Replacement tuners for PRS McCarty?

[Steve Conner]

Hi guys

I've had a PRS McCarty for several years now and I think it's a great axe... EXCEPT... for the stupid looking plastic "Vintage style" tuning keys. The metal kid in me hates them with a vengeance. Is there an easy way to replace them with good quality modern tuning machines, or do I need to drill out the holes in the headstock?

[David Schwab]

Not all the McCartys have the vintage tuners:



Any replacement should do. You can also use the vintage style tuners with metal buttons like these:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/G...ob_Tuners.html

They wont need the headstock drilled out.

Or the more modern kind:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/G...ob_Tuners.html

I like the vintage tuners... had them on my Les Paul Standard.

[Steve Conner]

Hi David, thanks for the reply.

Mine is a newer 2001 model and it does have the vintage pegs with press-fit bushings. (and the odd shaped neck heel that a lot of people moaned about, though it doesn't bother me at all)

I guess it all comes down to what size my peg holes are. I looked around the Stew-Mac website and all the modern looking tuners that I like seem to have screw-in bushings that need a 10mm hole. The press-fit ones seem to be smaller, 11/64" by the looks of it.

Also I guess I'd need to find tuners that covered the screw holes left by the old ones

steve

[David Schwab]

The vintage tuners with metal buttons should fit exactly, and you wont have to worry about the old screw holes.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/G...ob_Tuners.html

The more modern kind will require the head to be reamed out for the bushing, and you will have holes in the back.

There's not that much difference in the tuners, as far as the way they work, so if it's just metal buttons you seek, go with that link.

[mick]

Did the earlier McCarty's have a different neck heel than the later ones?
Mick

[Steve Conner]

http://www.edromanguitars.com/guitar/prs/heel_prs.htm

Ed Roman's site sure made me glad to be a PRS owner