Fender Machine Heads.

[NancyJohnson]

Can someone give me a definitive here.

 

When you look at the machines on certain (older) Fender basses, the stems on some look way longer than on others (the clover leafs seem to tower over the headstock).

 

Are these different by design or is it some kind of optical illusion?  

[Burns-bass]

They’re called Kluson tuners and are indeed bigger than the clover leaf style tuners they went to in 1966/67.

 

There were also transitional “lolly pop” tuners too, only used for some of 1966.

 

God I’m boring.

[NancyJohnson]

3 minutes ago, Burns-bass said:

 

God I’m boring.

 

Nope, not in the slightest!  I've often wondered why they looked taller; it's a far nicer look than 'short-stem' ones.

 

Thanks muchly!

[Reggaebass]

I’ve had quite a few American vintage RI jazzes and the tuners had the longer stems and riveted ears, also reverse winding , I think based on the pre CBS period 

[Geek99]

I have those @Reggaebass by Kluson on my p bass build 

[NancyJohnson]

While I'm not a huge Fender fan, I think it may have been Jimmy Bain's 50s Precision (or perhaps it was a Telecaster Bass) that this has it's roots in; the longer separation between headstock and cloverleaf looks so much nicer.

 

 

 

 

 

[Reggaebass]

8 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

I have those @Reggaebass by Kluson on my p bass build 

The reverse tuning threw me a few times at first, but I soon remembered, I could be wrong but I’m sure I read somewhere that the gear thread was different then too 

[Geek99]

Possibly - I have “the fender bass book” somewhere and it does talk about the transitions in machine heads 

[2020Jazz]

They're black Hipshots but the same thing---reverse Kluson, which came stock on MIA Geddy Lees. Heavier'n hell.

[gareth]

On 11/09/2021 at 10:38, Burns-bass said:

They’re called Kluson tuners and are indeed bigger than the clover leaf style tuners they went to in 1966/67.

 

There were also transitional “lolly pop” tuners too, only used for some of 1966.

 

God I’m boring.

Here you go 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2021 by gareth

[Burns-bass]

Yes that’s a good book!

[Reggaebass]

Just now, Burns-bass said:

Yes that’s a good book!

What book is it 🙂

[gareth]

On 11/09/2021 at 18:20, Reggaebass said:

What book is it 🙂

This one

 

 

Edited September 13, 2021 by gareth

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[KevL]

Some of the Japanese reissues - I think it's the top-of-the-range/export models - have the old-style tuners with the long stem, large cloverleaf, reverse-wind and large baseplate (the top and bottom edges almost touch). Lower-grade models have short stems, small leaf and small baseplates (noticeable gap between top and bottom edges).

 

This is just from my observations so don't take it as a completely authoritative guide.

 

[Burns-bass]

The older ones are modelled on double bass tuners. They went to manufacturing their own tuners presumably to save money. The klusons also dig into the back of the headstock whereas the Fender tuners are flush to the headstock. The klusons are a better performing tuner too. In fact, I have them on my FSR pink jazz bass (https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/190301340085008-3410303--fender-fsr-american-pro-jazz-bass-shell-pink-rosewood-n) which is a spectacularly well made bass.

[pst62]

I totally agree with Nancy about the look being much better a cheaper alternative to Kluson (well they were when i bought mine) are  Gotoh GB640's, they also have the long stems and are available in reverse and forward gearing, they're also 'Resolite' and excellent quality.

[yorks5stringer]

On 11/09/2021 at 20:44, KevL said:

Some of the Japanese reissues - I think it's the top-of-the-range/export models - have the old-style tuners with the long stem, large cloverleaf, reverse-wind and large baseplate (the top and bottom edges almost touch). Lower-grade models have short stems, small leaf and small baseplates (noticeable gap between top and bottom edges).

 

This is just from my observations so don't take it as a completely authoritative guide.

 

I had a PInk  Paisley Japanese Reissue 'Tele Bass' with the longer stems and reverse wind.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

If you like the style of the klusons but don't fancy having a bass where the tuners turn the wrong way, Gotoh make a set of res-o-lites named GB640 which look very much like the klusons with the same footprint, but are precision made of ultra lightweight aluminium alloy and turn the same way as normal tuners. They have replaced hipshots as my favourite tuners and I think they look pretty cool on my thunderbirds.

 

[Steve Browning]

Now that's odd. My two SVLs have Res-O-Lites exactly as those, but are reverse wind.

[Jono Bolton]

On 26/09/2021 at 07:32, Steve Browning said:

Now that's odd. My two SVLs have Res-O-Lites exactly as those, but are reverse wind.

 

I think both options are available. I was considering getting a set for my JV Precision. The bass is very light but the tuners give it a bit of neck dive due to the weight.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

The GB640R is a reverse wind version of the GB640 set