republic tricone tuning peg upgrade

[jason]

hi everyone

i own a republic tricone "woody" model.

republicguitars.com/tri-cone-guitars/wood-tricone-style-213

 i wanted to upgrade the tuning pegs, as the ones on my guitar just don't seem to stay in tune very well. can anyone recommend a good set of pegs to upgrade with on this guitar?

i was looking at various stewmac models. would these make a noticeable difference? and perhaps there are some other good options out there?

thanks for any help.

jason

[Michael Messer]

Hi Jason

A good upgrade for your guitar are the Stewmac Golden Age Restoration tuners.

www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/Tuning_Machines/Slotted_Peghead_Guitar_Tuning_Machines/Golden_Age_Restoration_Tuners_for_Slotted_Peghead_Guitar_-_Scallop-end.html

You may find that it is not the tuners causing the problem because very few tuners actually slip and don't hold in tune. If it is not the tuners, it could be the strings or even the way you are fitting the strings. It could also possibly be the stability of the guitar itself. Process of elimination - strings first, then tuners.

Shine On
Michael.

[jason]

hi michael

thanks for your reply.

i'm using a jp pearse nickel wound "g tuning" set: .016, .018, .028, .038, .049, .059

i have a hunch the tuners are perhaps not made for strings in these gauges...

what could the "stability of the guitar" imply in this case? i believe that i'm fitting the strings correctly. i did actually once order a set of the newtone 16.18.27w.39.49.59. strings but in the end i just couldn't find a way of installing these on a slotted head stock.

jason

[Michael Messer]

Hi Jason,

Those strings should be fine with your tuners. If you are sure the tuners are causing the problem, try a new set.

My comment about the stability of the guitar is to do with how the sound well is fitted, the material and thickness of the sound well, and the way that guitar is constructed. If the sound well is not stable, the guitar will not hold in tune.

My advice is to try the easy and cheap options first.

I don’t understand why you struggle to fit 16/59s onto a guitar with a slotted headstock? I have fitted them countless times to slotted headstocks.

Shine On
Michael

[jason]

hi michael

thanks again for your quick and informative replies.

regarding the strings / slotted headstock issue: i haven't struggled with hexagonal-core strings (like the jp pearse, which we can cut before installing) on the slotted headstock; rather, with the round-core strings like the newtones, which apparently it is not a good idea to cut before installing.

i will try having a look at the sound well, especially as i just got back from a tour with many flights. perhaps this has vibrated away from its original position.

jason

[resotonic]

Sometimes it's the string slots in the nut that are binding, especially when going to heavier gauge strings than originally installed.

[jason]

thanks, i'll have a look at this too. i did file out the lowest string slot because of this, but i'll re-check the other slots now too.

jason

[gaucho]

My Republic Tricone has excellent tuners. Are yours the 3 on a plate (the older Tricones had those) or the individual ones? If the problem is truly the Tuners, contact Frank at Republic and he should take care of it. I've used the Stewmac and several guitars and they are good!

[pete1951]

Jul 23, 2018 22:15:48 GMT jason said:

thanks, i'll have a look at this too. i did file out the lowest string slot because of this, but i'll re-check the other slots now too.

jason

Friction in the nut is a very common cause of tuning problems. If the string is not 'pinching' in the nut, a little graphite (I use a 6B pencil) helps a lot.
PT

[jason]

Jul 24, 2018 2:59:07 GMT gaucho said:

My Republic Tricone has excellent tuners. Are yours the 3 on a plate (the older Tricones had those) or the individual ones? If the problem is truly the Tuners, contact Frank at Republic and he should take care of it. I've used the Stewmac and several guitars and they are good!

thanks for your reply.

yes, mine are the three on a plate model. are the individual ones somewhat better in terms of holding the strings in tune?


jason

[jason]

Jul 24, 2018 7:05:16 GMT pete1951 said:

Friction in the nut is a very common cause of tuning problems. If the string is not 'pinching' in the nut, a little graphite (I use a 6B pencil) helps a lot.
PT

thanks, i'll give this a try.

jason

[kiwi]

I owned one of these for the last 5 years (see my avatar), sold it just before Christmas. Never had a problem with the tuners on that one. I have owned 4 Republic tricones and I only replaced the tuners on one, and used the Stewmac Golden Age tuners.

I used 15 - 56 strings and never had a problem. I have also used those tuners on half a dozen old Harmonys and can say they are great replacements.

[Michael Messer]

You have had some good suggestions, all worth checking.

Round core strings are easy to fit on slotted headstocks, I must have fitted 3000 sets in the past 26 years of using them.

Good luck and keep us posted with your progress.

Shine On
Michael.

[jason]

Jul 24, 2018 7:48:37 GMT kiwi said:

I owned one of these for the last 5 years (see my avatar), sold it just before Christmas. Never had a problem with the tuners on that one. I have owned 4 Republic tricones and I only replaced the tuners on one, and used the Stewmac Golden Age tuners.

I used 15 - 56 strings and never had a problem. I have also used those tuners on half a dozen old Harmonys and can say they are great replacements.

thanks for your reply. i will try some of the other suggestions here before going the route of changing the tuners.

and just to be clear: not knocking republic guitars! all in all i've been really satisfied with mine. in my opinion, for the price you can't beat it. as a touring musician, it's great to have an instrument which isn't so expensive that i'd be scared of every little knock it will inevitably take while on the road.

jason

[jason]

Jul 24, 2018 7:58:06 GMT Michael Messer said:

You have had some good suggestions, all worth checking.

Round core strings are easy to fit on slotted headstocks, I must have fitted 3000 sets in the past 26 years of using them.

Good luck and keep us posted with your progress.

Shine On
Michael.

hi michael

yes, lots of good feedback here. everyone's been really helpful. great forum, as always!

will re-visit the round cores again one day...

jason