Vintage style tuner question

[Danno]

My very generous pal at work gave me a Tele neck with vintage style tuners (butter bean I believe they are called).

My question concerns a missing string shaft/pole/what you wrap the string around. It is unlike any I have encountered, having a threaded (smaller) shaft that the string shaft screws unto. It screws in so far (on the remaining 5) that the string hole gets blocked by the smaller "mounting" shaft. The top on the string shaft has what looks like a standard screwdriver slot.

Wish I could take pictures but I'm out of town. Any ideas on finding a replacement shaft piece? These are very, very nice tuners and I'd like to use them (yes, I currently have a Keef setup in mind but another question is how the heck do you string these things since the string hole is blocked? Is this some form of a string lock?).

[Bill Hullett]

I don't know where you would get a replacement piece if one is missing....but yes they are locking tuners....I have a set on a strat I own and they are really good....
Bill Hullett

[fasteddie455]

They are indeed locking tuners..they are like the Kluson styled Gotohs that I have on my Teles. The locking method is very slick. The string post is externally threaded and the tip of which is a smooth pin.The post goes into a hollow cap that is internally threaded. The cap is the part that has the hole through it for the string to go through it. First unthread the hollow cap untill you can see daylight through the holes.(ie. the post or pin is no longer obscuring the string path) Next, poke the string all the way through the cap. Pull the string all the way through and keep it taut. As you turn the key, the post rotates and draws the cap (which is not rotating due to the string running through it) downward toward the face of the headstock eventually trapping the string between the caps entry and exit holes and the top of the tuning post pin at which time the string is "locked" , further turning of the key results in tightening of the string to pitch. If you did it right there should be less than 1 wind around the post. Verry verry slick! Clandestine lockers! The Gotohs I put on ALL my teles look like stock Klusons but are locking!!! I wouldn't have it any other way!!!
I found a store in Memphis that has a big bucket of spare used tuners that always seems to have a couple of these locking tuners ( in various conditions) down near the bottom. the problem is that over the years Gotoh used two different caps...I believe they are threaded differently...one coarse , one fine threaded. I buy a couple when I'm visiting Memphis for spare parts....I probably can give you a cap. message me and we'll work out the details.
fasteddie455

[ole AZ]

Cool. I have seen them on old Martins and thought the looked great, but I don't know if I have ever seen one on a tele. Have any pics?

[Wardpike]

Pics would be helpful!

[bo]

Try http://www.fake58.co.uk/images/TK_07...on%20style.jpg
You can't really see the slot on top that takes a "penny as screwdriver" quite well. I have a set on my hot-rodded Tokai strat. As indicated above, they're excellent.

[Danno]

I'll post pictures when I return home in a few days.

Thanks for filling in the holes fasteddie. I'll get some pics of the threads. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Brett Faust]

Gotoh ,Magnum You can also get a height adjustable locking version as well ,HAP Magnum is the name.
If you can't find them local ,try Allparts.

[Danno]

Brett, mine must be from AllParts - that's where the neck is from at least. Those nickel vintage look just like what I have. Glad they were given to me cause a good portion of my guitars did not cost as much as a set of those!!

My buddy gave me a Duncan Tele humbucker as well (in a Fender bridge with really nice mini bridges). Don't know how to thank him enough. He could have just put it all on Ebay and collected $200-$300 easy.

These tuners have really driven home the importance of quality tuners.

[Danno]

Took a couple of pictures.