Tuner color suggestion

I would keep it consistent with the rest of the hardware, so either nickel or change at least the end piece to gold as well.

 

If you're otherwise happy with the tuners, you could just replace the buttons. Does your 5622 have Grovers? If so, Hipshot buttons will fit. They have a huge selection in different styles. I'm a big fan of the Imperial buttons. (Hipshot calls them "Deco.")

https://hipshotproducts.com/products/guitar-tuner-buttons

If it were me, I'd stay with nickel tuners to match the rest of the hardware, but you should go with whatever look you like the most.

 

The higher gear ratio makes tuning a bit less of a chore, but it's a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have. All of my guitars have 18:1 tuners, so I can't offer a comparison to the 16:1s, except to say that an 18:1 tuner will take an extra 1/8 of a turn to achieve the same change in pitch that a 16:1 would achieve in a full rotation. I'd guess that the difference would be subtle.

 

Nickel.

As far as tuners ratios, not as important as the quality of the tuner IMO.

Then the most important thing is proper stringing.

 

It'd be easier, and cheaper, to redo the pickguard and pickup surrounds.
Never liked mixing silver and gold hardware myself. Gold wears away too fast.

 

Stay with the nickel. I think it will look better than mixing the hardware. IMHO

 

I would also stay with nickel and don't think the tuning ratio really matters.

 

Another vote for staying nickel.

 

Unless it is a Setzer. The exception that proves the rule. Even on the Setzer it looks off, but that is the idea. It makes it look like a 65 Chevy on a 55 frame.

 

My suggestion is Hipshot open tuners with large chrome buttons (they offer a wide choice of size & colors) very precise, smooth and looking great !

 

Nickel. I don't usually like mixing gold and chrome/ nickel, but they got the balance right, at least to my eyes. Gold tuners would throw the balance off.

 

Hipshots come with universal mounting plates that allow you to mount them without screws, so you don't need to worry about lining up the mounting holes.

I have Hipshots on three of my guitars, and they're fantastic. Here's a pic of my 5620 with the Hipshot plates. There are two plates under each set of three tuners. You can see a bit of overlap where the plates meet, but it doesn't bother me—nobody looks at the back of the headstock anyway.

 

The pickup surrounds seem off - I guess their matching the pick guard. But to answer the question, nickel.

 

I put inexpensive Gotoh's (~$39) on a Tele type to replace the stock tuners. I don't like these tuners at all. They seem very cheap and inconsistent tuner to tuner. I bought them because they fit the screw pattern that existed. The original Chinese tuners the guitar had were just as good.
Just throwing that out for you to consider.

 

I second Hipshot. Fantastic stuff.