5 tuners machine head

[btwo]

I am looking for machine heads with 5 tuners each. Could anybody help me with a supplier?

The Cuatro does have such machine heads, but I could not find any source for buing that without the instrument.

Regards

[LongBlackVeil]

I am looking for machine heads with 5 tuners each. Could anybody help me with a supplier?

The Cuatro does have such machine heads, but I could not find any source for buing that without the instrument.

Regards

why not just buy ten individual tuners?

[EdHanrahan]

Depending on the post-to-post spacing, some folks have cut down 12-string guitar tuners. Here's one from Stew-Mac, and they have others. Note the detailed drawings w/ measurements to the thousandths:
http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_...ad_Guitar.html

[Jim Garber]

I am not sure what quality you are looking for. These cuatro tuners are pretty inexpensive. Scroll down or search for TK7929G or TKWD1278C.

[billhay4]

Rubner. Will take a while to get, but they are quite nice. Not overly expensive either. The set of very ornate ones for my new mando by Marty Jacobson were around $250. You can see them on his social group site on this website.
Bill

[Pete Jenner]

why not just buy ten individual tuners?

Weight.

I recently bought a set of 4 on a plate very plain gold Rubners for $56 - cheaper than Grovers.

[Marty Jacobson]

Here are the Rubners Bill mentioned. These were very reasonably priced, not sure what pricing is like individually since I usually place orders of several sets at a time, but they are very reasonably price. I've ordered a dozen or so sets of these so far, and with the Moldflon bearings, and they are great. Amazing quality for the price (or any price).

The local source is Kent George: http://www.rubnertuners.com/

[LongBlackVeil]

Weight.

I recently bought a set of 4 on a plate very plain gold Rubners for $56 - cheaper than Grovers.

would 2 5 on a plate tuners really be less weight than 10 individual tuners?

it seems like the individual ones would weight less, there is less metal. But i do admit the plate tuners do look much nicer

[Pete Jenner]

My understanding is, the individual ones are heavier.

[billhay4]

The Gotoh Stealths would be lighter, but recent reports on them report a lot of inconsistent backlash.
Bill

[Jim Garber]

Here are the Rubners Bill mentioned. These were very reasonably priced, not sure what pricing is like individually since I usually place orders of several sets at a time, but they are very reasonably price. I've ordered a dozen or so sets of these so far, and with the Moldflon bearings, and they are great. Amazing quality for the price (or any price).

Just curious... would a 5-on-a-plate have to be custom ordered? i can't seem to find them on the Rubner site.

[billhay4]

I believe they were custom ordered, Jim.
Bill

[Nevin]

I think plate tuners are lighter than sealed individual tuners. BTW Rubners are very respected in upright bass world.

[btwo]

"Normal" tunes have a spacing of about 2,8 cm. The smallest spacing between individual tuners I found was 2,35 cm. I found to drill the holes in the headstock is very awkward. With tuning machines in one piece i remove the tuning posts and have a template i use for the drilling.

regards

[btwo]

The higher weight indeed is another argument against individual tuners.

Many thanks to the list for help and the rich list of possible vendors!

Regards

[LongBlackVeil]

I think plate tuners are lighter than sealed individual tuners. BTW Rubners are very respected in upright bass world.

im not talking about sealed tuners though, im talking about something like this



it seems that would weight a little less than a plate tuner because there are essentially the same thing but the plate tuners have more metal to connect them all

[Nevin]

im not talking about sealed tuners though, im talking about something like this



it seems that would weight a little less than a plate tuner because there are essentially the same thing but the plate tuners have more metal to connect them all

I would think so too.

[Eric Foulke]

im not talking about sealed tuners though, im talking about something like this



it seems that would weight a little less than a plate tuner because there are essentially the same thing but the plate tuners have more metal to connect them all

Not really, plate tuners share both structure and screws between the posts; a typical mandolin plate tuner uses 5 screws vs. 8 screws for the same number typical individual tuners.

[Bernie Daniel]

I believe they were custom ordered, Jim.
Bill

You can also get a set from AllParts but again you have to call and arrange to get them. I was unable to order them off the web page for some reason -- and I don't remember what it was -- but you need to talk to a human. Here they are on the 5-course mandocello I converted over from an arch top.

[Bernie Daniel]

I would think so too.

The five individual tuners might be lighter --not sure about that. But you might find the 5 individual tuners take up more linear distance on the headstock? Need to do some careful measuring I guess.

[LongBlackVeil]

The five individual tuners might be lighter --not sure about that. But you might find the 5 individual tuners take up more linear distance on the headstock? Need to do some careful measuring I guess.

I think any weight difference would be negligible honestly. I suggested individual tuners simply because they are much easier to find and you wouldn't have to custom order something

[Nevin]

You can easily make a jig for individual tuners too.

[allenhopkins]

My five-course Lehmann mandolin/dola uses these AllParts tuners, and they're only $25.

Seem to work fine, though I've only had the instrument about 14 months. No problems at all.

[John Morton]

Weight.

I recently bought a set of 4 on a plate very plain gold Rubners for $56 - cheaper than Grovers.

Just ordered a set of Rubners from Kent George, 5 on a plate, plain nickel, ivoroid buttons, $168. I'm taking a chance on the quality I need to suit the instrument.

[Marty Jacobson]

I've never been disappointed with the quality. They are consistently nice. As a metalworker yourself, you'll appreciate the surface finish and general machining work that goes into making them. From the pictures of their shop, it looks like they still run their lathes off of line shafts.