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I just installed a set of Gotoh open back tuners on one of my guitars.
I have to say I am really impressed with the quality of them. I have used them for many years now and actually they have improved them which is very rare in this day and age.

Let me preface this review with the fact that I have use literally 90% of the brands of tuners on the market.

So first of all the way they have constructed them now you don’t have to counterbore for the grommet you can just drill one size hole because as you’ll see in the photos, there’s a metal stanchion at the base of the tuner which fits snuggly in the hole. They also make the same model with a screw in rather than a press in bushing, depending on which one you want they’re both great.

These tuning machines have absolutely NO backlash. They are rock solid!

As you can see in the photos they are not riveted together. They are precisely screwed together with alignment pins as well.

The screws they give you are robust. A lot of companies give you these wimpy screws. These things are definitely substantial -a pleasure to put in.

The plating is very nice on them as well.
And all this for around $90 delivered to your door in two or three days from various merchants on eBay .







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Gotoh’s are a go to!

They look as nice as Waverlys.

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

Good to know.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I've only used a few tuner brands, but quickly settled on Gotohs because they were consistently so much better than the others I tried.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Looks like the 510 series. I have only tried the regulars which are pretty decent. In their catalog they advertise a lot of advanced features from the standard model such as Rock solid post, lube plate, etc. I've been wanting to try them, so thanks for the review!

Pat

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Pat

As Brad mentioned these are also available with a screw in bushing, identical to a sealed gear. I detest press fit bushings for a number of reasons. The screw in version is what I use when someone asks for an open back tuner. The low gear ratio is a little tricky to get used to. While these open back Gotohs are as good or better than any open back gear on the market I still prefer a sealed 510 by a wide margin.

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

510 is the English pronunciation of Gotoh in Japanese... (approximately).

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

How about the hole pattern Brad any idea if these are a drop in replacement for Waverly and/or Grover?

Great review, thank you for doing it!

^

I believe they can be. GOTOH makes a vast range of tuners. Sorry, machine heads. Sorry, tuning machines.

thanks for this information
I have used mostly Grover and Waverley although I have had too many issues on waverley to use them anymore.
Grover retooled a few years ago and I am really liking them as well.
I will certainly look at these and try them again.

My issues with Waverley have been binding and hard to turn. Also a lot of loose knobs
I have had to replace more of them in the last 10 years than the grovers.

with everything running to China it is hard to find quality anymore

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Ditto on this, particularly for slot head tuners. I have used both Gotoh and Grover tuners for slot heads, and I prefer the Grovers, but both worked fine. I appreciate the review of the Gotohs; I might use them for a standard headstock.

Been using them several years and love the look and performance. I like their antique nickel finish, and I like the fact that they don't have the big brass gears like Waverly. This same tuner is also available with oval buttons.

I use 510 minis on everything unless the client is looking for a more traditional vibe. Then I use these https://g-gotoh.com/product/sxn510v/?lang=en . I prefer the ‘threaded bush’ version rather than the pressed in type, and you can buy 2 sets of these for the price of one set of Waverleys.

I have been a bit disappointing with Waverly as well but mostly with the Sloane tuners. The machines are nice but every set I have used so far the knobs crack off.

On those Gotoh's I see in one pic two little Phillips head screws are those actually holding the, for lack of a better word, post mounts in? If so that's brilliant.

Yes, a Philips plus 2 index pins. A nice design, and <$100.00

I used a few sets years ago and the gears on both wore incredibly quickly. They had limited backlash when installed but 4 years later, when I saw the guitar again, there was quite a bit. It made me think more about the gear material, ie brass vs bronze and I stuck with Waverlies at that time. Maybe they've changed the gear material? Also maybe I had a fluke few sets, I haven't heard about that issue from others.

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

I have installed 3 sets of Waverlys in the last few months and have not had any problems. Very consistent and very smooth. I know that 3 sets is not definitive but maybe they are getting a handle on their QA/QC.

the 2 biggest issues I have with Waverley
A knobs coming loose
B the tightness they get very hard to adjust
in 20 years I have used 100s of grovers a few other brands and about 50 Waverly
I have had to replace more Waverleys In 20 years I am at about 4 tuners replaced

I am talking about the open back butter beans

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Yes, those screws actually hold the plate to the post mounts.
Rubner also is using a similar system on their new line.


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Hesh,
No, you would have to re-drill the back of the head because of that piece it’s larger than a quarter inch. Although it wouldn’t be a big deal.


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