Tuning machines for guitarrón?

[sonicblue62]

I just bought an old guitarrón (Mexican 6-string Mariachi bass) from a guy in my town. it is a cool instrument, but the problem is that is has friction tuners rather than geared machines, and although they look really cool, it is a bear to tune (and keep in tune). I want to replace these ASAP, but I have not been able to find any 3-per-side p-bass style machines online (except for installed on Lucinda guitarrones). Anyone have a resource where I might be able to find these? I am fine with cheap too; ANYTHING is going to stay in tune better than these silly friction pegs.

 

[noiseguy]

Use 6-string guitar parts instead?

Suspect the reason bass guitar tuners are designed as they are (big gear and tuning heads) has more to do with sensitivity than string tension. Guitar should be fine for these strings.

 

[Olde Axeman]

You need to measure the hole diameters in the headstock as well as the distance from the center of the hole to the edge of the headstock.

If the holes are like 11/16" diameter and you buy tuners for 9/16" diameter holes then it's not gonna work unless you plug and re-drill the holes or make bushings.

And... if the tuners you buy have a shaft that's too short then the keys will hit the edge of the headstock instead of turning freely.

I have an Ibanez acoustic guitar headstock with 3x3 sealed chrome Gotoh-style tuners that has broken off a neck. You can have them for the price of postage if you like. Just PM me if interested.

 

[klyph]

Guitar tuners are too small for traditional guitarron strings. The professional players I have seen have had Fender-style BG tuners on their instruments (11/16"). You could get reversible single tuners from Hipshot or Schaller. Black lollipop-style Hipshots would look pretty cool!

 

[Oscar Stern]

Bass Guitar machine heads should work they might be a great fit for instruments that had friction pegs because the headstock is paddle shaped so they don't look out of place anyhow.

 

[sissy kathy]

If you can use 1/2" pegs just buy two cheap sets of four in line machines and reverse three of them. If you need 3/8" machines again two sets of cheap machines but this time you need a set of right and a set of left. If you need 5/16 machines, sperzel locking tuners can be bought individually.

 

[Oscar Stern]

Ta-da