[Jim]

I'm not the only one...

I did a google search and found a number of people "stumped" by these tuners and other people who understood them trying in vain to explain exactly how to do it. I finally found one guys whose method I like, since all the strings are cut with the same general amount of extra left on (2.5 inches) beyond the pole they go in - and he made it pretty clear:

Lemme try.

For a start, I really like these vintage tuners and to me they are hella
easier to string up than others.


Ok, you thread the string through the body end and draw it up to the
machinehead (tuner) at the top end. My rule of thumb is to allow around
6-7cm (2.5 inches) to stick in and wind on. Others prefer less but thats
just my way. Cut the string with wire cutters 2.5 inches beyond the tuner.
Stick the end in the hole and bend it through the slot. Then loop it over
in a clockwise direction (so it ends up winding anti-clockwise) and if you
have enough slack, loop it again in the same direction only this time
UNDER the previous loop. Hold the string taught and wind accordingly.
Bring to tune. Season to taste.

So - I did the first 3 strings totally wrong according to the specs (but done the way they came from the factory - more or less). I just hope that they hold and don't break easily one me -- I wonder if I should redo them correctly and just sacrifice a set of strings to get it right... I plan on gigging with a friend tomorrow and if the new strings bail out on me, it will be bad...

Jim