Fixing up the wife's SA160, need parts advice

6041 Views 26 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Billkwando, Apr 4, 2014

Billkwando

Discussion Starter · Mar 24, 2014 (Edited)

Hi all!

My wife has a purple sparkle SA160 (SSH) that she loves dearly, but hasn't played that much. We've been getting into Rocksmith lately (I'm playing it on a JS10th.....what a strange world we live in!) and it seemed like the perfect time to fix it up nice for her.

The first thing I'm doing is replacing the humbucker. Her favorite guitarists are Dimebag and Nuno Bettencourt, so I ordered her a (Bill&Becky) Bill Lawrence XL500L, thinking it would provide the perfect sound for someone who's been to the crunch. Hopefully it sounds good in a mahogany body. I don't know if I'm going to flip it around backwards or not, so opinions on that are welcome.

I'm waiting for it to be made (there's 1 to 3 week turnaround), but while I'm waiting, I was thinking about ordering the pot to coil split the tone, like on my JS guitar. What push/pull pot would be a drop in replacement?

I know it should be 500k, but I believe I read somewhere it should be short shaft (and that Ibanez uses odd sizes) ....and I wasn't sure if it was OK to put those metal knobs on a split shaft pot, or if it was supposed to be solid? If somebody could point me to the perfect pot, I'd really appreciate it. Also, will I need to replace the tone cap, or is it possible to reuse the old one?

I also tightened the trem arm, and made a video about it, lol:

The other thing I would like to do would be able to replace her tuners with locking tuners, but they have to be alternative tuning-friendly. I hear a lot of locking tuners don't do well with doing a lot of retuning (the kind where you clip the strings short and they don't really wrap around). Rocksmith has a lot of songs that are in drop D and that sort of thing, and I'd rather make it so she doesn't have to switch guitars, cos she's disabled and can't get around that well at the moment.

Could anybody tell me if a drop-in locking replacement exists? I always hear people saying "Oh yeah, I'm gonna put locking tuners in my SA", but you never hear about if they actually did it. I did put some (Master Lock brand) Teflon oil in the nut, but I don't know how long that stuff lasts and if it's gonna stick around (thoughts on this?), but it seems to help with tuning stability whilst whammying.

I have to say that I've been pretty impressed with this trem as far as how (relatively) well it stays in tune, and that you can pull it a little bit too.

I just want to make a very nice guitar just a little bit nicer for mah lady (plus she would kill me if I tried to mod her Hello Kitty Strat).

Thanks in advance!!!

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1 - 20 of 27 Posts

LonePhantom

· #2 · Mar 24, 2014

Split shaft would be best for the pot so that the stock knob should fit back on. Alpha sized pots should be ok. The DiMarzio type (they're made by CTS aren't they) are a bit bigger and you'll need to make the hole a bit bigger.

You have Gotoh style tuners on the guitar don't you? The Gotoh HAP-M tuners are great and will fit ok. You'll most likely just need to drill some holes for the little screws that come with the tuners to keep them aligned. Easy job. If you want room to change tunings just wind a little more string on there. I think that should do it.

Good luck!

Billkwando

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 27, 2014 (Edited)

LonePhantom said:
Split shaft would be best for the pot so that the stock knob should fit back on. Alpha sized pots should be ok. The DiMarzio type (they're made by CTS aren't they) are a bit bigger and you'll need to make the hole a bit bigger.

You have Gotoh style tuners on the guitar don't you? The Gotoh HAP-M tuners are great and will fit ok. You'll most likely just need to drill some holes for the little screws that come with the tuners to keep them aligned. Easy job. If you want room to change tunings just wind a little more string on there. I think that should do it.

Good luck!

Thanks for responding!

Screws on the back of the headstock, or pin holes? I ask because the gotohs appear to have the screw hole in the same spot, but I really don't want to drill or fill any holes in her guitar. Also, these are self locking, which are the kind I was told to avoid because of the strings breaking from being bent back and forth during retuning.....oh well.

Also, cos again with the drilling, isn't there drop-in replacement for the pots? Maybe I should order one from Ibanez.

RGTFanatic

· #4 · Mar 27, 2014

fortunately, the SA is already drilled for the tuner hold down screws. The Magnum lock is perfect for drop tuning as well. There is no more chance of string breakage on a magnum than there is on any other tuner.

I would use the Gotoh SGM myself on that guitar. They're economical, dependable, and a direct fit.

Billkwando

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 27, 2014 (Edited)

RGTFanatic said:
fortunately, the SA is already drilled for the tuner hold down screws. The Magnum lock is perfect for drop tuning as well. There is no more chance of string breakage on a magnum than there is on any other tuner.

I would use the Gotoh SGM myself on that guitar. They're economical, dependable, and a direct fit.

Thanks for the suggestion! Now if only I could find a place to buy them! (preferably for less than a third of the guitar's price, lol)

Edit: Also, do you know what button size I want, to match what it currently has?

RGTFanatic

· #6 · Mar 27, 2014

Billkwando said:
Thanks for the suggestion! Now if only I could find a place to buy them! (preferably for less than a third of the guitar's price, lol)

Edit: Also, do you know what button size I want, to match what it currently has?

Wow, they've gotten pretty hard to find all of a sudden. It doesn't look like any US sellers.

The next best (equally as good) option would be planet waves Auto-trim lockers. I don't know if they're an exact fit. They do have 10mm shafts just like your originals, but I don't know if the locating screws are in the exact same position.

http://www.***************.com/accessories/planet-waves-auto-trim-tuning-machines-6-in-line?pfm=sp

LonePhantom

· #7 · Mar 28, 2014

These should be fine. I dig the HAPMs more (they automatically lock as you wind), but these will be as good.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GOTOH-SG381...844?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item1c3c333b9c

RGTFanatic

· #8 · Mar 28, 2014

HAP just means "Height Adjustable Post" which is a cool thing, but an expensive upgrade for an SA160.

The "T" at the end of a gotoh part# means it has a "traditional" lock which is a thumbwheel on the back. It's just as effective as a magnum lock, but I don't like the look.

The SG381MG seems to be about the best deal we can get here in the states. FWIW, I think the non locking SG381 is the same tuner found on all MIJ Ibby's.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Gotoh-S...331?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item5aeccb038b

MatiasTolkki

· #9 · Mar 28, 2014

RGTFanatic said:
HAP just means "Height Adjustable Post" which is a cool thing, but an expensive upgrade for an SA160.

The "T" at the end of a gotoh part# means it has a "traditional" lock which is a thumbwheel on the back. It's just as effective as a magnum lock, but I don't like the look.

The SG381MG seems to be about the best deal we can get here in the states. FWIW, I think the non locking SG381 is the same tuner found on all MIJ Ibby's.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Gotoh-S...331?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item5aeccb038b

What's the model of the gotoh locking tuners again? I've been thinking about that upgrade for my 1550 and 2550 for awhile now but I didnt know if Gotoh made them or not.

Swirltop

· #10 · Mar 28, 2014

MatiasTolkki said:
What's the model of the gotoh locking tuners again? I've been thinking about that upgrade for my 1550 and 2550 for awhile now but I didnt know if Gotoh made them or not.

It would be a pointless waste of money for you to put locking tuners on a guitar with a locking nut :wink:

RGTFanatic

· #11 · Mar 28, 2014

The model is the SG381MG, but it wouldn't really be an upgrade. Unless your nut is bad, the locking tuners won't do anything for you.

The difference between the SGM and the SG381 is their "rock solid" post on the 381.

Billkwando

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 28, 2014

Thanks a bunch for the tuner help guys!

LonePhantom said:
These should be fine. I dig the HAPMs more (they automatically lock as you wind), but these will be as good.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GOTOH-SG381...844?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item1c3c333b9c

I almost got these, but as cool as I think they look, I worry that she would find them too fiddley, forget and try to tune without unlocking, or that the not-so-thick knobbies might hurt her fingers (the others I've seen have monster knobs).

RGTFanatic said:
HAP just means "Height Adjustable Post" which is a cool thing, but an expensive upgrade for an SA160.

The "T" at the end of a gotoh part# means it has a "traditional" lock which is a thumbwheel on the back. It's just as effective as a magnum lock, but I don't like the look.

The SG381MG seems to be about the best deal we can get here in the states. FWIW, I think the non locking SG381 is the same tuner found on all MIJ Ibby's.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Gotoh-S...331?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item5aeccb038b

These are lefties!

That's why they're so cheap compared to the others that store sells, probably.

I ended up getting these, and I really hope they are the right thing. No place did it specify right/left hand, but the pic seems to show the right thing.....but these are actual gotoh right? They not saying "real-style tuner, but fake!", are they? LOL

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gotoh-Locki...766?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e8548e8ae

I hope the buttons are the right size!

Also, what's the deal with staggered posts?

Now if only I could find the right pot for the guitar I'd be all set. I worry about the finish cracking when widening the hole, in a freak accident. LOL
Also, do I need short shaft for sure?

Thanks again!

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RGTFanatic

· #13 · Mar 28, 2014

Yeah, You got the right ones Bill. Those are the 381MG's. Sorry, obviously reading comprehension still isn't my "gig"....LOL

If you want to be sure that your getting the same pot that's in your JS, send Rich an email about part# 3VR1J500AS. Click the Ibanez Rules banner at the top of every page. You may want to measure the depth of the push/pull in your JS to make sure it's not too deep for the SA cavity.......this is a distinct possibility.

63Blazer

· #14 · Mar 28, 2014

Billkwando said:
Thanks a bunch for the tuner help guys!

I almost got these, but as cool as I think they look, I worry that she would find them too fiddley, forget and try to tune without unlocking, or that the not-so-thick knobbies might hurt her fingers (the others I've seen have monster knobs).

These are lefties! That's why they're so cheap compared to the others that store sells, probably.

I ended up getting these, and I really hope they are the right thing. No place did it specify right/left hand, but the pic seems to show the right thing.....but these are actual gotoh right? They not saying "real-style tuner, but fake!", are they? LOL

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gotoh-Locki...766?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e8548e8ae

I hope the buttons are the right size!

Also, what's the deal with staggered posts?

Now if only I could find the right pot for the guitar I'd be all set. I worry about the finish cracking when widening the hole, in a freak accident. LOL
Also, do I need short shaft for sure?

Thanks again!

The strings on locking tuners do not need to go 2 or 3 times around a post so there's no need for a tall post so they just graduate them from medium height to short. A very tall post would only help if one wraps a string around it a lot. I used to put 4 wraps on every string on a non-locking tuner even the low e string which would need a tall post for enough space.

RGTFanatic

· #15 · Mar 28, 2014

Billkwando said:
Thanks a bunch for the tuner help guys!

I almost got these, but as cool as I think they look, I worry that she would find them too fiddley, forget and try to tune without unlocking, or that the not-so-thick knobbies might hurt her fingers (the others I've seen have monster knobs).

These are lefties! That's why they're so cheap compared to the others that store sells, probably.

I ended up getting these, and I really hope they are the right thing. No place did it specify right/left hand, but the pic seems to show the right thing.....but these are actual gotoh right? They not saying "real-style tuner, but fake!", are they? LOL

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gotoh-Locki...766?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e8548e8ae

I hope the buttons are the right size!

Also, what's the deal with staggered posts?

Now if only I could find the right pot for the guitar I'd be all set. I worry about the finish cracking when widening the hole, in a freak accident. LOL
Also, do I need short shaft for sure?

Thanks again!

Staggered height posts are to keep a proper string angle on the nut. The shorter posts will go on the G,B, and high E strings. This doesn't make thet much of a difference on a guitar with an angled headstock like your wifes, but makes a big difference on a flat head.

Billkwando

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 28, 2014

RGTFanatic said:
You may want to measure the depth of the push/pull in your JS to make sure it's not too deep for the SA cavity.......this is a distinct possibility.

Oh crap! I never even thought of that! You saved my bacon again, Batman!

63Blazer said:
The strings on locking tuners do not need to go 2 or 3 times around a post so there's no need for a tall post so they just graduate them from medium height to short. A very tall post would only help if one wraps a string around it a lot. I used to put 4 wraps on every string on a non-locking tuner even the low e string which would need a tall post for enough space.

RGTFanatic said:
Staggered height posts are to keep a proper string angle on the nut. The shorter posts will go on the G,B, and high E strings. This doesn't make thet much of a difference on a guitar with an angled headstock like your wifes, but makes a big difference on a flat head.

Thanks for all the great information d00ds!!!

Now I have to work up the courage to open up my JS control plate! (Mostly kidding I've pulled the trem and replaced the arm holder before....but still.....in thar, thar be sarpents!) I actually need to replace the input jack on my JS10th, which just scares me ****less. I can solder and everything, but I imagine trying to unscrew it from the body and having all the chrome fly off. The stuff of nightmares!

MatiasTolkki

· #17 · Mar 28, 2014

Swirltop said:
It would be a pointless waste of money for you to put locking tuners on a guitar with a locking nut :wink:

I'm looking at it from a "I can restring my guitar faster" perspective, which is why I used the word "upgrade"

RGTFanatic

· #18 · Mar 29, 2014

MatiasTolkki said:
I'm looking at it from a "I can restring my guitar faster" perspective, which is why I used the word "upgrade"

I think that makes some amount of sense, but I don't know that I would trust locking tuners to be as dependable at holding tuning as a locking nut. I've never tried it, so it's worth a shot anyway.

Swirltop

· #19 · Mar 29, 2014

MatiasTolkki said:
I'm looking at it from a "I can restring my guitar faster" perspective, which is why I used the word "upgrade"

For $5 you can buy a string winder :roll:

MatiasTolkki

· #20 · Mar 29, 2014

Swirltop said:
For $5 you can buy a string winder :roll:

Have one. My JB200C comes with built in carvin locking tuners so if I like them I would consider them for my prestiges if Gotoh makes em (which they do). So yeah, right now is all about research.

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