Schaller introduces Classic Deluxe "Selmer-Style" tuners

[morgan]

Anyone out there building Selmer guitars has probably already found out that getting the original style closed tuners is an expensive and frustrating business, limited to a few options. I just noticed recently that Schaller have gotten into the game too:

http://guitar-machine-heads.com/hp305244/Classical.htm

Their site is rather maddening with regards to finding suppliers though, and allparts.com (who deliver the Schaller stuff globally) only has them listed as "coming soon". They look reasonably close to the original designs although they don't seem to do them in brass (gold finish would be the closest), but it's nice to see another option. Now if only I could actually find a place to buy them

[christian]

Hey morg's
if "Allparts" are going to carry them then you will be able to get them locally through guitarparts.co.nz they supply all the Allparts gear.

Cheers,

Christian.

[Puff]

Was that blurb written by a real estate agent Reads like a justification for Waverly style pricing
My guess is you will have to request these from Guitar Parts.

[morgan]

You might be on to something there Puff; the prices quoted on allparts.com for the nickel version are $130.00 USD (and I think that's only for 3). Really big ouch. And still possibly cheaper than some alternatives. Really wish I had some metal-working skills, would love to just make my own - the plans are freely available.

[Puff]

That will be for six.
There are much less expensive options in terms of the actual guts of the enclosed tuners but they seem to be angling their marketing for this on the plate. Casting or stamping or just cutting, filing and engraving the plate in brass is not that difficult and rivetting on the enclosed tuners is not Formula One stuff. Getting the result plated is no hassle. Essentially you are paying the big difference for the 'Selmer' plate.

[Mike Thomas]

Morgan, when I saw this post I decided it was worth following up. They are not easy to get yet, being new. You can get them from Allparts in the U.S. for US$186+shipping, but they have to get them from Germany, with a possible 3 month wait. You can get them direct from Schaller, for 50 Euros a set, but their minimum order is 1000 Euros. And you would then face all the customs, GST etc charges. Finally, I tried Paytons, the Schaller wholesaler here in Australia, and they had 1 set in stock. The retail price is likely to be $226 in Australia, and you can't buy direct from Payton's unless you are registered with them as a business, and then you would pay the trade price. Anyway, I got the set they had, to have a look at, and they arrived today. I'll post some pictures today, if I can.

[morgan]

Brilliant bit of sleuthing there Mike. Very curious to hear what you think of the quality. Have you ever actually had any of the other available brands in your hands e.g. DM, JWC, Gallato ? Would be interested in an informed comparison.

[Kim]

If they need to come from Germany with a pre manufacture lead time of a few weeks, then I would not be surprised to find that it is actually Rubner who is making these for Schaller.

http://rubner-markneukirchen.de/onlines ... 2537edce0e

Hey Marty..they do tuning pins for lutes as well.

Cheers

Kim

[kiwigeo]

Hey Marty..they do tuning pins for lutes as well.

Cheers

Kim

A lute with machine heads???? Fit only to be played by a knave or a varlet or one wearing an exceptionally ugly codpiece.

[Kim]

Hey Marty..they do tuning pins for lutes as well.

Cheers

Kim

A lute with machine heads???? Fit only to be played by a knave or a varlet or one wearing an exceptionally ugly codpiece.

I would imagine there is some definition separating "Machine Heads" from "Tuning Pins" Martin. I do understand that friction pins were all the rage back in 1622 when Berserk Baroque and the Green Leotards where topping the charts, but maybe, just maybe, someone has come up with a step forward in acceptable style in lute tuning paraphernalia since then?

Cheers

Kim

[kiwigeo]

A lute with machine heads???? Fit only to be played by a knave or a varlet or one wearing an exceptionally ugly codpiece.

I would imagine there is some definition separating "Machine Heads" from "Tuning Pins" Martin. I do understand that friction pins were all the rage back in 1622 when Berserk Baroque and the Green Leotards where topping the charts, but maybe, just maybe, someone has come up with a step forward in acceptable style in lute tuning paraphernalia since then?

Cheers

Kim

It is said that if a lute player lives to 80 then he would surely spend 60 of them tuning the thing. Building and playing the lute is an exercise in patience and frustration.......

Thanks for the link. I did check it out but there are no pics of the "tuning pins". I suspect it is a cruel trick perpetrated by would-be lute makers.

[Nick]

Isn't there a company around that make epicylic tuners for violins? They look like solid tuning pegs from the outside, all wooden & everything. Can't get to my lappy unfortunately for the link but I'm pretty sure I had one bookmarked.

[scripsit]

Hi all, first post.

Try http://www.pegheds.com/

Kym

[jeffhigh]

I've got the pegheds on my Flameco. they work great and are hard to tell from plain pegs.

[Mike Thomas]

Here are some pictures of the Schaller Selmer style tuners:-

Schaller Classic Deluxe Selmer style machine heads.jpg (106.2 KiB) Viewed 26173 times

Schaller Selmer style machine heads.jpg (79.43 KiB) Viewed 26173 times

I tried them on my partly finished headstock, to see how they look. (I haven't done the string ramps yet).

Schaller Selmer style machines headstock 2.jpg (95.1 KiB) Viewed 26173 times

Schaller Selmer style machines headstock 3.jpg (71.26 KiB) Viewed 26173 times

Schaller Selmer style machines headstock 1.jpg (78.36 KiB) Viewed 26173 times

First impressions. Appear to be very well made, no perceptible backlash. Perhaps a bit too bright and shiny, but more brassy than gold.i.e., they are not as "yellow gold" as the Schaller 3-on-a-plate that Stewmac sells. No doubt the shine will dim with age and use. The buttons are nice, and are described as "galalith", which was used on the originals.

Morgan, the only others I have seen/handled, apart from the 3-on-a-plate, are Gallatos, which are rather roughly made in comparison. There was about half a turn backlash on the ones I have tried, but perhaps the originals were the same. They come heavily antiqued, which means they will look out of place on a new guitar, unless you antique the guitar as well. They are advertised as being "made to original specifications using Selmer's own equipment". And they cost A$399, from Australian Lutherie Supplies.

I haven't personally seen the DMs that Dupont uses, or the DRs, but I am sure they are very good. They cost U.S. $300 + shipping, but may have a more immediately authentic look. Dupont also uses the Schaller 3-on-a-plate tuners, even on higher end models.

[kiwigeo]

Hi all, first post.

Try http://www.pegheds.com/

Kym

Thanks Kym..and welcome to the forum.

[Kim]

Thanks for the update Mike, the headstock looks very classy and the machines suit nicely...Must say that he plate does look like a Rubner and the shiny brass look also fits the bill.

Hi all, first post.

Try http://www.pegheds.com/

Kym

Welcome to the forum Kym

Those pegheds are a very slick solution and they should be cheap to cause by the looks of it they appear to have quite an intensive breeding program up and running.



Cheers

Kim

[morgan]

Thanks for posting those Mike. I think they look pretty good and I'm happy to hear that the quality is up to scratch. Your headstock looks pretty good too

The photos of the Gallatos put me off a little; they look more grubby than pre-aged to me, and it's easy to tarnish metal if you want to anyway. The original tuners had a reputation for high quality so I would be surprised if they had that amount of play. You're not the first person I have seen voice a complaint about the quality of the Gallato tuners, so I will definitely avoid them.

I would tend towards DMs or DRs if I had the budget, however these Schallers look like perfectly acceptable tuners to me. Their covers are a little less art-deco but still quite nice. I will try to source a set or two of them as soon as I can figure out where I can get them. Did your Australian supplier mention when they might have some more coming in? Breaching the mysterious forcefield surrounding Schaller seems to have defeated many a hopeful purchaser!

[Mike Thomas]

Morgan, I have an order in with Paytons for another set. PM me if you would like me to order an additional set or sets for you.

[Nick]

They certainly look the part Mike, if a little "shiny" as you say but this will no doubt dull down over time. If they're made to the usual Schaller specs then they should do the job admirably. I take they come with the bushings?
I know the DR's are an arm & left testicle (via Django.net I think....Damn not having my laptop, so many bookmarks) so if these become more readily available they certainly will be the go.

[Mike Thomas]

Yes Nick, they do come with bushings, or "thrust bearings" in Schaller talk. I would expect them to become more readily available, although when I emailed Stewmac to ask if they intended stocking them, they said "no".

[Nick]

Yes Nick, they do come with bushings, or "thrust bearings" in Schaller talk. I would expect them to become more readily available, although when I emailed Stewmac to ask if they intended stocking them, they said "no".

Probably frightened of not shifting enough units being a 'specialist' tuner but then again they do stock the DR Tailpieces Go figure.

[Kim]

You guys are just sooo cheap..if its worth building, it must be worth a set of Rodgers...

http://www.rodgers-tuning-machines.co.uk/index.html

Recon I may just have enough equity in the ol beach shack to secure a set....pity the minimum wait is currently 2 years.

Cheers

Kim

[Puff]

Is this the origin of "Given a good Rodgering"?

[Nick]

You guys are just sooo cheap..if its worth building, it must be worth a set of Rodgers...

http://www.rodgers-tuning-machines.co.uk/index.html

Recon I may just have enough equity in the ol beach shack to secure a set....pity the minimum wait is currently 2 years.

Cheers

Kim

JayyyyZusss! four hundred quid for a single machine head/unit! I'm in the wrong game Must use the original four & twenty virgins to hand produce them!