Will The String Butler fit my guitar? Which one?
The String Butler is designed for guitars with 3 tuners on one side of the headstock and 3 on the other side (Gibson, Epiphone, Martin, Taylor, and many others). If your guitar has this pattern, but the strings already pass straight through the nut, then the String Butler won’t provide any benefit. (The PRS and Seagull brands are examples of guitars that will not benefit from The String Butler).
For more info on the different String Butler models see the following one page overview: Model Guide
Alternatively, the following page provides a simple step by step process to find the version that works with you guitar: Looking for a Unique and Innovative Gift for the Guitarist in your Life?
Of what material is the String Butler Made?
The model guide does a great job of explaining the different versions available and the materials used. However, in general they are made of Steel, Aluminum, or Clear Acrylic. The rollers and posts are all steel. The V1 and V5 base plates are made of Aluminum and the V2, V3, and V4 base plates are steel.
What is the difference between the V1, V2, V3, V4, and V5 Models?
The headstocks on guitars vary from model to model. This means that we need different String Butler shapes to accommodate different guitars. The V1, V2, and V3 models guide the innermost 4 strings and the V4 and V5 models guide all 6 strings. The V4 is designed, and only works with, guitars with oversized headstocks like the Flying V and Gretsch Electromatic. The V5 works with the same guitars with oversized headstocks but it is specifically shaped to fit the Flying V Models. The oversized headstocks on these guitars causes significant bends in all 6 of the strings at the nut. This made it necessary to guide all 6 strings with the V4 and V5.
For more info on the different String Butler models see the following one page overview: Model Guide
Alternatively, the following page provides a simple step by step process to find the version that works with you guitar: Looking for a Unique and Innovative Gift for the Guitarist in your Life?
We also have an informative Blog post on the V2 vs the V3 Models.
My guitar uses vintage Style Tuners with pressed-in bushings. how can i attach it to the headstock?
The easiest answer is to use the V1 model as it isn’t held down by the machine head threaded bushings. The String Butler V2, V3, and V4 models, however, are held down by these threaded bushings and so they don’t work with Vintage Tuners that lack this threaded bushing. This can be addressed in several ways:
- Adapter Kits: For Gibson and Epiphone Guitars we have adapter kits available. These kits replace the pressed-in sleeve with another sleeve that has a threaded feature and a nut to retain the String Butler. Visit the Vintage Adapter Kit page for more info. Please note that these kits can work with other guitar models but there is too much variation between guitar models and so we can’t provide a clear cross reference. If you remove one of your pressed-in sleeves and send us the measurements (you’ll need a caliper or micrometer for this) we will reply and confirm if one of the kits will work.
- Wood Screws: For other guitars you can attach the String Butler to the headstock using small wood screws in the position shown in the attached image. Note this isn’t a fully reversible upgrade and it should only be done by a skilled technician. We don’t recommend that you do this but it’s there if you are a risk taker!
- Double Sided Tape: Lastly, you can attach The String Butler to the headstock of your guitar using double sided Scotch Command Damage Free Tape. This tape can be trimmed to match the shape of The String Butler. We recommend this version.
For options 2 and 3 The String Butler should be mounted in the position shown on the left side of the following graphic:
