Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: attmann on May 29, 2009, 03:51:26 AM

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: attmann on May 29, 2009, 03:51:26 AM

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!
Jürgen(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/65689.jpg)

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: slawie on May 31, 2009, 02:16:52 AM

I would buy a set of 4. Gold plated.
 
slawie

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: bassilisk on June 01, 2009, 05:35:37 AM

I'd take a chrome set of 4.

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: mica on June 09, 2009, 03:57:00 PM

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

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: terryc on June 09, 2009, 04:05:17 PM

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

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: David Houck on June 09, 2009, 07:01:50 PM

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

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: musashi on June 09, 2009, 09:54:56 PM

I would be interested as well.  Thanks.

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: georgie_boy on June 10, 2009, 05:54:29 AM

So would I.

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: germansal on June 10, 2009, 06:27:16 AM

Too late for me ,i,ve replaced them 15 years ago

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: mothy4 on June 10, 2009, 07:48:42 PM

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.

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: edwin on June 11, 2009, 11:59:44 AM

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

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: crobbins on June 11, 2009, 06:49:52 PM

I think we need a bigger picture.

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: whitesound on June 13, 2009, 01:05:43 AM

I would be very interested.
 
Thanks

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: room037 on June 13, 2009, 09:06:28 AM

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

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: neyman on June 16, 2009, 01:08:15 PM

Count me in as being interested!

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: attmann on June 29, 2009, 08:24:57 AM

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

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: attmann on June 29, 2009, 08:27:26 AM

I meant two like 2...

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: dela217 on June 29, 2009, 08:38:37 AM

I wouldn't mind one of each!

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: toddharris on July 09, 2009, 10:16:17 AM

Count me in for 2 sets at least.

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: howierd on July 09, 2009, 02:44:10 PM

I'll take 1 set please ''Gold Plated'' !

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: poor_nigel on November 20, 2009, 06:26:09 PM

One gold set, please (2+2).

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: pace on November 21, 2009, 02:03:54 PM

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

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: poor_nigel on December 01, 2009, 11:08:52 PM

One more set of gold plated 2+2.  So two sets, total.

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: room037 on July 07, 2010, 08:33:58 AM

Any update ?

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: attmann on February 08, 2011, 12:03:39 PM

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
J?rgen

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: sonicus on February 08, 2011, 02:08:32 PM

Hello. 2 Chrome  Sets for me please . For my two 1981 Alembics.
 
       Thanks for the updated inquiry .
 
      Wolf.

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: artswork99 on February 08, 2011, 03:44:41 PM

+ 1 silver, maybe 1 silver and 1 gold

Title: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue
Post by: sonicus on February 08, 2011, 04:49:38 PM

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