Replacing SE HBII Piezo Tuners

[CandidPicker]

Spent some time earlier this evening performing some maintenance work on my SE HBII Piezo. The work involved replacing the standard SE tuners with SE locking tuners, courtesy of the PRS West St. Accessory Shop.

First image shows the headstock with strings removed.

2nd image shows the screwdriver/adapter/10mm deep socket loosening the tuner nut ferrule on each of the tuners

3rd image displays some drafting tape securing the piezo bridge before turning over the guitar so as to remove the small Phillip's screws from the tuner's backs. Since the bridge is attached because of the piezo, I thought is wise to make sure the bridge would not move too much.

4th image: Standard tuners with nut ferrules removed prior to flipping the guitar over.

5th image: Reattached locking tuners (nut ferrules finger tight) and Phillip's screws reattached. (Skipped posting where one uses a machinist's rule to align the tuners. Image alignment looks slightly off; it's the angle of the camera and step-wise positioning of the tuners.)

6th image: Reattached black locking thumbscrews to tuners.

7th image: Guitar provided a new set of .010-.046's. No other set-up or intonation required. Stretched the strings and tuned. Guitar will stay in tune more easily now; was able to practice briefly using the INST jack.

 

[dogrocketp]

Will do the same to mine when all the parts arrive. Thanks for posting.

 

[Black Plaid]

Excellent write up!

 

[W. Scott Mohn]

I had the same work done on my new SE Piezo buy the store that sold it to me, before they shipped. It turned out very well, and I am glad I had it done. Good work!!

Regards, Scott

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Congratulations on your NLTD Bob!

Nice work.

 

[CandidPicker]

Excellent write up!

Thanks. Please forgive the lack of displaying using a mechanics's rule for aligning the tuners. I'd not covered over the S/N until after the tuners were in place.

Now, if you'll allow me, I've kitchen to clean...refreshments had been previously served and needed to twist family's arm to help with cleanup...Think I'll need to accommodate those who apply some elbow grease and reward them with take-home treats...

 

[Frenchie]

Thanks for the post!
My SE HB11Piezo should be here in a couple of days and I was wondering if the SE locking tuners would fit this latest model.
You’ve answered my question perfectly.

 

[CandidPicker]

Thanks for the post!
My SE HB11Piezo should be here in a couple of days and I was wondering if the SE locking tuners would fit this latest model.
You’ve answered my question perfectly.

Hi, welcome to the forum!

The SE locking tuner set is a direct replacement for the SE non-locking tuners. SE locking tuners will not retrofit S2 or Core guitars, though.

Be sure to use either a 10 mm deep socket, or something with a recessed socket well. The tuner posts will pose an issue otherwise. Other forum members have stated they used a small adjustable wrench to loosen/tighten the tuner heads, but I didn't trust my hands to be steady enough for the adjustable wrench. (One slip...the guitar is officially dinged and yours...)

 

[dogrocketp]

I put the SE locking tuners on in about 20 minutes with new strings. It was fast and easy. I still have a little neck dive, although less than before. I’m looking for wood or even (gasp!) plastic tuner buttons to lighten the headstock even a little more. It seems that no one has them anywhere at any price. John Mann has promised to see if he can figure this out. I’ll be first in line when he does!

 

[CandidPicker]

I put the SE locking tuners on in about 20 minutes with new strings. It was fast and easy. I still have a little neck dive, although less than before. I’m looking for wood or even (gasp!) plastic tuner buttons to lighten the headstock even a little more. It seems that no one has them anywhere at any price. John Mann has promised to see if he can figure this out. I’ll be first in line when he does!

Would core wooden tuner buttons work? Or simple aftermarket ones for a core PRS? I'd like to think there are steps you can take that will protect your investment, but not compromise its integrity.

Will do some research and check back with you tomorrow...

 

[CandidPicker]

I put the SE locking tuners on in about 20 minutes with new strings. It was fast and easy. I still have a little neck dive, although less than before. I’m looking for wood or even (gasp!) plastic tuner buttons to lighten the headstock even a little more. It seems that no one has them anywhere at any price. John Mann has promised to see if he can figure this out. I’ll be first in line when he does!

These? (Stew-Mac)

https://www.stewmac.com/parts-and-h...s/tuner-parts/schaller-replacement-knobs.html

Or these? (Lark Guitar)

https://larkguitars.com/products/pr...6a3d5ebc166a6b323b9&utm_term=4588880498489376

Or these? (WD Music Parts)

https://www.wdmusic.com/tuning-machines-parts-bushings-and-washers.html

Or these? (Amazon)

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=guitar+tuner+buttons&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Plz note the prices quoted on amazon may not be actual. Sign into amazon to reveal the correct price.

 

[dogrocketp]

I’ve asked every supplier if their buttons fit the SE locking tuners, and been told no.

 

[CandidPicker]

I’ve asked every supplier if their buttons fit the SE locking tuners, and been told no.

Ay carumba.

 

[CandidPicker]

Finally put the Thomastik-Infelds on the SE HBII Piezo this afternoon. Feeding the red-wrap wire into the bridge access holes was somewhat difficult, but not distressingly impossible. The thinner upper red wrap wire fed through the locking tuners easily. Tuning was a breeze. Will check tomorrow regards the Gigboard clean/smooth rig levels and work towards creating a tone that cleans up at lower volume, is pushed halfway, and overdriven at peak volume. (All this is designed so as to minimize the need for switching between additional rigs other than clean or smooth unless absolutely necessary and make it so that additional rigs are for heavier rhythm chording.)

I think these steps will safeguard my investment and provide years of music enjoyment. My only concern is trying to dial in a background clean tone that will complement a lead player's lines without overwhelming the mix while allowing for volume adjustments.

 

[BesB]

Am currently looking to buy this guitar... but... correct me if I misunderstand, at over $1500 it doesn't even have locking tuners?!? Oh my Cthulhu... would love to hear Paul's excuse for that. Maybe it's just me but hell, add $15 to the cost if that's what it takes and add it automatically?

 

[dogrocketp]

There’s no excuse needed. Some people feel that locking tuners change the sound of the guitar. I know I do. I don’t think there’s any need to get sarcastic, I also think that it’s a steal at that price point. After you get yours and play it you can tell us what you think.

 

[CandidPicker]

There’s no excuse needed. Some people feel that locking tuners change the sound of the guitar. I know I do. I don’t think there’s any need to get sarcastic, I also think that it’s a steal at that price point. After you get yours and play it you can tell us what you think.

The locking tuners may actually be something that PRSh will add to future SE HB model guitars in the future. Although providing an option for replacing these is profitable to the the factory, it doesn't provide the majority of buyers with the usual peace-of-mind or confidence that PRSh has always done the right thing.

And no sarcasm intended, but I don't know why PRSh didn't put locking tuners on the SE HB models to begin with. The price could have been $25 to $50 higher and done at the factory with no fanfare...we still would buy Paul's guitars...

You may be correct that locking tuners change the tone of the instrument, but without A/Bing a side-by-side comparison, not many would have known the difference, except those who build the SE HB's...only those who would have put non-locking tuners back on would hear the difference; though why would they do that if it's disadvantageous to tuning? My ears are pretty well-tuned, but can't hear a large tone difference between non-locking and locking...

TBH, had Paul put locking tuners on his SE HB's early on, I don't think many of us would have known the tone difference at all...

 

[BesB]

There’s no excuse needed. Some people feel that locking tuners change the sound of the guitar. I know I do.

I seriously doubt that most people - professional musicians included - can tell the difference purely on sound. Every blind test I've seen indicates that most people cannot tell based on sound alone. Maybe there is a minute sound difference that perhaps 0.05% of people can distinguish, but I doubt that in any way has impacted the decisions made on this guitar.

I don’t think there’s any need to get sarcastic, I also think that it’s a steal at that price point.

I'm not being sarcastic at all. If I were, I'd comment on how locking tuners are good enough for Paul's own core guitar, but not for the rabble that can only afford the SE range. But I won't say that.

After you get yours and play it you can tell us what you think.

Well, I bought the SE Pauls guitar which has non-locking tuners (insert sarcastic comment regarding rabble). No sound difference once I upgraded to locking tuners. Same with SE Zach Meyers. In fact in the ZM case, locking tuners stabilized the tuning quite a bit.

 

[CandidPicker]

I'm not being sarcastic at all. If I were, I'd comment on how locking tuners are good enough for Paul's own core guitar, but not for the rabble that can only afford the SE range. But I won't say that.

Instead I'll say that asking someone to pay over $1500 for guitar made in China, without even locking tuners is pretty insane. At the very least there should be a method to get a low cost swap.

It seems unusual, at least. We're not sure why Paul chose to exclude locking tuners from most all of his SE models, except that SE's have somewhat been tinkering guitars, and many guitarists have modded their SE's for their own benefit with whatever mods they chose.

Perhaps Paul saw a need but didn't provide his SE's at a higher price point knowing that some would mod their guitars, and others not?

If perhaps you've had a chance to play an SE HBII Piezo in hand, you might understand why the price point is up there. Have a look at the quality build (sans locking tuners) and you'll see what we're saying....

 

[bodia]

I seriously doubt that most people - professional musicians included - can tell the difference purely on sound. Every blind test I've seen indicates that most people cannot tell based on sound alone. Maybe there is a minute sound difference that perhaps 0.05% of people can distinguish, but I doubt that in any way has impacted the decisions made on this guitar.


I'm not being sarcastic at all. If I were, I'd comment on how locking tuners are good enough for Paul's own core guitar, but not for the rabble that can only afford the SE range. But I won't say that.


Well, I bought the SE Pauls guitar which has non-locking tuners (insert sarcastic comment regarding rabble). No sound difference once I upgraded to locking tuners. Same with SE Zach Meyers. In fact in the ZM case, locking tuners stabilized the tuning quite a bit.

Well, the McCarty and 594s don't have locking tuners. They certainly aren't cheap guitars.