Tuners...Gotoh, Grover, Schaller?

[gibsonguy09]

Lets just say Klusons SUCK

i have kluson tuners since 1967 adn they still work fine...a lil stiff but look how old they are.!!

of course they are old and i can't tell so i odn't know about new ones

 

[Light]

Over the years I have replaced a lot of tuners, and I have now settled on Gotohs as being the most consistent, best quality, and generally nicest finished of the various brands. The only flaw is that they don't make a model for slotted headstocks like my Dobro.

They do, actually. About 2 years ago they started making a set of slot head gears. Not nearly as nice as the Waverley's (really the only great choice for slot heads), but they also don't cost nearly as much as the Waverley's.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Light]

What about the other Gotoh tuners? Are they also superior to the Shallers and Grovers in your opinion. The 510s are a little pricey.

My Webber has Shallers, which are nice. I'm wondering exactly what would be a worthwhile upgrade.

Thanks

Their tooling is newer than Schallers, so even when they are copying Schallers designs, they are a little tighter and a bit smoother (Schallers tooling is getting quite old at this point, and when you are mass machining metal, things do wear out). Grover recently (in the last ten years or so) retooled, and their quility is back up to were it was in the 1960's. But the Gotohs are still better, maybe. Certainly, the 510's are. I use 510's, period. I don't know the rest of their line really well. I have used Schallers in the past, but since the early ninties, the wear on the tooling has really started to get problematic. I mean, they are still using the same forms, jigs, and tools they used in the early seventies when they first came out. AND they are frequently back ordered 3-6 months.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Light]

The question is, who sells the entire line, and where can you get information regarding their compatibility with various headstocks?-Richie

God, I wish I knew. Nobody in the US distributes the full line (which sucks, because I would love to get locking 3 on a side mini's with the adjustable height shafts, but that ain't happening unless I order 100+ sets, which is a bit out of my budget).

The Delta series is just Allparts name for the 510x gears, which are 21:1 for full sized tuners, and 18:1 for the mini's. REALLY nicely made, by the way.

Some people hate the look, but once you get used to it, other gears just start to look boxy.

And yes, they are a little more expensive, but not much. About $20 on average, compared to Schallers, and you are certainly getting better gears. Nothing compared to Waverley's, which are the only other gears in the same range, quality wise (though they are very different, of course, primarily aimed at the vintage wannabe market).


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Light]

*Many years ago, a luthier showed me how to string up steel strings so they don't slip. Even pitiful tuners WILL stay in tune if you wrap 'em right.

Yup. Look at Frank Ford's website for details.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[lpdeluxe]

Light, glad to see you're back.

 

[freshmattyp]

Light, glad to see you're back.

I'll second that.

 

[ibanezrocks]

cheers! to Light!!

 

[Be Loveless]

Sperzel MAN SPERZEL!!!