Hey r/Guitar ,
I own a Chinese-made Gibson Explorer copy with all gold hardware. It’s surprisingly good quality for what it is, and I’m in the middle of upgrading it. I’ve considering a set of Seymour Duncan pickups (JB in the bridge + Jazz in the neck, gold covers) for a high-output rock & roll sound with good tonal flexibility.
Next up are the tuners. The stock ones are decent but nothing special, and I want better stability and a smoother feel while keeping the all-gold look. I’m strongly considering the Kluson Deluxe Series 6-in-Line tuners in gold.
If you’ve installed these (or similar Kluson Deluxes) on an Explorer, Firebird, or any 6-in-line headstock guitar — especially a Chibson-style clone — I’d love to hear:
- How well do they fit without major mods?
- Tuning stability during heavy playing/bending?
- Overall feel and quality compared to stock or other brands like Grover/Gotoh?
- Any issues with the headstock angle, neck dive, or aesthetics on a gold hardware guitar?
- Would you do it again?
Thanks in advance — really appreciate any real-world feedback! 🤘