rupickin5 - Posted - 02/07/2026:  08:08:50

Just asking to see if there’s any consensus on what peghead geared tuners folks go to when adding a 5-string neck to pre-war style 1’s & 11’s?
Thanks!

The Old Timer - Posted - 02/07/2026:  10:00:03

I don't have a particular brand in mine; in the old days I used to rely on Stew Mac 5 Star Planets with never a problem.

However, I'm a little wiser now about a few things. How deeply the neck and peghead sit in the banjo case might influence choice of tuners based on how LONG they are. You don't want the tuner resting on the tuning buttons in direct contact with the bottom of the case! This can stress the neck into some forward bow, unless you're adept at building up the "cradle" on the end of the pick box, to get the tuners up and off the bottom of the case. In general if I were buying a set of tuners nowadays, I'd lean toward "shorter" ones.

Planetaries, and the Kluson stair step box bodied tuners, tend to the long side.

Just something to keep in mind.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 02/07/2026:  11:18:19

As long as they don't stick out of the sides and are of good quality...I'm good.

lightgauge - Posted - 02/07/2026:  11:29:43

I used Gotoh on my conversions.

calicoplayer - Posted - 02/07/2026:  13:01:05

Rickards are the best I've ever used. 10:1 ratio, never any slippage, completely smooth movement. Expensive but worth it.

RB-1 - Posted - 02/07/2026:  13:26:16

My Style 1 is an original 5 string, but I have my favourite tuners:

Old Hickory - Posted - 02/07/2026:  16:12:18

I always thought Waverly two-band eccentric (offset) tuners looked great for any pre-war. But they're really expensive now. Elderly show sthem in stock.

I'd say go with Gotoh and maybe the small oval button in ivoroid.

Michael M - Posted - 02/08/2026:  04:48:51

I like the gotoh tuners that Frank Neat installed on my Gibson 8719-84 . All original '27 tb3 no hole Arch top with his new 5 string neck. Tortoise buttons. They are great.

Brett - Posted - 02/08/2026:  07:31:25

Anything but schallers. That’s really the only brand I’ve ever had issues with. Been very pleased with gotohs and five star

1935tb-11 - Posted - 02/08/2026:  07:47:49

i think robin smith used waverly 2 band tuners in the neck he built for me.. they work fine .. not as precise as rickards and the rickards are cheaper. stew mac has them for 232 a set and the waverlys are 297 when in stock.

mikehalloran - Posted - 02/13/2026:  12:01:50

quote:

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

I always thought Waverly two-band eccentric (offset) tuners looked great for any pre-war. But they're really expensive now. Elderly show sthem in stock.

I'd say go with Gotoh and maybe the small oval button in ivoroid.

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I didn't realize that StewMac had brought back the offset Waverly tuner—last time I bought some, they were identical to the 5-Star but with rings around the housings. I notice that this version takes the standard double-D buttons instead of having the squared shafts of old.

It would have to be a vintage banjo of some worth before I'd consider a set of $297 tuners, as nice as these may be.

mikehalloran - Posted - 02/13/2026:  12:09:57

quote:

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Originally posted by rupickin5

Just asking to see if there’s any consensus on what peghead geared tuners folks go to when adding a 5-string neck to pre-war style 1’s & 11’s?

Thanks!

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Gotoh is fine. I'm a big fan of fitting the original buttons to the tuners unless in bad shape. I file the tuner shafts to fit the square buttons since it's quick and easy with a file and a vise. Others use needle files on the buttons to accomodate the double-D shafts.

Although I have a set of Rickard tuners on one of my banjos—and they are good—I am fine with Gotoh or 5-Star planets.

J.Albert - Posted - 02/13/2026:  13:26:17

Gotohs or Rickards...

GStump - Posted - 02/13/2026:  14:18:05

Generally I use the prewar Grover pancake. To be 70 or 80 or 90 years old, and 95% of them still work fine, suggests to me they are very well made indeed. They usually need new friction washers, but otherwise are good. They are still affordable at around 200 bucks for a set of 4. AND they have the right look and vibe.

mikehalloran - Posted - 02/13/2026:  14:26:52

quote:

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Originally posted by GStump

Generally I use the prewar Grover pancake. To be 70 or 80 or 90 years old, and 95% of them still work fine, suggests to me they are very well made indeed. They usually need new friction washers, but otherwise are good. They are still affordable at around 200 bucks for a set of 4. AND they have the right look and vibe.

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and most are 2:1. No thanks.

markdonc - Posted - 02/14/2026:  05:30:16

Gotoh from Bob Smakula are the best deal that I have found. They work great & are less expensive than other quality tuners.