Schaller ... still made in Germany?
- Thread starter Darg1911
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L
Little Pigbacon
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dystrust
New member
Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
AFAIK Schaller is still made in Germany. IMO Grovers these days are inconsistent at best, junk at worst. Gibson doesn't make any of their own hardware, and it's been a long time if they ever did. Their higher end stuff is made by Gotoh and tends to be excellent, while the lower end hardware is junk, probably made in China. If you're after vintage-style tuners, Gotoh makes some that are just as good as Schaller, and they'll probably cost less unless you're in the EU.
AFAIK Schaller is still made in Germany. IMO Grovers these days are inconsistent at best, junk at worst. Gibson doesn't make any of their own hardware, and it's been a long time if they ever did. Their higher end stuff is made by Gotoh and tends to be excellent, while the lower end hardware is junk, probably made in China. If you're after vintage-style tuners, Gotoh makes some that are just as good as Schaller, and they'll probably cost less unless you're in the EU.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
I know when I ordered the new S-Locks shortly after their introduction, I wanted a color that wasn't available in the US yet. I had to order them straight from Germany. I suppose that doesn't guarantee they're made there, but I've never heard of Asian Schaller. Alsip, that's interesting to note about Grover, as the 106 series is my favorite set of lockers, except on a Les Paul.
I know when I ordered the new S-Locks shortly after their introduction, I wanted a color that wasn't available in the US yet. I had to order them straight from Germany. I suppose that doesn't guarantee they're made there, but I've never heard of Asian Schaller. Alsip, that's interesting to note about Grover, as the 106 series is my favorite set of lockers, except on a Les Paul.
Discharged
New member
Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
I've personally been to the Schaller factory, and they make everything in-house, but some small parts that are artisanly-made in small family-owned workshops situated in a 30-mile radius from the HQ in the Bavarian town of Postbauer, fraction Heng, Germany.
They certainly could outsource to Asia a big part of what they made in-house, but they just won't. The head-honcho, dr. Lars Buenning, routinely privately frequents some of their employees and is available to talk to anybody about anything. It's kind of the ideal workplace, a balanced blend of family-owned and high-tech-oriented enviroment. And their products are quality-wise second-to-none.
/Peter
I've personally been to the Schaller factory, and they make everything in-house, but some small parts that are artisanly-made in small family-owned workshops situated in a 30-mile radius from the HQ in the Bavarian town of Postbauer, fraction Heng, Germany.
They certainly could outsource to Asia a big part of what they made in-house, but they just won't. The head-honcho, dr. Lars Buenning, routinely privately frequents some of their employees and is available to talk to anybody about anything. It's kind of the ideal workplace, a balanced blend of family-owned and high-tech-oriented enviroment. And their products are quality-wise second-to-none.
/Peter
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Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
Thanks all.
These will be replacing factory installed Grover Rotomatics on my Les Paul Tribute. Two of those Grovers are sloppy junk. I've posted before that I'm not a Grover fan as, unfortunately, I've had a few sloppy rotomatics on other, more recent guitars where the older ones used to be great. The factory Gibson Vintage style machines on my LP Traditional are excellent however, so whoever made those made some nice, smooth machines.
At any rate, I think I'll go with the Schallers. I found some for just a hair north of 40 bucks, new. Just going to have to plug the bottom hole and then re-drill to get the screw in nice and straight since the Rotomatic holes fall at 10.5 mm and the Vintage holes fall shy at about 10mm (from the center of the post). No big deal, just a little more work.
Thanks all.
These will be replacing factory installed Grover Rotomatics on my Les Paul Tribute. Two of those Grovers are sloppy junk. I've posted before that I'm not a Grover fan as, unfortunately, I've had a few sloppy rotomatics on other, more recent guitars where the older ones used to be great. The factory Gibson Vintage style machines on my LP Traditional are excellent however, so whoever made those made some nice, smooth machines.
At any rate, I think I'll go with the Schallers. I found some for just a hair north of 40 bucks, new. Just going to have to plug the bottom hole and then re-drill to get the screw in nice and straight since the Rotomatic holes fall at 10.5 mm and the Vintage holes fall shy at about 10mm (from the center of the post). No big deal, just a little more work.
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
Here’s a little known part of SD history. Seymour Duncan attempted to buy Schaller at one point. It was after the deaths of Helmut and Rene Schaller. Cathy Duncan and I met with Mrs. Schaller in Germany. I was very impressed with the operation. They had an amazing array of tooling, plating facilities, injection molding, etc. We actually got so far as to meet with their attorneys and we started to negotiate the acquisition. In the end, Mrs. Schaller pulled out of the deal because of her sense of obligation to the employees and wanting it to remain German-owned. She rightly sensed that Seymour Duncan would’ve most likely moved production to Asia.
Here’s a little known part of SD history. Seymour Duncan attempted to buy Schaller at one point. It was after the deaths of Helmut and Rene Schaller. Cathy Duncan and I met with Mrs. Schaller in Germany. I was very impressed with the operation. They had an amazing array of tooling, plating facilities, injection molding, etc. We actually got so far as to meet with their attorneys and we started to negotiate the acquisition. In the end, Mrs. Schaller pulled out of the deal because of her sense of obligation to the employees and wanting it to remain German-owned. She rightly sensed that Seymour Duncan would’ve most likely moved production to Asia.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
GrilledChickenSalad
New member
Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
It's been said that Andy Papiccio has had serious enough concerns over Schaller's post-Helmut quality that he's been shopping American-based machining companies within the past year to make the "original" steel Floyd Rose products instead of Schaller.
It's been said that Andy Papiccio has had serious enough concerns over Schaller's post-Helmut quality that he's been shopping American-based machining companies within the past year to make the "original" steel Floyd Rose products instead of Schaller.
![20180923_132527[1].jpg](https://forum.seymourduncan.com/data/attachments/43/43747-b3d9742e77af4820bf1ed64e0c9e74fb.jpg?hash=kNKrFbQeGx "20180923_132527[1].jpg")
Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
Never seen a Schaller licensed G-series machine. I'll worry about it if they turn out to be chitty.
Never seen a Schaller licensed G-series machine. I'll worry about it if they turn out to be chitty.
Discharged
New member
Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
The original Floyd Rose was made by Schaller. The original Nashville TOM is also an original Schaller design.
/Peter
The original Floyd Rose was made by Schaller. The original Nashville TOM is also an original Schaller design.
/Peter
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
All of the Schaller stuff I've owned was made in Germany and every part was top quality.
All of the Schaller stuff I've owned was made in Germany and every part was top quality.
Ayrton
New member
Re: Schaller ... still made in Germany?
Plenty of copies yes, but I have never seen Schaller licensed anything.
Plenty of copies yes, but I have never seen Schaller licensed anything.