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Alembic Club » Owning an Alembic » Troubleshooting » Archive through November 30, 2011 » Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue « Previous Next »

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attmann
Junior
Username: attmann

Post Number: 36
Registered: 4-2006
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 3:51 am:   Edit Post

Hello everybody,
searching the threads quite a few of us Alembic owners seem to have run into problems with their Schaller tuners mounted on seventy's Series I/II basses. Some tuners will go out of tune all the time, others will just break apart. They have simply gotten old.
The Schaller tuner model used on Series I/II basses throughout the seventies is called M4 - having the mounting screw in the centered position. This model was discontinued in the late seventies. The follow up M4 had the screw position changed from centered to the side.
In consequence it is impossible to replace a broken old Schaller M4 with a new style M4 from the factory without drilling a new hole into the headstock. Drilling a hole leaving the centered hole visible and unused however destroys the instrument's integrity...
Have you ever tried to find a set of old style M4s's on ebay or elsewhere? It seems impossible to get those...

In conclusion being an Alembic user from Germany I have approached the Schaller company in order to convince them to produce a "vintage reissue" of the old style M4 machine heads.
Apparently Schaller has dumped the old molds. They are now considering making new molds for a replication of the old style M4.
Michael "Dela" Delacerda was so kind to lend out a 77 M4 tuner to support the research.
The making of a mold for mass production is a very costly part of the process however. In order to make this a reasonable investment in terms of expectable sales of the reissue model Schaller is curious how many sets they would be likely to sell.
So this why I am addressing every SeriesI/II owner: Anyone being potentially interested in buying a backup set of vintage reissue M4s is needed to post show their interest in this thread.
The more potential interest is documented here the more it can help to convince the Schaller company that they would benefit economically also from this reissue project.
Thanks to everyone!
JürgenSchaller old style back
slawie
Member
Username: slawie

Post Number: 80
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 2:16 am:   Edit Post

I would buy a set of 4. Gold plated.

slawie
bassilisk
Junior
Username: bassilisk

Post Number: 12
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 5:35 am:   Edit Post

I'd take a chrome set of 4.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6160
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 3:57 pm:   Edit Post

I'd buy 10 sets of chrome and 10 sets of gold without thinking about it. I might even buy more if I thought about it :-)
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 889
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 4:05 pm:   Edit Post

Why would Schaller change the chassis of the tuner, in engineering terms it would not make a difference whether it was side or vertical centred, the main problem was the internals which needed re engineering.
The main mounting point is the nuts on the facing, the screw just pulls the mechanism unit to the headstock.
I hope they do produce those vintage machines for the older Almebics as drilling another hole is just not an option and since Mica herself has chipped in on support it should prompt them into tooling up to produce them..Good luck
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8166
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 7:01 pm:   Edit Post

I have a '77 Alembic Series I, so obviously I would be interested in knowing if/when replacement tuners will be available.
musashi
Junior
Username: musashi

Post Number: 39
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 9:54 pm:   Edit Post

I would be interested as well. Thanks.
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 790
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - 5:54 am:   Edit Post

So would I.
germansal
Junior
Username: germansal

Post Number: 27
Registered: 8-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - 6:27 am:   Edit Post

Too late for me ,i,ve replaced them 15 years ago
mothy4
New
Username: mothy4

Post Number: 7
Registered: 5-2003
Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - 7:48 pm:   Edit Post

Hey guys! Let me know when this happens. My '74 LSB needs a new peg for the D string and I'd like to replace the entire set anyway.
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 438
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 11:59 am:   Edit Post

Oh well, I just drilled new holes and widened the main holes and refitted with Gotoh tuners. it doesn't seem to have changed the integrity of the bass. Sure as heck tunes better.

Edwin
crobbins
Advanced Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 376
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 6:49 pm:   Edit Post

I think we need a bigger picture. :-)
whitesound
New
Username: whitesound

Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 13, 2009 - 1:05 am:   Edit Post

I would be very interested.

Thanks
room037
Advanced Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 271
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Saturday, June 13, 2009 - 9:06 am:   Edit Post

We want to know how much, when it will be available.

I'm lucky to get NOS old M4 gold and replaced for my 76' 421's 1st strings.
But my 70's basses have 7 pairs of gold tuners ! (5 + 5 + 4 strings)
I would need several sets of Gold, in the future.

I am very interested too !

Eiji
neyman
Member
Username: neyman

Post Number: 77
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

Count me in as being interested!
attmann
Junior
Username: attmann

Post Number: 37
Registered: 4-2006
Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009 - 8:24 am:   Edit Post

I forgot to post my need for at least to gold sets. What about you, Dela?
attmann
Junior
Username: attmann

Post Number: 38
Registered: 4-2006
Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009 - 8:27 am:   Edit Post

I meant two like 2...
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 972
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009 - 8:38 am:   Edit Post

I wouldn't mind one of each!
toddharris
Member
Username: toddharris

Post Number: 67
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Thursday, July 09, 2009 - 10:16 am:   Edit Post

Count me in for 2 sets at least.
howierd
Member
Username: howierd

Post Number: 92
Registered: 8-2004
Posted on Thursday, July 09, 2009 - 2:44 pm:   Edit Post

I'll take 1 set please ''Gold Plated'' !
poor_nigel
New
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Friday, November 20, 2009 - 6:26 pm:   Edit Post

One gold set, please (2+2).
pace
Senior Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 463
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 2:03 pm:   Edit Post

if this happens, I'd take one set for my S1, and one set for my EBO (both chrome 2+2)
poor_nigel
New
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 10
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2009 - 11:08 pm:   Edit Post

One more set of gold plated 2+2. So two sets, total.
room037
Advanced Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 325
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2010 - 8:33 am:   Edit Post

Any update ?
attmann
Junior
Username: attmann

Post Number: 41
Registered: 4-2006
Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 - 12:03 pm:   Edit Post

Hello,
to those of you being interested in the Schaller vintage reissue:
After having collected your documented interest in this thread for a while I guess it's about time to contact Mr. Regnet of the Schaller Company once again - showing him this proof of necessity...
I will keep you posted!
best regards
Jürgen
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1607
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 - 2:08 pm:   Edit Post

Hello. 2 Chrome Sets for me please . For my two 1981 Alembics.

Thanks for the updated inquiry .

Wolf.
artswork99
Moderator
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 1411
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 - 3:44 pm:   Edit Post

+ 1 silver, maybe 1 silver and 1 gold
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1608
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 - 4:49 pm:   Edit Post

If there is an option of Nickel or Chrome , I would prefer 2 in Nickel rather than 2 in Chrome.

Thanks.

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