Replacement tuners for my '24 snakehead ajr?

[dan@kins]

I have a '25 snakehead AJr that I play very regularly in my old time string band. I love the tone of this mandolin.

The only problem I have with it is one of the A strings slips out of tune horribly and there is a very obvious problem with the tuner for that string as it has so much slack you can turn it a half turn before the post starts moving.

I bought this mandolin to play not to collect, etc.... so I don't have to keep it all original or anything. (even though currently it is all original)

I'd like to replace the tuners.

Not sure what to replace them with. I'm torn between finding a set of vintage tuners or buying waverlies and putting those on it.

Either way I'm not sure whether the waverlies will drop right into the existing holes on the headstock.

Can anyone provide any information or direction?

Should I post this in the builders forum?

Thanks!!
Dan

[MikeEdgerton]

Yes, have them fixed. Chances are the problem isn't terminal and can be repaired.

Paul Hostetter's tuner page

Frank Ford's frets.com lutherie page contains many articles regarding tuner repair.

The sites above may not be a walk through for your tuner problem but they do illustrate that most problems can be resolved. I'm not an advocate of keeping it original, it's just that you may not need a $500.00 set of tuners.

[ajh]

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I replaced the tuners in my 24 A-jr snakehead a couple years ago with Schallers from Stew-Mac. Their stock number was 0768. The number stameped on the Schaller box was 592. They matched up to the old ones and dropped right in. Not sure of the spacing though.....

Tony

[dan@kins]

Thank you both for this information. I'm sorry to post this above the 'tuner advice' thread. I did not see it prior to posting.

My plan is to first try taking the existing tuners apart and cleaning and lubing them.

If I'm still having problems, I'm going to try the Schallers.

If I'm still having problems, I'm gettin the Waverlies.

I'm wasting a lot of stage time tuning and we're having to make idle talk while I'm getting in tune. Its not working well for our group and my band mates are getting frustrated with me... and I'm frustrated with my rig.

I have a Gibby F9 but I just LOVE the tone of this A Jr with the old time, blues and jug band stuff we're playing....

Thanks!!!!!

[danb]

Dan- make sure to check the nut and bridge slots too. They could be gripping. Do the strings "ping" on the way up or down?

I'd say go straight to the waverlies, you'll be very happy, especially if you have them carefully fitter by a good luthier.