Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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pacemaker
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Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by pacemaker » Thu May 12, 2022 12:05 pm

I recently bought this Aria Tele Custom copy from secndshft and I'm looking for recommendations on replacement tuning machines. The stock set is functional but a bit fussy for daily use. A quick Google didn't yield any immediate results; figured I'd check in here first before I start measuring distance between posts and all that. I don't mind reaming post holes or adding extra mounting screw holes; I'm more concerned about a replacement set not lining up with the existing post holes as can be the case with these copies.

First, a body shot:

Image

Next, the tuners in question:

Image

Image

...and here it is with the vaunted Pacemaker. I call this "The Secndshft Collection":

Image

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fisonic
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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by fisonic » Fri May 13, 2022 1:33 am

Any F type tuners should be a straight drop-in.
Plenty of options there.

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Pacafeliz
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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri May 13, 2022 6:55 am

Cool guitar.
Nope, Schallers won't be a direct drop in, as they have a wider shaft.
I have (quite savagely, to be honest) "modded" all my old MIJ guitars for Schaller M6 tuners.
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by pacemaker » Fri May 13, 2022 9:28 am

fisonic wrote:
Fri May 13, 2022 1:33 am
Any F type tuners should be a straight drop-in.
Thanks – I was thinking F type was the move. I appreciate you sharing the diagram; I can compare measurements to the stock tuners.
Pacafeliz wrote:
Fri May 13, 2022 6:55 am
Nope, Schallers won't be a direct drop in, as they have a wider shaft.
But I could ream the tuner holes to accommodate for that, yeah?

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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri May 13, 2022 10:26 am

DIY :blush:

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i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by pacemaker » Sat May 14, 2022 12:37 pm

Aw, that doesn't look so bad!

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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by andy_tchp » Sun May 15, 2022 2:16 am

^ Nothing wrong with that, that's the 'correct' way to do it.
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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by tammyw » Sun May 15, 2022 8:12 am

Why would you want tapered tuner holes?
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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Sun May 15, 2022 8:15 am

tammyw wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 8:12 am
Why would you want tapered tuner holes?
I was wondering that myself, but I've always wondered that about reamers in general. I've never used a reamer before. Do you ream one side and then drill it out that side the rest of the way?
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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by JSett » Sun May 15, 2022 9:49 pm

Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 8:15 am
tammyw wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 8:12 am
Why would you want tapered tuner holes?
I was wondering that myself, but I've always wondered that about reamers in general. I've never used a reamer before. Do you ream one side and then drill it out that side the rest of the way?
Helps the ferrules stay snug when pressed in. The taper is extremely subtle.

I use the same type of reamer and it always works great.
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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by pacemaker » Mon May 16, 2022 6:13 am

Update: After looking at the options for replacement tuners, I decided to simply disassemble the problematic tuners (4 out of 6), soak them in naptha overnight, scrub with an old toothbrush, and reassemble with a dab of white lithium grease on the worm gears. I've done this before on a Harmony acoustic with openback tuners with decent results, and the stiffness of the Aria tuners has been improved considerably. They're still not ideal, but the functionality is much better, and it was a FREE solution.

Not sure why this wasn't my first thought; I guess my mind always goes to BUYING stuff first. ::)

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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by panoramic » Mon May 16, 2022 7:41 am

hahah the secndshft collection LOL

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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by pacemaker » Mon May 16, 2022 7:57 am

panoramic wrote:
Mon May 16, 2022 7:41 am
hahah the secndshft collection LOL

T0N3Z for W33K5
It's actually a bit surprising that I haven't bought more stuff from him – our tastes run fairly parallel. The man knows T0NZ

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Re: Tuner upgrade for Aria Matsumoko Tele Custom

Post by panoramic » Mon May 16, 2022 8:27 am

pacemaker wrote:
Mon May 16, 2022 7:57 am
panoramic wrote:
Mon May 16, 2022 7:41 am
hahah the secndshft collection LOL

T0N3Z for W33K5
It's actually a bit surprising that I haven't bought more stuff from him – our tastes run fairly parallel. The man knows T0NZ
he does know the T0NZ without any doubt. I believe I sold him something once years ago
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.

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