The tech pulls the strings, backs out the old screws, and taps out press-fit bushings from the front with a dowel and a small hammer while supporting the headstock on a padded block. A tapered reamer opens the holes a fraction at a time with constant test fitting. New bushings get pressed in with a caul and a clamp, never hammered. Screw holes are located with the tuner in place, drilled with a tiny bit after marking with an awl, and often waxed before the screws go in. The old holes get filled with toothpicks or dowels and glue if they do not line up. Then strings go back on and the tech checks that each post turns smoothly without binding.
Our first-person camera is on the tech's head, and it records the test-fit cycle in detail: ream a bit, try the bushing, ream a bit more. Synchronized fixed cameras hold a wide bench angle and a close overhead of the headstock. Audio is on, because a cracking sound is the thing everyone is listening for.
Researchers receive the episode cut into steps such as string removal, old hardware removal, reaming, bushing press, screw location, drilling, mounting, restring, and function check. Labels are in plain language. Each episode is tagged success or failure, with failures including finish chips and misaligned screw holes that had to be plugged. Optional tracking covers hands, reamer, drill, and the tuner bodies. Delivery goes into your schema and your storage.
Participants are consented and paid. Consent, payment, and commercial clearance are settled before collection begins. Samples go out within a business day, and we reply within 15 minutes during business hours.