iBudd Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 I just picked up a set of Hipshot HB7s to upgrade an old Fender Jazz that has one slightly bent machine head - measured multiple times to ensure they were the right tuners, supposedly a drop-in replacement. Of course, now they've arrived it's clear that the holes don't - quite - match up. The two on the small side are perfect but the other two are a fraction off. Swapping out the old bushings to the new Hipshot ones makes negligible difference (although without the bushings in I can sort of finesse the hole line-up to the point where the deviation for each hole is minuscule, but what help is that?). My question is, since I can see some of the hole, should I just brute force these?? The temptation to do so is enormous. Filling and re drilling is exactly what I'd hoped to avoid by sourcing the (quite expensive) Hipshots. Tips, tricks, advice, cautionary tales and horror stories all gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 You're in the situation you're in now. Suck it up and fill/redrill the holes you need to. You've spent all this money on new tuners - don't halfass it because you're feeling a bit aggrieved. The screws will go in at a weird angle and will look like you halfassed it. At least you only have to do half the holes? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iBudd Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share Posted February 21, 2023 4 minutes ago, neepheid said: You're in the situation you're in now. Suck it up and fill/redrill the holes you need to. You've spent all this money on new tuners - don't halfass it because you're feeling a bit aggrieved. The screws will go in at a weird angle and will look like you halfassed it. At least you only have to do half the holes? True that - though I'm slightly off-put by the idea of filling and then re-drilling on almost exactly the same spot. What does one fill with that doesn't then immediately tear out when you drill? The Hipshots were also expensive. If I'm redrilling anyway I might be more tempted to send em back and pick up something more realistically priced that needs four new clean holes and no messing about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 Just now, iBudd said: What does one fill with that doesn't then immediately tear out when you drill? Cocktail sticks. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 ^ cocktail sticks... check depth glue em in, just below the surface... attach the machine heads with the holes that align... Use electrical tape across the machine head to avoid scratches, and drill thru the machine head holes to try and stop the drill wandering... i would use an old style had drill for 'feel' and less likely to snap the little drill bit in the wood... Some dry bar soap or candle wax on the little screws to lube the threads.... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 Yep, glued in cocktail sticks for the win. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 +4 for cocktail sticks, I even surprised myself at how accurate I managed to install new tuners on a guitar a while back using this method. I trimmed the sticks after the glue had set with a Stanley knife flat to the wood. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iBudd Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share Posted February 21, 2023 Thanks guys, looks like I know what I gotta do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iBudd Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share Posted February 21, 2023 4 hours ago, PaulThePlug said: ^ cocktail sticks... check depth glue em in, just below the surface... attach the machine heads with the holes that align... Use electrical tape across the machine head to avoid scratches, and drill thru the machine head holes to try and stop the drill wandering... i would use an old style had drill for 'feel' and less likely to snap the little drill bit in the wood... Some dry bar soap or candle wax on the little screws to lube the threads.... this is beautifully concise btw, thanks man. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 I was thinking match sticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 Saw the headstock off and erm…then cocktail sticks 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 49 minutes ago, TheGreek said: I was thinking match sticks. Wood's rather soft on matches. Cocktail sticks are better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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