I finally pulled the trigger

[MikeEdgerton]

The next step is to determine if the screw holes line up. Most do. Three need to be filled and re-drilled. The two tops are off about 1/16th of an inch. The one bottom screw is simply a hair off but enough to cause an issue. I use the Mike Edgerton method of sticking round tooth picks in the screw holes to figure out what is inline. Note the bottom toothpick on the bass side is at quite the angle.

[MikeEdgerton]

Time to fill in the holes that we need to re-drill they won't show so I'm not crazy about finishing them. I cut the very tip off one of the round toothpicks and roll it in white glue. I insert it into the hole. I then repeat that step so that all three errant holes are filled. I use a sharp chisel to remove the excess toothpick.

[MikeEdgerton]

I insert one of the Waverly mounting screws into each screw hole and screw it in to make sure I won't have any problems getting the screw in. I hate mangled screw slots. They ruin my day. I have marked where the new screw holes need to be drilled. That awl is pointing to the spot. I don't have any screw stops that are small enough for the 1/16th drill I'm using so I mark the depth I want to go with tape. Warning, the tape moves. Check it before you start each screw hole.

[MikeEdgerton]

I recheck the screw holes I drilled and they are fine. I install the tuners and put in all the mounting screws. I put the bridge back in place and resting the mandolin using a small rare earth magnet to hold the string on the hook. The strings are back on, the tuners work well (as expected). I bring it up to pitch, stretch the strings and she's back in her case. Now I can look forward to that reamer and doing the bushings. This part is done.

[Drew Egerton]

Mike,

Fantastic documentation on this process, thank you!
I'm definitely interested in hearing more about your thoughts on the Waverlys after you use them a while.

[MikeEdgerton]

After a few days of playing with these Waverly tuners I can say they are truly great. Are they head and shoulders above the Gibson Grover tuners? Probably not as those are some fine tuners but there is something about these tuners. This thing doesn't seem to go out of tune unless the temperature changes. Smooth, solid. I'm sure some of this comes from the psychological part of me that says "Hey, you spent a lot of money and time changing these tuners, they better be good!" I'm not really noticing that the headstock is any less balanced, no F5 I have ever played was balanced. They certainly are a work of art though. One of the tuner screws had obviously been changed, another was corroded a bit. I was able to clean up the corroded one but the only Waverly tuner button screws I could find were bright nickel. I will eventually dull that one down. I'm quite happy with these.

[Austin Bob]

They are nice tuners, aren't they?

So how is the post length on your Gibson? Do they look ok, or is yours like mine and the strings are a bit too close to the peghead?

[Mike Snyder]

Curiosity only. My F5G is a January '05. What month is yours? Oh, nice job on the tuners. That's something I'd take to the luthier since I don't really have a shop. Or a lot of skills.

[Mark Wilson]

I put the bridge back in place and resting the mandolin using a small rare earth magnet to hold the string on the hook

idea

Sweet looking Gibson - well done on the tuners! I wouldn't have the nerve. Drilling on a nice mandolin ain't for me

Where did you get the personalized cover?

[MikeEdgerton]

They are nice tuners, aren't they?

So how is the post length on your Gibson? Do they look ok, or is yours like mine and the strings are a bit too close to the peghead?

The posts could be a hair longer but there is still plenty of room.

[MikeEdgerton]

...Where did you get the personalized cover?

I got it from the "old" First Quality Music (before the founder Bill Sullivan died). They had great stuff. Not so much any more. I would love to be able to get another one for my mandola. England's (www.custominlay.com) sells the covers and does engraving. I've purchased plain covers from them but I haven't checked out their engraving.

http://shop.custominlay.com/Banjo-Ma...hape-3-737.htm

[MikeEdgerton]

Curiosity only. My F5G is a January '05. What month is yours? Oh, nice job on the tuners. That's something I'd take to the luthier since I don't really have a shop. Or a lot of skills.

January 7, 2005, number 10.

[Phil Goodson]

Mike,
FYI, Four years ago I swopped out some Stewmac Golden Vintage tuners for some Waverlys. Went just as you described; no problems. I asked the luthier whether I should change the bushings to the ones that came with the Waverlys and he felt that there was no need to change them. The W tuners just dropped in and I've used the mando daily for 4 years now. No problems whatsoever with the Golden Age bushings.
Just wanted you to be aware of that experience before you commit to changing the bushings (which might be harder than it looks).

[foldedpath]

Mike,
FYI, Four years ago I swopped out some Stewmac Golden Vintage tuners for some Waverlys. Went just as you described; no problems. I asked the luthier whether I should change the bushings to the ones that came with the Waverlys and he felt that there was no need to change them. The W tuners just dropped in and I've used the mando daily for 4 years now. No problems whatsoever with the Golden Age bushings.
Just wanted you to be aware of that experience before you commit to changing the bushings (which might be harder than it looks).

Same experience here, with two sets of Schallers on different instruments (Lebeda mandolin and Weber OM).

Both had larger diameter holes in the headstock for the Schaller bushings, so the smaller bushings that came with the Waverly replacements wouldn't fit. Not without filling and re-drilling the bushing countersink, which I was not going to bother with unless I had to. So I tried using the original bushings (actually a gold replacement of the same size from StewMac in one case). They have been working fine now for 3 years and 1 year, respectively. Smooth as silk.

The inside diameter on the original bushings wasn't exactly the same as that of the Waverly bushings, they were just a hair wider. But apparently it was close enough.

[MikeEdgerton]

I have the tool coming. I'll make a dry run test.

[pops1]

I put tuners on my A2 decades ago, they turn backwards. It was a quick learning curve and didn't bother me. I don't play it as much as when it was my main mandolin, but it is not a problem to go back and tune it.

Didn't read far enough I guess this is way too late. Ah well a day late and a dollar short.

[Gary Leonard]

Thanks Mike for the excellent step by step and pictures. I don't think I would have attempted my Rubner installation on my MT-O today without this information.

[Nick Gellie]

After a few days of playing with these Waverly tuners I can say they are truly great. Are they head and shoulders above the Gibson Grover tuners? Probably not as those are some fine tuners but there is something about these tuners. This thing doesn't seem to go out of tune unless the temperature changes. Smooth, solid. I'm sure some of this comes from the psychological part of me that says "Hey, you spent a lot of money and time changing these tuners, they better be good!" I'm not really noticing that the headstock is any less balanced, no F5 I have ever played was balanced. They certainly are a work of art though. One of the tuner screws had obviously been changed, another was corroded a bit. I was able to clean up the corroded one but the only Waverly tuner button screws I could find were bright nickel. I will eventually dull that one down. I'm quite happy with these.

Maybe you should suggest to Mike Compton that he gets Waverleys on his Gilchrist F5. We was constantly retuning the E strings the last time I saw him perform. I am not sure what tuning machines he uses but it must be a major distraction to him. On the upside he sets up a good conversation with his audience while retuning.

[Mandobar]

Remember, Mike lives in the US and if you saw him in Australia the climate change would be wreaking havoc on his mandolin. No tuners will cure that.

[Astro]

I think he fiddles with tuning to provide the space to talk a bit. Its sort of part his presentation method. I'm sure he is tuning too, but lots of detuning so he can tune. I see a number of musicians doing this as sort of a nervous habit or signature twitch when talking to the audience...