Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just bought a 1984 4003 with wavy grovers. I've read these are fragile tuners. Should I remove/replace them before they break?

There are a few guy here who have the talent to make them stronger by replacing the staked pins with machine screws that fit new tapped holes to positively connect the shell to the mounting plate.

I have two 4001s that have had wavy Grovers on them for over 40 years (presumably) and I've had no problems in the 3-4 years I've owned them. These tuners can fail, but I wouldn't necessarily broad-brush them as fragile.

Going on 42 years with mine & no problems. If it ain't broke....

IMHO, I think the Wavey Grovers are the smoothest tuners Rickenbacker has used. Klusons, they are bullet proof but I've had some pretty scratchy or tight Klusons. The Schallers are OK but who know how they will hold up in 40+ years. Schaller m4's don't get me started!! The Grovers, both wavey and straight, are butter smooth and do a great job. Besides, i love the look and feel of the wavey machine heads!!

Sepp

My only real issue with the Schaller m4 is they have a large amount of backlash.

Kopfjaeger wrote:IMHO, I think the Wavey Grovers are the smoothest tuners Rickenbacker has used. Klusons, they are bullet proof but I've had some pretty scratchy or tight Klusons. The Schallers are OK but who know how they will hold up in 40+ years. Schaller m4's don't get me started!! The Grovers, both wavey and straight, are butter smooth and do a great job. Besides, i love the look and feel of the wavey machine heads!!

Sepp

Me too, but when they get sloppy (I've had a few), boy they get sloppy; almost no resistance at all.

I really enjoying these Grover tuners. They are the smoothest tuners I've used on a RIC and they are also ergonomically perfect.

daveman wrote:Going on 42 years with mine & no problems. If it ain't broke....

Absolutely. Only worry about them if they fail.

IMHO, I think the Wavey Grovers are the smoothest tuners Rickenbacker has used

This!

Wasn't Wavy Grovers the guy at Woodstock who did all the public service announcements?

I thought he was great, never a problem....

I did have a 4001 long ago that had wavy Grover tuners but I never had any issues with them. IIRC Rickenbacker went to Grovers after having issues with supply of Klusons...