Question for the group regarding tuning buttons (HELP PLEASE 😕)

Boz

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May 5, 2024
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Hey guys,
I have a question that I'm trying to determine the correct answer for a friend, and would appreciate some help.

I have a friend that owns the same guitar as I do, a early-mid 2024 Special SH (except his is not a 10-top) that came with all chrome hardware. He wants to make a few cosmetic changes he's oddly excited about, including switching out the stock white pickup rings for black ones, and switching out his chrome tuning buttons for black as well. He already purchased the pickup rings but recently told me he's at a bit of a standstill with the tuning buttons due to having some trouble figuring out which ones he needs. So I was hoping to be able to figure this out for him and find some for him to give him as a small gift, but first I need some help here myself.
So he has the Phase III locking tuners that have the now "previous shape" tuning buttons (NOT the current wing-style buttons, the ones just prior). He doesn't want the black "smoked chrome" shiny ones that came with many private stocks or wood library models, he actually prefers the look of the black ones that look plastic, as they more closely match the black pickup rings that are also plastic (to each their own I guess). He said while searching online he came across what he believed might be the right ones that were listed as "PRS Phase III tuner buttons/ebony" that are the plastic looking ones, but can't find anywhere it confirming that these would be a direct replacement that fit perfectly on his model. I should also mention that he's aware of the new black wing-style plastic buttons now coming on many core wood library models (which I DO believe would be an exact replacement fit, please confirm if you know...??), but he said if he could choose he would prefer to keep the same shape tuning buttons as the chrome ones he currently has.
But I myself don't recall core models of that year having the option of black plastic tuning buttons, only the shiny smoked chrome ones that matched the smoked chrome bridge and other hardware pieces available at the time on private stock and some core wood library models. And I do believe that the SE/CE models actually had the option of black plastic tuning buttons like the ones I'm referring to here, and I don't want to accidentally give him black tuning buttons that appear the same visually but actually only fit SE/CE models. So as you can see I also am not 100% on this either, hence reaching out to all of you.
So having said all that and explaining everything to the best of my ability, here's what I'm hoping to confirm one way or another....


- Can these black plastic looking tuning buttons that appear to be the same shape as his current chrome buttons, which are listed as "PRS Phase III/ebony," will they directly replace his current chrome tuning buttons? If not, are there ones that DO correctly fit that I haven't mentioned (black plastic look, not shiny black chrome look)? Or is his only option the new black plastic looking "wing style" buttons?

Lastly, based on the correct answer to these questions, I wanted to ask if anyone here might possibly have any of these tuning buttons that would work laying around or available that they no longer are using due to switching them out or for any other reason, that they wouldn't mind parting with or offering for a fair price so I can in turn give them to my friend? If not, I still very much appreciate the help to at least know which ones are correct replacements so I can try and find them for him. Thanks again everybody, and hope you all are making time for your own guitar and never letting it sit long enough to collect dust 😉🎸🤘🏻
 
I purchased at Crazyparts the proper - wooden - tuning pegs for my Phase III tuners. They ship worldwide.
Aswell wooden pickup rings for a SE Mark Holcomb.

Ebony rings and switch tip
20241018-182828.jpg


Ebony pegs. The fretboard is made out of very dark East Indian rosewood.
20241018-182745.jpg


Ebony pegs. The fretboard is made out of ebony.
20241018-182707.jpg
 
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Are these black tuning buttons I've been referring to actually made of wood? Or plastic? If I had to guess, they appear plastic. But they're referred to as "ebony" at the same time? Now I've confused myself further, lol.
 
Are these black tuning buttons I've been referring to actually made of wood? Or plastic? If I had to guess, they appear plastic. But they're referred to as "ebony" at the same time? Now I've confused myself further, lol.
They are most likely ebony. Ebony can be so dense and shiny they look plastic.

They feel great, I have some on one of my guitars can do actually match the black plastic quite nicely.
 
Small detail, but USA PRS hardware is nickel plated, not chrome.
 
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Small detail, but USA PRS hardware is nickel plated, not
I sometimes catch myself making the mistake of providing somewhat generic terms for non-essential aspects of my posts 😉👍🏻
 
I purchased at Crazyparts the proper - wooden - tuning pegs for my Phase III tuners. They ship worldwide.
Aswell wooden pickup rings for a SE Mark Holcomb.

Ebony rings and switch tip
20241018-182828.jpg


Ebony pegs. The fretboard is made out of very dark East Indian rosewood.
20241018-182745.jpg


Ebony pegs. The fretboard is made out of ebony.
20241018-182707.jpg
This would actually be something I'd be very interested in. In fact after reading your post here, I contacted them, but from what I understood the only thing preventing the whole set from being made (ebony buttons & pickup rings) is that they don't make the pickup ring for the center narrowfield between the humbuckers on the Special Semi Hollow. I was SO close here, as the ideal situation would be to be able to find someone who could make all the needed parts from one manufacturer so I wouldn't have to mix and match different ebony parts. I'm still having trouble finding someone who could make ebony pickup rings that include both humbuckers AND the narrowfield in the same set, and especially someone that could do ALL the parts as I mentioned would be thr most ideal circumstance 😕
 
If I could find someone that manufactures both the phase 3 ebony tuning buttons AND the 3 pickup rings in ebony for the Special Semi-Hollow (including the vital narrowfield pickup, which seems to be the difficult one to find) I think I'd have a homerun here.....😕
 
@Boz: Generally any luthier or carpenter should be capable to make such tiny wooden pieces.
They only need the measures and type or wood.

20230519-220825.jpg


I decided once to replace the plastic backplates of my US PRS to wooden ones. I sent a set of the stock plates to my luthier and he made me some out of Indian Rosewood.

20230506-142738.jpg


He had sent in both cases the raw wooden backplates to me. I made the stain by myself according to the overall look of the guitar or a detail, for example the neck. At the end I drew several layers of transpararent coating on the plates after drying, falling in, sanding.

20230506-143425.jpg


Hence: It shouldn't be any issue.
 
@Boz: Generally any luthier or carpenter should be capable to make such tiny wooden pieces.
They only need the measures and type or wood.

20230519-220825.jpg


I decided once to replace the plastic backplates of my US PRS to wooden ones. I sent a set of the stock plates to my luthier and he made me some out of Indian Rosewood.

20230506-142738.jpg


He had sent in both cases the raw wooden backplates to me. I made the stain by myself according to the overall look of the guitar or a detail, for example the neck. At the end I drew several layers of transpararent coating on the plates after drying, falling in, sanding.

20230506-143425.jpg


Hence: It shouldn't be any issue.

John certainly does appear to do good work regarding the pickup rings, but he doesn't appear to offer tuning buttons (I'd prefer to get all pieces from one source if I can for consistency, matching, and price benefits). And I'm aware that I have the option of having a detailed luthier construct them from scratch with the measurements, however Im trying to accomplish this project for as little as I can financially while still getting quality pieces, especially having just purchased this guitar brand new. I've seen online that some luthiers charge several hundred dollars especially for custom work, and I just don't have that kind of budget for this. PRS offers the ebony buttons, but then they don't offer ebony rings. And to continue with this trend, the German company (Crazy Parts?) makes both the rings and the buttons, but they don't have a narrowfield ring, only for the humbuckers. So I just can't seem to win here, lol.
 
You're right, that Crazypart obviously doesn't offer NF rings.
But giving my example of the backplates, to ask a luthier or carpenter doesn't cost much, too.

Crazyparts produces spare parts for the Private Stock Division.
 
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