Vintage style tuners swap?

south89

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Hagerstown,MD
It’s been a while since I have been on here and I have good reason. I just picked up a new 594 and it has the vintage style tuners on it but I like the phase III’s. Is there any kind of direct replacement locking tuners. Any help would be appreciated.
 
I swapped the standard traditional non-locking tuners on all of my 594's to the PRS locking traditional tuners. They were direct replacements. The previous owner of one of my SC594's swapped the standard tuners for phase III's, but this leaves an impression in the nitro. This can be covered with little plates: tuner plates these have the same footprint as the traditional tuners and makes the Phase III an almost direct replacement (with a very slightly shorter tuner shaft).
 
It’s been a while since I have been on here and I have good reason. I just picked up a new 594 and it has the vintage style tuners on it but I like the phase III’s. Is there any kind of direct replacement locking tuners. Any help would be appreciated.
The Phase 3 are a direct fit and PRS also has vintage style lockers. The only negative about installing the P3 is the indentation from the vintage style.
 
John Mann has modified vintage PRS locking tuners. Email them and they will help you figure out your options.

IMG-9395.jpg
 
I am a super weirdo. I changed my 2024 WL’s “vintage” tuners for older vintage tuners.

Which is to say, I went from the new style vintage tuners with what I gather is supposed to echo the bird wings (and came from some old idea Paul had back in the day), and went with the more traditional looking keystone vintage tuners.

Why? Because I am just that shallow or hard headed, I guess. A functionally useless change to be sure. But I am happier. :)
 
Last year, I purchased a 2022 SC594 where the previous owner installed Phase III tuners. Today I completed the change I mentioned in my Dec 27 post above and wanted to show the results as this topic has come up several times though I do not ever recall seeing the various comparisons. It took less than 15 minutes to complete the change, including replacing the strings. I went with the nickel as I was concerned the gold may not match the PRS gold exactly. Keeping the PRS gold screws looked better to me than the included nickel screws. I hope this helps if anyone else is considering going with the Phase III in place of vintage tuners.

Observations:
* The plates come with screws which are the same size as the Phase III screws. While I tightened them as much as possible, I will keep an eye on tuning stability over time as the screws will go into the wood a little less than they did before.
* The plates are pretty thin and may not feel exactly flat when first installed. They flatten out perfectly when the screws are tight.
* While the plates are thin, the string hole on the peg is lower as a result. I did not have an issue when restringing, but if you like to have several wraps (would you do that with locking tuners?) it is something to be aware of.
* As stated by others (and in my earlier post) they fully cover the vintage tuner impression for a clean look.

Before:
54260073509_46138430fd_c.jpg

54260063078_5bf51dc463_c.jpg



Side-by-Side:
54260073514_4ee53b425d_c.jpg



All Done:
54260063238_4ae0736de6_c.jpg

54260258780_bb0985d54a_c.jpg
 
Last year, I purchased a 2022 SC594 where the previous owner installed Phase III tuners. Today I completed the change I mentioned in my Dec 27 post above and wanted to show the results as this topic has come up several times though I do not ever recall seeing the various comparisons. It took less than 15 minutes to complete the change, including replacing the strings. I went with the nickel as I was concerned the gold may not match the PRS gold exactly. Keeping the PRS gold screws looked better to me than the included nickel screws. I hope this helps if anyone else is considering going with the Phase III in place of vintage tuners.

Observations:
* The plates come with screws which are the same size as the Phase III screws. While I tightened them as much as possible, I will keep an eye on tuning stability over time as the screws will go into the wood a little less than they did before.
* The plates are pretty thin and may not feel exactly flat when first installed. They flatten out perfectly when the screws are tight.
* While the plates are thin, the string hole on the peg is lower as a result. I did not have an issue when restringing, but if you like to have several wraps (would you do that with locking tuners?) it is something to be aware of.
* As stated by others (and in my earlier post) they fully cover the vintage tuner impression for a clean look.

Before:
54260073509_46138430fd_c.jpg

54260063078_5bf51dc463_c.jpg



Side-by-Side:
54260073514_4ee53b425d_c.jpg



All Done:
54260063238_4ae0736de6_c.jpg

54260258780_bb0985d54a_c.jpg
Those look good
 
If you want Phase III vintage style tuners (non-locking) - (the old style with tulip buttons) I have a new set in the box never used. just message me.
 
Last year, I purchased a 2022 SC594 where the previous owner installed Phase III tuners. Today I completed the change I mentioned in my Dec 27 post above and wanted to show the results as this topic has come up several times though I do not ever recall seeing the various comparisons. It took less than 15 minutes to complete the change, including replacing the strings. I went with the nickel as I was concerned the gold may not match the PRS gold exactly. Keeping the PRS gold screws looked better to me than the included nickel screws. I hope this helps if anyone else is considering going with the Phase III in place of vintage tuners.

Observations:
* The plates come with screws which are the same size as the Phase III screws. While I tightened them as much as possible, I will keep an eye on tuning stability over time as the screws will go into the wood a little less than they did before.
* The plates are pretty thin and may not feel exactly flat when first installed. They flatten out perfectly when the screws are tight.
* While the plates are thin, the string hole on the peg is lower as a result. I did not have an issue when restringing, but if you like to have several wraps (would you do that with locking tuners?) it is something to be aware of.
* As stated by others (and in my earlier post) they fully cover the vintage tuner impression for a clean look.

Before:
54260073509_46138430fd_c.jpg

54260063078_5bf51dc463_c.jpg



Side-by-Side:
54260073514_4ee53b425d_c.jpg



All Done:
54260063238_4ae0736de6_c.jpg

54260258780_bb0985d54a_c.jpg
Best solution I've seen other than a refinish. Those look really good.
 
Last year, I purchased a 2022 SC594 where the previous owner installed Phase III tuners. Today I completed the change I mentioned in my Dec 27 post above and wanted to show the results as this topic has come up several times though I do not ever recall seeing the various comparisons. It took less than 15 minutes to complete the change, including replacing the strings. I went with the nickel as I was concerned the gold may not match the PRS gold exactly. Keeping the PRS gold screws looked better to me than the included nickel screws. I hope this helps if anyone else is considering going with the Phase III in place of vintage tuners.
Looks great. Sounds like it took longer to write up the post than to change the tuners.
 
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