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Topic: slotted peghead tuners... recommendations? |
James Hartman
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2015 10:30 am |
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I'm having a new neck made for my Dobro. It's originally a round neck, but I've been playing it lap style, with the strings elevated, for years. Finally getting around to making a proper instrument of it.
Because I find reaching the far side tuners awkward while playing, especially standing up with the instrument on a strap, I've decided to go with a slotted peghead. Trying to decide on a set of tuners.
StewMac has the ubiquitous Grovers (nothing wrong with them), but I see they also offer these Schertlers, which I've never seen before:
Link to Stewart-MacDonald's tuners.
Not sure I like the look, or the price, but wondered if any of you have used them.
Other recommendations?
Thanks! |
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Orville Johnson
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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James Hartman
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2015 11:58 am
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| Thanks. I did look at those. More options, in an affordable range. |
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rodger_mcbride
From:
Minnesota
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Posted 12 Mar 2015 4:18 pm
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I like these Schallers from Stewmac.
Schaller 3-on-Plate Guitar Machines, Nickel, 3L/3R
Note the .96mm hole spec. on the backside of the tuner if you are installing them yourself, however.
rodger
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2015 5:50 pm
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Elderly has some nice El Cheapo tuners for both solid and slotted peg-heads. They also have good prices on Grover tuners. I would go for the Grovers myself.
M2CW. YMMV. &c. Good Luck with your project. 
_________________
"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2015 4:05 am
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Funny you should post this. I posted the topic over at Resohangout. (hope Bob doesn't mind me making this reference)
http://www.resohangout.com/topic/40903
I'm a fan of Stewmac's "Golden Age" tuners. There are five variants with subtle to midland ornamentation. The knobs are small and look vintage. I have a set now both on my Dobro and my lapsteel. Note the missing screw on the right. The original Dobro set is asymmetrical. I din't want to drill a new hole in case the guitar becomes valuable to a collector some day so I just left it out.
PM if you are interested in a set of the Shallers mentioned above. They are only very slightly used. Give ya a deal.
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James Hartman
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2015 5:32 am
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Thanks, guys, for all the suggestions. Those "Golden Age" tuners look like a nice solution to another project I have in the works.
For this one, I've decided to go with the Grovers. The luthier making the new neck seems to prefer them to the 3 on a plate style, and he already has them in stock.
By the way, thanks for sharing that forum thread, Jim. Some interesting issues raised. For me, convenience in tuning while playing trumps ease of string changing. |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2015 5:47 am
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Indeed.
The solid head peghead gathered momentum when guys like Beard, Gurnsey, and Scheerhorn started building Dobros primarily because you could not buy a decent slotted head gear back then - early 80s. I'm not absolutely sure why it has stuck.
On the other hand, one of my favorite Dobros, the Mike Auldridge estate owned Dobro model 37, is imprinted on my mind ("Mike Auldridge Dobro" album cover) and, has a solid peghead, with, ironically, a three in line set of tuners intended for a slotted head gutiar.
Who knows. Maybe that's the reason the solid peghead is so prevalent. Mike had a big influence on the next gen of Resophonic players to say the least. |
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James Hartman
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2015 6:33 am
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| Jim Pitman wrote: |
Indeed.
The solid head peghead gathered momentum when guys like Beard, Gurnsey, and Scheerhorn started building Dobros primarily because you could not buy a decent slotted head gear back then - early 80s. I'm not absolutely sure why it has stuck.
On the other hand, one of my favorite Dobros, the Mike Auldridge estate owned Dobro model 37, is imprinted on my mind ("Mike Auldridge Dobro" album cover) and, has a solid peghead, with, ironically, a three in line set of tuners intended for a slotted head gutiar.
Who knows. Maybe that's the reason the solid peghead is so prevalent. Mike had a big influence on the next gen of Resophonic players to say the least. |
No doubt, aesthetic orientation is a factor. I came to acoustic lap instruments from an early interest in metal body Nationals, so the slotted peg head probably looks more appropriate to me on some unconscious level. But I think manufacturing cost, as cited in the thread you started on that other forum, is likely the main influence. |
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