Official Luthiers Forum!

In my never ending quest for tuning machines that balance quality to price to weight I have some observations and questions.

For open back style I pretty much have settled on the Gotohs that I get from LMI. I really like the way the look and thew fact that they are pretty light and somewhere in the $100. dollar ballpark.

That being said I just recieved a set of the "new" open back Schaller GrandTune machines. http://www.lmii.com/products/schaller-o ... g-machines I haven't put them on a guitar yet but WOW! they are really nice, super precision mating of gears and fit and finish.Also in the $100 (chrome) ballpark

If weight is not a factor I also like the closed Gotoh 510's Nicer than the closed Schallers in my opinion. I am using these on an archtop I am building, although sometimes I use the open back Gotohs.

I also use the Stew Mac Golden Age repro tuners on my Stella clones. The quality is adequate for the price $30-60 for the 6 string and $70 for the twelves,but what I really like is the vintage look that nothing else comes close to.They also have a wide selection of slot-head styles to choose from

Has anyone had any experience with Rubner tuners? They are reasonably priced and have a large selection. The great thing is that the use the same tuner for classical, slot head steel string and paddle head steel string by simply changing out the rollers.

What's the weight on the GrandTunes?

Give the Gotoh 510 minis a try as well. With wood buttons, they're 169g for the set including hardware. Heavier than the golden age tuners, but still a good option to have in your arsenal.

Gotoh tuners rock. Maybe one day, an American company will rise to the challenge. Price, quality, variety, finish, feel, fit.

I noticed on the open back Gotohs that the gear shows wear very fast- I assume that is due to it being brass instead of bronze as Waverlies are. I'm not sure, aside from looks, what the benefit of gold plating the gear on the Schallers is. It would seem that it would only make it softer still (at least on the surface) but maybe I am missing something?

I have no experience with the Rubners, Brad.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

I use only Rubners on my classicals. By far the smoothest in my opinion for the money, and they look good.
Mike

I like the GrandTunes a lot. Weight is 165 grams complete (bushings and screws). I don't know pros or cons about plating the gear but they sure work beautifully. The smoothest and softest feel of any open back tuner I have used.

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

I tried these hipshot tuners last time. Website says they are US made.
Very reasonable and seem solid.
Those rubners look nice.
I think next time I may try the schertlers

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My memory is so good, sometimes I remember things that never happened.