View Full Version : Mike Blohm's Handel Tuner Replicas
You may recollect that Mike Blohm posted pictures of an octave mandolin (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=16;t=34699) he made. I was pretty wowed by them as a vintage nut should be, and here are my photos of a set Mike sent me:
The ones above would go on Waverlies, though he can get the buttons to fit other tuner types. Fantastic stuff Mike, very well done. Mike's cafe name is Mike Blohm, so you can private message him if you are interested
Jerry Byers
Jul-01-2006, 5:44am
Very nice work. I might have to inquire about a set.
bradeinhorn
Jul-01-2006, 7:23am
yummey....what will those fit on?
markishandsome
Jul-01-2006, 8:23am
Are the buttons real ivory or are they celluloid?
sgarrity
Jul-01-2006, 9:24am
I hope he's ready for the demand he's gonna get for these. They look awesome!
delsbrother
Jul-01-2006, 4:56pm
Wallpaper!
mandopete
Jul-02-2006, 9:01am
Those are amazing!
stevem
Jul-02-2006, 1:32pm
Very cool. How much for a set of 8?
Mike Blohm
Jul-02-2006, 5:52pm
Wow! #That camera takes great photos. #It even shows all the fuzz I left on them from the buffer.
These are replacement buttons from Stew-Mac. #They make some for Waverly and some for Schaller tuners. #They are hard plastic. #There are directions for mounting them in Stew-Mac's helpful hints. #They are a little tricky to mount on Schallers. #I think it said you could mount them on the tuner stems with wings but you had to take a dremel and carve out for the wings. #They don't make ivroid buttons for Grovers or Gotohs. #Wish they did.
chuck.naill
Jul-02-2006, 7:09pm
They don't make ivroid buttons for Grovers or Gotohs. Wish they did.
They can be made to fit the Gotohs, I replaced the cheap looking ones of my Eastman. Use thicker super glue.
chuck
Wow! #That camera takes great photos. #It even shows all the fuzz I left on them from the buffer.
I rarely miss a chance to use the macro lens!
Great work Mike, just let me say it again.. great work http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Mike Blohm
Jul-03-2006, 8:36am
[QUOTE]Are you selling these or directing us to Stew-Mac?
Sorry fo the confusion. I buy the buttons from Stew-Mac and engrave and inlay them.
I will sell them. They are very time consuming so I don't think I can turn out a large volume. Scott said I could mention price. I'm asking $250 a set for the buttons. For Schaller tuners I might have to install them. That might work better.
jsmandolin
Jul-03-2006, 9:07am
I went to the Stewart MacDonald's web site to find the reproduction Handel tuner knobs and they were not there. Do you know of a source for them?
JSmandolin
JSmandolin: Mike is getting the plain ones from Stew-Mac and doing a time-consuming process to make replica Handel buttons from them- so you'd purchase from Mike directly!
Mike Blohm
Jul-03-2006, 10:20am
You can contact me at. #Blohmmandolins@cablemt.net
keithd
Jul-03-2006, 3:11pm
Beautiful work, and really a bargain at $250; very cool Mike!
I wouldn't do them for that - great buttons and very fair price!
Mike Blohm
Jul-05-2006, 7:32pm
Some more Pics.
Mike Blohm
Jul-05-2006, 7:33pm
Another
Mike Blohm
Jul-05-2006, 7:35pm
On these I used my 500 watt halogen work light for more light. It made everything yellow. Looks old.
Mike Blohm
Jul-05-2006, 7:36pm
One more.
Mike Blohm
Jul-05-2006, 7:40pm
Thanks, everyone for all the kind words.
Chris Baird
Jul-05-2006, 10:05pm
Nice work! Don't know if it will work but you could go the extra mile for the vintage heads and pickle em'.
f5loar
Jul-06-2006, 12:32am
Do you say these will fit the new F5 Waverlys? How much for a set of 8?
Mike Blohm
Jul-06-2006, 7:37am
Yes. They will fit Waverlys. Also Schallers. I think they can be made to fit vintage tuners but I have not tried that yet.
They are $250 for 8 buttons.
On the Schallers, it might be better if I you sent me the tuners and I mounted the buttons.
Mike Blohm
Jul-06-2006, 7:41am
[QUOTE]Will they fit the new F5 Waverlys?
When you say new F5 Waverlys. Does that mean they made a change?
Mike Blohm
Jul-06-2006, 12:47pm
I get to awnser my own question about the Waverlys. I talked to the People at Waverly and they said these buttons would fit all their mandolin machines.
I have a lot to learn about this tuner bussiness so please bear with me.
jim simpson
Jul-06-2006, 4:14pm
Mike,
Please stop torturing us. I've got to go see my therapist now!
Mike Blohm
Jul-12-2006, 10:03am
I'll Drive! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Darryl Wolfe
Jul-12-2006, 11:26am
Wow, those are really nice. Great work Mike.
dmamlep
Nov-27-2009, 9:42am
I have a 1996 Gibson F5L, do you make them different for these
JFDilmando
Nov-27-2009, 6:03pm
Can I ask a really basic question please... I am no builder nor luthier of any type... how would one go about taking off, the tuner buttons now installed ? I expect the installation of the new one would be fairly straight forward, but do you glue, or press fit ???
thanks all
JohnD
woodwizard
Nov-29-2009, 8:56pm
Here's my set from Mike on mine. I've had these for a while now and still luv em.
frankenstein
Nov-29-2009, 10:24pm
Don't overlook the fact that Mike builds an Incredibly Awesome mandolin as well..