Golden Age Tuners

[Justin E.]

Has anyone used Stew-Mac's tuning Golden Age tuning machines? They look pretty nice, especially for the price. Only thing I don't like is the lack of pearl knobs, which one should be able to get and change out.

[dunwell]

Has anyone used Stew-Mac's tuning Golden Age tuning machines? They look pretty nice, especially for the price. Only thing I don't like is the lack of pearl knobs, which one should be able to get and change out.

I used them on my last two F-Styles. They are quite good, thick backing plate and smooth gears. One shaft was a bit tight to begin with but I just turned it a few times and then it was fine. The bushings seemed to be just a tad larger diameter from what I remember the Shaller ones being but if they were it wasn't much. The ivoroid knobs were actually rather nice. I will probably continue to use them.

Alan D.

[Justin E.]

Cool. Thanks. I'm only gearing up to build my third one. My first two were pretty bad but good learning experiences. Don't know what I had on them, but they have a quarter of a turn play on them before they catch on the worm gear.

[Glassweb]

I bought a set, used them for a few days and then returned them... didn't like 'em. They did not engage well... too much play for me. Gotoh is the way to go for inexpensive tuners. Good enough for Gilchrist, good enough for me!

[multidon]

Funny Glassweb had problems with play and not engaging well. I had the opposite experience. I bought an "A" set several years ago for a kit build. At the time they were marked "Elite". Mine had the ivoroid knobs which I liked. I thought they engaged very well and had virtually no play, smooth feel. Since then they have had a reworking and a "new improved" label. I don't know if they are manufactured by the same folks or not. The A model has glued on knobs. I think the F are screw on. Anyways, I was installing new strings and being rather enthusiastic with the string winder, and one of my knobs crumbled off. Stew Mac did not have replacement buttons for this model listed. I sent their customer service department e-mail asking if they knew of a source for the replacement knobs. They answered that they would be happy to replace the entire set of tuners if I would send back the old ones so they could examine them. I had no expectation that they should do that but I took them up on it since there seems to be no such thing as replacement knobs. I think they sell knobs that will go on the F style. The new ones, not marked "elite", have a thicker plate and beefier feel than the old ones. I like them even better. I put them way ahead of the Gotohs on my Breedlove, which I don't care for. Isn't it funny how 2 people can have such an opposite experience? I will say, however, that Stew Mac stands behind their products much more than most companies would.

[Justin E.]

I agree. I can't remember if the last ones I used were Gotoh or Schaller. They had a gold base plate and black knob shaft. They have plastic screw on pearl looking knobs. Blame things turn 1/4 a turn before engaging. He, and I, could've just got a bad set. It happens.

[sunburst]

Black shafts suggest Grover. They have a crazy gear ratio (18 to 1?) so you have to turn them a lot to get anything to happen.
I've has good luck with the Stewmac 'golden age' tuners, and though I used to use Gotohs as my 'default' tuner, I've about given up on them because the maker has made them worse, apparently intending to improve them.

[Justin E.]

It's by that. They turn freely a quarter of a turn before there is any resistance. I remember you posting something about that in another thread. Something about the shaft designed to reduce play or something along those lines.