A journey through the history of tuners with famous brands

Tuning an instrument is one of the first things you learn when starting any instrument, and it's extremely important for playing an instrument.

While some instruments, like the piano, don't require tuning by the performer, accurate pitch is fundamental to any instrument.

Even among the many musical instruments, a wide variety of tuning methods exist, and equipment and techniques have been used to accommodate them.

Before we talk about electric guitar tuners, let's briefly discuss the origin of the pegs.

Originally, a string was wrapped around a cylindrical piece of wood and inserted into another piece of wood, using friction to secure the string; this was the original "peg."pegThis refers to the use of stakes or fasteners. Even today, instruments like violins still utilize this method.

In the world of electric guitars, the term "peg" is commonly understood in Japan, but it's often not understood overseas.

The advent of metal strings led to a transformation in all musical instruments. This brought about a major change in the world of guitars, which had previously relied primarily on gut strings.

Originally used with gut strings, worm gear tuners were developed to withstand even higher tensions, and they have evolved in various ways depending on the strings and instruments.

Johann Georg Stauffer, also famous as the pioneer of guitar making, worked in his workshop in Vienna.14The Martin Guitars, founded by Christian Frederick Martin after a year of apprenticeship, also shifted its focus to steel-string guitars after moving to America, adapting to the evolution of music and the resulting changes in musical instruments. This is how Martin Guitars became synonymous with steel-string guitars and acoustic guitars, a status it enjoys today.

Martin also offers a variety of worm gear type tuners.RecruitIt was. (Incidentally, the developer of the worm gear is not clearly known, but it is said to be either Archimedes or Leonardo da Vinci.)

Martin1834The tuner used in [year]

1950 Fender Broadcaster

John Kluson developed a tuner that encloses the worm gear in a metal cover.1946It was around that age. After that...1950Held in Chicago in 2018NAMM SHOWAt that time, the "Broadcaster," considered the first solid-body electric guitar, was unveiled, and it also used Kluson tuners.

Kluson Corporation1925Founded in Chicago in 1976, Kluson is a manufacturer that, as mentioned above, took the world by storm with its "Kluson Deluxe" tuning pegs, which were sold with covers on them, at a time when most tuners had exposed gears. The history of electric guitars cannot be told without mentioning Kluson tuners.

When it comes to electric guitars, Fender and Gibson are the basic names, but both companies used Kluson tuners on their first guitars.RecruitI am doing it.

To digress slightly, Grover is also a well-known manufacturer of electric guitar tuners. Grover is a company associated with ADGrover & Son, founded by Albert Deane Gover.

The famous "102" tuner completely seals the gear mechanism, ensuring stable gear operation unaffected by external dirt and dust. The securely housed tuner also protects the shaft, preventing excessive deformation from impacts.

Albert Dean Glover, born in 1865, was a banjo player and also manufactured banjo tuners, reportedly holding over 50 patents.
The company itself was acquired by Grossman in 1952, but the Glover name has continued to be used ever since.

Fender's first solid-body guitar was the Broadcaster. However, because Gretsch held the trademark for the "Broadcaster" name, Fender was forced to change the name to the "Telecaster."

During the transition period from the Broadcaster to the Telecaster, guitars that had the Broadcaster name removed before being shipped were called "Nocasters."

In fact, we have a rare, non-caster prototype in stock at our store—a truly miraculous find.

1950Early in the year (Cluson Deluxe)

The cover has a row of lettersKLUSON DELUXEA model with the words " " engraved on it (commonly known as: single-row Kluson).

This "single-row Crewson"1956Models from a young ageRecruitHowever, a major difference in the earliest models is that the tip of the shaft does not penetrate the cover that surrounds the gear.

The set screws are slotted screws.

Photo of the back of the Broadcaster's tuning pegs

1950Mid-year1952Age (Cluson Deluxe)

Because there are no markings on the gear cover, it is commonly called "non-line" (or "no-line").

The fact that the tip of the shaft does not penetrate the cover that surrounds the gear is the same as in the earliest models.

The set screws are slotted screws.

1952Mid-year ~1956Age (Cluson Deluxe)

They are similar in that they are "no-line" gears, meaning they have no markings on the gear cover.

One of the changes is that the shaft now passes through the gear cover.

The set screws are slotted screws.

Back of the headstock of a 1952 Telecaster

1956Late year~1963Late Year (Cluson Deluxe)

On the gear cover:KLUSON DELUXE" is engraved in a single row (commonly known as: single-row Kluson) / (Single line).

The shaft passes through the gear cover.

The set screws have been changed to Phillips head screws.

Back of the headstock of a 1960 Telecaster

1963Around the latter half of the year ~1967Age (Cluson Deluxe)

On the gear cover:KLUSON DELUXEThe inscription reads " in two rows (commonly known as: double-row Kluson) / (Double line)

The shaft passes through the gear cover.

The set screws are Phillips head screws.

Back of the headstock of a 1966 Stratocaster

Back of the headstock of a 1966-1967 Jazzmaster

Back of the headstock of a 1970 all-rosewood Telecaster

Back of the headstock of a 1976 Stratocaster

Regarding tuners1966The machine head that completely housed the gears in the yearM6They announced that "..." and among the many manufacturers that use these tuning pegs are famous manufacturers such as Ovation, Gibson, and Martin.1976Around that time, Fender also became a part of it.

1977In that year, they co-developed the double locking system introduced by Floyd Rose.1980As soon as it appeared on the market that year, guitarists of all ages were captivated by the system.

1981In 2007, they developed the "Lock Pin," a system that securely connects the guitar and strap, preventing it from easily coming undone. To this day, it remains the most popular locking system for securing a strap to a guitar.

after that1980The relationship with Schaller continued into the 20th century, and Schaller tuning pegs were used, but Fender's own custom-ordered tuning pegs were also used.RecruitIt is being done.

WEST GERMANY stamp

Gibson's first solid electric guitar was1952It was released to the market later than Fender's. Gibson was a manufacturer with a long history in instrument making, so the release of their solid-body electric guitar shows a strong sense of rivalry with Fender.

Gibson's first solid-body electric guitar was named the Les Paul. The Les Paul was a chart-topping hit at the time.&Gibson, having taken notice of Mary Ford,1950Around that age, he made a contract with Les Paul to only use Les Pauls in public.

Les had previously made suggestions to Gibson regarding solid-body electric guitars, so this model heavily reflects his ideas. The curved top of the Les Paul's body is said to be a way to differentiate it from other brands, as Fender didn't have a wood carving machine at the time. The trapezoid tailpiece and gold top coloring were also Les's ideas.

Les Paul & Mary Ford

Gibson factory built in 1909

Gibson Corporation1880It all began with Orville Henry Gibson, who was making mandolins and guitars on a small scale in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the 19th century. Later, The Mandolin Guitar Manufacture Company, Ltd.1902year10month11Founded in Kalamazoo on the same day, the company grew rapidly.1909In that year, they acquired new land.1984Until the Kalamazoo factory closed in [year]5It was expanded multiple times.120,000It grew into a massive factory spanning over a foot. Today, it's common knowledge that Gibson has become such a huge manufacturer that virtually everyone involved in music knows about it.

Given their experience in manufacturing mandolin, Gibson possesses specialized knowledge regarding tuners, so what kind of tuning pegs do they use on their electric guitars?RecruitI will explain why.

1952Year (when the Les Paul was released) The one installed was Kluson (Kluson) Company's320VP". Gear cover attached3versus3With traditional pegs,Klusen DeluxeThe logo is not included.

This type of tuner has a knob made of resin. The bump at the base of the knob is1Since there are two,1It is also called "Cobb Crewson".

1954Year (when the Les Paul Custom was released) Following the strong sales of the Les Paul, the Les Paul Custom will be released as a higher-end model.RecruitThe one that was chosen was, as expected, Kluson's "501VPThe knobs are made of resin, but the cover that surrounds the gears is made of metal with vertical lines, and because of its appearance, it is also called a "waffle peg" tuner.

1958Around that age ~1961Around what age (until production ended) Les Paul Customs from this period often feature Grover (Flover) Company's102G"butRecruitIt will be done. Glover's representative housing tuner "102The fact that it is used in the high-end models of the long-established Gibson further solidifies its image as a "premium tuning peg."

The metal cover saysPAT.PEND.USAIts distinguishing feature is that it includes the phrase "".

1958Around that age ~ 1958From around that age, Kluson's320VPHowever, the resin used for the knobs has changed to a type that deteriorates very easily over time, and among vintage enthusiasts, it is called a "shrink peg."

especially1959The pegs used this year are severely shrunk, and many are completely shattered. These are also "single-knob Kluson" pegs.

Actually, let's take a moment here.1960Around that time, the single-cut Les Paul disappeared from the market. Something must have happened to the guitar, which had been selling very well at the time.

According to descriptions from that time, even the expensive Les Paul was selling well, but the cheaper Junior was selling better.1959It was reportedly the highest number ever recorded that year.

According to Ted McCarty, "After promoting the junior models for a while, the sales department started pressuring me to create a new, modern guitar that was different from what we'd been making. So I created this new shape model and decided to abandon the single-cutaway design."

That new shape was a double-cutaway shape with a pointed tip.SG（Solid GuitarThis shape, known as the (abbreviation) shape, is clearly a highly successful guitar design for us today, but the fact that Ted McCarty, who spearheaded this change at the time, was a remarkably talented genius.

Later, Les Paul, who had an endorsement deal with them, did not like the new shape of the guitar.1963Around that time, the endorsement contract was terminated. As a result, the guitars that could no longer use the Les Paul name were "SGThe name has been changed to "[new name]".

1961From year to year (SGShape Les Paul） 1961From this yearSG（Les PaulThe tuner installed in the ) is Kluson's320VP"But the bump at the base of the knob2It was a row of "two-humped" type. The metal cover said:Klusen DeluxeThe logo of " is in a line,2Cob1It is called a "row Crewson."

1963Around that age (SG） after that1963Around that age, the metal coverKlusen DeluxeThe logo of "2Forming a line2Cob2It will be changed to "row Crewson".

1968Year (The return of the Les Paul) Time passed from then on,1968The Les Paul made a comeback at the Chicago trade show that year.

Despite a decline in electric guitar sales since the discontinuation of the Les Paul, Gibson saw strong demand and market activity for the discontinued single-cutaway Les Paul. Les Paul himself was keenly aware of this trend, and with a renewed contract with Gibson and new ideas, a new Les Paul model was revived.

1968Year (at the time of revival) The tuners used here were the same as those used back then for the Standard, Kluson's320VPIt was equipped with a bump at the base of the knob.2(common name)2(Bump) on the metal cover part2In lineKlusen DeluxeThe logo is commonly known as2Cob2These are tuners called "row Kluson" tuners.

The custom version features the same Kluson "501VP(Waffle pegs) are used.

Schaller M6 machine heads

Gibson also used a wide variety of tuners. There are many types of Kluson tuners alone, and Grover tuners also produced many models specifically for Gibson.

Gibson Corporation1976In the same year, as Fender had done, Schaller tuners were used.RecruitSchaller tuners transcended national borders and currency differences, being used in guitar products in many industrialized countries.

peg buttons(Snacks)

※The part you touch when turning the pegs.

Pegpost(shaft)

※The part where the string is wound

Pegworm

※The part where the gear is formed by the shaft with the button.

Peg bushings

※When attaching the pegs to the main body, insert them into the main body to prevent interference with the wood.

Peg bush nuts

※The pegs do not use bushings and are attached to the bottom of the peg body. A nut is then tightened onto the peg body from above to secure it.

Peg cover

※Cover that covers the gear section

Worm wheel

※The part that forms a gear when it engages with the peg's shaft.

Tuning pegs that use the original bush nuts

The original holes are visible after the pegs have been replaced.

The nuts are engaged and secured.

The nut is not properly engaged and is not secured.

Many people buy vintage guitars for the purpose of playing them, and being original is important in determining the value of a vintage guitar. However, they often have problems such as bent shafts that make tuning difficult, hardened grease inside that makes turning difficult, and stripped screw holes that cause looseness.

In such cases, there is absolutely no problem with keeping the original tuner and replacing it with a new one.

In fact1958From1960Many people who own a Gibson Les Paul Sunburst, commonly known as a Burst, made up to a certain year, especially1959For those who own a vintage Burst and actually use it for playing, the original tuner is often too shrink-wrapped and practically unusable.

The Kluson and Grover tuners introduced here are often the original equipment, but they are also frequently replaced. Schaller tuners from Germany are known for their precision and excellent craftsmanship.1970As it was used by manufacturers all over the world in the past, it is now used in JapanGOTOHThey manufacture many of these tuners and dominate the world market.

Am I the only one who feels proud when I see guitars in action that are using tuners from Goto Gut Co., Ltd., a leading company representing Japan, a country renowned for its craftsmanship, which have been replaced with older guitar tuners?