Gotoh UPT Tuner w/ Optional Install

Gotoh UPT Tuner w/ Optional Install
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Gotoh UPT Tuner w/ Optional Install
As low as $69.00

*Reference key below, and you may also click on the drop down menu to view photos of the different styles. 

Traditional rear-facing ukulele tuners are what they call "friction". This means that their ability to hold tune depends on the friction or tightness of the screw in the tuner. If you tighten the screw too much, it's hard to turn and tune, too loose and it turns easy, but also will slip out of tune. Also with the old-style friction key, there is no gear ratio, so small turns will make big changes in the pitch of your string. The UPT's are geared tuners. The pitch will be held by gears, and these gears have a 4 to 1 ratio so fine-tuning is much easier to dial in or adjust. These are built extremely lightweight and with top-notch components. We guarantee you will love these on your new ukulele.

UPT Tuner FAQ (from JAPARTS.CA)

Regarding string post length: There is an optional longer string post (UPTL) for headstocks with a thickness of 11.5 mm or more. There is no difference in price. Please measure your ukulele carefully before ordering.

Will these fit my ukulele? If you are replacing friction pegs you will almost certainly need to have the peg holes re-bored. We can do that on ukuleles ordered from our website  The diameter should be 9.7-10mm or just a bit wider than 3/8". With regard to headstock thickness (see above) you'll need to measure your headstock.

Do I need to tighten the screws like friction pegs? Yes and no. Let's start with the no: You probably won't need to make any kind of adjustment. But on the off-chance that you do (you'll know - the post would un-wind from string tension) it's easy to tighten to the right amount of tension. This brings us to the yes: Technically, the planetary gear is engaged by the screw that holds the button in place. Unlike friction pegs, there is a very wide range of "works well".

Reference Key for Understanding the Model Names:

UPT/UPTL : Indicates whether the body of the tuner is short or long

UB( ) : Indicates what type of tuning button. 
-UB4(x) - Bell Shaped Button (i.e. UB4N- natural) 
-UB7 = Pearl Button
-UBN = Natural Button
-UBB = Black Button 
-UB8 = Bronzish Button

Characters after the - : Indicates what type of body (Ex. -G = Gold Body, CW = Chrome Body) 

Tuning a ukulele with UPT planetary tuners is a pleasant experience.

(JAPARTS.CA)

Click here for the UPT/UPTL Shcematic Diagram

Calculate Shipping Cost

Supplies are limited, but we can take bulk and special orders in advance, email [email protected] when ordering larger quantities. 

These are sold as a set of 4. One set of 4 is $69. Installation can be chosen in the options checkbox below. It is $30 for installation, and the stock tuning keys will be included in your shipment.

Reference Key for Understanding the Model Names:

UPT/UPTL : Indicates whether the body of the tuner is short or long

UB( ) : Indicates what type of tuning button. 
-UB4(x) - Bell Shaped Button (i.e. UB4N- natural) 
-UB7 = Pearl Button
-UBN = Natural Button
-UBB = Black Button 
-UB8 = Bronzish Button

Characters after the - : Indicates what type of body (Ex. -G = Gold Body, CW = Chrome Body) 

Joel goes over how to change your existing friction tuners with these
planetary geared ones.

 

Any ukulele bought at our store with friction tuners can get this upgrade. When you order these with installation you can either choose UPT or UPTL, and we will choose the correct size. If you are ordering separately to install yourself then you will need to decide which one is right for your ukulele. You can do this by measuring the thickness of your headstock. The UPT works best with a headstock thickness of 10-12mm. UPTL works best with a headstock thickness of 11.5mm-13.5mm. Contact us with any questions if you are not sure which to order.

Note: If you are a builder buying 5 or more sets you can contact us for a discount code.

These are the new Gotoh UPT Tuners (ukulele planetary tuners). They call this style of key "planetary" because there is a central large gear with smaller gears that rotate around it. These first hit the market at the end of last year and we were ecstatic. Why? UPT's have the look and weight of friction tuners, but are a 4:1 gear ratio. What does this mean?

Traditional ukulele tuners are are what they call "friction". This means that their ability to hold tune depends on the friction or tightness of the screw in the tuner. If you tighten the screw too much, it's hard to turn and tune, too loose and it turns easy, but also will slip out of tune. Also with the old style friction key there is no gear ratio, so small turns will make big changes in the pitch of your string. The UPT's are geared tuners. The pitch will be held by gears, and these gears have a 4 to 1 ratio so fine tuning is much easier to dial in, or adjust. These are built extremely lightweight and with top notch components. We guarantee you will love these on your new ukulele.

 

Click here for the UPT/UPTL Schematic Diagram

Traditional ukulele tuners are are what they call "friction". This means that their ability to hold tune depends on the friction or tightness of the screw in the tuner. If you tighten the screw too much, it's hard to turn and tune, too loose and it turns easy, but also will slip out of tune. Also with the old style friction key there is no gear ratio, so small turns will make big changes in the pitch of your string. The UPT's are geared tuners,. The pitch will be held by gears, and these gears have a 4 to 1 ratio so fine tuning is much easier to dial in, or adjust. These are built extremely lightweight and with top notch components. We guarantee you will love these on your new ukulele.

UPT Tuner FAQ (from JAPARTS.CA)

Regarding string post length: There is an optional longer string post (UPTL) for headstocks with a thickness of 12mm (0.472") or more. There is no difference in price. Please measure your ukulele carefully before ordering.

Will these fit my ukulele? If you are replacing friction pegs you will almost certainly need to have the peg holes re-bored. We can do that on ukuleles ordered from our website. The diameter should be 9.7-10mm or just a bit wider than 3/8". With regard to headstock thickness (see above) you'll need to measure your headstock.

Do I need to tighten the screws like friction pegs? Yes and no. Let's start with the no: You probably won't need to make any kind of adjustment. But on the off-chance that you do (you'll know - the post would un-wind from string tension) it's easy to tighten to the right amount of tension. Which brings us to the yes: Technically, the planetary gear is engaged by the screw that holds the button in place. Unlike friction pegs, there is a very wide range of "works well".

Tuning a ukulele with UPT planetary tuners is a pleasant experience. It may take you some time to get used to that.Why are some buttons more expensive than others?There are two main types of plastic buttons: molded ABS and carved acrylic. The molded ABS buttons (UBB, UBN, UB4B, UB4N) are solid colors without any variation. The acrylic buttons (JP1, JP2, UB5B, UB7, UB8) are carved from blocks of patterned material so that they can have a natural look, eg. ivoroid, pearloid, tortoise shell. The appearance, process, and material of the acrylic buttons adds to their cost. (JAPARTS.CA)

Shipping Information

 

For more even more details and FAQ visit our Shipping Page under the Company Info tab at the header menu.

SHIPPING CARRIER OPTIONS:
FedEx is our primary shipping carrier, all orders that qualify for free domestic shipping will be sent using FedEx. UPS and DHL can also be chosen as alternative options upon checkout, USPS is only used for smaller accessory orders. 

As soon as the shipping label is created you will be automatically notified via email with tracking information. All packages will be shipped with a signature requirement by default. If you do not wish to have a signature requirement you will need to notify us, either by leaving a note in the “special instructions” when adding the item(s) to your shopping cart or by emailing our shipping department directly. Any shipping related requests (hold/delay/address change) should also be directed to our shipping department ( [email protected]). 

NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: You may also be required to pay import duties/taxes, this will vary depending on your location and the value of the item(s). To estimate these taxes, you can contact your local customs office. Fedex also offers a helpful estimation tool: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/international.html

UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE PERMIT: If your ukulele contains any amount of shell inlay (abalone or pearl) it will require a permit to be shipped internationally. The cost of this permit is $93.00 USD. We will handle the paperwork and file the permit for you, but the cost of all duties and fees are the responsibility of the customer.

SHIPPING COST will vary depending on the size dimensions and weight of the package as well as the destination. To get a quote, use the “Calculate Shipping Cost” link located next to the “Add to Cart button” on each listing.

This is made even easier when you are already logged in to your customer account. Follow this link to create an account if you don’t already have one go HERE.

FREE SHIPPING: All orders within the USA with a total over $500 will qualify for free FedEx 2-day air shipping.

SHIPMENT AND TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS are sent automatically via email as soon as the shipping label is created so please make sure your email address is accurate when placing the order. Outgoing shipments are picked up by our shipping carriers Monday through Friday. 

ACCESSORY AND CASE ORDERS: While non-instrument orders for cases and accessories do not require the same processing time needed for instruments, they do require time for processing and packing. The typical processing time for accessory/case orders is (1-4 business days) depending on current order volume. 

CURRENT SETUP PROCESSING TIMES AND DETAILS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE “SETUP OPTIONS” TAB.* 

*If you would like to receive your instrument as soon as possible you can forego the full setup process by selecting the “Basic QC Only” option or by selecting the “Full Setup RUSH” option when adding instruments to your shopping cart. More details are available under the “Setup Options” tab.

Setup Options

 

Current Turnaround Time: Amount of time it takes before shipment-

Full Setup: 10-14 Business Days

Basic Quality Control: 2-3 Days

BASIC QUALITY CONTROL covers inspecting the instrument for any major defects that would have been missed by the factory and any faults in construction that could potentially damage or limit the functionality of the instrument over time. Any defective instruments are rejected and replaced.  We make sure that each Ukulele meets the basic standard for a brand new instrument and will be ready to play once you receive it. A final cleanup is also included after inspection before packing and shipment.

Full Setup - FREE for all Ukuleles $399 and over / $20.00 for Ukuleles from $300-399 / $30.00 for Ukuleles Under $300


Includes:


-Overall QC evaluation: To find defects in construction as well as to get an overall view of the instrument and note the areas that need extra attention and adjustment during the setup.

-Saddle Adjustment: The height of the saddle is lowered to reduce the distance between the strings and the fretboard, making it easier to play than the factory setup, especially higher up the fretboard.

-Nut Slot Adjustment: The depth, width, and angle of the nut slots are adjusted to create a more comfortable playing experience especially on the lower frets.

-Fret Dressing: After adjusting the nut and saddle heights, high spots in the fretboard or uneven frets will potentially cause fret buzz, dead spots, or other unwanted problems. The frets are filed to create a more consistent level across the fretboard. We then crown the frets to return their rounded curvature back to the top of each fret creating a clear contact point for each string. We then smooth and polish the frets and condition the fingerboard to bring them back to new condition.

-Final Cleanup: We always do a final overall cleanup of the instrument to make sure it is in new condition and ready to play before it is prepared for shipment.

Rush Setup & Delivery - Additional $50.00
The RUSH SETUP AND DELIVERY service is for customers who would still like to receive everything included in the full setup but on a shorter time frame. One of our setup technicians will work overtime outside of normal business hours to complete the setup within 2-3 days of the order being placed and immediately hand it over to the shipping department for packing and shipment. The $50.00 rush charge is in addition to the cost of the full setup. 

Additional services (see individual product listings to add these services to your order)
Re-stringing: We will replace the factory installed stock string set with a new set of your choosing. Select the “replace stock strings” option when adding your desired string set to the shopping cart.

Strap Button Installation: 1-2 buttons are installed to allow the use of a strap. Color options available. 

Pickup installation: for players who would like the option to play or record with amplification.

Friction Tuner Upgrade (friction tuners only): We offer upgrade options for select instruments with friction tuners to be retrofitted with new geared tuners for better precision and comfort when tuning.

Left-handed Setup: Left-handed setups are also available upon request. Occasionally an additional charge may be added for compensated saddles on select models. 

 

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