Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets

Subject: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: Jack Campin
Date: 27 Mar 17 - 07:56 AM

Anyone know where I can buy 6-in-line machine head sets for a 12-string, with the shafts at 23.1mm spacing? - this is less than the usual modern standard and there is no way a standard one will fit.

They're for a Turkish cumbus (12-string fretless banjo) made around 1950, pushed off a table by a drunken twat a few weeks ago. Part of the headstock is pictured here, the one with the badge:

http://www.campin.me.uk/Music/Cumbus/

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: Jack Campin
Date: 27 Mar 17 - 08:30 AM

I may have found what I want, here:

http://www.projectguitarparts.co.uk/Pages/pickguardsandparts.html

"Set of 12 string machine heads for EKO guitar", halfway down the page.

Why did EKO use different part sizings than almost everybody else?

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 27 Mar 17 - 10:56 AM

Schaller do mini tuners for 12 strings.
They were standard issue on 1970s / 80s UK built Shergold 12 string electric guitars.

Might be worth looking at...???

Schaller M6 Mini

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 27 Mar 17 - 12:28 PM

Remember that the Eko ones are made for a solid headstock rather than a slotted one so the posts might not be long enough.

One solution would be to start off with a "normally" spaced set and cut them into 6/12 individual tuners. Grind/file off a sufficient amount between each section of base-plate and secure them with a screw between each + one at each end. It's been done before with pre-1920's Gibson mandolins (StewMac has only started to produce tuners with the "old" spacing in the last decade and it avoids having to re-drill the headstock).

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: alex s
Date: 28 Mar 17 - 07:50 AM

Jack, I have a set of Golden Age tuners bought from Stewmac and never installed. Have a look on their website and see if the specs are what you're after.
Pm me if you're interested

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 17 - 10:23 AM

Didn't realise that Stew Mac had started producing their GA Restoration tuners for 12 string, slotted headstock, guitar! The aged mandolin versions really do look the part. The problem is though, Jack, that the hole spacing on them is 23.42mm so your last hole will be 1.6mm out. It doesn't sound much but it can make a difference.

Are you sure about the 23.1mm spacing? I would add that the GA Restoration versions are far better than the straight GA tuners.

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Mar 17 - 10:46 AM

The Eko ones are described as 916mm from first to last post, which matches what my cumbus has.

The post length may be a problem - on my cumbus the posts are long enough to be supported at the tip by socket holes in the centre strip, which must improve stability. I'll measure that.

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 28 Mar 17 - 11:02 AM

The last post was I (before I'm castigated!)

Do you mean 916 or 91.6? (916 isn't that much short of a metre) As it happens, I have an old, dusty, Eko 12 string and the first to last spacing measures 125mm so something isn't right.

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Mar 17 - 11:52 AM

Typo - I meant 116mm, smaller than what you've got. Maybe Eko made models to both spacings - the link I gave is quite clear about it.

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 29 Mar 17 - 03:04 AM

They look nothing like those on my guitar. Maybe they changed them at some time - my Eko is over 50 years old. Does that mean it's "vintage"?!

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Mar 17 - 03:45 AM

There's a grimy old EKO 12 string hanging in one of our local "cash for druggies quickly shifting stolen goods shops"..

..the action is diabolically high...

Subject: RE: Small-spaced 12-string machine head sets
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 29 Mar 17 - 11:19 AM

That's probably the best place for it; I doubt whether mine's been played in the last 40 years.

Unless there's something structurally wrong with it, a high action should be curable (unless it's like the old Hagstrom that Paul Brady used to play which was impossible). The Ekos have an adjustable bridge, an aluminium nut with a zero fret and the neck can be re-set by removing four screws from the back and shimming as necessary. I have heard tales of the large block beneath the upper frets disintigrating but this is really getting off topic.