The Steel Guitar Forum

This may have been addressed before. Any preferences or personal experiences with the smaller Grovers vs the smaller Schallers? My current LeGrande has Schallers.

I've always felt that Schallers were the best out there. RP

Ron Pruter wrote: 26 Feb 2025 3:07 pm I've always felt that Schallers were the best out there. RP

On guitar, my favorite tuners by far are Hipshots, but I've never seen them on a pedal steel. I've replaced old worn-out Grovers and Schallers on several guitars with Hipshots. If I were ever crazy enough to try to build a steel (I AM NOT!!!), it would have Hipshots.

On vintage instruments, I'd rather have Klusons than either Grover or Schaller. I have Klusons on my '68 ZB and they work great, smooth and precise. But old Grovers/Schallers are often sloppy and gummy-feeling. I have a '68 Martin with factory Grovers, and the ZB's Klusons are in much better shape.

Every time I hear "Kluson," I picture an old guitar with Klusons, and almost invariably, there is at least one bent button shaft. Grovers, Schaller, there is no difference. It depends on the model and gearing ratio.

Bill Duncan wrote: 1 Mar 2025 3:56 am Every time I hear "Kluson," I picture an old guitar with Klusons, and almost invariably, there is at least one bent button shaft. Grovers, Schaller, there is no difference. It depends on the model and gearing ratio.

That's because of people not lubricating them, and instead just turning them with a pair of pliers. Put a drop of sewing machine oil or teflon lubricant in that little hole with the string off, twist it around a few times in each direction, and it works great. Klusons are meant to be lubricated regularly. The Grover/Schaller innovation was sealed gears that never need lubricated - but when that lubricant gets old, they get gummy and hard to turn, and CAN'T be fixed with a little oil.