Gibson Firebird banjo tuners

Fatfingers

I've ordered a Chinese Gibson Firebird copy (http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/13540/chibson-firebird#latest) and it may turn up with the wrong machine heads; ie not Firebird style banjo tuners. I've searched around but, apart from some stupidly prices (50 quid each) "vintage" Gibson parts being sold on eBay, I can't find a source of them. Does anyone know where you can get them?

jd0272

EvilBay.com ?

WezV

i would go for the steinberger ones

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Steinberger_Gearless_Tuners.html

 

 

weight lesss than the banjo ones, work better and easier to find

frankus

Does guitargeek have a set for sale?

Fatfingers

I know the Steinberger ones are lighter but they look a bit weird and I prefer the look of the older ones.

I'll ask guitargeek. Does he have a Firebird that he's swapped over to Steinbergers?

ICBM

Fatfingers said:

I've ordered a Chinese Gibson Firebird copy (http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/13540/chibson-firebird#latest) and it may turn up with the right machine heads; ie not Firebird style banjo tuners.

Edited for accuracy.

Misterg

Fatfingers said:

Does anyone know where you can get them?

I didn't think you could, so I was surprised to see them in the photo of your intended...

The machine that made them at Gibson was flooded out in 2010(?), I believe and they never repaired / replaced it. Maybe there is a source of Chinese copies? (Not meant to be as sarky as it sounds!)

The Steinbergers are good, though...

Fatfingers

I guess I'll find out whether there are Chinese copies when my Chibson arrives!

GuitarMonkey

Fatfingers said:

I guess I'll find out whether there are Chinese copies when my Chibson arrives!

Don't bet on it.

jesone

I'm interested to see how this works out because I've also ordered a chibson firebird but they said they couldn't do the headstock as per the Gibson, they can do the headstock as in the aliexpress post though and I'm fine with that.

Misterg

jesone said:

... they can do the headstock as in the aliexpress post though...

Which one is that, sorry.....

sweepy

Some Chibson FB's do actually have Banjo Tuners, actually worth buying the guitar for the machine heads alone

WezV

indeed, thats why I have an old CSL that was missing its banjo tuners

ICBM

I know they do 'look the part', but really they're a very bad idea. They're so heavy and stick out so far at the back that I think they are a contributing factor in the number of broken Firebird headstocks, as well as making the guitar unbalanced. The Steinbergers are just far better.

Fatfingers

Well at the moment the tracking number the guy's given me still isn't showing up on Chinapost so I'm none the wiser. Interesteing to hear that some of the Chibsons have banjo tuners though. Sweepy - have you actually seen on in the flesh?