changed string, now neck has ratting noise

[spitalny]

Last night I put on some new strings on my TA classic (vintage trem, locking tuners) . I noticed afterwards that something was rattling in the guitar. If I tap or bump the neck I can hear it. Seems like it is coming from the neck, or maybe the headstock. Could something be loose in my locking tuners? Or, truss rod?

Also, I used to use pennies to hold the tuner post when I am locking it. The copper on the pennies is soft and it damaged the ends of the tuning posts a little. They are a little bit chewed-up. Is there a way to get 6 new tuning post ends?



Thanks

Paul

[tom]

the most likely thing is the tuner nuts. if the weather has been dry they can loosen up.
which tuners do you have? if they are gotoh, you do not need to tighten them with anything. if they are grover, those parts are no longer available. we have found some metric screws that will work in their place though.

[spitalny]

Hi Tom,
Thanks. How can I tell if they are grover or gotoh?

guitar serial number: 07-08-05A

Tuning peg ends are slotted (for screw driver, or penny in my case !)

Have I been using them incorrectly? I insert the string, then hold the end with a penny (or screw driver) while I turn the tuning knob until the string is held tightly (as evidenced that I can no longer hold the penny or screwdriver without it turning from the turning the knob) ??


Paul

[tom]

if they are grovers, they will say grover. those are probably gotoh.
all you do is
1. loosen the cap enough to get the string through.
2. pull string comfortably tight, you don't have to hurt yourself.
3. wind it up. it will lock itself. it should only go 1/2 way around or less.
to change strings, you can either unwind past the beginning(takes too long for me), or unwind a little then loosen with coin.

[dannopelli]

The Gotoh's are really easy to use and you only need the coin to loosen them at the very last step.

Just loosen the string until the hole is pointed straight down the neck, in line with the string. It is as if the hole were perpendicular to the nut. Then just a little pop to loosen. You can just keep loosening the string and it will eventually pop without a coin too.

Note, this is one guitar that you do not want to just "loosen then cut all the strings off," like you can on others. Before you cut the strings off you have to be sure the locking mechanism has popped loose. If you use that process, you have to loosen, pop the caps, then cut.

You may need to loosen the hole a bit to run the new string back through, but not much.

The easiest way I have found to hold strings during restring is to use a smallish needle nosed pliers. Again be sure that the hole is lined up so the string pulls easily in a straight line up through and past the nut. Wrap some of the loose end between and around the teeth of the pliers, so that you can get a pretty firm grip. You want the string somewhat taught. Then tighten the tuner know until the string catches. Like Tom said, it should only need to come around 1/2 way.

It really is a good idea to use a string tuner too. Makes it quick. I like the Planet Waves, as the head has two sized slots and the small one fits the Gotoh.

Hope this helps!

[Pietro]

This just happened to me and I spent WEEKS trying to figure out where the rattle was coming from. I shoulda just asked!

[spitalny]

I figured-out what was loose. It was the washer and nut on the top side of the head stock. It had become loose on the D string tuner.

Thanks for the tips on using the locking tuners!


Tom - I have gouged the tips pretty good (with screw driver/penny), is there a way to get 6 new tips ?

[tom]

they changed the threads about a year ago so i'm not sure what availability is on the older style ones. are your caps shiny chrome like the buttons, or duller satin looking?

[John Price]

if they are grovers, they will say grover. those are probably gotoh.
all you do is
1. loosen the cap enough to get the string through.
2. pull string comfortably tight, you don't have to hurt yourself.
3. wind it up. it will lock itself. it should only go 1/2 way around or less.
to change strings, you can either unwind past the beginning(takes too long for me), or unwind a little then loosen with coin.


Hello Tom!

So after step 3 I don't have to tighten or lock down the string? I've been tightening it with a coin after I bring it to pitch and then re-tuning...

One less step for me....:D

[tom]

no tightening with a tool required. i think when we first started using them i didn't trust that they would really work so we did a little extra tightening. haven't done that for a long time now. just stretch the strings afterwords till they stop dropping in pitch.

[markus]

Same here! :D
I was used to Schaller M6 locking tuners (the ones with the little wheel in the back) and when I got my first Anderson with Gotoh's on it, I was a bit confused and very concerned as to how to use them. But once you get used to the Gotoh's and start to trust that they work, they're the best locking tuners out there in my opinion!

[Ray K.]

Well, well. This is good to know. I've been using the "penny method" also, just to lock the string in place until the internal mechanism clamps down on it as I'm winding.

I've used Grover locking rotomatics for so long, that don't require this. Just pull the string through and start winding and it locks.

I thought I had seen something on the web site, Tom, that's where I got the idea that I needed to hold tension on the post with the string inserted until it was locked.

Under the Grover Tuners: "4. While maintaining your grip on the string use the supplied Grover tool (or coin) and tighten the screw just enough to hold the string in place (Fig.1)"

But, there is a separate section for the Gotoh Tuners which explains it correctly.

I mistakenly assumed I had Grover tuners and got into the habit.

The good news...I can put the penny back in my pocket and go spend it! :D

Paul, thanks for bringing this up.

Thanks,
Ray K.