grover vs. gotoh tuners

jivetrain · March 5th, 2008, 05:36 PM

these seem to be popular tuners here so i hope you guys have your opinions ready to rip. i'm replacing the F tuners that come stock on the MIM reissue guitars and have narrowed it down to either the vintage gotohs:

or the vintage grovers:

these both cost the exact same price and are the exact same size, so i have no real incentive to choose one over the other. can anyone give me their take on either or both of these tuners?

pchilson · March 5th, 2008, 05:59 PM

I can't give you an opinion as I don't have either but can you give a link to these?

Thanks

jivetrain · March 5th, 2008, 06:08 PM

sure. the gotoh page is here: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/t...nlinegotoh.htm

grover here: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/tuners_grover6.htm

i have to say i'm leaning towards the gotohs right now, just because i like their looks and they have a better gear ratio.

Kobedog · March 5th, 2008, 06:41 PM

Be careful with the screws that come with the Gotohs...a little longer than most and are very easy to strip...I had to get a shorter set of screws from my tech to install them.

woodman · March 5th, 2008, 07:54 PM

my first priority is stable tuning, but a close second is how quickly i can change a string if i pop one onstage. the Gotoh Klusons rule in this respect. stick 'er in the hole, twist around peg, tune up and you're back in the race.

i don't pop many, but it happens to everybody sometime. i'm sure most of you guys carry a backup on the job, but i've only liked to play one guitar over the last seven years, the only one that talked. so if a string broke, i'd just try to get another one on within a minute and a half while the bass player tells the story about how he wasn't really in prison.

but all that guitar monogamy's subject to change at this point, since i got a build going ... it too will have Gotoh Klusons on it.

Rich Rice · March 6th, 2008, 06:20 AM

Not all Grovers are created equal.. Go with the Gotohs. Great, solid tuners. Be sure to drill the holes big enough and deep enough (don't go through the face of the headstock), lubricate each screw with a drop of soap before you install it, and the screws work just fine. If it feels the least bit tight, stop- back it out, redrill your hole, and reinstall. DO NOT FORCE IT AT ALL. Sure beats trying to drill out a broken screw. The right size drill for those Gotoh screws is 5/64".

PJ · March 6th, 2008, 06:51 AM

I've had good success with the Grovers. They'll drop right into the stock ferrules that ship on the Classic Series guitars, whereas the Gotoh posts are larger than the stock ferrules and will require you to change the ferrules, which, for me, presented another problem. The Gotoh ferrules were loose in the factory holes. So, using the Grovers, at least for me, made the job a 2-3 minute breeze. And, at International Luthier Supply (in Tulsa), they were reasonably priced at $29/set. I have Klusons, Gotohs and Grovers on various guitars and the Grovers are at least as good as the others, IMHO.

PJ · March 6th, 2008, 06:55 AM

Here's the Grovers:

Nick Fanis · March 6th, 2008, 07:03 AM

Quote:

i'm replacing the F tuners that come stock on the MIM reissue

you can't do that ,the F tuners require larger holes so the Kluson style tuners will "float" in the existing holes,you will need conversion bushings for a snug fit.

Furthermore you will have to drill new mounting holes cause the screw pattern is different.

Lastly the Schaller made F tuners are fine tuners & don't need replacement

blackbelt308 · March 6th, 2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

you can't do that ,the F tuners require larger holes so the Kluson style tuners will "float" in the existing holes,you will need conversion bushings for a snug fit.

Furthermore you will have to drill new mounting holes cause the screw pattern is different.

Is this also the case for the factory tuners on a MIM standard?

Thanks,
Rick

jivetrain · March 6th, 2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Fanis

you can't do that ,the F tuners require larger holes so the Kluson style tuners will "float" in the existing holes,you will need conversion bushings for a snug fit.

Furthermore you will have to drill new mounting holes cause the screw pattern is different.

i've already ordered the conversion bushings and the gotohs, so i think i'll be fine there. from what i know the bushings will allow a vintage 8.75mm post to fit a modern 10mm hole. and as far as i know, the F tuners have 10mm holes drilled for them. the screws shouldn't be too big a deal to drill, i don't really mind doing that for the sake of better tuning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Fanis

Lastly the Schaller made F tuners are fine tuners & don't need replacement

we'll have to disagree there! seriously though, they're not that bad but i've never liked the grainy feel they have when turning the keys, nor have i ever been able to get the low E string accurately tuned with them. even the slightest turn will take you up a few whole notes. i've also had problems with the other strings going dramatically sharp in the minutes after tuning, which could be the guitar's doing, but i won't know for sure until i replace them.

i do however love the feel of the handle, or key, not exactly sure what it's called, but i did consider keeping the tuners just for that. i keep wondering why these cost $60 now, while most vintage tuners that are considered superior are near $40.

March 5th, 2008, 05:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
jivetrain Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 377 4 Photos	grover vs. gotoh tuners these seem to be popular tuners here so i hope you guys have your opinions ready to rip. i'm replacing the F tuners that come stock on the MIM reissue guitars and have narrowed it down to either the vintage gotohs: or the vintage grovers: these both cost the exact same price and are the exact same size, so i have no real incentive to choose one over the other. can anyone give me their take on either or both of these tuners?

March 5th, 2008, 07:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,222	my first priority is stable tuning, but a close second is how quickly i can change a string if i pop one onstage. the Gotoh Klusons rule in this respect. stick 'er in the hole, twist around peg, tune up and you're back in the race. i don't pop many, but it happens to everybody sometime. i'm sure most of you guys carry a backup on the job, but i've only liked to play one guitar over the last seven years, the only one that talked. so if a string broke, i'd just try to get another one on within a minute and a half while the bass player tells the story about how he wasn't really in prison. but all that guitar monogamy's subject to change at this point, since i got a build going ... it too will have Gotoh Klusons on it. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

March 6th, 2008, 06:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rich Rice Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In a dream world.. Just ask my wife. Age: 53 Posts: 2,456 11 Photos	Not all Grovers are created equal.. Go with the Gotohs. Great, solid tuners. Be sure to drill the holes big enough and deep enough (don't go through the face of the headstock), lubricate each screw with a drop of soap before you install it, and the screws work just fine. If it feels the least bit tight, stop- back it out, redrill your hole, and reinstall. DO NOT FORCE IT AT ALL. Sure beats trying to drill out a broken screw. The right size drill for those Gotoh screws is 5/64". __________________ Please visit my website! If you are driven to play, you will find a way.

March 6th, 2008, 06:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,700 4 Photos	I've had good success with the Grovers. They'll drop right into the stock ferrules that ship on the Classic Series guitars, whereas the Gotoh posts are larger than the stock ferrules and will require you to change the ferrules, which, for me, presented another problem. The Gotoh ferrules were loose in the factory holes. So, using the Grovers, at least for me, made the job a 2-3 minute breeze. And, at International Luthier Supply (in Tulsa), they were reasonably priced at $29/set. I have Klusons, Gotohs and Grovers on various guitars and the Grovers are at least as good as the others, IMHO. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

March 6th, 2008, 06:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,700 4 Photos	Here's the Grovers: __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

March 5th, 2008, 05:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
pchilson Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Loveland, Colorado Age: 50 Posts: 608	I can't give you an opinion as I don't have either but can you give a link to these? Thanks

March 5th, 2008, 06:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
jivetrain Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 377 4 Photos	sure. the gotoh page is here: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/t...nlinegotoh.htm grover here: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/tuners_grover6.htm i have to say i'm leaning towards the gotohs right now, just because i like their looks and they have a better gear ratio.

March 5th, 2008, 06:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kobedog TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 34	Be careful with the screws that come with the Gotohs...a little longer than most and are very easy to strip...I had to get a shorter set of screws from my tech to install them.