conversion Bushings

Kluson-style tuners

I've been wondering overall about Guitar Fetish since they're right near us, John, in Medway!

PJ · April 27th, 2008, 03:16 AM

Of all the vintage tuners I've used, the Grover Deluxe, from International Luthier Suppy (www.internationalluthiers.com)
seem to be the best - at least as good as Klusons or Gotohs.
And they've dropped-in to both vintage and reducer bushing
applications without problems. (Grover #G133N6)

April 23rd, 2008, 07:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
GuitarJonz Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Mass. Posts: 2,777 7 Photos	Guitarfetish klusons Anyone tried the Guitarfetish Kluson style tuners and conversion bushings? Looking for a review. Conversion Bushings Kluson-style tuners

April 23rd, 2008, 09:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,253 101 Photos	Doug ......... are those Wilkinsons split shaft? Can't tell from the Guitar Fetish ad> __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

April 23rd, 2008, 09:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Doug Ferguson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 55 Posts: 1,721	That they are, Jack. Great tuners for the price. __________________ If you get hung up on just guitar players, you've missed something.... Don't ever get to a point where you just gotta be a guitar player. You hear something, go try to get that note and sound as much like that as you can.-Buddy Guy

April 24th, 2008, 01:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,914	what about the Wilkinson vintage tuners ? http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiklstnitusi.html I asked about the Wilkinson vintage style tuners a while back, they look a bit nicer than the cheaper ones that GFS sells, anyone tried them?

April 27th, 2008, 03:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
PJ Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,082 4 Photos	Of all the vintage tuners I've used, the Grover Deluxe, from International Luthier Suppy (www.internationalluthiers.com) seem to be the best - at least as good as Klusons or Gotohs. And they've dropped-in to both vintage and reducer bushing applications without problems. (Grover #G133N6) __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 23rd, 2008, 09:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
crowden Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Age: 58 Posts: 170	I bought some of the GFS Klusons for a new neck I' putting on my Squier VM Thineline but, since I have only now finished shooting lacquer on the neck, I haven't actually put them to use yet. I can tell you this, they appear to be very well plated and made, feel solid, and are nearly identical in appearance as the Gotoh's. Their dimensional specs are slightly different from the Gotoh specs: the "inner" 4 machines measure .941" in length as opposed to the Gotoh's .932". the "outer" 2 machines measure 1.103" in length as opposed to the Gotoh's 1.115" the posts stand a tad taller at 1.045" as opposed to the Gotoh's .965" the posts diameters are slightly slimmer at .236" as opposed to the Gotoh's .249" These are split shaft tuners. As you see all of the visual differences are basically a thousanth of an inch here and there - close enough that I would call them "direct replacement". However, the functional differences remain to be known. I figure, if they aren't up to snuff for my thinline, I can always yank them, get conversion bushings and put them on my Affinity tele. I should then be able to drop the Gotohs in w/out patching screw holes. Sorry I couldn't be of any more help.

April 25th, 2008, 11:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
WrapAround Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 804 14 Photos	A set of Kluson copy made by Wilkinson (http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiklstnitusi.html) that I received from Guitar Fetish was horrible. Each tuner had a lot of slop and all had wobbly shaft. The wobbly shaft may not have been such an issue, once they are mounted but the slop was quite bad.

April 25th, 2008, 11:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
allen st. john Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 722	I put the "double line" Wilkinsons on a Squier 51, with conversion bushings. Mounted with no issues, and they work fine, just as well as OEM Fenders, and real "Kluson" repros. I think that Wrap may have gotten a bad set.

April 25th, 2008, 02:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
spankdplank Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 695 28 Photos	I have used several sets of the GFS generic Klusons, not the Wilkinson ones. They looked great, held tune, and turned smoothly. I was very pleased. All of the sets I have ordered came with solid shafts, however. I think the Wilkinson ones are split shaft and the GFS generic are solid, bit I'm not sure.