Official Luthiers Forum!

I am thinking about offering an open back tuner on my steel strings. I'll include Waverly's also for those that must have them but I'm not a big fan. I've always leaned toward gotoh. They offer a nice open backed but I do like the look of the Schallers

What do you think of the Schaller Grandtune open backed tuners?

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I was unaware of this model, but it's a Schaller - and it's hard to badmouth that brand. Looks nice, too.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

We have installed them, and those customers that have used them for a few years have not reported anything other than pleasant experiences with the product. There are some threads on Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum that cover Grand Tune virtues and any vices in detail, including some early adopter's trials with base plate cracks between base and mounting 'ears' for the tuner shafts, but those issues appear to be resolved.

The only other issue that I see is the logo marking is rather non-traditional in a style of tuner which is usually used on more traditionally styled instruments.

At over $100 per pair for the Grand Tunes, we've found our customers usually prefer the slightly more expensive Waverly tuners.

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For the times they are a changin'

- Bob Dylan

These are just as smooth as the Waverly. Anything Schaller is always top notch and these are their top shelf.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I really like them, and the variety of cosmetics available, but I usually go for the cheaper gotoh or Grover's. but they're excellent tuners.

Thanks for all the nice comments. I went ahead and ordered a set.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I ordered some of their Grand Tune tuners direct from the factory and was able to get a significant discount. +1 for number of options.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Ken, did you have to setup an account to get that?

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Yeah, I'd be interested to get the skinny on that discount too! Just for Builders with tax ID? Minimum quantity?

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Pat

I don't remember any minimums. I sent an email explaining that I was a luthier and wanted information about ordering direct. They emailed a price list and a descriptive brochure of the products. I included a link to my website. This was two years ago.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Thank you Ken. I'll give that a try.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

As per Ken's suggestion, I contacted Schaller to see about ordering direct. They couldn't have been more helpful. They'll send you a product list with prices. You just email them what you want and they'll send you a total to pay via PayPal. I got my first order about 10 days after ordering. The prices are below US market prices, even with the shipping. And you get a much broader selection of finishes, buttons, etc.

As for quality, I'm very pleased. I haven't used Waverly guitar tuners, but I assume they are like their Uke tuners. The Schaller Grand Tunes seem to be much better built, crisper lines, the frame appears either milled or cast (not bent like the Waverly's), and very smooth turning.

I got two sets. A standard solid headstock post in black with snakewood buttons. And a vintage copper with ebony buttons for a slotted headstock. Both look great!

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Tony Thatcher
Bozeman, Montana

I was looking at these: https://schaller.info/en/m6-series/272/m6-pin

I can't tell from the instructions, do the pins just bite into the headstock as the nut is tightened? I like the look of these!

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For those that have used them, are they as sensitive to post bushing alignment as Waverlys? I still have issues with tight tuners even when I think everything is aligned just right.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

The M6 Pin tuners require the pin holes to be pre-drilled. The Stewmac #4857 Tuner Pin Drill Jig saves some time when doing this, as well as gets the alignment correct.

Dr. Kennedy: None of the traditional open-back tuners we have installed (Gotoh, Hipshot, Grover, Schaller, and Waverly) appear to be any more or less immune to the alignment issues arising from using press-fit bushings as the tuner shaft's top support. Grovers seem to lose any stiffness in function earlier than the other brands noted, but also quickly become a bit loose in feel - but not to the point where tuning stability is affected if the 'tune UP' rule is followed. The benefit of the bushings versus screw-down tuner mounting continues to be that press-fit bushings do not transfer any significant load to the finish, so the sort of 'cats-eye' lacquer separations below the tuner posts seen on some Martins and a number of older Gibsons are avoided.

We have been using the Hipshot and Schertler open back tuners for a few years on instruments where the sleeker, more modern look is preferred, and find them equivalent to other quality tuning machines. The current stock tuners on new instruments are Waverly and Schertler for open back tuners and Gotoh for sealed units.

The return and replacement policy for any tuner order placed with Stewart-MacDonald is a compelling argument...we've received replacements the next business morning where we had an artist that needed them for a performance that evening...all at no cost to the customer or our shop.

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For the times they are a changin'

- Bob Dylan