Official Luthiers Forum!

Maybe I just haven't been paying attention, but I'm fairly certain both the 510's and various locking tuner options were more expensive from the various suppliers than they're running now. Which started me thinking about what sealed tuning machine's the best value/quality. I'm not terribly interested in vintage-style open-backed tuners right now, because frankly, I think they'd look very wrong on the guitars I make, so I'll leave that question for another poll :-)

You can select several answers, and please leave a comment explaining which of the sub-options (mini, normal) you use, if that's appropriate. Any and all experiences, positive or negative, are most welcome. Until now I've been using Gotoh's plain and simple M6-type machines, which I've found to be perfectly servicable, quality machines, albeit unspectacular. Nothing wrong with 'em, nothing fantastically great about them, and I'm wondering whether it's worth almost doubling the price (in some cases).

For my first instruments, I think they'll do fine, but I'm considering the future. A quilt Sapele or Macassar guitar with 'cheap' tuners doesn't quite feel right ;-)

Mattia I never use sealed tuners, as I prefer the look of the more traditional open tuning machines. Of those I always use Waverly as they are definitely the best quality available at a reasonable price and why compromise? If money was no object or if I was building a classical then I would fit Rodgers heads, they start at about $600 + taxes and can even be custom made but they are an option for only the very best guitar.

Of the ones you list Luthiers over here that I respect tend to use the Gotoh and Sxcahller, non-locking.

Colin

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

Grover is my standard tuner, but I had a client upgrade to Schaller golds and this is my second time to handle a guitar with them.

The first guitar was a '78 Les Paul. My brother in law did the unthinkable and changed out the tuners to Schallers on the Gibson. He loaned it to my son for a while and I restrung it once while we had it.

I must say I'd never turned a better tuner.

I got exposed to the Grovers on all the Taylors and they are very good tuners, can't beat them for the money. Now Taylor is using a different brand probably Ping or Gotoh. Does anyone know? The Taylor logo on the back is no help.

So, I'll gladly upgrade a Grover to a Schaller any day, for just a little more scratch. And, who can deny the beauty of the Organics used by Olson and Ryan?

I'm a big fan of the 510s. I have also used several sets of the M6 style Gotoh machines on my earlier guitars and they are good. I did get one bad set where the one tuner was shot after about 5 months. I think it must have been one bad machine. The 510s are my standard, but Waverlys are cool too. Not really a fan of the Grovers and I don't think they can touch the 510s. I have Grovers on my Taylor. That being said the Grovers are not as expensive and I have several builder friends who use them.

I did get to handle a set of Rodgers once. They were worth something like $900!!! Many moons will pass before any of my guitars see those machines.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

There was a good discussion of tuners over at the Acoustic Guitar Forum that is probably worth checking out.

AG Forum tuners

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

I love the (various) Gotoh styles....closed and open back. My buddy, Lance McCollum, and I go together each year or so and order a big load directly from Gotoh. Pricing is great that way, even considering the Yen/$ ratios, and allows me to offer gold tuners as a standard choice on my instruments.

Hank, how big of a batch do you have to order to start getting the price breaks?

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Lance and I usually get upwards of 80 sets or so...mostly the closed backed, but also an assortment of the open back and slothead sets for those special requests. We send our want list and they send back how much in Yen it will be. We then buy Yen at the bank and wire transfer to Gotoh's bank in Japan. Tuners arrive in about 3 weeks.