Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Did Ric ever fit guitars out of the factory with Waverly's? I've seen pictures before of Ric's fitted with them and it got me curious.

Both Grover and Schaller make this (Sta-tite) type tuner. I believe the RIC used the Schallers but not positive.

ken_j wrote:Both Grover and Schaller make this (Sta-tite) type tuner. I believe the RIC used the Schallers but not positive.

Ah... and the Grover brand ones are about 100$ cheaper for a set of 6.

I wonder if Grover or Waverly originated these? My guts tell me it was Grover, but nobody's written the definitive history of tuners, yet.

I think Schaller was late to the game. Rick's tuners are stamped "RIC-TITE", a play on "STA-TITE", which is a Grover trademark.

I recently purchased a '56 Combo 400, which was advertised as having Waverly butterbean tuners. I wanted those Waverlys for another project, and planned to replace them with Grovers. No Waverlys, though. Instead, it was a mismatched set of Grovers, old and new, with one hacked up a bit and the wrong bushings.

It's OK, now.

I believe that these are all copies of Grovers from 50+ years ago.

jingle_jangle wrote:I wonder if Grover or Waverly originated these? My guts tell me it was Grover, but nobody's written the definitive history of tuners, yet.

Sounds like a nice school project for Juliana.

Based on what i've been reading the schallers are of poorer quality. The tuning buttons have unsightly casting marks and they don't seem to be very well built. They look the part but don't function like it. The Grovers on the other hand seem to be nearly identical in looks and quality, retailing for 40$ a set instead of 130$ for the Waverlys. Are they just overpriced?

Also i've noticed that the bushings seem to be identical to Kluson Deluxe tuners, are these sta-tite grovers a direct replacement?