27 fret hollow body guitar Click on photo to view

5ths tuned Hybrid guitar! Hear an MP3 in 5ths tuning! Click on photo to view

5 string bass Click on photo to view

PLEASE READ ALL THIS INFORMATION VERY CAREFULLY: The first thing you should know is, if you have never installed Sperzel tuners, or don't believe you have the experience to attempt installing Sperzel's then I highly recommend they be installed by a professional Luthier. I can tell you that ALL instruments will need some minor drilling for the "set pins" used to stabilize Sperzel tuners. Also, your head stock may need the tuner holes slightly bored out. Or even doweled and re-drilled to smaller diameter (this is a common problem on Fender basses , and other basses with 9/16" holes).. My experience has been that it is rare for the tuner holes to need to be modified to this extent.  Sperzels were primarily designed for: "Strat type necks" ( 6-in-line staggered Sperzel sets) , Gibson or "3x3" type necks (3x3 Non Staggered sets), and most Basses will accept Bass Sperzels as well. That being said: There are thousands of different instrument brands out there, with thousands of different head stock shapes and sizes. So, unfortunately there is no possible way for me to determine if Sperzel tuners will fit on your instrument. Please do not  E-mail me your brand of instrument, or head stock dimensions, because I can only refer you back to this page; simply because I can not physically examine your instrument to determine if  Sperzels will work on your instrument. If you don't feel you can accurately determine this yourself, then please print out this page and take it, and your instrument, to a qualified Luthier (musical instrument repair person) to determine this for you. Then let me know, and  I can get you the Sperzel set that best fits your needs, for your Luthier to install.. I understand this can be rather frustrating if you don't have the experience, or tools to determine this on your own, and I really wish I could be of more help, but due to the fact it is impossible for me to physically examine your instrument,  I really can't offer any more help other then the details that are available on this page. So, please carefully use this information (below) to help you decide what type of Sperzel's will work best for your instrument.

If you are planning on drilling your own guitar tuner holes, then please see the "Drilling your own post holes for guitar" section.

*Here is a detailed diagram for a typical Sperzel locking guitar tuner: *Please note: some Sperzel tuners may vary slightly from these specifications. NOTE:  As seen in this diagram;  .905"  is the post height of a "medium post" Sperzel from a staggered set. However, .855" is the post height of a "short post" Sperzel from a staggered set. and .945" is the post height of a "tall post" Sperzel from a staggered set. ["post" being the part that the string passes through] back to top of page

This is the installation template that now comes with every set of Guitar Sperzels: I have actually used this template and it worked perfectly! back to top of page

*Specs: 3x3  #2 button Guitar Sperzels non-staggered posts: Sperzel Guitar tuners require approx .382" holes in the head stock for the tuners to fit. Please see the "Drilling your own post holes for guitar" section. Sperzels with the #2 buttons, will take up a minimum of approximately 1.5" (or 1-1/2") of space on a head stock before the buttons start to touch each other, and are NOT recommended for use on a 6-in-line type setup.  For the Guitar -non- staggered post 3x3 sets: the Maximum thickness of a head stock can be .650" (approx. 21/32") If the head stock were any thicker,  all of the tuner posts will fall below the mounting nuts, not allowing you to run your strings through the tuner posts string holes. So you would not be able to string up your instrument if you exceed the maximum head stock thickness. I don't know of any guitars that have this thick of a head stock.. But I guess there is always a first!  For the Guitar -non- staggered post 3x3 sets: the Minimum thickness of a head stock can be .520" (Approx. 17/32") Max. String Diameter: both the 3x3, and 6 in line sets can not fit any strings  larger then .058" diameter through the tuner post.  7 string guitar sets are made to accommodate the most common sized low -B- strings. However, If you need an extra large low -B- Sperzel, please contact me, and I can have Sperzel custom drill to a maximum of  .070" diameter at no extra charge. Please be aware that  all of these measurements may slightly vary from key to key... back to top of page

*Specs on 6-in-line #5 button staggered Sperzels Sperzel Guitar tuners require approx .382" holes in the head stock for the tuners to fit. Please see the "Drilling your own post holes for guitar" section. Sperzels with the #5 buttons, will take up a minimum of approximately 1.0" (or 1") of space on a head stock before the bodies (tuner housings) start to touch each other...  For the Guitar staggered post sets: the Maximum thickness of a head stock can be .590" (Approx. 19/32") If the head stock were any thicker,  the shortest high -E-and -B- string tuner posts will fall below the mounting nut, not allowing you to run your high -E- and-B- strings through the tuner posts string holes. So you would not be able to string up your high -E- or -B- string if you exceed the maximum head stock thickness.  For the Guitar staggered post sets: the Minimum thickness of a head stock can be .520" (Approx. 17/32") Max. String Diameter: both the 3x3, and 6 in line sets can not fit any strings  larger then .058" diameter through the tuner post....  7 string guitar sets are made to accommodate the most common sized low -B- strings. However, If you need an extra large low -B- Sperzel, please contact me, and I can have Sperzel custom drill to a maximum of  .070" diameter at no extra charge. Please be aware that  all of these measurements may slightly vary from key to key... back to top of page

Here is an example of a Sperzel with it's mounting hardware laid out next to the tuner. Here is an example of a Sperzel with it's mounting hardware attached. Note: This tuner is from a staggered post set; it is one of the keys with the shortest post, as used for B and E strings. As you can see, with the staggered post sets, there in not much room for variations in head stock thickness, before the posts string hole drops below the mounting hardware. Please keep this in mind when ordering your Sperzel tuners.

Drilling your own post holes for guitar What sized drill bit should I use to drill out my guitar post holes? The Sperzel guitar tuners "post housings" are approx .382"  this is only .007" above a precision made brad point 3/8" drill bit. So, I usually find that the best results come from drilling with a high quality 3/8" Brad Point drill bit first. And then slightly boring the holes out by hand to just slightly over .382" using a tapered reamer. -OR- Some luthiers will just use a 25/64" high quality brad point drill bit and avoid using the tapered reamer all together.  25/64" = .390" so it's only .008" over the size of a .382" Sperzel guitar post housing. This .008" oversize, really wont cause any problems, and  will allow for expansion and contraction of the wood. So perhaps a 25/64" extremely high quality Brad Point drill bit (-IF- you can find one!) may actually be the best choice here. Also: I have heard of some luthiers using 10MM drill bit.  However,  a 10MM drill bit is at .394" In my opinion that may be a bit to much oversized (.012" oversized) for a hole that is supposed to be at around .382" Then again, I tend to be a bit "over precise" about these kinds of things sometimes! Drilling the set pins for Sperzel Guitar tuners. I find that using a 2.7MM drill bit  is not as critical as you would think. I have installed many Sperzels over the years, and I always just use a drill bit that is most commonly close to the pin size (7/64")... In fact; the 2.7MM (as recommended on the flap of the Sperzel packaging) is actually larger then the actual set pins. This is needed  for a little extra play... But a 7/64" would be my main choice, just because it is so common. The average size of the set pins are at .100" A drill bit at 7/64" is equal to .109" so it works out quite well.. However, always  making sure to drill exactly where the pin holes need to be, is very critical. Unfortunately the technique for doing this step is rather difficult to explain with out the use of  photos and very detailed explanations. Someday (when I have more time) I will try to document this process, and post it on this page. If you are experienced at installing Sperzels, then you should be just fine... However, if you have any doubts in your abilities to install Sperzels PLEASE be sure to have them installed by a professional Luthier.. If done wrong (it's easier then you would think to screw this up) then it could seriously damage your instrument. back to top of page

*Specs: All Bass Sperzel tuners non-staggered posts: There are NO staggered post Bass Sperzels available, they don't exist. A Sperzel Bass tuner requires a .437" ( or 7/16" ) hole in the head stock for the tuners to fit... If you are drilling your own holes, I usually find that the best results come from drilling with a high quality 7/16" Brad Point drill bit. *!*!*Many popular Bass head stocks (including Fender) have a 9/16" hole. Sperzels will  NOT work with this type of Bass, unless it is doweled and re-drilled*!*!* Sperzels with the #2B bass buttons  will take up a minimum of approximately 1.3"  of space on a head stock before the buttons start to touch each other... The Maximum thickness of a head stock can be .700" (approx 45/64" ) The Minimum thickness of a head stock can be .550" (Approx. 9/16") Also, 2x2 and 4 in line sets  can't fit a string larger then .125" diameter through the tuner post... However, 5 string Bass sets are made to accommodate the larger low -B- strings. Also, keep in mind that most bass strings become tapered at the end. If needed Sperzel can custom drill to .145" max free of charge. Please be aware that  all of these measurements may slightly vary from key to key.. Drilling the set pins for Sperzel BASS tuners. First thing you should know, is the instructions that came on the box of your Sperzel Bass tuners are incorrect. They are actually the instructions for the Guitar sets. Hopefully this problem will be changed in the future. That being said, here are some tips for drilling the set pins: In drilling the set pin holes I always use a drill bit that is  close to the pin size, but a small amount larger 9/64" is just about .005" over the pin size. This is needed  for a little extra "play"... Always  making sure to drill exactly where the pin holes need to be is very critical. Unfortunately the technique for doing this is rather difficult to explain with out the use of many photos along with a very detailed explanation. Someday (when I have more time) I will try to document this process, and post it on this page. If you are experienced at installing Sperzels, then you should be just fine... However, IF you have any doubts in your abilities to install Sperzels PLEASE be sure to have them installed by a professional Luthier.. If done wrong (it's easier then you would think to screw this up) then it could seriously damage your instrument. back to top of page