Hi all. Been starting to play my mandolin a bit more now that I'm retired but I really can't stand the tuners that came stock on my Rover RM-75. I know it's a cheap mandolin but there must be something better that won't break the bank.
Thanks,
Rex
Hi all. Been starting to play my mandolin a bit more now that I'm retired but I really can't stand the tuners that came stock on my Rover RM-75. I know it's a cheap mandolin but there must be something better that won't break the bank.
Thanks,
Rex
The Golden Age tuners from StewMac start around $60 and they aren't worth $1 in my experience. I'm on my second set of them on my Collings and they are junk. Grovers might be better and will be around the same price point. Rubners get good reviews here. And of course, some will probably point out that with replacement tuners you are a third of the way (or so) to a much better mandolin.
...
Rubners will cost more than the cost of the mandolin, but you could always swap them out when you upgrade. Otherwise buy the Grovers.
Anybody have experience with the Gotoh MF40?
Rex
MF40's are fine tuners. Post a picture of the current tuners.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I've had good luck with my schallers from lmi
OK, you just need to measure the distance post center to post center to see if it's 23 mm. That will tell you if the spacing is standard. I think it will be but every now and again (like on a Kentucky KM150) they use an odd sized set of tuners.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
You'll need worm-over tuning machines.
As long as the existing tuners have the standard 23mm post spacing, I'd check out these Grover 309FN for $63
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Grover-Delu...N/323132848278
Here they are for $48 + shipping
https://www.instrumentalley.com/Grov...1-gv-309fn.htm
Front to front or back to back of the tuner shaft is a better line, and easier to see than guessing a center, and is the same measurement.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
I installed a set of these on one of my students' mandolins a few months ago and they are working well. I will note that I lubricated them before I installed them. This involved loosening the tuner shafts so I could get a drop of oil under the gears, and snugging them back up This should be done on all replacement tuners, no matter who makes them.
Note: The Golden Age "Restoration Tuners" have the pre-1930's 15/16" shaft spacing and are not suitable for most modern mandolins. The other models, with "arrow end" base plates have the modern 29/32" shaft spacing, and should fit most modern instruments.
Just a note on the new Grovers. Worm over tuners will turn backwards and get the specs on the length of the shaft holding the buttons. They are short.
There are MF-40 worm over tuners available from Gotoh that turn the right way. There were Rubner worm over tuners that turned the right way available as well. Those were more expensive and may be out of stock right now. Schaller worm over in the old style were available that turned the right way and the wrong way. I have no idea if Schaller is even making a worm over in their new style.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I put a set of Golden Gates on my Rover RM-35s and they are a full order of magnitude better than what it came with (not saying that much, they were sloppy garbage). So far they are doing great. True, though, that you can find Gotoh or Grover for not much more, and they both have great reputations.
We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams
I don't think the Golden Age come in worm over. It's a moot point for the OP.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Thanks for all the great advise. Already measured and they are 23mm. Probably will go with either Grover or Gotoh whichever I can get cheaper. I'm sure either one has to be better than what's on there now.
Rex
Again, the Grover's will turn backward. They simply reversed the order on their worm under tuners. The best price you will find for Gotoh worm over nickel tuners that turn correctly is here. I bought a set a while back from this guy.
NFI
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I have a set I bought for a project that I put mother-of-pearl buttons on and replaced all the screws with slot head screws. They look to be really nice. They come in the AllParts packaging.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I found the lower cost Stew Mac tuners, on a mandolin, with peg hole spacing issues ,
worked better than the Waverly.
the issue was more the peg head issues than the tuners on a 3rd hand mandolin buy..
(the damaged Waverly tuners were not disclosed by the seller of course)
Stew Mac to their credit tried repairing them , then replaced them , which I then sold.
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
So far two others on the Cafe got the worm overs. He also sells the worm under. Somebody probably grabbed the wrong product. Let us know what happens. I don't want to keep suggesting the guy as a source if he ships the wrong stuff.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Well, Arkansas Music Works has been very responsive. They requested pictures of the All Parts packaging including the UPC code on the back. They got right back after I sent them the pictures and claim it was an All Parts error. The package did say MF40 rather than MF40R. Unfortunately, they are now out of stock but have them on order. They promise to get me a correct set as soon as they come in.
Rex
That's understandable. I would assume All Parts buys in bulk and packages themselves. Let us know when it's resolved.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Backwards is counter clockwise to everywhere but mandolin gears it seems..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
Finally got the correct tuners. They feel so much better than the cheap originals. Arkansas MusicWorks was very communicative and easy to work with. I had installed the new press fit bushings and they were fine with removing the hardware from the new set. Apparently it was All Parts that mis-labeled the package. Funny because Arkansas MusicWorks sells the worm under at a higher price.
Going to get it strung up later today and get back to playing.
Rex
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