Non-standard tuning machines

[mandobassman]

I have a Breedlove Quartz OF that I have been wanting to change out the tuning machines for some time now. They're OK tuners but I've wanted to get a set that have black knobs. I also have a kick-around Johnson A-model that has a set of plain POS tuners (OK, so it's sort of a plain POS mandolin). But I thought when I got the new set for the Breedlove I would put the old Breedlove set on the Johnson. Problem is, I discovered the set on the Johnson is a non-standard post spacing. It looks as if it is around 31/32" or maybe 1'. Is there a decent set of tuners in existence that uses this spacing?

Thanks for any help in this matter.

[Paul Hostetter]

Please post some images of the ones you have.

[mandobassman]

The first 2 photos show the stock tuners that came with the Breedlove. Like I said they're decent tuners but I've always liked the black buttons. The 3rd photo shows the crappy Johnson tuners. These are the standard junk that comes with the usual Johnson/Rogue/Savannah. The spacing on the Johnson tuners appears to be about 1/8 or maybe even 3/16 larger space between posts. The 4th photo shows the economy tuners (from Stewart McDonald) that are used on the Breedlove.

[Bill Snyder]

That is strange. I am pretty sure the Johnson I had did not have the odd spacing your's has.

[Paul Hostetter]

The Breedlove has bottom-of-the-line Gotohs, which have standard .906" spacing. The new Stew-Mac catalog has a lot of possibilities for upgrades. I wouldn't bother doing anything about the tuners on the Johnson, other than lubing and adjusting them properly. They're ugly, but they'll work fine if you deal with them a little. For that matter, the budget Gotohs will work fine too with adjustment, but if you want black buttons check out http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/M...in_Tuners.html

[mandobassman]

That is strange. I am pretty sure the Johnson I had did not have the odd spacing your's has.

Bill, The odd thing is that I also have a Rogue that I bought for my son a while back. I checked and it is exactly the same as the Johnson. I'm not really surprised since they are almost exactly the same mandolin.

Paul, I already have a set from Stew Mac on order and should be here by as early as tomorrow. The problem is I was going to put the old ones from the Breedlove on the Johnson but they won't fit. I'm bummed because the Johnson's tuners are really lousy. Oh well, it's fitting...the Johnson is really a lousy mandolin.

But I'm still trying to find out if anyone makes a set to fit a 1" spacing.

[Paul Hostetter]

Rogue and Johnson are from completely different sources, in some instances very different ones even within a brand. Beware of superficial similarities. Neither is anything to write home (or on the internet) about.

You're stuck with those tuners. Really though, do something to make them work better.

[Michael Lewis]

The alternative is to plug and re-drill the holes. You get to decide if it is worth the effort or money.

[mandobassman]

Rogue and Johnson are from completely different sources, in some instances very different ones even within a brand. Beware of superficial similarities.

I know your a luthier Paul but I find it hard to believe that these mandolins are from different sources. No "superficial" similarities here. They're identical in every respect except for the name on the headstock. BTW, I've been playing mandolin for 35 years, I know what I have here. I know they're lousy mandolins. I got the Rogue for my son (5) to mess with but it's practically unplayable. I later got the Johnson, which is identical, except is much easier to play. I don't have any mis-guided ideas that either will be a good mandolin. I simply thought that since I was changing the Breedlove's tuners I would put the old ones on the Johnson. Since they wont fit I thought I'd ask if there were better replacements that would fit. If not, no big deal. They're is no making these tuners work better, they're junk.

[Paul Hostetter]

I have worked with the company that markets the Johnson brand. They have nothing to do with Rogue. I suppose it's possible they once sourced a batch of Johnsons from the same shop that made some for Rogue, and if so, it was a brief connection (see post #4 above). They're much more keen on refining their Recording King and "The Loar" lines, and I doubt they track such details with their Johnson and Savannah lines. Working out such details for such marginal instruments is not of much interest to me either.

With regard to your non-standard tuners, I've led the horse to water. From 3000 miles away, there's not more I can do. Since you're bent on replacing rather than fixing, small guitar singles such as one sees in the compact 6-in-line configurations (you can buy them in 3-left/3-right and buy two more singles) will quite likely fit.



This is not the path I would recommend—I wouldn't spend the money—but you evidently know better than I.

[mandobassman]

Thanks Paul! I wasn't really bent on doing anything. I know this mandolin is not worth putting that much effort into. I just wanted to know if there was a direct replacement utilizing that spacing. There is not, so I will leave it as is. Thanks for everyone's response.