By: Patrick David Sawyer
There’s nothing quite as frustrating as a fifth string tuner that won’t stay put. If you’ve been playing banjo long enough, you’ve probably experienced this at some point—your tuner starts slipping, or worse, it pops right out of the hole entirely. Fortunately, this is an easy fix, and I’ll walk you through the method recommended by us and Gotoh, one of the top tuner manufacturers.
The Quick Fix: Using CA Glue to Secure the Tuner
Gotoh suggests a simple and effective way to secure a loose fifth string tuner:
- Remove the tuner – If it hasn’t fallen out completely, gently pull it out with your fingers or carefully use a soft cloth and pliers to wiggle it free. If you need to remove excess dried glue or need to make the hole larger, use a Fifth String Reamer
- Prepare a rag – Before applying any glue, have a rag handy to wipe away any excess glue that may squeeze out when you press the tuner back in. Super glue sets fast, and you don’t want any of it getting on your banjo neck, fretboard or your fingers. Use painters tape to mask off the area around the hole if this concerns you.
- Apply CA (super glue) to the inside of the hole – Use a thin, even coat inside the hole where the tuner fits. You don’t need much—just enough to create a better friction fit.
- Press the tuner back into place – Line it up and press it in with firm, even pressure. Some people lightly tap it with a small rubber mallet, but be careful not to crack the surrounding wood.
- Wipe away excess glue immediately – If any glue squeezes out around the edges of the tuner, use your rag to clean it up right away before it dries.
- Let it dry – The glue will set quickly, and your tuner should now have a snug fit. We recommend letting it set for at least 1hr before re-stringing.
If done properly, the tuner should stay secure indefinitely unless it gets knocked or dropped. This fix works well for most banjos, as long as the tuner is glued in place properly, there shouldn’t be any issue.
