Tuners for 65 Mustang

[Der Kernel]

I have acquired a very nice unmolested 65 Mustang, unfortunately the F-style tuners are pretty shot. Cleaning and relubing didn't help much.

PAs far as I can tell, the only options are to buy a original used set with 50+ years of wear or the 70s Schaller style F-style repros, which I understand are far superior. However, the repro tuners require a larger hole in the back of the headstock.

So my question is, has anyone tried swapping the repro internals into the 60s cases?

[PJazzmaster]

did you ever remove one of the F-Tuners? Have a look first - because it is not uncommon that 65 and 66 Mustangs have pre-drilled holes for both tuner options - Kluson and F-Style.

check out the following pictures - back of the headstock. this is 100% original - pre-drilled at the Fender Factory for both
https://reverb.com/item/2537160-1965-fe ... -nut-width

[JSett]

did you ever remove one of the F-Tuners? Have a look first - because it is not uncommon that 65 and 66 Mustangs have pre-drilled holes for both tuner options - Kluson and F-Style.

check out the following pictures - back of the headstock. this is 100% original - pre-drilled at the Fender Factory for both
https://reverb.com/item/2537160-1965-fe ... -nut-width

I've never heard of any having predrilled for both at the factory...seems odd, but happy to be corrected. That reverb listing, well I mean, it literally says:

This neck was originally made with Kluson tuners, but at some point someone installed the Fender F tuners, and drilled new holes in the process of doing that.

[Der Kernel]

Thanks for the ideas. My 65 holes were slightly smaller in the back, about 8mm. I drilled them to 8.5 and installed Hipshot vintage locking tuners using their screwless UMP brackets . I can reinstall the crappy F tuners if I ever want to return it to original.

[PJazzmaster]

I've never heard of any having predrilled for both at the factory...seems odd, but happy to be corrected.

[/quote]

maybe the previous reverb listing was a "bad" example. Those necks do exist - especially on late 1965 and 1966 Models - every now and then.
I had a Coronado neck that was factory predrilled for both tuner options and I have also seen it on plenty shortscale necks from the mentioned years. weird? yes, but thats how cbs fender did operate - having switched to new f-logo tuners but also plenty of kluson tuners left over.

Another example, here is how such a neck looks like - back of the headstock:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125847413018?h ... R761renwYQ

[PJazzmaster]

and another one: https://reverb.com/item/915612-1965-196 ... -5-a-width

and one more: https://reverb.com/item/171463-1965-fen ... or-mustang

and here on a coronado: https://reverb.com/item/5014887-fender- ... wood-board


these are actually pretty common

the good thing is that the extra holes are always hidden by both tuner types - that is why most people never ever notice