Vintage Kluson Tuners '46 Gibson 125

[skykomishone]

The original Kluson Tuners on my 1946 Gibson 125 were in the case, with the buttons rotted off from outgasing of the pickguard, I suspect. New tuners were installed, but the buttons are WHITE, and look wrong because they don't match up at all with the yellowed binding. Also, the original tuners look more heavily made, and the posts and tuner shafts are brass instead of the Chrome looking steel on the replacements.

What I'd like to know, can I get replacement buttons for the originals?
Can the new white ones be 'antiqued'? somehow.
Suggestions please. Thanks, Steve

[Little Jay]

WD music has replacement buttons:

Kluson Replacement Buttons For Deluxe Or Supreme Series Tuning Machines

You can put those on the original tuners and sell the newly bought tuners ;-)

[neatomic]

you can antique the new pegs

here's a quick tutorial from the master-dan erlewine


Making new tuners look vintage | stewmac.com

good choice in clip on guitar tuner as well!!

cheers

[skykomishone]

WD music has replacement buttons:

Kluson Replacement Buttons For Deluxe Or Supreme Series Tuning Machines

You can put those on the original tuners and sell the newly bought tuners ;-)

Perfect LittleJay! I ordered some of the vintage butterbeans. Thanks, Steve

[skykomishone]

you can antique the new pegs

here's a quick tutorial from the master-dan erlewine


Making new tuners look vintage | stewmac.com

good choice in clip on guitar tuner as well!!

cheers

Cheers to you too, Neatomic!
I checked out the StewMac video. Also on installing new buttons. It's very helpful, and something I can do myself. I'm sure. I ordered cream colored buttons. If they're not vintage enough, I can follow the StewMac approach to darken them. I like the idea of putting the original gears back on the old girl.

The Peterson Strobe tuner is definitely my favorite. I have a bowl full of tuners, and, it is the most expensive one, but it's really the best of the bunch for me.

Thanks, Steve

[Eclectic16]

Steve, that's a good looking, old ES-125! Here are two photos of my '56 ES-125 tuners. The buttons aren't as mangled as yours and they still work, so for now they remain.
Richard

[garybaldy]

Steve, that's a good looking, old ES-125! Here are two photos of my '56 ES-125 tuners. The buttons aren't as mangled as yours and they still work, so for now they remain.
Richard

Sorry for my rekindling this thread but I'm picking up my first 125 on Monday and thus having a read through some of the old threads.
I'm just curious that the OPs original tuners (with the decayed buttons) have DELUXE embossed on the tuner covers but I can't make out that on yours. Is it just either my eyes or the photo? Thanks.

[skykomishone]

Garybaldy, I don't see deluxe on those either. Not your eyes.
Also, when you get the guitar please give us some pics and comments. After I read your post, I took mine out and played it. Fantastic guitar, in remarkable condition. The P90 is one of the earliest versions and sounds very satisfying to hear. And the mahogany neck is full, yet comfortable. The wood appears to have a suttle flame that catches the light, and was from good stock, and I tolerate those thin frets, because they're well dressed and it plays with little effort. I have med. Jumbo on most of my other guitars.
Here's a neck shot.

[garybaldy]

Garybaldy, I don't see deluxe on those either. Not your eyes.
Also, when you get the guitar please give us some pics and comments. After I read your post, I took mine out and played it. Fantastic guitar, in remarkable condition. The P90 is one of the earliest versions and sounds very satisfying to hear. And the mahogany neck is full, yet comfortable. The wood appears to have a suttle flame that catches the light, and was from good stock, and I tolerate those thin frets, because they're well dressed and it plays with little effort. I have med. Jumbo on most of my other guitars.
Here's a neck shot.

May be the very early tuners didn't have the embossing. Your guitar has some very nice aging to it. The '58 I'm collecting tomorrow (yay!) looks very new! Not much tarnishing. One would think everything on it has been changed (it may have! - would say definitely the pg as it looks black) but the body and neck look very well looked after. I can't imagine it's a refinish as well. We shall see. I like living dangerously.