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I am working on an OM and a L-00 12 fret slothead. I dont want to use the top of the line tuners but I would like to have quality tuners. What would you use if you were building these guitars? Where is best place to purchase them with the best prices?
Thank you,

Hi Bob

I likle waverleys but they are pretty expensive, a good alternative is Grover Sta- tite 18:1 Ratio with a life time guarantee I have used a number of sets and for the money ($26 in Chrome) have been very happy with them.

I know Stewmac keep them not sure who else your side of the pond.

Just as a word from the wise on the cheaper ones if you go for 3 on a plate, make sure you measure each plate as I find on the lower end ones they do vary.

Best Regards


Russell

Gotoh makes high quality tuners for slot head guitars. Individual and "3 on a plate" style in a variety of finishes. Try AllParts at http://www.allparts.com/. The individual tuners are about 1/4th the price of Waverlies and work every bit as good.
I use them on my slot head guitars.

I would probably go with Gotoh as well. They have cheaper stuff and the really high end stuff. But my experience has been that it is all of good quality.

Josh

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Josh House

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euphonon lists the grover h97's (the 14:1 ratio version) at $21 for nickle and $44.75 for gold.

Thanks guys

Michael,
The only tuners they listed was 1 type of schaller. perhaps there is another cite for them

Forget the grover 14:1 they are OK and good for the price but they are a $21 tuner. The 18:1 grovers which are only a few dolars moreare amazing for the price. It has often been said that they are 95% the quality of Waverly's at 25% the price. I haven't seen any other tuners for under $80 that even compare. IMHO of course

Another vote for the NEW 18:1 "vintage" style Grovers. I believe V97 is the part number.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

euphonon has about 2 1/2 pages of tuners in their catalogue. the grovers are almost at the end of the tuner listings.

i think v97 stands for "verticle"97, i.e. for solid headstocks. they are listed as 14:1 also. the 18:1's have -18 appended to the part number, h97-18. .

I much prefer open tuners, and from choice usually use Waverly, but have used and like the Grover 18-1. For my 30th wedding anniverary my wife bought me a set of Rodgers tuners, now I just have to build a guitar good enough to put them on!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Thank all of you.
For solid head, looks like gold Grover v97.

For slot head Gotoh has been championed. Which model(s)?Any other suggestions?

Bob

Personally I would go the other way round, Closed Backed Gotoh for the solid headstocks, they are excellant value in the UK, not sure how they compare in the USA.

The Grover H97-18 from the supplier Michael proposed for the slotted head stocks. Of course everyone has their favourites

the price jump from grover to gotoh to waverley is large at each step. between the 14-1 versus the 18 to one grovers i don't see a qualitative difference, only the different ratio, whatever you prefer. they all make them for both slotted heads and solid heads.

whem i am making prototypes that i want open type tuners on for weight reasons i use the grovers. for commisioned work i use the waverleys. however i have heard some very good recommemdations for the gotohs and am going to try them at first convenient opportunity

Grover makes horizonal and vertical in the 18:1. Is the Gotoh for solid head better than this grover?

In the UK Gotohs are actually cheaper than the Grovers, but in the states this may be different as they are japaneese?

I Find the Gotoh sealed tuners to be very well made and excellant value, Personally I am not so keen on their Open Versions.

I see a big difference between the grover 18:1 and the 14:1 tuners. Not in price but in quality. I used one set of the 14 to one and wont do so again. I have a couple of sets sitting on my shelf that I will use for replacements on a cheap guitar but I wouldn't dream of putting them on one of my guitars, not when I can get the 18:1 version. Both are called V97 but when you compare the two side by side it is like night and day as far as quality goes. The 14:1 are about the same quality as the Gotohs but the 18:1 are closer to the waverlys (not quite there but close). I've actually received a lot of coments at shows about the quality of the tuners. The only downside is somepeople don't like the high ratio. I've also used the grover 18:1 slot head style and really like them to.