Replacing Klusons With Sperzels?

vikki · March 4th, 2007, 06:42 AM

I have a set of Kluson Deluxe on my Bender Tele and they seem so hit and miss, one little touch and they seem well way off, we've checked the nut and everything else we can think of, graphite on the string contact areas etc. Still a bit iffy..... should these fit ok............

http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/shop/produc...6&product=3109

Looks don't really bother me, tuning stability is what i'm looking for....i think these eliminate the string trees too.
What do you think?
Vikki(uk)

jwells393 · March 4th, 2007, 08:59 AM

You'll have to ream out the holes a little. As you can see below the Sprezels require a larger hole.

.........Click It ----->Sperzel-Kluson.jpg

CIM · March 4th, 2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikki

I have a set of Kluson Deluxe on my Bender Tele and they seem so hit and miss, one little touch and they seem well way off, we've checked the nut and everything else we can think of, graphite on the string contact areas etc. Still a bit iffy..... should these fit ok............

http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/shop/produc...6&product=3109

Looks don't really bother me, tuning stability is what i'm looking for....i think these eliminate the string trees too.
What do you think?

One alternative you might like to consider... I just fitted a set of Grover mini locking tuners to a tele I am putting together. I bought them from stumac in USA and they were delivered to the UK in about 2 weeks for about £40 including a few quid in duty. They can be delivered in 1 week for about £5 more I believe.

Also available for around £50 on eBay UK.

Or for £58 delivered from wdmusic:

http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/shop/produc...6&product=4962

They may need string trees (you could always fit a roller tree if bending is a concern?) as they are not staggered but they seem nicely made with a precise 18:1 ratio and are smaller than Sperzels with no knurled locking wheel on the back. FWIW I think they are more 'in keeping' with the smaller tele head design than Sperzels. It is early days but so far I like 'em anyway - there is a slight knack to threading the string through the head but you soon get it....

I haven't compared weights but I would guess they are lower mass than Sperzels which some people seem to think is a factor vs vintage tone.

Like the Sperzels you would need to ream out the holes to 10mm though...

all_identaties_taken · March 4th, 2007, 02:07 PM

I have some Kluson customs which were brought from a store in London and are great. However WD do some locking Kluson style machines which would look good.
Personally I would go with Schaller over Sperzels any day of the week. Sperzels have very poor build quality for the price. While Schallers are always 100%

vikki · March 5th, 2007, 01:45 AM

Thanks for the info.......
The smaller Grovers look neat, great info on reaming out the holes. I think the Kluson Deluxe i have may be made by ping?
Thanks again
Vikki(uk)

JohnnyCrash · March 5th, 2007, 02:49 AM

I would not remove the string trees.

I'd only replace the string trees if they stick. If so, I'd replace them with the smoother type (offset from screw, like the American made Fenders commonly use).

The high E and B strings will be happier with some tension down across the nut :)

Rob DiStefano · March 5th, 2007, 05:31 AM

Since you asked, I think locking tuners are overkill for non-trem guitars ... and IMHO, there are far better locking tuners than Sperzels - they have low ratios (12:1 or 10:1), the thin rear locking wheel will hurt yer fingers as you tighten it down, and the build is low quality.

IMHO, 16:1 Gotoh mini's are the best buy for a modern sealed non-locking tuner, as are the 18:1 mini Grovers. The best vintage style tuners for my dollars are the Gotoh Vintage Staggered (no trees needed, super smooth).

There are lotsa good locking tuners, from rear locking Schallers and Planet Waves, to those neat top locking Grovers.

Going from vintage tuners to modern tuners will require the tuner holes to be reamed out.

CIM · March 5th, 2007, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

Since you asked, I think locking tuners are overkill for non-trem guitars ... and IMHO, there are far better locking tuners than Sperzels - they have low ratios (12:1 or 10:1), the thin rear locking wheel will hurt yer fingers as you tighten it down, and the build is low quality.

I reckon the best argument for fitting locking tuners is slicker string changes rather than increased stability.

I totally agree that they are not necessary for tuning stability - it is of course quite possible to string up a conventional tuner without any slip problems - there are several ways to 'lock' a string on a non-locking capstan.

BTW I know exactly what you mean about that thin rear locking wheel on Sperzels - not 'ergonomic' at all. I always wonder how hard you need to tighten them to guarantee the strings stay locked in - I probably end up over tightening them.

Interesting comments about low Sperzel build quality - I hadn't realised they were poor in that respect...

all_identaties_taken · March 5th, 2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CIM

Interesting comments about low Sperzel build quality - I hadn't realised they were poor in that respect...

They are, I've even had sets with burrs on which would lead to the chrome flakeing. There very cheaply made.

CIM · March 5th, 2007, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikki

Thanks for the info.......
The smaller Grovers look neat, great info on reaming out the holes. I think the Kluson Deluxe i have may be made by ping?
Thanks again
Vikki(uk)

I just spotted axesrus stock them for £35 with free delivery - cheaper than I got mine from Stu-Mac

vikki · March 6th, 2007, 11:12 AM

Thanks
I noticed the Axes Are Us price, i think i'll go with a set of the Grover minis. That will help to eliminate the tuners possible problem, if there's still a problem then i can track it down. I didn't know the Sperzels were not quite so hot.
I always use a part turn string wrap to trap the string around the tuning peg slot with the Klusons i'm using, maybe there's another problem that i haven't really found yet, there does seem to be some back lash with the Klusons.

Kind Regards
Vikki

March 4th, 2007, 06:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
vikki Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 339	Replacing Klusons With Sperzels? I have a set of Kluson Deluxe on my Bender Tele and they seem so hit and miss, one little touch and they seem well way off, we've checked the nut and everything else we can think of, graphite on the string contact areas etc. Still a bit iffy..... should these fit ok............ http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/shop/produc...6&product=3109 Looks don't really bother me, tuning stability is what i'm looking for....i think these eliminate the string trees too. What do you think? Vikki(uk)

March 4th, 2007, 08:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	You'll have to ream out the holes a little. As you can see below the Sprezels require a larger hole. .........Click It ----->Sperzel-Kluson.jpg __________________ 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.

March 4th, 2007, 02:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
all_identaties_taken Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 350	I have some Kluson customs which were brought from a store in London and are great. However WD do some locking Kluson style machines which would look good. Personally I would go with Schaller over Sperzels any day of the week. Sperzels have very poor build quality for the price. While Schallers are always 100% __________________ John.

March 5th, 2007, 01:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
vikki Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 339	Thanks for the info....... The smaller Grovers look neat, great info on reaming out the holes. I think the Kluson Deluxe i have may be made by ping? Thanks again Vikki(uk)

March 5th, 2007, 02:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	I would not remove the string trees. I'd only replace the string trees if they stick. If so, I'd replace them with the smoother type (offset from screw, like the American made Fenders commonly use). The high E and B strings will be happier with some tension down across the nut :)

March 5th, 2007, 05:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 62 Posts: 4,677	Since you asked, I think locking tuners are overkill for non-trem guitars ... and IMHO, there are far better locking tuners than Sperzels - they have low ratios (12:1 or 10:1), the thin rear locking wheel will hurt yer fingers as you tighten it down, and the build is low quality. IMHO, 16:1 Gotoh mini's are the best buy for a modern sealed non-locking tuner, as are the 18:1 mini Grovers. The best vintage style tuners for my dollars are the Gotoh Vintage Staggered (no trees needed, super smooth). There are lotsa good locking tuners, from rear locking Schallers and Planet Waves, to those neat top locking Grovers. Going from vintage tuners to modern tuners will require the tuner holes to be reamed out.

March 6th, 2007, 11:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
vikki Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 339	Thanks I noticed the Axes Are Us price, i think i'll go with a set of the Grover minis. That will help to eliminate the tuners possible problem, if there's still a problem then i can track it down. I didn't know the Sperzels were not quite so hot. I always use a part turn string wrap to trap the string around the tuning peg slot with the Klusons i'm using, maybe there's another problem that i haven't really found yet, there does seem to be some back lash with the Klusons. Kind Regards Vikki