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Murphy Lab Loose Tuners

DScott

New member
Joined
Nov 25, 2022
Messages
9
Anyone experiencing loose tuners on their Murphy lab guitars? Feels like when you tune the string up or down (especially up) you have to turn it a very loose quarter turn or so before it catches. I haven’t thought much of it, but I had a 57 Murphy lab gold top light aged that had the issue with just one of the tuning pegs. The dealer ended up sending me a replacement, and I switched it out no problem, but now I have a Wildwood spec, heavy aged 58 and it seems like most of the tuners do this. Anyone else noticing this issue?
 

garywright

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Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,586
unlike the original klusons they now contain some plastic internally rather than all steel .perhaps the aging loosened the tautness (?)
 

Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
It might actually be the Plastic Key , spinning around the shaft before it catches?
 

DScott

New member
Joined
Nov 25, 2022
Messages
9
unlike the original klusons they now contain some plastic internally rather than all steel .perhaps the aging loosened the tautness (?)
Good point but I’m surprised it would’ve made it past final inspection that way. Although unless their hand tuning they probably wouldn’t catch it.
 

CAGinLA

Active member
Joined
Jan 4, 2016
Messages
489
Anyone experiencing loose tuners on their Murphy lab guitars? Feels like when you tune the string up or down (especially up) you have to turn it a very loose quarter turn or so before it catches. I haven’t thought much of it, but I had a 57 Murphy lab gold top light aged that had the issue with just one of the tuning pegs. The dealer ended up sending me a replacement, and I switched it out no problem, but now I have a Wildwood spec, heavy aged 58 and it seems like most of the tuners do this. Anyone else noticing this issue?
I do have that issue on my ML 335 but not on my ML R8.
 

Wizard1183

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Joined
Jan 20, 2018
Messages
783
unlike the original klusons they now contain some plastic internally rather than all steel .perhaps the aging loosened the tautness (?)
Wow! Internal plastic? So go cheap but sell at a higher price? That’s pathetic any guitar tuner has plastic parts internally. But a high-end Gibson having it? That’s pathetic.
 

John550

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2012
Messages
142
Wow! Internal plastic? So go cheap but sell at a higher price? That’s pathetic any guitar tuner has plastic parts internally. But a high-end Gibson having it? That’s pathetic.
So if klusons is making them different , its Gibsons fault . ok got it .
 

Dave P

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2001
Messages
976
I just picked up a new R8 a couple days ago, and the B string Kluson has a quarter turn of play. Kind of disappointing. If I have to buy new tuners, I'm going with Gotoh.
 

bluesky636

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Messages
657
unlike the original klusons they now contain some plastic internally rather than all steel .perhaps the aging loosened the tautness (?)
What could possibly be plastic on the inside? There's a worm gear, spur gear, and a screw, all mounted on a metal plate with a metal cover. Do you have photos of a disassembled turner to prove your statement or is this an "I heard that ..." claim?
 

markguitar

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2001
Messages
2,375
ALL of the reissue Kluson tuners have been loose on all of the reissues. Has nothing to do with Murphy Lab process. Some are worse than others. The issue is build quality. A number of years ago WD Music bought the rights to Kluson and moved production from Japan to their “Ping” tuner facility in Taiwan. Ping tuners are cheap replacements. The reissue Klusons now have Ping stamped into the underside of them. The older “Gibson Deluxe” double line tuners and original reissue Klusons were being made by Gotoh.
 

garywright

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Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,586
heated nylon ( inner washer) = not good ..I’ve experienced this first hand when putting “upgraded”keystones on recent tuners and afterwards having free spinning shafts that were once taunt
 
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bluesky636

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Messages
657
heated nylon ( inner washer) = not good ..I’ve experienced this first hand when putting “upgraded”keystones on recent tuners and afterwards having free spinning shafts that were once taunt
So what were the washers made of previously?
 

garywright

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,586
Do you have photos of a disassembled turner to prove your statement or is this an "I heard that ..." claim?
you want “proof” from me ? 😂..it is what it is ..you care to “prove” me wrong ? go for it
 
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