Schaller Grand Tune machine problem

[jpmist]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse

I found that with Martin they want you to bring it to an authorized service center in order to get them replaced. With Schaller, they just send you new ones. I decided to go through Schaller directly.

Ah, yet another reason I don't put much faith in new guitar warranties.

My faith in my GrandTunes is undiminished since all 6 work great. Good call, hope it resolves ok.

[Mandobart]

I bought a very lightly used late 2017 Martin HD-28 in March of this year with Schaller Grand Tune open tuners. No problems at all over several string changes.

I also replaced the original no name tuners on my Eastman archtop archtop MDC805 mandocello with Schaller Grand Tune 4 on a plate F style mandolin tuners a couple years ago. They also have worked perfectly.

[tomcstokes59]

I have 2.5 year old set on my E40OM that work beautifully. I have had to replace 4 of the 6 on my E10OM. I bought those thru Sport HiTech and they were very good at getting replacements sent.

[MrDB]

They came on my 000-42. At the first string change the B string tuner came apart as I was loosening the strings.

I called Martin customer service and they immediately sent me a replacement.

No problems since.

[tippy5]

I have had a discrepancy with my G string Grand tuner replacements on my Les Paul-ES.

I should write and get a new set.

[Brucebubs]

I seem to recall Martin have stopped using these now?

[UncleJesse]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I seem to recall Martin have stopped using these now?

They indeed have stopped using them on all models. I'm betting reliability played a factor.

[Mandobart]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse

They indeed have stopped using them on all models. I'm betting reliability played a factor.

Anyone know what they're using now?

[UncleJesse]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

Anyone know what they're using now?

Grovers on most of them.

[archerscreek]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse

I found that with Martin they want you to bring it to an authorized service center in order to get them replaced. With Schaller, they just send you new ones. I decided to go through Schaller directly.

My experience with Martin was different. I called Martin customer service to report the problem and they not only sent me two new tuners to cover the two faulty ones, but they sent additional ones just in case something came up in the future.

[phcorrigan]

I replaced the original tuners on my 2012 Martin HD-28V with Gotohs because the G tuner was binding. You should be able to find a drop-in replacement. Philadelphia Luthier Tool & Supply has a large selection of Gotoh tuners.

[Cal_Native]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

What's so grand about these tuning keys if this is what they do?

The price

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by archerscreek

My experience with Martin was different. I called Martin customer service to report the problem and they not only sent me two new tuners to cover the two faulty ones, but they sent additional ones just in case something came up in the future.

They probably sent you those extra ones because the next time you (or, anybody else, for that matter) calls Martin for replacements they can honestly say they are all out and will no longer carry/offer them, as they quit using those Grand things.

Sad, really, as Schaller makes a great product, otherwise.

[Rev Roy]

It’s not all doom and gloom. As I said when I first responded to this old thread a year ago (see post #3) the GrandTunes that came on my D-41 performed flawlessly for the three years that I owned it. Also, they came on the Bourgeois I just bought (see sig) and though they are two years old so far so good. No surprise. Dana isn’t known for putting junk on his guitars.

Here’s a yearlong, 3-page thread from UMGF where the GrandTunes get generally good reviews...including from at least one well-respected luthier (Sexauer).
https://umgf.com/what-do-we-know-abo...s-t190419.html

Would GrandTunes be my first choice for a guitar? Nope. I’d prefer Waverlys like I have on my Collings. But if they continue to function as well as those on my D-41 I’m pretty sure I can live with them...

[theEdwinson]

I bought three sets of Schaller Grand Tune tuners (direct from Schaller in Germany) in 2018 for three show guitars I was building. They looked beautiful, but when I installed them on the guitars, a weird rattle happened on all the guitars- three different sized models, with differing scale lengths too- all apparently had a sympathetic resonance with the G string. It was impossible to isolate and fix though, and very annoying.

In addition to that problem, every single tuning machine- all eighteen of them- had a significant amount of "slop" in the worm and gear mechanism. Some had as much as 1/4 of loose turn before the gear engaged the worm. I've had this happen almost every time I've used Waverly tuners at customers' request also. I guess some people consider the backlash and slop to be desirable "vintage" spec or something.

These Grand Tune tuners cost me over $500 for the three sets, and they were utterly useless. They are expensive, defective, useless crap, in my opinion. I will NOT make that mistake again.