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Baloo76

Help replacing Les Paul Tuners / Machine heads please?

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Posted (edited)

On Xmas day the dog knocked over my son's guitar, and broke two of the tuner heads. I've done a lot of googling already, learned a lot and answered many of my questions, but I still need some help please?

He has this one in a left handed model

https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Electric … e-Sunburst

The website says my tuners are: "Epiphone Vintage Deluxe 18:1 ratio machine heads"

I wanted just to replace the two broken one's, and keep the guitar original, but would seem from some googling that I can't buy the same "Epiphone Vintage" branded tuners, they are available for warranty replacement only, not retail spares.

I do not want to have to drill the guitar, whatever I buy has to be a direct replacement, same size, with all the holes needed in the same place.

I found ones that look the same branded Gibson, Kluson, Grover and Wilkinson

https://www.thomann.de/gb/grover_135n.htm

https://www.thomann.de/gb/gibson_gimh010.htm

https://www.thomann.de/gb/kluson_by_got … chanik.htm

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wilkinson-Mach … B01FSS7GK0

Or I could upgrade to something better, and I have found Gotoh SD90-MGT. But I have no idea how to tell if they are a direct replacement in terms of size and holes.

https://g-gotoh.com/product/sd90-mgt/?lang=en

So my questions are:

1. Are the Gibson/Grover/Kluson/Wilkinson ones exactly the same as the Epiphone branded tuners I have now?
2. If not what measurements do I need to do to make sure any replacement I buy is a direct fit?
3. What about the upgrade? Will the Gotoh SD90-MGT fit? Any others you'd recommend that are a direct fit?
4. Will my son notice any differnce if I change the ratio from the 18:1 he has now, to for instance the 15:1 of the Gotoh?

Thank you!!

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Edited by Baloo76
Add photos of damage
Posted (edited)

These are direct replacements for Gibson SG and Les Paul (according to the review comments). 
 

https://www.thomann.de/gb/grover_135n.htm

 

I suspect that Epiphone use a variety of hardware up to and including GIbson OE Grovers and I doubt they alter the drilling rig to accommodate different sizes so my guess is that they’re a common fit. 
 

The only way to be sure of course is to compare the specs of these (and other Grovers) against the physical dimensions of the ones currently fitted. 
 

At £58 for the set, I’d be tempted to fit these anyway as a minor upgrade. 
 

 

Edited by Skinnyman
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Posted
1 hour ago, Skinnyman said:

These are direct replacements for Gibson SG and Les Paul (according to the review comments). 
 

https://www.thomann.de/gb/grover_135n.htm

 

I suspect that Epiphone use a variety of hardware up to and including GIbson OE Grovers and I doubt they alter the drilling rig to accommodate different sizes so my guess is that they’re a common fit. 
 

The only way to be sure of course is to compare the specs of these (and other Grovers) against the physical dimensions of the ones currently fitted. 
 

At £58 for the set, I’d be tempted to fit these anyway as a minor upgrade. 
 

 

 

Wot 'e sed 👆 ...

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