Author Topic: Schaller M4 machine heads Vintage Reissue (Read 803 times)

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

slawie · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2009, 02:16:52 AM »

I would buy a set of 4. Gold plated.

slawie

bassilisk · « **Reply #2 on:** June 01, 2009, 05:35:37 AM »

I'd take a chrome set of 4.

mica · « **Reply #3 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

terryc · « **Reply #4 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

David Houck · « **Reply #5 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.

musashi · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2009, 09:54:56 PM »

I would be interested as well. Thanks.

georgie_boy · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2009, 05:54:29 AM »

So would I.

germansal · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2009, 06:27:16 AM »

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

mothy4 · « **Reply #9 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.

edwin · « **Reply #10 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

crobbins · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2009, 06:49:52 PM »

I think we need a bigger picture.

whitesound · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2009, 01:05:43 AM »

I would be very interested.

Thanks

room037 · « **Reply #13 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

neyman · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2009, 01:08:15 PM »

Count me in as being interested!