Tuner advice

[Dshevy]

So, I took the cheap 14:1 Grover off of my Maestro 00 traditional. I have a set of Schaller GrandTune that out the box are smooth and well built.

When installed into the slotted headstock, the G and B string are super stiff. The rest are fine so I loosen the strings and take them off, the G and B go back to being smooth. So it’s only under tension that they bind and seize up. Any ideas?

Remember, slotted headstock.

Regards

[Dshevy]

No builders, luthiers or repair guys who can suggest how to fix this issue?

[Brucebubs]

Are the Grand Tunes designed for slotted headstock with the string hole in the middle of the post - like the tuner on the right in this picture?

[Dshevy]

Yeah they’re made for a slotted headstock. Ordered direct from Schaller.

[AndrewG]

I had the same stiffness issues with Waverly Snakewood button tuners on a slothead Brook 'Creedy' parlour I commissioned some 15 years ago. Disliked them immensely. Beautifully made but I felt the engineering tolerances were too tight and they just felt weird in use. I didn't change them and tolerated them until the guitar was sold. I doubt there's a fix for non-adjustable tuners.

[Coler]

Unfortunately I had this exact issue with the set of schallers that came on board my 000-28. Three of them in particular would practically seize up under tension and become impossible to turn by hand. The same tuners also rattled (the 'S' button on all of them was loose).

Martin arranged to send me a free set of Grovers to replace them. Kudos to them for acknowledging the issue. My guitar tech did try to rectify them before changing them out and he got some improvement but still not acceptable.

In short I would look to your seller to replace these or refund you.

[RoyBoy]

Schaller had some issues with Grandtunes I read about a few years back, but I thought they remedied them. Try lubricating them first. If that doesn't resolve the issue, return them.

I'm not sure about slotheads, but in regular open back tuners, Grover Sta-Tites and Gotohs seem to be dependable, smooth tuners. You'll have to check the specs to make sure they fit. Hopefully it's not a matter of the post holes being inaccurately drilled, in which case you'll need to consult a luthier.

[jpmist]

Originally Posted by Dshevy

When installed into the slotted headstock, the G and B string are super stiff. The rest are fine so I loosen the strings and take them off, the G and B go back to being smooth. So it’s only under tension that they bind and seize up. Any ideas?

Remember, slotted headstock.

Regards

I have a set of Grandtunes in my Taylor 322 and they look great and work fine. From my understanding some of these are offered with bushings that press into the headstock hole and some where the tuning peg inserts into bare wood. Mine are without bushings and I occasionally hear "creak" noises (not string/nut binding) when tuning which I figure is due to the metal post binding inside the wood headstock hole.

So my idea is if you don't have post bushings then I'd imagine some wax or oil might relieve the stiffness, but I've not been bothered enough to try. I'd also guess that over time the 30 lb force on the tuning peg will over time compress the headstock hole a bit and it'll loosen up.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by jpmist

So my idea is if you don't have post bushings then I'd imagine some wax or oil might relieve the stiffness, but I've not been bothered enough to try.

Some graphite powder would be a better idea than wax or oil.

[jpmist]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Some graphite powder would be a better idea than wax or oil.

Bingo! Yeah, I'd agree. If the creaking persists, that's what I'll try. Thx.