Grover 205C & 305C Rotomatics

kswilson89

Hi

I've just bought an early 90s Les Paul special which has Grover mini rotomatics (205C) as stock. Just wondering if anyone knows whether the mid-size 305C's would be a drop in replacement?

Thanks

GluedtoMusic

No the 205 has the screw offset downwards in a different position to the 45 degree angle of the 305 screw (you would need to plug and redrill the mounting screw hole),

https://grotro.com/wp-content/uploads/205.pdf

https://grotro.com/wp-content/uploads/305-1.pdf

kswilson89

GluedtoMusic said:

No the 205 has the screw offset downwards in a different position to the 45 degree angle of the 305 screw (you would need to plug and redrill the mounting screw hole),

https://grotro.com/wp-content/uploads/205.pdf

https://grotro.com/wp-content/uploads/305-1.pdf

Thanks for the info, do you know of any tuner that would be a direct replacement for the Grover 205C?

GluedtoMusic

Schaller M6 180 tuners have the same screw placement as the 205

ICBM

Why? If it’s because the keys look and feel oddly small on the Gibson headstock, it might be easier to find just a set of replacement keys.

kswilson89

GluedtoMusic said:

Schaller M6 180 tuners have the same screw placement as the 205

Thanks for your help!

ICBM said:

Why? If it’s because the keys look and feel oddly small on the Gibson headstock, it might be easier to find just a set of replacement keys.

It's mainly because I'd like something with a higher gear ratio but the buttons are fiddly too. Maybe I'll try changing them first.

ICBM

kswilson89 said:

It's mainly because I'd like something with a higher gear ratio but the buttons are fiddly too. Maybe I'll try changing them first.

Bigger keys will feel like they have a slightly higher ratio because it's easier to turn the outer part of the key by a smaller percentage of the rotation, if that makes sense!

But if that's the major problem, the Schallers are probably the bigger upgrade - they're actually just a better quality mechanism than the modern Grovers. (As are Gotohs.)