Sperzel Locking. Whats the best way to install an 8th string that doesn't fit.

[summit101]

I have a new 8 string set up. I've installed 8 Sperzel Locking Machine Heads. They did include 2 Machine Heads with larger holes, but the daddario .074 strings don't fit through the holes after i cut it. probably because my scale is 26.5?

I've ended up breaking strings at the tuner a few times or it doesn't hold after unwinding the wound part a bit. Even after tightening with pliers (that have tape around contact points) I've had some slight issue with it holding.

Not that this is overly a huge problem. I have the string holding now after some fiddling with the end of the string. I'm just wondering how you guys install your 8th strings in the most effective way so the string will fit, hold, and not break.

Just trying to preserve my strings. I have 10 single .074 strings and I barely got the first one on with it being just long enough to hold (i hardly even have a partial wrap around the head..).

Help me save my strings and $$$! Thanks a lot folks. You are all simply amazing.

[djinn314]

My friend is trying to start a business making products for stuff like this (it's contained in another thread). If you need it wider, try and get some calipers and measure the inside diameter. If you're going with .074's I'm not sure what the best diameter would be for that string, I would assume at the most you'd want the diameter to be .05 +/- .010 more then the gauge of the string. If you want to mod it yourself I think a small rebore with a slight taper on each side, then with it locked in place on vice (I usually paid any metal I'm working with, with kangaroo leather). You can get all the stuff you'd need at a hardware store, but a milling machine is what I'd prefer to work on.

I apologize if that's a long and weird explanation, but that's just the way I did mine. Once I was done I removed all burr's then repainted it with a heavy gloss, any excess and retouch's I did with cotton swobs. You can barely notice a difference from the naked eye.

Edit: I did not do this on a Sperzel but I believe the same approach could be done again with any machine head. They're very easy to take apart and understand how they work.

[sk3ks1s]

You can drill the hole in the tuner.
You don't need any fancy tools. Just a drill and a large enough bit.
I don't recall the size of the bit I used. But get a set, start with the smallest and use the first bit that doesn't fit through the hole.
You can't go wrong. Since there's already a hole there, it's like there's already a pilot hole drilled for you. You can use any standard bit made for metal. The tuning peg material is actually pretty soft (relatively speaking).
Very easy to do.

[goldsteinat0r]

Originally Posted by sk3ks1s

.... made for metal. .....

(Yeah just drill it.)

[BIG ND SWEATY]

drill it or if youre kinda clusmy use a file to widen the hole

[Quitty]

Same here, though i'm using a 0.74 for a seven-string on my Carvin -
i just called up Labella and had them wind me a bunch of sets so that the winding stops right before the tuning pegs - unless you have a particular fondness for a brand of strings i suggest you give 'em a go.

[Sepultorture]

As much as i think it's a cool idea to make locking tuners that accomodate larger gauge strings, the simplest solution to the problem would be to make larger gauge strings with tapered ends like bass strings to easily get them into tuning peg holes to be locked down, and so you don't have to drill the hole larger. also make them for various scale lengths aswell, from 25.5" to 30"

or heck, do both and corner the market MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[summit101]

simple enough. i have plenty of bits in my dads garage. ill drill that the next time i change the string.

should be a piece of cake. thanks bro'z

[Superwoodle]

I had the exact same issue with that string set. Just unwind the end of the string.

[summit101]

Originally Posted by Superwoodle

I had the exact same issue with that string set. Just unwind the end of the string.

tried that, but it just ends up breaking after unturning or detuning a few times. or the smaller winding slips out of the machine head. not a very durable method and a waist of new strings i find.

[levijaymz]

+1 on unwinding the string.

[Danukenator]

For my Martin Siggery build I just had him throw two non-locking tuners on the lowest strings. One way to go about it.

[TemjinStrife]

If you do drill out the Sperzel, please make sure you drop out the locking post

[Rook]

I just cut a length of the string off so it's just long enough to go through the post then unwind just enough to fit through the post, so that all that's wound around the post still has the winding around it.

It's fine for my 60.

[Ishan]

If unwound strings don't hold, change your brand of strings. I had 0 problem with D'addario, Elixir and Skull Strings.

[summit101]

Originally Posted by Fun111

I just cut a length of the string off so it's just long enough to go through the post then unwind just enough to fit through the post, so that all that's wound around the post still has the winding around it.

It's fine for my 60.

ya like, just cut it accross the strings diameter, so the flat part goes over the post. thats what the dude at the music shop did when i first tried an .085 for D#.lol.

thought i'd risk cutting off to much and have a string thats to short. unless i have some good cutters it would be easier to do.

[summit101]

apparently the guy at sperzel said these larger hole tuners fit gauges up to .078. i dunno if thats really the case even when the post is all the way down..

[summit101]

Originally Posted by Ishan

If unwound strings don't hold, change your brand of strings. I had 0 problem with D'addario, Elixir and Skull Strings.

the only time when it actually slipps is when im trying to stretch the string slightly like i do with all my new strings (so it will hold tune easier after first playing them). when im pulling a bit on it, thats when it slips. im also tuning it up to G at times.

i'd just rather have a more durable method to hold the string.

[Ishan]

Your certainly doing something wrong then, if you leave half an inch of string outside the tuner, it should hold. When your guitar is tuned and stable cut excess string to a 1/4".