since nobody else on the whole internet had anything posted about this, here's the scoop (in case somebody has the same problem and runs a search...)
Epiphone tuners are pure unadulterated garbage. In total, they weigh about 4 oz. (including the screws...) There's so much plastic it makes me wanna puke.
I talked to a lady at Stew-Mac who was partially (but not very...) certain either the Grover Deluxe or the full-sized Grover Rotomatic
locking tuners would fit the holes I already had in the headstock.
However, she was unclear on the screw hole alignment.
So I decided to take a chance and I ordered the locking jobs.
1st -- the post hole is tiny.
The Grovers take a 10mm (about 25/64) hole. That's for either flavor -- the Deluxe and the Rotomatics both have the same size threaded bushing. So... I hit 'em all with the drill press. No problem there.
2nd -- The screw holes are ALMOST not a problem.
The bottom screw from the epiphone tuners aligns perfectly with the single hole on the Grovers. The top hole on all except the D string is covered by the top of the Grover housing.
Without a doubt, if I'd gotten the Deluxe tuners then both screw holes would have lined up perfectly. As it stands, I can deal with one partially visible hole which is probably a result of the Cort factory missing the mark more than anything else...
As I mentioned before, the Epiphone tuners are garbage -- but with a $42 upgrade you can get a whole lot closer to the same feel as a guitar that costs over a grand more than an Epi...
Just changing the tuners makes the guitar feel rock solid. It no longer feels wimpy and lightweight. It's got so much more mass to it now I'm simply astounded. It has the heft of a real Gibson and the whole tone of the guitar is just worlds above what it was previously (and it really wasn't bad before...)
ryan
