I am considering using eye bolt tuners on my next build. Can I use my cheap-o drill press to drill through an eye bolt? What type of bit should I use? I'm also considering just cutting a slot in the end of the bolt (similar to a bass tuner). Has anyone tried that before?

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  • my recent experiment might be nice for didley, opened up the eye bolt. The two nuts on left can be tightened into each other and lock in the amount of friction, cheap and do not loosen or wear out like lock nuts do. Below is something interesting for the group on the web.

    Michael Gajeski said:
    I think I actually posted a link in the hot deals group for tuners at 99 cents a piece.

    Crow said:
    now, if i could get a 6-pack of open-backs for ten bucks, that be $5 per instrument for MUCH better tuners than the bolts i've got and as it is, it's around $3 for the bolts and wing nuts for each guitar, all said.


    so i would defininitely be interested. i've been looking for a good wholesale bulk source of cheap tuners for a long time,but cannot find any... Scott Winburn said:
    Crow, you should be able to find open-back "economy" geared tuners for around $10-$12. My last tuner purchase were small headed closed-back tuners that were $8.99 for a set of 6. They are obviously cheap, but they work just as well as every other geared tuner i've used. I wish i could remember the source, but i recently lost all my email history in a crash. Check the "Hot Deals" group here on CBN... i
    may have posted a link to it..
  • I think I actually posted a link in the hot deals group for tuners at 99 cents a piece.

    Crow said:
    now, if i could get a 6-pack of open-backs for ten bucks, that be $5 per instrument for MUCH better tuners than the bolts i've got and as it is, it's around $3 for the bolts and wing nuts for each guitar, all said.

    so i would defininitely be interested. i've been looking for a good wholesale bulk source of cheap tuners for a long time,but cannot find any...

    Scott Winburn said:
    Crow, you should be able to find open-back "economy" geared tuners for around $10-$12. My last tuner purchase were small headed closed-back tuners that were $8.99 for a set of 6. They are obviously cheap, but they work just as well as every other geared tuner i've used. I wish i could remember the source, but i recently lost all my email history in a crash. Check the "Hot Deals" group here on CBN... i may have posted a link to it..
  • now, if i could get a 6-pack of open-backs for ten bucks, that be $5 per instrument for MUCH better tuners than the bolts i've got and as it is, it's around $3 for the bolts and wing nuts for each guitar, all said.

    so i would defininitely be interested. i've been looking for a good wholesale bulk source of cheap tuners for a long time,but cannot find any...

    Scott Winburn said:
    Crow, you should be able to find open-back "economy" geared tuners for around $10-$12. My last tuner purchase were small headed closed-back tuners that were $8.99 for a set of 6. They are obviously cheap, but they work just as well as every other geared tuner i've used. I wish i could remember the source, but i recently lost all my email history in a crash. Check the "Hot Deals" group here on CBN... i may have posted a link to it..
  • actually, my opinon of them has become more refined -

    i now certainly feel that they have advantages over zither pin tuners. i have a zither pin tuned CBG at my desk at work, and when i need to tune it, it's a MAJOR pain. i don't have the proper wrench, and everything else just tears them up. they look really battle-worn.

    the bolt tuners allow me to adjust tension with my bare hands. it's stiff, but workable. having an eye bolt on one side and a wing nut on the other allows me to use both hands to grab it with and i get a lot of control. they also move smoother than zither pins, as the pins have to break friction with the wood before they move, and may jump more than you need. the bolt tuners with washers however, are metal to metal, and move in a smoother (albeit VERY TIGHT) and more controllable fashion.

    they take a little skill to get used to, but they work just fine. they cost slightly more per tuner than zither pins, but are much easier to aquire. they're available anywhere, and they require no special tools to install and use (other than a drill for the holes.)

    i can certainly say that i'd prefer nice geared tuners, but these work just fine until i feel like forking out twenty bucks per guitar for tuners. right now, my production cost is at or below $10, and production time is just about 1 hour. so the major investment in nice tuners right now would be a waste until i have the ability to produce some really nice, finished instruments.

    Michael Gajeski said:
    Now that you've been using them for a bit, has your opinion of them changed at all?

    Crow said:
    i just built another quickie using eye bolt tuners - have a look!
    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/eye-bolt-tuners-strike-back
  • Now that you've been using them for a bit, has your opinion of them changed at all?

    Crow said:
    i just built another quickie using eye bolt tuners - have a look!
    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/eye-bolt-tuners-strike-back
  • i just built another quickie using eye bolt tuners - have a look!
    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/eye-bolt-tuners-strike-back
  • You my frieend, are a friggin genious!
    Great tip , and as a steinberger user for many years, I can see exactly where you are comming from. I`ll try this shot from the bridge end....

    Michael D. Luckenbill said:
    I came up with a design that is similar to the tuners on my Steinberger headless guitar. I have to use a needlenose pliers to tune, but once it's in tune, it pretty much stays there. In fact, I've been playing my CBG now for a week straight without having to retune.

    [IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/MDLMUSIC/cbg1headstock.jpg[/IMG]
  • Michael D. Luckenbill said:
    I came up with a design that is similar to the tuners on my Steinberger headless guitar. I have to use a needlenose pliers to tune, but once it's in tune, it pretty much stays there. In fact, I've been playing my CBG now for a week straight without having to retune./div>

    Cool design! Inlining the picture here using the camera icon:

    cbg1headstock.jpg

  • This is a great idea. You could space them out a little more and use wing nuts so you could tune without the pliers.

    Michael D. Luckenbill said:
    I came up with a design that is similar to the tuners on my Steinberger headless guitar. I have to use a needlenose pliers to tune, but once it's in tune, it pretty much stays there. In fact, I've been playing my CBG now for a week straight without having to retune.

    [IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/MDLMUSIC/cbg1headstock.jpg[/IMG]
  • I came up with a design that is similar to the tuners on my Steinberger headless guitar. I have to use a needlenose pliers to tune, but once it's in tune, it pretty much stays there. In fact, I've been playing my CBG now for a week straight without having to retune.

    [IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/MDLMUSIC/cbg1headstock.jpg[/IMG]
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