Gday all, I'm hoping the brains trust here can point me in the right direction of some tuners to fit 4 string Kasuga neck I'm fitting to a segmented I've built. The rim has come up quite nice, Tasmanian myrtle timber offcuts used - photos attached.
The tuners have a 10mm hole (maybe 3/8 or 7/16?) with two locating pins either side. The pins have a 28 or 29 mm spread - one 12mm of center and one 16mm of center - rough measuments. I was hoping to get some tuners that will drop straight in but am having trouble finding suitable ones.
Thanks,
Owen.
Edited by - owennye on 10/01/2024 02:53:52
Ah, looks like you are chasing guitar style tuners where the tuning buttons are at right angle to shaft.
If you wanted to switch to banjo tuning pegs with straight shaft, Gotoh tuners have a 10mm shaft.
that's what i thought but I'm having trouble finding ones that match the holes
The two screw holes on the back of the peghead indicate that the original tuners on that neck were Japanese Kluson copies. They (or the original US made Kluson banjo tuners) were/are, in my opinion, not particularly good tuners. Installing a set Gotoh tuners will give you smoother gears and comfortable shaped tuner knobs.
If I find a Kluson tuner, or copy, in my parts bin, I'll post a picture. But an internet search will probably get you an image faster.
Bob Smakula
smakulafrettedinstrumnts.com
The original tuners would have looked like the ones below. I used them when I built my two bow-tie banjos because they were the style Gibson used for that design. I wouldn't recommend them for most banjos because they are cumbersome and awkward. Bob has the right idea. Go with a set of Gotoh tuners. They will drop right in the holes and work a lot better.
Forget about the two "pin holes" as you call them. With a new set of planetary tuner, such as Gotohs, those 2 little holes are not needed.
You can just leave the 2 holes there , or try and fill them.
I would personally just leave them as they are, not mess with them.
Thanks for the info, got a set of gotohs on order. Cheers
