Dobro tuner orientation

Robert Allen · Post by **Robert Allen** » 1 May 2019 5:50 am

A friend bought this 1976 OMI Dobro off eBay. Are these tuners installed properly? The plates are slightly bowed like maybe they aren't the original tuners. Did OMI install these with the gear on that side of the button shaft? Or were the buttons originally underneath and someone changed it?

L. Bogue Sandberg · Post by **L. Bogue Sandberg** » 1 May 2019 7:29 am

The tuners on my 1974 OMI are oriented the same way. Presumably from the factory since I bought it new. The plates on mine are shaped a bit different.

Robert Allen · Post by **Robert Allen** » 1 May 2019 8:02 am

L. Bogue Sandberg wrote:The tuners on my 1974 OMI are oriented the same way.

OK, thanks. These tuners are barely functional. Best for him to get a new set from Stew-Mac.

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 4 May 2019 9:25 am

Try a drop or two of light lube oil (Tri-Flow also works). Put anywhere there is metal to metal contact ( worm gear, string shaft).

I have a $3000+ resonator guitar with similar, was almost froze, but a little lube oil freed it up.

Thanx,
Jim

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 4 May 2019 9:34 am

Dobro had a history of grabbing whatever inexpensive tuners that happened to be available.

I you're not concerned about originality you could research individual sealed machines as well as traditional "3 on a plank".

I can't tell if yours are original. Take off one side and check for additional mounting holes.

fwiw..

h

Robert Allen · Post by **Robert Allen** » 4 May 2019 9:50 am

Howard, I pulled the tuners off, no extra holes but the screws don't go straight in. The holes in the wood are slightly offset from the holes in the tuner plate so it doesn't look like these are original. I filled the holes, redrilled pilot holes and put in some tuners I had in stock. The new tuners have a larger button which is an improvement. I like the old time dobro sound so to me this is a great sounding instrument. He also has a 1985 Dobro as well as a couple of lap steels I sold him. He didn't really need this dobro but you know how musicians are.