Nov 07 2008
How To Change Guitar Tuning Pegs
Oh no! Thunder can’t tune one of his guitar strings. What is this? Oh my the tuning key’s gear is damaged on the second string. The key won’t turn enough and the B string is always a little flat.
I went to the local music store which happens to be a couple of blocks away. I wanted to spend as little money as possible, since it’s not my guitar. Some stores and online stores can sell you a single tuning key. I chose to change all of them.
Choosing Tuning Pegs
I was pleased to see there are machine heads of all prices. A fanatic can go nuts and buy custom designed machine heads or even gold ones. The ones I judged affordable where from 17$ to 54$. Oh I forgot to mention I was not looking for tremolo locking nuts, they are more expensive.
What is important is to take your guitar with you because some have one screw and others have two. I’m sure you don’t want to be drilling extra holes in your head stock. Also remeber to see if your tuning pegs are 6 one one side of the headstock or 3 on one side and 3 on the other.
Installing Tuning Keys
I told Thunder I’d pay his tuning keys but he had to pay for the installation, which is almost an extra 20$. Thunder agreed and then waltz right out of the store with his machine heads laughing that he could do it himself. “Yeah right” I thought to my self. I was ready to bet that an hour later he’d be back at the store to have them do it for him. Low and behold it was much more simple than I had thought. Even though he had never done it before it was a sinch.
Once you have new tuners it’s easy job to replace them. Simply remove the string and the hold screw in back and then get a socket or wrench and unscrew the hex nut on the front of the headstock and it will come off so you can put the new ones on yourself.
All that’s left to do is replace your strings and jam your heart out! Hope this article helps.
