Anyone installed Waverly open-back tuners on a 714-CE ?

[TontoZed]

Hi Everyone,

My stock Taylor tuners are surprisingly beginning to fail (2004 guitar) - several have become very stiff to turn.  They are not covered by warranty. Taylor can sell me a replacement set.

Having had problems with Taylor tuners I am thinking of switching to Waverly butterbean model which seem to be top quality.

I was wondering if anyone had gone down this route and has any tips / advice to offer ?

I know hole sizes are likely to be different and may need conversion bushings.  Is installation something I can attempt myself or is trip to Luthier required ?

thanks in advance for nay tips.

[Strumming Fool]

Please consider Gotoh  510s.  Several models are a drop-in replacement for what you currently have. Besides having retro-butter bean buttons, the Gotohs are great performers - very accurate and will hold your guitar in tune.

I highly recommend them!

[TontoZed]

Thank you for this suggestion.  I will check the Gotoh 510s out.

[Strumming Fool]

Thank you for this suggestion.  I will check the Gotoh 510s out.

I
Look for the ones with the center mount set screws. One source is Luthiers Merchantile  (LMI). I just had sets installed on two of my oldest Taylor's with great results.

[TontoZed]

Thanks for info.

Had a look at the LMI centre scew Gotoh 510 range.  i notice that centre screw ones are only available in 21:1 ratio, which is a higher than I have used.  I assume this ratio is fine to use? 

[Strumming Fool]

Absolutely  - your Taylor will love them. You will note on Taylor's website that they use Gotoh 510s on several of their higher end models.

[Edward]

My personal opinion: I've tried/felt Waverly open-back tuners and was not at all impressed.  Folks who love these dig the "traditional" look and old-school vibe of vintage acoustics, and these are very light.  But as for function, they are really just "ok."  Contrast this to the Gotoh referenced above and I personally find no comparison: the Gotoh 510 is the smoothest-turning machine head I have ever laid hands on.

But even more, it has no "gear lash" that I can perceive, meaning every little micro adjustment you apply to the key gets directly translated to a precise micro adjustment on the string post.  It is the only tuner I have ever come across (over innumerable acoustics/electrics I've played over years) that I am confident enough in being able to tune down to pitch (which obviously one should always tune up to pitch).  I have 510s that are 1:18 ratio that are this precise; and my 510s with 1:21 ratio are even more precise.  FWIW, I "discovered" these 510s some time ago as a skeptic.  Afterall, how good can a machine head be fer cryin out loud?!!  Then got my first set on a whim ...and proceeded to put two more sets on other guits.  All IMHO, mind you, but I find they are well worth the money and effort even when the stock Taylors are working 100%; but if you have to replace, the 510 is a no-brainer!

And yes, if you can weild a drill, tape measure, and screwdriver with a modicum of skill, installation is easy peasy!

Edward

[TontoZed]

I eventually got around to installing new Gotoh tuners.  Pictures below (hopefully)

[TontoZed]

I did a dry run drilling the small hole for the screw.  I ended up using 1.5mm drill and a modeller's small hand drill.  I taped the drill so i did not go to deep.

By the time you factor in re-stringing, cleaning fretboard, polishing frets, drinking cups of tea, you need a wet Saturday afternoon.

First impression of Gotohs; excellent.  I like the X-Gold finish which I pondered over.

For those in the UK, I sourced the tuners from ToneTech who did a special order from Japan for me.  Thanks Bill.

[TLAW]

I've owned more than a few nice guitars of various make.....as a first time Taylor owner(914ce) with 510's ...I would HIGHLY recommend them ...they are the Ron Popeil of tuners..."Set it, and forget it!"

[Strumming Fool]

Beautiful addition to an already beautiful instrument. Great job!

[TontoZed]

I see that Photobucket have changed their T+Cs and their hosted photos will not now display web forums (unless you pay $$).

Anyone know a good alternative ?

[Strumming Fool]

Yeah, I'd be interested in an alternative to Photobucket as well.

[TontoZed]

I found this thread on alternatives to photobucket for third party hosted images;

https://www.ghacks.net/2017/07/02/photobucket-alternatives-for-third-party/

[Cindy]

I grabbed this photo from Flickr to see if it links properly. And looking at the preview, it works fine. This was the Large size (I was given size options to link).

Flickr is free so maybe you can give it a try. Your other option is upload attachments, but if you do, it's best to resize them to around 1000 pixels. Otherwise they are enormous and require lots of scrolling.