Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
I've somehow managed to crack two of my tuning buttons. I don't want to replace the whole gear machinery, but I understand that the buttons are not standard sizes between manufacturers. Is there any hope of getting buttons to fit?
The guitar is a Juan Salvador, who does not have a website. I emailled the dealer but so far have not had the courtesy of a reply.
All advice gratefully received.
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
Also, don't forget to check Ebay vendors I found some ebony buttons to replace some plastic buttons on one of my guitars through Ebay (from some guy in China). They fit perfectly because they were actually made by the same manufacturer, even though they weren't labeled that way in the seller's ad. It takes a bit of detective work to find out what you have and what will fit it. I'd take one of the tuners off and see if there is a brand name on it somewhere.
EDIT: wooot! you're in luck I think! Those are the same ones that are on my Benito Whoopie guitar. I'll post a photo or 2 a little later, but I already notice the brand emblem on the back of them: Der Jung.
juan hit the button on the head--der jung. i have a pair of them on a cordoba guitar and they work great. you probably can get new tuners for the price of just buttons. the website juan posted is where i found mine. they have aged bronze "hauser type" with black buttons and rollers, "fustero type" and a host of other styles--such as "rubner types". as i recall they have rosewood looking buttons, ebony, snakewood, white buttons, black rollers, etc. etc.
Now, five years later, I've lost one of the black screws that hold the cogs in place. I only noticed now when changing strings, so it could have dropped out anywhere and I didn't notice because it was all held in place by string-tension.
Are these screws standard, or do I have to get one (or six) from Der Jung?
Hello brenden. u can take off another screw and visit hardware shop for same size i have just started making tuning keys of my own. can u let me know the dimension of the screw. and if possible remove the worm and let me know the dimensions i can try to send the buttons and the screws. trying to help as much as i can
More tuning head news! Now, the cog wheel of the D-string tuner has lost a tooth and the frame of the mechanism is starting to buckle away from the headstock:
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
More tuning head news! Now, the cog wheel of the D-string tuner has lost a tooth and the frame of the mechanism is starting to buckle away from the headstock:
Have you changed the tap plate yet? I would say forget parts, invest in brand new tuners. Done.
I've somehow managed to crack two of my tuning buttons. I don't want to replace the whole gear machinery, but I understand that the buttons are not standard sizes between manufacturers. Is there any hope of getting buttons to fit?
The guitar is a Juan Salvador, who does not have a website. I emailled the dealer but so far have not had the courtesy of a reply.
It looks like Madinter in Spain stock them currently - they will ship to the UK but I'm guessing you will need to pay import duty now since the joys of brexit. https://www.madinter.com/en/der_jung
This is my ongoing maintenance thread. I bust a button ages ago. Since then, I’ve (now twice) stripped teeth from tuning gear cogs (and split the top side but that was never going to be a home repair).
I’ve found a Der Jung seller on eBay. I’m just nursing a forlorn hope of not paying the shipping from Croatia or Spain.
I use a spray teflon based grease called Lubrice on the gears, which goes on like oil, but sets like grease. Each time you change your strings, give everything a going over with an old toothbrush etc, a quick spray, and your tuners will always feel great. Gears don't pick up much at all really. You can use it in your nut slots too.
These are questions based on my near pure ignorance. Feel free to give me a little slap.
I am surprised that these tuners have been so unreliable, and so easily damaged. Is this something you are doing? Or are the tuners simply poor quality materials and construction? Is there a reason you want to replace like for like rather than upgrade to something that will last?
These are questions based on my near pure ignorance. Feel free to give me a little slap.
I am surprised that these tuners have been so unreliable, and so easily damaged. Is this something you are doing? Or are the tuners simply poor quality materials and construction? Is there a reason you want to replace like for like rather than upgrade to something that will last?
Entropy due to wear is a fact of life. My least played guitars are fine. But the ones i change strings on constantly for gigs…those have been changed, in fact tap plates have changed multiple times as well, and I found that two tap plates equals one set of tuners. Facts of life.
Daily wear. This is my main guitar. That said, three years is a bit short when the previous set lasted a decade.
Der Jung is mid-market and I don’t want to drill new holes. I’m a confident assembler but no craftsman.
Tap-plate: sounds like I should play firmer golpes.
If the screw holes don’t line up you can plug the old ones with a toothpick dipped in glue.
You don’t need to drill new holes, in fact it’s better not to drill. Start the hole by poking through the tuner plate with an ice pick ( carpenters marking awl) and then just begin the screw in that hole. The wood is soft and the screws are small, it works this way.
Daily wear. This is my main guitar. That said, three years is a bit short when the previous set lasted a decade.
Der Jung is mid-market and I don’t want to drill new holes. I’m a confident assembler but no craftsman.
Tap-plate: sounds like I should play firmer golpes.
If the screw holes don’t line up you can plug the old ones with a toothpick dipped in glue.
You don’t need to drill new holes, in fact it’s better not to drill. Start the hole by poking through the tuner plate with an ice pick ( carpenters marking awl) and then just begin the screw in that hole. The wood is soft and the screws are small, it works this way.
The screws that come with most tuners are very pointy, so you can actually use the screw itself to poke that guide hole. Only error I have made is letting a screw go in slightly crooked by accident. I assume that is the main reason for drilling…but yes, very soft wood.
Printable Version
I found some ebony buttons to replace some plastic buttons on one of my guitars through Ebay (from some guy in China). They fit perfectly because they were actually made by the same manufacturer, even though they weren't labeled that way in the seller's ad. It takes a bit of detective work to find out what you have and what will fit it. I'd take one of the tuners off and see if there is a brand name on it somewhere. 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread