Replacement Tuners for Collings MT?

[Mark Gunter]

I ordered a set of Rubners for my Collings MT and they arrived today; now I have a big question. I'm wondering if I overlooked an important element?

I ordered this Rubner set:



But notice that the buttons follow a straight line as is common on A styles, while the MT buttons do not - the end buttons have longer shafts, similar to F style tuners:



So, for those who've replaced the tuners on their MT with Rubners, have you used the straight-line button A style tuners, or did you use F style?

I want to be sure I have the correct tuners before I monkey around with installation.

[Mark Wilson]

I don't think they're F style. The top set are not long enough? I dunno. Somebody will.

I know I've read somewhere here where an MT owner was complaining that his bottom set of tuner buttons were too short to the headstock. Replacements maybe

Looking a Collings website they are noticeably staggered. Optical illusions aside.

[LadysSolo]

I am interested in the answer, as I bought Rubners for my Collings MT also, and haven't tried replacing them yet. I bought them when I bought my MT because so many people on here had commented that the original tuners were lacking. I haven't had an issue with the original tuners yet, but I probably will.

[MikeEdgerton]

Those aren't f-style tuners. They might have a bit of a curve to them but I doubt you're going to feel any difference. As long as they clear the sides and the spacing is the same you should be fine.

Just pull one side off and drop them in place. If it's too tight you'll know right away.

[Mark Gunter]

I'll try them tomorrow (doggone setup box is not here at home) and I'll also get an accurate measure on those MT tuner shafts - but it's not a maybe or an optical illusion, the shafts are longer on the outside pair. Hoping to hear from Jill McAuley or others who've already done this, but I've also sent an inquiry to Rubner and will try as Mike suggested tomorrow.

[colorado_al]

I pulled the Golden Age tuners that came with my Collings MT and replaced them with Rubner A style tuners and it worked great.
I think you'll be just fine.

[Jill McAuley]

Yeah, same story here - the Rubners I got are the A style straight line ones and they work great - I'll try to get a photo of them tomorrow before work and post it!

[Mark Gunter]

Thanks folk, appreciate all the input.

[Mark Gunter]

By the way, when Kent George at Rubner saw the headstock photo (see OP) he wrote back that it was an F style mandolin. I'm assuming this question has never come up before. It seems the MT uses a custom set of tuners to fit their headstock.

[Mark Wilson]

F style tuners have really long top posts I think. I'd be curious to know if Collings has special A5 tuners made.

What issues were you having with the original tuners?

[HonketyHank]

About 6 months ago I snagged a set of Schallers for a decent price. My purpose was to replace the tuners on another non-Collings mandolin with REALLY cheapo tuners. My Collings MTO tuners were indeed the ones everybody seems to complain about but they seemed fine to me. Maybe slightly stiff, but much more better than the no-names I wanted to get rid of from the non-Collings.

After receiving the new(ish) tuners, I decided to put them onto the MTO and put the former MTO tuners onto the other mandolin. See below. The black buttoned tuners are the original MTO tuners and the white ones are the new old-stock Schallers. The buttons on both are aligned in a straight line and are not a problem with the Collings peghead shape.

I am currently happy with both mandolins.

[Mark Gunter]

F style tuners have really long top posts I think. I'd be curious to know if Collings has special A5 tuners made.

What issues were you having with the original tuners?

Mark, I think they must have custom (or special) tuners made to spec for their headstock shape. I still don't have my tools here, but used a plastic ruler to make this shot of my tuners. They are not straight-line A style tuners, as the ones in Henry's photo appear to be.



I do know that they are not as radically offset as F style tuners. I'm going to try the Rubners and see how I like them.

There is nothing inherently wrong with the tuners on my Collings. They are not as smooth as I'd like, but very serviceable. I have lost a screw out of one button, and not replaced it yet. I've heard good things about the Rubner tuners as opposed to the Golden Gates that ship on the Collings, and decided to try it for myself. Honestly, I'd forgotten about the custom style of the Collings tuners until after I received the Rubners yesterday.

[Mark Gunter]

Also, Kent wrote back to say that he'd been fooled by the photo and of course the MT is not an F style, nor are the MT's staggered tuners actual F style tuners. Kent has been very helpful and stated that if I am not happy with the tuners after trying them, I can return them for a full refund, so there's that.

I guess I'm just a little surprised that the difference has not been mentioned before - but that may just say that it's a non-issue, as Jill, Al and Henry seem to be saying.

[HonketyHank]

I have heard that older Collings mandolins had other tuners and Collings subsequently went with the tuners folks complain about. I don't know the timing on that. Mark (Gunter), your MT tuners are not the same as the Elites that were on my 2008 MTO (serial number 1896, alleged to be a 2008 build). Your shaft lenghths do appear to be somewhat conforming to the peghead profile. Also, your tuners have screws holding the buttons on the shafts. Mine do not. So, apples and oranges on that issue. But the Schallers I put on and the Elites are both straight line and no problem, so that is the main issue.

[Mark Gunter]

Henry, I have MT #920. According to this page, it began production in 2005.

[pops1]

Kent has always been extremely helpful and a great person to do business with. Can't go wrong there.

[Mark Wilson]

Ok I found the old thread about MT tuners. (I think I read every Collings MT thread waiting on my MT to arrive)

From the picture the top and bottom post look maybe short to me for the headstock. I would drop in one of the Rubners to see for myself. Good Luck with it. It's always something right?

[Mark Gunter]

Ok I found the old thread about MT tuners. (I think I read every Collings MT thread waiting on my MT to arrive)

From the picture the top and bottom post look maybe short to me for the headstock. I would drop in one of the Rubners to see for myself. Good Luck with it. It's always something right?

I enjoyed that short read, Mark, thanks! I have to say I'm learning a lot from this discussion - evidently, the MTs are shipped with straight-in-line tuners these days, so obviously my concern turns out to be a real non-issue, though I have to say that I like the look of the ones that follow the contour so much, I may have to ask about getting a custom set one day.

[Jill McAuley]

Here they are on my MT-O (which is a 2012 model):

[Mark Gunter]

Beautiful, Jill! Thanks. I'm off to get my toolbox now.

[Mark Gunter]

I think the Rubners have worked out great. Took the opportunity to deep clean Mandy, buffed her out with 3M Finnesse-it II, and she's prettier and better than the first day we fell in love.

[HonketyHank]

Looks great, Mark.

[MikeEdgerton]

For one last time, those aren't F style tuners. Carry on.

[Kevin Stueve]

Hey Mark, I don't think those are F style tuners

[Mark Gunter]

For one last time, those aren't F style tuners. Carry on.

?

Maybe a re-read is in order - nobody said they were F style tuners except Kent - who called my headstock an F style mandolin in error in an email. Chill out.