After filling the old screw holes, I installed the new tuning machines to make sure they fit right. I also drilled pilot holes for the screws.

The tuning machines are Grover Rotomatic 18:1 tuners. They are the non locking type cause I have a locking nut for this guitar.

These pretty much fit the old Schaller ones from the 1980s. The only thing that didn’t line up was the screw holes. They are all 1/32″ or so off which is why I filled the old screw holes.

Time for some work on the neck and fretboard!

I gave the whole neck a good sanding to smooth things out and remove some age marks. I also sanded the headstock where it will be painted to rough up the paint (I’m not going to strip it). I filled the timing machine screw holes with toothpicks. I pulled out the old plastic fretboard dots and put in some cool red jasper stone dots. Then sanded the whole shebang and put a coat of oil on.

The new dots are a bit larger than the old ones (a good thing). Opened up the hole using increasingly larger drill bits. The drill is in reverse so it doesn’t dig in. Then I filled the holes with CA glue.

After some sanding, the dots are nice and smooth! After a coat of lemon oil, the fretboard and dots look awesome!

The Vanguard neck is now fretless. I think this will be the very first fretless flying V with a Floyd Rose!

Actually, it’s getting new stainless steel frets that will be smooth and sexy. It’s also getting new fretboard markers that are way less lamer.