ThePod
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2018
- Messages
- 41
I decided to take a shot at converting my standard locking pegs on my PRS SE to locking style tuners.
I picked these up from ebay. They are M3 x 0.5 screws, which I believe are the same thread as the PRS locking screws. They were $8 for 10.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/111825508215
Picked up the necessary tap and drill. $4 for the tap and $3 for the drill.
Next step: I removed all the tuners from my guitar and mounted them on a flat scrap piece of wood. A 3/8 inch drill worked perfect for the mounting hole.
I used a hand file to level the top of the tuning peg.
Then used a center punch to mark the drill spot.
Carefully drilled out the pilot hole. A drill press is really a must here.
Drilled down. Used WD-40 as lube. I eventually figured out that I needed to drill about 12mm to allow the tap to fully cut the threads. So I made a little test probe.
I mounted the tap into a vice. I kept the tuning peg mounted to my scrap wood piece. Used a little WD-40 while cutting the threads.
Because of the screws that I bought, I had to cut out a little recess for the base of the screw shaft.
Repeat x 6 and remount.
Tested them out and they seem to work great! I do think the knobs are a little big but I'm ok with that for right now. I like that they are chrome/silver. I can always source some cheap smaller headed ones if I want. The ones from PRS are like $22 for 6.
This project does require a little machine work skill and a drill press. The first peg took me about an hour. After I figured it out the process, I wrapped up the last 5 also in about an hour. A good cheap upgrade and beats paying $50-100 for locking tuners, or sending them in to get converted. Total cost $16 and two hours of my time. Honestly the cost of upgrading to a set of locking tuners isn't really that much, I just wanted to see if I could do it and make 'em work. Cheers
I picked these up from ebay. They are M3 x 0.5 screws, which I believe are the same thread as the PRS locking screws. They were $8 for 10.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/111825508215
Picked up the necessary tap and drill. $4 for the tap and $3 for the drill.
Next step: I removed all the tuners from my guitar and mounted them on a flat scrap piece of wood. A 3/8 inch drill worked perfect for the mounting hole.
I used a hand file to level the top of the tuning peg.
Then used a center punch to mark the drill spot.
Carefully drilled out the pilot hole. A drill press is really a must here.
Drilled down. Used WD-40 as lube. I eventually figured out that I needed to drill about 12mm to allow the tap to fully cut the threads. So I made a little test probe.
I mounted the tap into a vice. I kept the tuning peg mounted to my scrap wood piece. Used a little WD-40 while cutting the threads.
Because of the screws that I bought, I had to cut out a little recess for the base of the screw shaft.
Repeat x 6 and remount.
Tested them out and they seem to work great! I do think the knobs are a little big but I'm ok with that for right now. I like that they are chrome/silver. I can always source some cheap smaller headed ones if I want. The ones from PRS are like $22 for 6.
This project does require a little machine work skill and a drill press. The first peg took me about an hour. After I figured it out the process, I wrapped up the last 5 also in about an hour. A good cheap upgrade and beats paying $50-100 for locking tuners, or sending them in to get converted. Total cost $16 and two hours of my time. Honestly the cost of upgrading to a set of locking tuners isn't really that much, I just wanted to see if I could do it and make 'em work. Cheers
Great Job! 
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