Kentucky Mandolin Tuners

[Rwgrigg]

Where can I get tuners for my Kentucky mandolin? The Grovers I got from Stewart-Mac didn't work. The "buttons" were too close to the head because the shafts were too short. The tuners did fit into the holes in the head OK.

[DataNick]

Which model do you have? It appears that most of the models above the entry level ones use Gotohs

[Rwgrigg]

It's a KM-675.

[MikeEdgerton]

Grovers have very short "stems" for lack of another word. Gotoh's and Schallers have longer. You need to make sure you get them with the right orientation, worm under or worm over. Some inexpensive Kentucky's have been coming with some strange tuner post spacings as well.

Janet Davis Music (www.jdmc.com) sells Schaller tuners in worm over and worm under configuration. Elderly (www.elderly.com) sells Gotoh tuners in both configurations. Both of these will clear the headstock. I have no idea why the Grovers are so short.

If your Kentucky looks like this those appear to be Gotoh tuners. These are worm over tuners.

[DataNick]

It's a KM-675.

The KM-650 comes with Gotoh's, I'm not sure about the 675; everything else you need to know, Mike detailed above...good luck!

[Rwgrigg]

I bought the KM-675 at a good price. The tuners didn't match when I bought it. One tuner looks like a Golden Gate which Saga sells (and makes the Kentucky). Don't know why someone would change one of the tuners but the one I can't identify looks like its made better and holds "tune" better. I've looked at Janet Davis, Elderly, Gotoh, and every other tuner manufacturer I can think of and don't see the tuner. The one I'm looking for has the gear shaft completely enclosed instead of the "C" shaped "gear shaft holder on the Golden Gate tuner. See pictures. Does anyone have any idea who makes the one I'm looking for? Sent an email to Saga with pictures. They haven't replied!!

[MikeEdgerton]

I honestly can't tell you who made that tuner but can you tell me the distance center to center of the posts? There are a dozen or so no name brand tuners that show up on eBay.

[Folkmusician.com]

I recognize the tuners as OEM on some mandolins. I believe they were used on some of the Kentuckys. Did you by chance get that from Saga?

[Folkmusician.com]

Ahh... The rover RM-75 has the same plate (I think), but non removable buttons and nickel.

[Rwgrigg]

The KM-675 was bought at a local music store about 12 years ago.

[MikeEdgerton]

Was bought from the shop with the mismatched tuners?

[Rwgrigg]

Yep. A friend of mine bought it and I bought it from him. He didn't check the tuners!

[Rwgrigg]

The shafts on the Schallers at JDMC and the Gotohs at Elderly both look too short!

[MikeEdgerton]

The Schaller's are longer than the Gotoh's and they both are longer than the Grovers. Rubner's are slightly longer than the Schallers. I don't know what else you're going to find that are longer.

[MikeEdgerton]

Are these the tuners you are looking for?