Can you retrofit Phase III locking tuners to a 01 SC with the vintage Kluson tuners?

[Scott Peterson]

I have a great guitar here; but the tuners on these are 'okay' at best. I am not really caught up in the Kluson look as much as I want rock solid tuning stability and ease of use.

My questions are below - I have an 01 Singlecut with the stock PRS Vintage style tuners.

1. Do the current Phase III tuners fit without modification?
2. I've found sets of Phase III tuners on eBay for $180... is there a better source for these? (I do not see them in the PRS Store). Do PRS dealers stock these? Is that price fair?

I'm not big into drilling holes into a PRS guitar - I am not a slave to resale value (I don't buy guitars to resale them), more than I just hate drilling into guitars. Not going to happen.

Thanks!

 

[László]

Hey Scott! How's it going, brother?

I think the headstock thickness of the ones with the Klusons makes the retrofit problematic. I'm told that there are drop-in replacements that have the same look with lockers at places like Stew-Mac.

 

[Scott Peterson]

Hey Scott! How's it going, brother?

I think the headstock thickness of the ones with the Klusons makes the retrofit problematic. I'm told that there are drop-in replacements that have the same look with lockers at places like Stew-Mac.

Hey Les! Doing good brother; wish the same for you.

Headstock thickness: That is what I was assuming would be the overarching issue beyond drilling holes; but didn't know. The information isn't available 'out there' according to my Google-fu skills.

I'll look into the locking Klusons.

 

[AP515]

There is no such thing as non-locking tuners for me. I've got the same guitar as you do, so let me show you how to make the tuners locking. It's not the tuners, it's the wire. Bend the wire the opposite way that the tuners wind and bring it up around the wire that comes out of the hole. Then wind the tuner to pin the looped wire against the peg. Pull most of the slack out and you will get the same number of winds as on locking tuners (less than 1). Here are the photos.

The string pins itself onto the peg and pulls it tight. No more wire than is on a locking tuner.

 

[Scott Peterson]

That's how I've strung guitars for 30+ years.

 

[AP515]

That's how I've strung guitars for 30+ years.

Then I don't see the reason for changing a 30 year habit!

 

[wardog]

maybe he wants the look of the phase III tuners!

 

[Scott Peterson]

Then I don't see the reason for changing a 30 year habit!

maybe he wants the look of the phase III tuners!

Ease of use and stability. The strings are not slipping; the tuners are just not up to what I'd prefer. I've owned a LOT of PRS guitars over the years (for those who do not know me) but the stock vintage style tuners on PRS are not my favorite.