Ibanez Roadstar II Tuners

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Username337

Jan 22, 2024
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#1
Hey folks, new to the forum (first post). Hoping I’m placing this post in the correct thread.

I have an ‘83 Roadstar II series that has a sheered tuning peg. This is the second one to break, both on the high side. It’s a 2L2R style headstock with the Velve Tune BII tuners. My first peg sheered a few years back and a friend was able to source an Ibanez Smooth Tuner BII, which fit perfectly and has held up. Fast forward to a week ago and the other high side peg sheered. I’ve been scouring the internet, and only finding really old references from 15+ years ago, or extremely over priced offerings on eBay for a used peg which will likely sheer in due time. I understand this was a manufacturing shortcoming, but hey I got 40 years out of it.

I can’t seem to source the specs for the stock tuners and may end up buying a caliper to get measurements. Was curious if anyone knew of any exact fit replacements. My absolute last resort is to fill and drill the headstock to get into a new lower cost set of tuners. Visited a bass craftsman this week in hopes he had something in his shop, and the closest match was a Schaller light 2x2 which I think was 17mm. Problem was, it would require drilling and trimming of the housing to fit the headstock. Neither are appetizing to me as I’d really like to keep this bass original.

Hoping someone has found an alternative tuner that matches, or heck is there another tuner that I could rob the peg from that would fit the stock housing and gear? I’ve even started contacting machine shops in hopes that someone has the ability to cnc me new pegs since the housing and gears are fine.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you for reading and for your consideration. 2325AC02-055E-4FB0-BA5C-F462D297082C.jpeg05051B81-822A-434F-8413-134671CAC449.jpeg
 
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#2
I replaced the tuners on my Roadstar with Hipshots after one of them sheared off just like yours.

I still have the three good ones somewhere. I have no plans for ever using them again and I didn't want to just throw them away. If you want me to send a couple to you for replacements, let me know and I'll see if I can dig them up.

I don't remember if it was a left or right side that broke.
 
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#3
hbarcat said:
I replaced the tuners on my Roadstar with Hipshots after one of them sheared off just like yours.

I still have the three good ones somewhere. I have no plans for ever using them again and I didn't want to just throw them away. If you want me to send a couple to you for replacements, let me know and I'll see if I can dig them up.

I don't remember if it was a left or right side that broke.
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absolutely will take you up on this! Feel free to send me a DM if you’re serious and we can exchange info. Happy to also provide some payment. I need the high side, but would be willing to take whatever you have. This bass means a lot to me since it was my first ever and gifted to me by my father all those years back. Keeping it stock is very important.
 
#5
hbarcat said:
I replaced the tuners on my Roadstar with Hipshots after one of them sheared off just like yours.

I still have the three good ones somewhere. I have no plans for ever using them again and I didn't want to just throw them away. If you want me to send a couple to you for replacements, let me know and I'll see if I can dig them up.

I don't remember if it was a left or right side that broke.
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Username337 said:
absolutely will take you up on this! Feel free to send me a DM if you’re serious and we can exchange info. Happy to also provide some payment. I need the high side, but would be willing to take whatever you have. This bass means a lot to me since it was my first ever and gifted to me by my father all those years back. Keeping it stock is very important.
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Let us know how this turns out.
 
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#6
sissy kathy said:
Let us know how this turns out.
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Sure will. We’ve shared a couple DMs. Just waiting to see if they can be found at their studio. Fingers crossed.

I’ve also reached out to a couple local machine shops, and may have sourced a fabricator willing to CNC new pegs.

Either would be a blessing to keep this instrument operational and preferably stock. I could only imagine new OE style pegs being fabricated out of a stronger metal… (dream)
 
#7
Update: I'm still looking for these tuners but haven't found them yet. I just moved last year and a lot of my music gear got stuffed in boxes and put in storage.

I know I still have them. Just have to keep looking.

:D
 
#8
There are two common sizes of holes used for tuners - huge ones for those old Fender things, and the smaller ones, which is what you have. There are lots of tuners that will fit that. I'd use Hipshot UYltralites, but Gotoh, Schaller, and a host of other manufacturers make stuff that will fit. If you replace all 4 with better tuners (ones that don't break), it will only help the value of the thing - your bass is not a 50's or 60's Fender where everything being original is important.

As you've broken 2 of them (that's pretty rare), I'd guess those things are a bit on the weak side, and replacing the lot of them is your best approach.
 
#9
Thanks for the response. I’m cool with replacing them with an updated version as long as they’re a direct fit. May not be a 50-60’s but it carries a lot of intrinsic value. I ordered a set of Hipshot to see if they’re a direct fit, and this bass is not the smaller size, it is the 1/2” holes but the mm conversion so hopefully the half inch fit and screw hole LS life in without sanding out the holes. My goal is to avoid any filling and drilling. I appreciate the advice to modernize and do agree new tuners would be far superior quality, but for me not at the cost of modification.
 
#11
hbarcat said:
Unfortunately, I've looked everywhere and can't find the old Ibanez tuners. I think they must have gotten lost or thrown away when I moved.
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I appreciate you trying. Very much.

I have a local feela who thinks he has a set of Hipshot that shouldn’t require any alterations to the headstock. They’d just have one screw instead of two but that’s no worry to me. It’ll be functional until I can source OE replacements.

Thanks again for looking. Appreciate you.
 
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#12
Username337 said:
I appreciate you trying. Very much.

I have a local feela who thinks he has a set of Hipshot that shouldn’t require any alterations to the headstock. They’d just have one screw instead of two but that’s no worry to me. It’ll be functional until I can source OE replacements.

Thanks again for looking. Appreciate you.
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I'm using Hipshot replacements on my Ibanez. I like them a lot. No mods at all to the headstock.


Edit: I can take a picture tomorrow of what they look like installed.
 
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#16
I misremembered which tuners I installed on my Ibanez. After checking, I discovered that I had I stalled a set of Schaller tuners.

Now, I wish that I hadn't, because I had to drill two extra holes in the headstock to accommodate each tuner.

The tuners are really nice, but I just wish I'd come up with an option that didn't include drilling extra holes.

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#17
Ahhh yes the schallers. I test fitted a set my friend had and they fit the hole diameter but screws didn’t align which is why I didn’t do it. I’m to attached to this bass to drill.
I stopped at another friends today and they are going to try to make me some OE direct fit pegs on their CNC out of stainless. So if all goes well, I may be able to supply everyone with OE fit pegs out of stainless in place of the die cast. Will report back.

in the meantime I did fit Hipshot makes a single screw peg that should fit. They’re ordered but shipment is delayed. I’ll also report back what I learn with these.
 
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#19
@Username337 these play nicely on my 83 Roadstar II. Gotoh Compact Bass Tuner, 2L+2R Set - StewMac I replaced the full set due to one bad original Velve, also high side.

@hbarcat I don't mean to improperly insert myself here but if, after first refusal to @Username337, you are still looking to rehome an original high side, I would glady take it off your hands and restore my 83 to full originality.
 
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#20
winojunko said:
@Username337 these play nicely on my 83 Roadstar II. Gotoh Compact Bass Tuner, 2L+2R Set - StewMac I replaced the full set due to one bad original Velve, also high side.

@hbarcat I don't mean to improperly insert myself here but if, after first refusal to @Username337, you are still looking to rehome an original high side, I would glady take it off your hands and restore my 83 to full originality.
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Okay. I just had a PM with him and he's informed me that he converted to a new set of Hipshot tuners and is happy with those, so mine are available.

Please PM me your shipping info, and I'll send you one of my Ibanez treble side tuners.


For anyone else interested in one or more of the original Velve Tune BII tuning machines, here's pictures of what I have. Let me know and I'll hook you up.

They're in "fair" condition cosmetically, with a few scratches and dings, but all four function properly.

One of the bushing/washer sets is missing, but those are standard among many tuners and are easily found for less than $5.

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