Quality Machine heads

[ozziebluesman]

Over the past year I have been having trouble sourcing good quality machine heads. In the past I have always bought Schaller but the quality of the M6 series is real bad. I have had to send back sets three times to Stew Mac due to the machine ceasing up. Even the chrome finish is poor and the box it comes in has Made in Germany on it. They used to be the holly grail. Stew Mac have been absolutely sensational with their service and standing by their product so no fault from them. The product has slipped to the point I've lost confidence using it.

So my question is what do you all use now? I like the Vintage style tuners for paddle or slotted head stock however the Waverly are very expensive. I would be very interested what you all use now and where you purchase them?

Cheers

Alan

[kiwigeo]

That's bad news on the Schaller M6's....they're my favourite tuners. You might have to bite the bullet and go with Waverly's....I've never been disappointed with their product.

[ozziebluesman]

Thanks Martin I have spent quite a bit of time trying to find an alternative. The Gotoh vintage se700 series that are made in Japan have some good raps at about $120 aud a set but other than ALS I can't find them in Australia to purchase. The Waverly are certainly the best but $300 aud is expensive for me. Still like most things today they are not made to last and keeping in tune is the most important aspect of a guitar to me.

Cheers

[Joshua]

I've had good luck with Grover Sta-Tite open gear tuners for an under-$100 set of machine heads. Have had no issues with both slotted and solid head models. Stewmac usually have a good price on them.

[ozziebluesman]

Thanks Joshua for your thoughts I will look into those.
Cheers
Alan

[peter.coombe]

Schertler. Made in Switzerland with the usual Swiss precision.

[Trevor Gore]

For steel string, I've bought one set of (old) Schallers ever, one set of Schaller Grand Tune ever (had to give them a second chance after many years) one set of Grovers ever, Waverly's only when the customer insists and countless sets of Gotohs of all sorts and never had a mechanical problem with a single set of Gotohs. The gold finish on the Gotoh buttons wears off after a few years, but that doesn't stop them from functioning. If you're looking for low cost, try Ping. The set I had a few years back were hard to tell from Gotohs, but I've no idea how long they stayed that way.

[ozziebluesman]

Thanks Peter and Trevor I appreciate your input.
It looks like I need to pay closer to $200 aud for good machine heads now days.
I have found a source for Gotoh SE 700 series which I believe are good so I will try a set.
I will also try and set of Waverlys and Schertlers which may convince me everything is more expensive today and you pay for quality.
Cheers
Alan

[Mark McLean]

I, too, have been disappointed with Schallers and have replaced them. The two times that I have used Gotoh 510s they seemed very good - but I have been reading about extremely long delivery time on some of their models so check carefully before you order. Eventually, I have come to the conclusion that I don’t want to economize on the tuners after I have spent hundreds of hours of my time (yes, I am very inefficient) on the instrument. So my last few builds have been either Waverley (for a trad look) or Schertler (for modern). No regrets.

[ozziebluesman]

Good advice Mark as a player myself it is so important that the guitar plays in tune. Ok for your standard chord shapes on the first few frets but if you want to use some interesting great sounding jazz shapes up the neck even if only once in a song the guitar can not afford for the tuners to slip.

Cheers

Alan

[kiwigeo]

..... the guitar can not afford for the tuners to slip.

That's what I was thinking when I first strung up my 7 course gut strung Gerber lute

[mooshalah]

Rubners, anyone?

https://www.rubnertuners.com/

I quite like, and use these for guitars and ukuleles.

Frank.

[ozziebluesman]

Cheers Frank I will look further into the website.
Alan

[blackalex1952]

Try these...I ordered some from the Gotoh website no worries. They are cheaper than the Waverleys and, unlike Wavereys, are bushed as well as being superbly engineered, look good along with tuning knob options.https://g-gotoh.com/product/sxb510v/?lang=en
cheers! Ross

[ozziebluesman]

Thanks Ross I haven't seen that model before.
Certainly worth a try.
I do like the vintage tuners look and the plastic button option will make them nice and light weight.
Thanks
Alan

[Semmens Guitars]

I have been using Hipshot Tuners for Electric and Steel String guitars. They are solid with lots of button options.

Rubner Tuners for classical and slotted steel headstocks. The Runner tuners with roller bearings are smooth and well built with only one fail in the last 6 years which they replaced.

https://www.rubnertuners.com

https://hipshotproducts.com/collections ... g-machines

[Mark McLean]

I do like the look of the Rubner tuners with roller ends. Might need to give them a try. And I wish I had seen them earlier as I am building a 7-string guitar at the moment and had a bit of hassle putting together a set of 7 tuners - but Rubner sell 7-string sets. If I ever build another one they will be on it!