Banjo tuners

Nuts -- Saddles -- Fret dressing -- Intonation -- Neck Relief
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Dave Bagwill
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Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:44 pm

Banjo tuners

Post by Dave Bagwill » Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:30 pm

For the parlor guitar, size of tuners is a big deal - regular size just look a little out of place on the smaller frame.
I contacted Stewmac about their 5-star banjo tuners and was reassured that they would stand up to the steel string Parlor guitar.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Banj ... _Pegs.html
Waverly also makes them:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Banj ... _Pegs.html

They have a small footprint that would go well on the Parlor, but they are after all banjo tuners, and I wonder if any of you have concrete evidence that they will not work well?

Thanks fellers.
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ken cierp
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Re: Banjo tuners

Post by ken cierp » Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:50 pm

To my eye the vintage style "three on a plate" open back would be more appropriate and I believe more cost effective as well.

Dave Bagwill
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Re: Banjo tuners

Post by Dave Bagwill » Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:04 pm

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Dave Bagwill
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Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:44 pm

Re: Banjo tuners

Post by Dave Bagwill » Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:20 pm

I was kidding about the ONLY $300 of course. :-)
I'm not crazy about the 3 on a plate style, but I do like that style of tuner in the 3L/3R configuration. And I'd really like to spend under a hundred bucks.
Something in gold or black. I'll keep looking.
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John Parchem
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Re: Banjo tuners

Post by John Parchem » Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:44 pm

It is a royal pain to tune with a non geared tuning peg. They are hard to turn and a very small adjustment makes a huge change.

Dave Bagwill
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Re: Banjo tuners

Post by Dave Bagwill » Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:49 pm

The banjo tuners I linked to DO have gears - planetary gears - and are easy to tune.
I agree that the friction pegs are a major pain.
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Daniel P
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Location: the great Pacific NW

Re: Banjo tuners

Post by Daniel P » Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:54 pm

One consideration with banjo tuners is that they have a much lower gear ratio that many guitarists do not find as tuning friendly as standard - 4:1 vs 14:1 or 18:1.

But if you do go with banjo tuners the Waverly are wonderful - I just used a set on a banjo and am very happy with them.

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