Schaller Grand Tune Keys-A Well Kept Secret?

[guitararmy]

Those look nice! Is Schaller the same German company from the old days or a newer company using the same name?

[kiva238]

Originally Posted by guitararmy

Those look nice! Is Schaller the same German company from the old days or a newer company using the same name?

It appears to be.

I'm old enough to remember when Schaller tuners had "Made in W. Germany" stamped on the back!

[guitararmy]

Originally Posted by kiva238

It appears to be.

I'm old enough to remember when Schaller tuners had "Made in W. Germany" stamped on the back!

Me too! I still have them.

[rct]

And

GROVER
USA

rct

[Mr Fingers]

I'm probably wrong, but I would suspect that companies shifting to Schaller are doing so based on pricing in bulk. My Collings has Waverlys and they work fine but never struck me as special. I've used all kinds of Schallers over the years, and they have always been very good. I don't find either brand to be particularly good feeling or remarkable -- they just don't slip or demonstrate as much slack as some others. I honestly don't know why tuners are not better than they are, or why the good ones are so overpriced. But at least there's some competition out there now, though I'll bet Waverlys will continue to rule because they got in the door first in the new/vintage niche.

[cigarfan]

Bruce Sexauer, a respected builder and sponsor here on AGF uses the Schaller tuning machines. I plan to ask for them on my build.

[tippy5]

I am taken by them! I have used Shaller's with good success with some of my electrics over the years.
Very smooth and I think cosmetically they will be an improvement for my latest Goodall that currently sport the simple gold Waverlies.
Thanks to OP I will order them same footprint. I don't care for the Waverly gold button look. I replaced my Martin 000-18 with some Waverly snakehead tuners.

Now I am wondering what buttons, and post color, will look comfortable with the black ebony headstock with maple binding?
I am thinking chrome with the off white oval buttons to match the nut and saddle? eBay has a dozen colors available from France.

Just ordered Black with ivoroid buttons!

[dgt178]

Originally Posted by kiva238

It appears to be.

I'm old enough to remember when Schaller tuners had "Made in W. Germany" stamped on the back!

.....exactly what it says on the back of my Ovation's Schallers....."Made in W. Germany".....great tuners......

[drive-south]

Originally Posted by hearsedriver

I think of Waverly's as the Cadillac of tuners whereas the Schallers are the Mercedes-Benz of tuners. German engineering is hard to beat! Im fond of the Chevrolet of tuners...Grover 18:1's.

And Gotoh is the Lexus.

[drive-south]

Hipshot makes great tuners but they dont have the look most people want on an acoustic. They are made in USA.

[Brucebubs]

These Graph Tech tuners are interesting.



Different ratio for each string.

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

These Graph Tech tuners are interesting.



Different ratio for each string.

Sorry Bruce. I tried these and the quality is no where as good as even a Grover 18:1. They started to fail in a year. :-(. It is possible I got a bad set. Because, honestly, I love the idea, and I wanted to love the tuners.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Those Schiller Grand Tunes ...
Schafer grand tunes ...

...

Shiller

Schafer

Schaller

[Jasper64]

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

Off topic, but if you like the Grovers, try Gotoh SE Series tuners some time. I've come to rely on these above Waverly or any other tuners.

Love Gotoh! 21:1