I want to change the tuners on ED LP MIJ

[aallen]

I haven't checked in here for quite some time. My guitar as discussed here http://www.eldegas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=196 is not staying in tune very well, so I want to upgrade the tuners. Any advice re: size, type, what to ask for at L&M would be appreciated. This is a pretty easy thing to do myself right?

[charles]

It's usually very easy to upgrade tuners.

You might want to take one tuner off the guitar and take it in to your guitar shop so you get the same configuration (# of screws, and screw location) and avoid having screw holes in the back of your headstock.

[Barry]

If you still have the machine heads (tuners) I saw in your pictures, then yeah, it's probably a good idea to swap 'em out. Those are very basic in their design and were/are commonly used. The gearing is not that good and they tend to loosen up and go out of tune easily, especially on an electric guitar.

There are lots of good replacement choices out there.
You can always go for "Grover" style, sealed units with a high gear ratio (up to 18:1), very solid. Or, if you want to go more traditional, the "Kluson" style would be the answer. They're more basic but tried and true. Grovers would be preferred I think here as they install by tightening a nut on the front of the headstock plus a screw the knob...so it's clamped vertically and horizontally. The Klusons rely on two wood screws only on the back of the headstock.

Your only concern really, is getting the post hole diameter correct for a drop in replacement (usually 10mm I think). Otherwise you'll need to ream out the holes.

[aallen]

Thank you Charles and Barry. You guys always know what to do.

[charles]

Remember that you're likely going to be looking for import/metric replacements. Gibson USA/Imperial parts will likely require you modify the guitar (ream the post holes as Barry mentioned) to make them fit.