View Full Version : Waverly Tuners
shawverscrossing
Oct-31-2005, 5:37pm
$400.00 for a set. Are they worth it? And if not, what comes in second? Gotoh?
mandoJeremy
Oct-31-2005, 5:49pm
I think so but I know a lot of people disagree. Second to them (or first in some eyes) are the Gibson Grover tuners. They are great tuners and much cheaper than the Waverly tuners. Contact BigJoe for them.
shawverscrossing
Oct-31-2005, 5:53pm
And BigJoe is whom?
mandoJeremy
Oct-31-2005, 5:58pm
BigJoe is with Gibson and posts here on the Cafe from time to time.
shawverscrossing
Oct-31-2005, 6:00pm
Thank you.
doc holiday
Oct-31-2005, 6:01pm
Yes. In a word, they're worth it. Only pennies a day!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif Doc
mandoman4807
Oct-31-2005, 6:07pm
As far as I'm concerned, they are worth every penny! Of all the tuners I have used in the past, the Waverly's function the best http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Darrell
It depends on what you put them on and the overall worth of the the investment. $400 tuners on a $500 mando is a little nuts.
berkeleymando
Oct-31-2005, 7:13pm
I decided to have Waverly tuners when my F4 was being built. There are excellent but only worthwhile on a high-end instrument.
JimRichter
Oct-31-2005, 7:20pm
Waverly's are not $400 a set. Last time I bought Waverly F tuners (2 years ago), Silver plated were $475 (or $450, I forget) and gold were like $500. I bought a set of Waverly A tuners in the last year and those were $450 for a silver plated set.
The caveat w/ Waverly's is this: although they are the best tuners available, they will not function properly unless installed exactly according to the directions from StewMac. I installed a set on a Sam Bush Gibson I had, and the Waverly's worked perfectly cause they matched the set of Schallers that had been on there. However, the set on my Kimble 2 point didn't work so well because the Schaller post spacing on the A tuner didn't match. They fit on their, but the angle of the string post, among other things, didn't match.
Ideally, you'd buy Waverly's for a mandolin that someone is building for you so the holes could be drilled correctly. If you're buying to replace a set of tuners, you may not be satisfied w/ the results.
Jim
berkeleymando
Oct-31-2005, 7:54pm
Waverly's are not $400 a set. #Last time I bought Waverly F tuners (2 years ago), Silver plated were $475 (or $450, I forget) and gold were like $500. #I bought a set of Waverly A tuners in the last year and those were $450 for a silver plated set.
I purchased a set of silver F mandolin Waverlys with ebony buttons for $416.50 inc. shipping in June of this year, directly from Stew Mac.
shawverscrossing
Oct-31-2005, 8:40pm
Dear TJ
Thank you for contacting us. We are selling Waverly Mandolin Tuners,
although they no longer appear on our website or catalog. They are made
on a per-order basis. The cost per set is $400 (or $475 with genuine
mother of pearl knobs.) You can see them at the following:
http://waverlytuners.com/mandolin/
We highly recommend that a professional luthier install the tuners due
to the precise nature of the tuners.
If you have any other questions or comments, please contact us.
Best regards,
P J Gilmore
Stewart-MacDonald
1-800-848-2273
www.stewmac.com
Big Joe
Oct-31-2005, 9:53pm
My only complaint about the Waverly tuners is the weight. They are extemely heavy and put too much mass on the headstock increasing sustain. This can reduce chop and string note clarity. The Grovers are a bit closer gearing ration and weigh much less. I have Grovers on one mandolin and Waverly's on two. The Waverly's are a great tuner, I just like the lower weight of the Grovers. It is my personal taste and not everyone will agree, but just thought I would state why I prefer the Grover. However, the Waverly's are a great tuner. No question about that.
John Bertotti
Nov-01-2005, 6:48am
What type of buttons do the Gibsons have? Are they listed on the web site somewhere at Gibson? I didn't see them but I think I'm still half asleep. Sorry. I always check the cafe 1st thing when I wake up. Thanks John
Jim Roberts
Nov-01-2005, 6:51am
Big Joe: #The weight difference between Schaller F tuners and Waverly F tuners is 19 grams (Waverly being 12% heavier) and the difference between Schaller A tuners and Waverly A tuners is 5 grams (Waverly being 4% heavier) according to a builder/scientist who used to post here regularly. #From a builder's standpoint, how can this "reduce chop and string clarity" and "increase sustain" as you state?
Thanks.
Lane Pryce
Nov-01-2005, 7:30am
John the standard buttons are white pearloid but mop buttons are an option.When I purchased my Gibson Grovers I think the cost of mop was $50.00 a set.Needless to say I went with the standard buttons due to the cost of the tuners alone. Lp
BlueMountain
Nov-01-2005, 8:13am
Thanks for the link to StewMac. It's peculiar that they still sell the tuners, but don't have them in their catalog or on their web site. I'd looked. I noticed a luthier a few days ago who charges $500 extra for gold Waverly tuners, and I thought that was amazing. I hadn't realized that's what they cost these days. My A. Lawrence Smart mandola has gold Waverlys, and I didn't realize how expensive that option is. It sounds great, but do the tuners make it sound $450 greater than Grovers? Hmm.
Big Joe
Nov-01-2005, 8:20am
if you want to check it for yourself, get a set of Grovers and try them. The proof is in the pudding. I think the Grovers do sound better than Waverly's. I also don't like the Schallers at all. I never have. I prefer the Gotohs much more than Schallers. My preference order is: Grovers, Waverly's, Gotohs. I don't even list Shcallers. This is my opinion and experience. Nothing more.
Steven Stone
Nov-01-2005, 8:42am
Although Steve Gilchrist uses Gotohs, I believe he completely rebuilds them. By the time he's finished his Gotohs are far better than stock units IMHO.
I too prefer the Gibson Grovers to Schallers, Waverlies, or stock Gotohs. Waverlies are beautiful and very well made, but their weight can be the difference between a well-balanced F mando and one that you have to keep re-adjusting or hold up with your left hand while playing.
I haven't done any A/B tonal comparisons, but for me the ergonomics alone make Waverlies far less desirable.
Jim Roberts
Nov-01-2005, 8:56am
Interesting stuff. #Are the Gibson Grover tuners different than the stock Grover Deluxe tuners? #
Steven, I think it depends on the mandolin. #I've played two Collings MF5 mandolins that both had Waverly tuners. #One felt head-stock heavy and the other didn't. #The first Collings (the one that felt head-stock heavy) had Waverly tuners retrofitted to replace the Schallers it had and the Collings that didn't feel unbalanced came stock with Waverly tuners. #My Brentrup A mandolin came stock with Waverly's and it feels perfectly balanced.
I think Collings is also using Gotohs as their standard tuner but I'm not sure if they re-work them like Gilchrist does.
mandoJeremy
Nov-01-2005, 11:04am
reesabar, actually all of the Gibson Grovers have real pearl tuning buttons or at least every set I have seen does. BigJoe could answer for sure. Jim Roberts, the Gibson Grovers are much different than the standard Grover Deluxe tuner.
SternART
Nov-01-2005, 11:16am
I've found a Tonegard works well to redistribute and balance the weight, if the Waverlies seem too top heavy.
And you get the benefits provided by the Tonegard. Works for me........
mandoman4807
Nov-02-2005, 6:29pm
I've found a Tonegard works well to redistribute and balance the weight, if the Waverlies seem too top heavy.
And you get the benefits provided by the Tonegard. #Works for me........
I would be more concerned about marring the finish using a tonegard. just my opinion http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Darrell
Peakbagr
Nov-02-2005, 7:23pm
Hans Brentrup installed Waverlys when he built my V23. They work wonderfully, have evony buttoms, and look really sharp.
When the weight and carrying position of the mandolin is figured into the equation, the weight difference of the tuners is unnoticeable by me.
And I certainly don't have a financial stake in nor does my employer sell or supply Waverly tuners.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
SternART
Nov-02-2005, 8:20pm
Darrell,
Any slight marks left by a Tonegard on my instruments have easily rubbed out.....YMMV
I think they actually protect the back.....especially from sweat in warm weather....
And most important, they have made my instruments sound better! And of course they
counterbalance the heavier Waverlies nicely.
mandoman4807
Nov-02-2005, 9:30pm
SternART,
I know were you are coming from.
Having an oil varnish finish, and knowing just how thin and unforgiving it is , I would be hesitant to attach that device on my mandolin for any length of time.
Darrell
ronlane3
Nov-03-2005, 7:25am
Darrell, There seem to be a lot of people using them with no problems. I have a F-9, which everyone knows has very little finish on it and I have seen no problems with them being marked up. (Mine has been on there for atleast a year now and I never remove it, except to show someone the difference)
That being said, you can always take it off when you are not playing it.
Coy Wylie
Nov-03-2005, 7:50am
And I certainly don't have a financial stake in nor does my employer sell or supply Waverly tuners.
Oh please! Can't we let Big Joe post an opinion without this type of comment? It's getting old.
Big Joe
Nov-03-2005, 8:53am
My employer does not sell Waverly tuners either. We can't get enough for production let alone for sale. I also have no financial stake personally in any of this. I don't get one cent more if you buy them or don't. In addition, any profit made on tuners we sell is so insignificant to be hardly worth the effort. While some may be dubious, it really is a service to my friends on the Cafe. All that being said, I still voice my opinions whether we sell a product or not. I never really ask permission since I too am a member http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif .
ronlane3
Nov-03-2005, 9:36am
Isn't it amazing that we have a lot of people that are members of this site that we can use as an expert, because they work in the industry of making instruments and musicial entertainment. #Then we have people that will take shots at them just because they are experts. #I personally am glad that I can come here and ask a question and get a response from these people.
BigJoe seems to me to get the most flak of all of them, which is not to defend him, but we do have others that post here too that do not receive the criticism that he does.
SternART
Nov-03-2005, 9:53am
BigJoe has dandruff?
jjboone101
Nov-03-2005, 10:09am
I agree with Ron. I hope we, as a community, don't scare off these great expert resources we have by jumping down their throats every time they post...
ronlane3
Nov-03-2005, 10:19am
Oooppps I hope I corrected it right SternArt. At work and in a hurry when I typed that.
mandoman4807
Nov-03-2005, 6:29pm
There is no doubt, BigJoe is a punching bag on the board.
#http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif #If those who dis him got to know him, I believe they would change there tune!
Darrell
JimRichter
Nov-03-2005, 7:20pm
In my earlier post, when I stated the cost of the Waverly's, I should have stated that they were Waverly's w/ the MOP buttons.
Jim
"Isn't it amazing that we have a lot of people that are members of this site that we can use as an expert, because they work in the industry of making instruments and musicial entertainment. Then we have people that will take shots at them just because they are experts."
Got to agree. Big Joe and the other mandolin builders are here to promote mandolins not to sell you a product. I know Big Joe owns a lot of instruments that are not Gibson products. If this continues before long this site will be like the Martin Guitar Site. The Anti- everythings, but their Martins.
It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy