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Thread: replacement for Eastman mandocello tuners

  1. #1
    Registered User craig.collas's Avatar
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    Default replacement for Eastman mandocello tuners

    have any of you mandocello playing folk changed the tuners on your MC
    currently I have the stock tuners on my Eastman 805 but they are hard work.
    Can you suggest upgrades that fit?
    Thanks
    Have great day
    Craig

  2. #2
    Registered User Mandobart's Avatar
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    Default Re: replacement for Eastman mandocello tuners

    I replaced the original Pingwell tuners mostly because I didn't like their look. My violin finish MDC 805 has an ebony fretboard and the ebony cover on the tailpiece with gold colored hardware. I added a Stew-Mac Kent Armstrong floating neck pickup with the gold finish and an ebony Benedetto finger rest for the volume and tone pots. I added a slimline John Pearse ebony arm rest too. The silver finish ping's with those ugly pearloid buttons were a hideous contrast (IMO).

    So I bought a set of satin finish gold colored Schaller Grand Tune F style tuning machines with ebony buttons. The post spacing and diameter was fine. The Schaller bushings had a smaller OD so I had to build them up a little to fit snug (thin coats of superglue, allowed to dry completely before inserting). I had to drill one more hole on the back of the headstock for each plate for the mounting screws. They've been working great for the past few years.

    I've replaced tuning machines on 8 instruments now and have yet to find a perfect drop-in fit with no drilling required when changing brands.

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  4. #3
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: replacement for Eastman mandocello tuners

    Quote Originally Posted by craig.collas View Post
    have any of you mandocello playing folk changed the tuners on your MC
    currently I have the stock tuners on my Eastman 805 but they are hard work.
    Can you suggest upgrades that fit?
    Thanks
    Have great day
    I switched the stock ones out for some Grovers... 409s?

    I had to move the shafts on the tuners (short ones to long ones, etc,) and drill one new hole for each side, but no holes show and they work just fine.
    Eastman 915 B Mando
    Eastman MD-314 Mando
    Eastman MD-524 Mando
    Godin A-8 Mando
    Eastman MDO305 OM
    Eastman ER1 Mando
    TC Bouzouki TM375 Zook
    Eastman MDC-804 'Cello
    Eastman E60M
    Epiphone "Hummingbird"

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