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 Post subject: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 5:07 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 9:30 am
Posts: 6
First name: Dale
Last Name: Penrose
City: Webster Groves
State: Missouri
Zip/Postal Code: 63119
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
What is your go to tuning machines for a mid priced guitar? I'm working on number 6 (built 170 dulcimers), don't think I'm ready for $100 sets, but my work is better than the >$10 on ebay/amazon.


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 5:40 pm 
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Koa
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First name: Michael
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DaleP wrote:
What is your go to tuning machines for a mid priced guitar? I'm working on number 6 (built 170 dulcimers), don't think I'm ready for $100 sets, but my work is better than the >$10 on ebay/amazon.


For a budget minded set I go with Gotoh 510 minis in a chrome finish. They are not very traditional looking which turns some folks off but they are very smooth and accurate. I think they go for around $60 a set...

M


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:26 pm 
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First name: Jay
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I like Gotohs too for both cost and functionality. I've been using the M6-style ones which are more traditional style.

Grover Rotomatics sell in a similar price range as the Gotoh M6s. I prefer the Gotohs but the Grovers are ok. I used a Grover set on one guitar where I wanted to have tortoise shell buttons to match the binding and there was a wider range of materials available for tuner buttons for the Grovers. You can tune accurately with them and they stay tuned, but they have some slop in the mechanism compared to the Gotohs.

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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:47 pm 
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Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:15 pm
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First name: Gil
Last Name: Draper
City: Knoxville
State: Tennessee
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Status: Professional
Grover Sta-Tites.


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:52 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:46 pm
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First name: Freeman
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It depends totally on the style of guitar - I build mostly vintage inspired so I gravitate to Gotoh and Waverly open gears, StewMac's Golden Era and the boxy Grovers that look like old Gibson tuners. If I built modern style guitars I would probably choose Grovers or something but they look wrong on what I'm building.


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:21 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 5924
For traditional looking work I use Grover sta-tites with the cast base plates. They also make Sta-tites with stamped base plates, but they are not much different than the cheaper alternatives.
Recently someone wanted 510's and for a modern looking closed back tuner they were very nice. Not too heavy and very smooth. I used them on a "snake head" peghead and they looked good.
I've also used Grover "kluson style" closed back with the stamped housing that allow the string ends to be captured in the post. I wish they had that in an open back tuner but I've never seen them offered that way.
What did you use on your dulcimers?


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 8:48 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:17 am
Posts: 995
Location: United States
City: Tyler
State: Texas
I use the Gotoh from lmi. Not the 510s but the enclosed one that are about $45-50. Work just fine. I don’t build to sell either though.


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 4:33 am 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 9:30 am
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First name: Dale
Last Name: Penrose
City: Webster Groves
State: Missouri
Zip/Postal Code: 63119
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
My dulcimers have either hand carved violin style pegs or 5-star planetary pegs. Looking over the range of guitar pegs, it is hard to "see" the differences between the choices.


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 4:35 am 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:20 am
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Location: Kapolei HI
First name: Aaron
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Hipshot. Started with them on my bass (naturally). When they came out with the mini, went right to them for my ukulele and of course my current steel string. I like the Schaller replica, but gravitate to the open geared for most, even with the steep 18:1 ratio. The quality and where it’s made does it for me.

Most know Hipshot for bass gear, not many know about their guitar tuning machines. Besides, I like their knobs as well.

Like others, I’ve used Gotohs in the past; still got a couple left, collecting dust.


Last edited by Aaron O on Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 4:58 am 
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First name: colin
Last Name: north
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I've had good experiences with the basic Gotoh 300 series.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 10:01 am 
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Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:20 am
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Location: Powell River BC Canada
First name: Danny
Last Name: Vincent
Anything Gotoh. Pick a price point. The choices are almost limitless. I've never been disappointed.


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:07 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:46 pm
Posts: 2124
First name: Freeman
Last Name: Keller
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
DaleP wrote:
Looking over the range of guitar pegs, it is hard to "see" the differences between the choices.


I think you can make a couple of divisions. First are the type of bushings - either press in like a Waverly or screw in like a Grover. Press in are a little smaller, maybe a little more difficult to install, unfortunately don't seem to be standardized (you'll need a reamer for the ones you want to use). The screw in type generally have bigger washers and bolt heads on the face of the headstock, are all pretty much the same sized hole. It seems like many of the guitars that come to my shop with screw in bushings they are loose. And of course there is no standardization for the little mounting screws.

Second consideration is whether you want open or enclosed gears. Enclosed in theory should stay cleaner and have a more modern look. Open gears just look "correct" on a vintage style guitar. Three on a plate look good on some older style guitars and certainly on classicals. The little boxy Kluson tuners seem to go with Gibsons, particularly if you put those funky plastic buttons on them.

We should mention different types of peg heads - obviously paddle head and slot head guitar take different style tuners, as do nylon and steel string. Cosmetic touches like plating, tuner buttons, "relicing". Specialized tuners that lock the strings or even lock and cut the string. Some people feel that weight is important but I never understood if you want more or less. Some tuners have different gear ratios, there is even one set that has different ratios for different strings (I think the idea is that the same number of turns would sharpen or flatten different strings the same).


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 2:19 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:11 am
Posts: 2142
Stew mac has a bunch of tuners they are closing out for 27-35 bucks. Great deal if can find ones you like.....



These users thanked the author Brad Goodman for the post: Bryan Bear (Thu Aug 02, 2018 2:32 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 3:51 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:36 am
Posts: 351
put on some decent Gotohs 510s, they may cost a bit more, but think of all the hours and great work you have done, would be a shame to fit inferior tuners. I'm sure the money can be recouped in the sale price

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2018 7:39 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 6:08 pm
Posts: 2712
First name: ernest
Last Name: kleinman
City: lee's summit
State: mo
Zip/Postal Code: 64081
Country: usa
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Status: Professional
I took aarons advice and got the hipshot. ask for a loofiers discount. I also use grovers, schaller and ping, and some no name chinese brands off ee vil bay.As others mentioned, it all depends on your sense of style and which tuning machine co best matches your tastes, open geared, smooth turning, antique finish etc, and the kind of instruments you build. Experiment to see which ones you like the best.


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 Post subject: Re: Tuning machines
PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:35 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6232
Location: Virginia
From what I have seen over the years just about anything in the $50 dollar price range is just as good as just about anything else.


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