| Author |
Message |
Harry (Harry)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 3:08 am: | |
Hi all!
When I ran through the manuscript of my upcoming Vintage Ibanez Book I noticed that I need to be more sure about the -typical Ibanez feature- "Star"-tuners. I tried to do some research about these famous and highly appreciated tuners, but I seem to get lost in a jungle of question marks. Is there anybody of you who can help me out in this matter: were there particular models that were "stock" equipped with Star tuners or does this vary by year, or are you just "lucky" if your Ibanez has them because sometimes Ibanez guitars have them and sometimes not? I have seen various Les Pauls and SG's both with AND without "Stars". Stratocasters likewise, the korina trio has Stars, the Firebird too, Thinline and full-body Jazzers do have them often, but not allways.
I know that these tuners were made by Gotoh and that they appear already on the early 70's models (like the insert picture with the 3-pickup Custom SG shows in the 73 catalogue) and that they were used throughout the copy-era until 1979.
I really want to know in order to be sure I give the complete and correct information in my book.
So, bring it on! Everything you can think of, please!
Kind greetz,
Harry |
Gonzo (Gonzo)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 10:20 am: | |
Hi Harry,
i have a "blonde" Ibanez M 340 (Concord accustic)6-string, which is equipped with gold "Star"-Tuners. It´s from 1978 (ser.-nr. L78****)
Hope it helps!
Greetings
Rudi |
Jerryneves (Jerryneves)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 10:43 am: | |
I have a 76 Wine colored Howard Roberts with Star tuners.
Jerry |
Johns (Johns)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 12:39 pm: | |
Harry:
I had a pre-serial number Custom Agent that had Star tuners.
Just wondering, were all Star tuners one screw at bottom or one top and one bottom? |
Craigjc (Craigjc)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 12:44 pm: | |
1976 2387 Flying V (Rocket Roll Sr.) gold-plated star tuners with housings that have flat edges (kind of octagon looking).
1977 2350 Les Paul gold-plated star tuners with round housings. |
Johnm (Johnm)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 6:20 pm: | |
The birdland copy I once owned had star tuners. The silver series strat ('77) has them too.
John M |
Ericibanez (Ericibanez)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 9:21 am: | |
I have a Concord acoustic with the star tuners. They were stock. The guitar has no serial # so I have no idea what year it is. It does have the very old script logo. |
Sixvsix (Sixvsix)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 2:37 am: | |
Harry, Here is a history of star tuners from my previous and current collection:
2355 - chrome keystone star tuners - B78
2387DX - chrome keystone star tuners - pre serial #
2455 - gold keystone star tuners - i77
2457 - gold keystone star tuners - pre serial #
2464 - gold keystone star tuners - pre serial #
2469 - gold keystone star tuners - pre serial #
2671 - gold keystone star tuners - pre serial #
six |
Jjr (Jjr)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 11:45 am: | |
Hi,
I have a Silver Series Strat from 1977 with star tuners. Should be a 2655zb (burned ash body). Seems to be stock, no extra holes visible. By the way, I got it via ebay for 60 euro, it was painted in red and white, also the headstock. Big surprise when I stripped it off!
Greetings
Jürgen |
Dave_G (Dave_G)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 11:19 pm: | |
There are actually three different types of Star tuners-one off set screw hole, two centered top and bottom screw hole, and ones without any screws-as seen on early LP jr copy...... |
Tim_Gueguen (Tim_Gueguen)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 12:19 am: | |
They also appeared on other instruments apparently made by Fujigen. I've seen a Mann Les Paul Recording style guitar with star tuners, Mann being a Canadian market brand that were allegedly made by Fujigen. |
Boogieknight (Boogieknight)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 10:23 am: | |
I too have seen 3 different howard roberts MANN gtr's in canada that have star tuners. |
Doeringerofdgm
Username: Doeringerofdgm
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 3:34 pm: | |
Chrome with two centered set screws on this 74-76 Deluxe 59'er
http://www.doeringers.com/DGMImages/I-Keys.JPG} |
Heymars
Username: Heymars
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, November 13, 2005 - 4:54 am: | |
heres a nice set on ebay
http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D7366059096 |
Sixvsix
Username: Sixvsix
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 13, 2005 - 6:47 am: | |
Theory -
Star tuners for Ibanez guitars with 'stars' for the fretboard inlay.
Were the star tuners first produced for this range of guitars (mainly Artist models) and then found their way onto other models in the Ibanez range?
Or were they around before that?
They certainly were put on pre-serial # Antoria versions too.
six |
Harry
Username: Harry
Registered: 03-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 13, 2005 - 8:13 am: | |
Hi Six
I got a couple of pre-serial Ibanez guitars (SG model with lyra vibrato tailpiece, cherry SG 3 pups, white SG 3 pups and Les Paul Recording) that have stock Star tuners. So Ibanez guitars were equipped with them way before the first Artists were launched.
Kind greetz,
Harry |
Orval
Username: Orval
Registered: 03-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 13, 2005 - 8:26 am: | |
"star" has been used by hoshino as early as the electric guitars made by tokyo sound co in the 50's when the ibanez guitars were actually branded as star, and that name was used throughout hoshino history(artstar, tama rockstar, etc). so it is fitting that the tuners had a star on the back cover, as well as a star in the block inlay in 73/74. |
Flatbag
Username: Flatbag
Registered: 09-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 5:50 am: | |
I've never seen Ibanez star tuners like those on the ebay listing (4 posts up). The ones on my 2345W and 2387DX (both pre-serial) are of the five pointer star variety with the Gotoh "G" logo beneath. |
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g
Registered: 01-2002
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 7:01 am: | |
Flatbag.....I don't think those are from a vintage Ibanez..I have never seen that type of star pattern on the back either, and i've seen my share of these tuners |
Bedwards
Username: Bedwards
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 9:32 pm: | |
I need a star tuner chrome can someone help or know where I can get some? I will be saling one of my guitars once I get it. I have a FA 100 all original parts. |
Jimmys
Username: Jimmys
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 8:43 am: | |
Digging up an old thread here. I have a pre serial number black Les Paul copy (I was told it was a 71 model and it has 'gold' hardware, a bolt on block inlay neck and Maxon? pickups if that helps). The tuners have been replaced with Gotoh ones. I want to restore the guitar to its original state if possible.
I have found a set of star tuners with centred ('centered' if you are from US!) top and bottom holes as described by Dave_G on March 24, 2004 above. I can't tell from the seller's photo if the star tuners are gold or chrome (don't care that much actually). Does anyone know if these would be right for the guitar? Looking at the back of the guitar, it looks like the original tuners had offset top and bottom holes but I don't know if these marks are original either.
If anyone has a good photo of the back of the headstock on the same type of guitar then that would help a lot.
Thanks,
James |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 9:03 am: | |
Jimmy:
I'm not sure that the star tuners, regardless of screw hole position, are correct for your guitar. Ibanez used cheaper tuners on most of their low and mid line relicas. That sounds like what you are describing.
To be sure, it would be best to confirm what model you have and what were the correct tuners. Do you have pictures of your guitar and headstock that you could upload?
But in the end you may find the correct tuners were not that good and the replacements are worth keeping on. |
Lespaul
Username: Lespaul
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 12:15 pm: | |
Depending on the vintage of the guitar either one of these types of tuners should be on it:
The upper ones are used on the first models, later came the ones on the lower picture.
Like John stated, neither ones are any good.......
Paul |
Jimmys
Username: Jimmys
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 11:10 pm: | |
Thanks guys - this is a great help!
Paul - the one that the guitar had must have been the ones in the top picture looking at the screw hole positions and the shaped of the tuner casing. I can see that this matches the indentations on the back of the headstock on my guitar.
Thanks for your help with this. Maybe I'll just stick with the Gotoh tuners that are on there now, if neither of these older ones are any good. The Gotoh's are actually really good.
If anyone wants a complete set of star tuners (centred top and bottom mounting screws), go to grouseguitars.com.au .
James |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 4:16 am: | |
I have the same cheaper tuners as on the second photograph on my all original 2355m. It's an L76 serial number (Nov. 1976).
But I saw Sixvsix mentioning his 2355(m) 1978 having chrome keystone star tuners.
Question to Six:
Are you talking about the beautiful 2355m with the missing pickguard which is on Smooth's 2355 site?
http://members.lycos.nl/ibanez2355site/index.htm
or do you have a sunburst 2355 now?
Are you shure these were originally on your '78 2355(m)? Man, if so, you're a lucky guy. If the guitar was improved by Ibanez itself your guitar is technically better than mine and yet original.
The tuners on mine are still working fine, but I trust closed oil bath tuners such as Schaller and Gotoh more. These star tuners seem to come pretty close. I didn't read any complaints on them.
But of course I must leave my 2355m 100% original.
Oh Harry, I hope that book wasn't printed yet...
I saw you started this thread in 2004.
Greetz,
Ginger Ale |
Harry
Username: Harry
Registered: 03-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 8:59 am: | |
Hi Guys!
Take it easy....that's all I have to do right now, too...
As you all know the first attempt to launch an identification book on Ibanez 70's models shattered because of the first publisher's failures.
For some weeks I found a new publisher interested in the book project, so things kinda start all over again.
I have good hopes that this publisher is more serious and commited, but at this moment I can't say anything definitive. I hope the book will be ready at the end of this year/early next year, but I have to admit that this is a lot of "wishful thinking" from my side.
I'll keep you informed!
Kind greetz,
Harry |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 2:25 pm: | |
Harry,
I received a mail today with pictures of the G775029. Did you see the STAR tuners? I couldn't discover any holes on the dark picture of the back of the headstock. Was there a change of tuners between November 1976 and July 1977, or is there a difference between the tuners on the 2355 and 2355m?
Greetz,
Ginger Ale |
Fompsweeva
Username: Fompsweeva
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 7:09 pm: | |
My Ibanez LP Recording Copy has stars. |
Snowjays
Username: Snowjays
Registered: 09-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 7:30 pm: | |
My Artist 2614 has the black version of star tuners.
 |
Pitviper
Username: Pitviper
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 9:39 pm: | |
I don't know what it is...but I just like how that looks. |
Doc
Username: Doc
Registered: 04-2004
| | Posted on Monday, September 25, 2006 - 12:01 am: | |
I want to get a set like my Silver Series (actually a Challenger branded as Silver Series) strat has ... the ones with the slot so you don't have to thread the string through a hole and tie it off, they top load through the slot.
Are these easy to get ? I gather not all "star" tuners are designed this way. |
Strat78
Username: Strat78
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:28 pm: | |
I've been searching ebay for a year now and have not seen the "star" tuners with the slotted poles yet. I did not know they existed till I saw those pictures of your Challenger strat. Those are very cool! Has anybody els seen these top slotted star tuners anywhere for Doc? I want some too now! |