Ultra Tight Tuning Machines

[esharpe123]

Just got a Squire thinline tele. The tuners are so tight I can barely move some of them. Never had this problem with any other guitar. Ideas?

 

[Guy Incognito]

Just got a Squire thinline tele. The tuners are so tight I can barely move some of them. Never had this problem with any other guitar. Ideas?

Pics?

What style of tuners are they? Modern or vintage? Used guitar or new guitar?

 

[Ebidis]

If they're modern style tuners, you can adjust the screw on the knob, and change the tension.

If they're the vintage style tuners, you're probably SOL.

 

[Ebidis]

Excessive string wraps on the tuning posts can cause this too. You don't need more than 2 or 3 wraps.

 

[esharpe123]

Pics?

What style of tuners are they? Modern or vintage? Used guitar or new guitar?

New guitar. Vintage tuners. Thinking about replacing them.

 

[esharpe123]

Excessive string wraps on the tuning posts can cause this too. You don't need more than 2 or 3 wraps.

Right. Even without strings they are super tight.

 

[Guy Incognito]

New guitar. Vintage tuners. Thinking about replacing them.

If it's a new guitar and by that I mean a brand new guitar you just bought from a store. Take it back and let them deal with it.

There are lots of inexpensive options for replacement tuners, you just shouldn't have to do it on a new guitar.

 

[Bobby Mac]

Same thing happened on my brand new Squier Classic Vibe 70s Thinline I bought last December. Only one tuner, but it was a mofo. I tried a few things before resorting to replacement, including lubrication, using a string winder to run a couple hundred revolutions in each direction. No love.

I replaced all of them with a new set of Fender/Gotoh vintage tuners I had on hand for a future build. Had to replace the tuner bushings as well, as the stock bushings were to small for the new tuner shafts. Not a difficult job, and the new tuners work like they should. It was a GuitarCenter online purchase so I just took care of it myself. GuitarCenter does not have a tech I would trust to do this right, even though its pretty simple.