Five-Star Banjo Tuning Pegs

Easy to install,smooth movement,and they look great to what more can you ask for!!

They were so easy to fit to the tenor banjo, ordered another set for my Tenor Guitar. Easy to adjust, smooth action and they look GOOD on the instrument. Obviously a quality product. Thanks Stewmac.

I've been playing banjo for over thirty years, so when I decided to design an ekonting (the West African instrument) with tuners, I naturally gravitated to Five-Star tuners. I use two 5th pegs on the sides of my necks and one standard, straight-through tuner. That's it-- three strings. The Five-Star tuners are easy to work with and have always worked well for me. I always replace the knobs (I agree, the stock knobs are very unattractive), and I haven't had issues as others have mentioned with the replacement knobs being too tight. I have used the ebony knobs. I wonder if this is a recent development (I still have some which are probably two years old). Tried to use Waverly, but they cut the nylon strings. So, I have one steel string ekonting. Fun.

I have a number of banjos that have Stew-Mac tuners on them and I am extremely pleased. One set of my 5 star's began to slip and I could not tighten them any further. I called Stew-Mac and was informed that they would replace the set. I was not expecting that. In a few days my new set arrived and I returned the old postage paid by Stew-Mac.

I have always been a fan of theirs and they just keep giving me reasons to continue. They are extremely professional and very personable to boot. I can't say enough.
Regards,
Les Thompson Founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Received a set of Five-Star tuners including a fith string geared tuner. The tuners I received did not fit 3/8" pegholes as advertised in the specs. When I miked the shafts they were five thousands over 3/8". That makes them around 10 mm. Without a reamer, I had to drill out the pegholes. Also, the replacement ebony knobs that I ordered did not fit as the tuner peg shaft is a little oversize. In addition, the fifth string tuner's knob and screw does not match the tuners. I should have sent the tuners back as now I have oddball pegholes. For all the work required to make these work, I would pop for the extra twenty bucks and buy the Waverley tuners.

I intend to use these pegs for a Hurdy-Gurdy, and they are just what I was looking for.
I do not like the plastic perloid knobs, but I purchased a set of replacement ebony knobs (which, by the way, do not fit at first instance: you'll have to file a little to get them fit). What I don't know is why they are not produced directly with more attractive knobs from the beginning.

I've used these Five-Star planetaries on several of my vintage banjos. For years I wanted to keep my banjos "vintage" so I put up with the old friction pegs. But for me, a banjo is meant to be played! So I have replaced my old friction pegs with these affordable and well-made tuners on several of my Vega tenor banjos.
The only issue is that, like other tuners, they may not be long enough to make it through the thickest part of your headstock... the two tuners closest to the neck. I solved this by using a 5/8" Forstner bit to drill down the thickness of the headstock for these two tuners to the same thickness as the headstock for the other two tuners. I only had to drill down about 1/8", and the Five-Stars slip down into the drill-down, and you can't even tell. And banjo playing is so much more fun when your instruments are easy to tune. These planetaries are cheaper than other brands, but are solidly built, work well, and look a lot like vintage tuners. I think they are often used by custom banjo builders like Bart Reiter.

I bought these machines as direct replacements for a '31 KayKraft. They were notchy when I first put them on, and it has only gotten worse over the last 3 weeks. Only buy the Waverlys if they are going on a guitar. These can not handle the extra string pressure. A friend has 9 guitars with Waverlys on them, and he has never had a problem. I wish he had told me.

The best planets available!!!!

Purchased as an upgrade on a low end Banjo with guitar style machines.

Other than drilling for the new hardware installation was straight forward and relatively easy.

The quality of the 5-star is surprisingly good with only a a touch of 'notchy gearing' at every other revolution. Not noticeable once the tension adjustment was set.

Holds tune perfectly and added a touch of class to the old Deering goodtime. The Knobs are molded plastic with a visible ridge but look authentic enough as is.

Pearlescent and or Ivoroid replacement knobs are available if the stock plastic pearl don't suit your needs.

A classic upgrade for a fun little practice banjo. I'd recommend the 5-star tuners if the higher quality machines are out of reach of your budget.

Next-Day delivery! Dropped my order late Friday afternoon and it showed up on Saturday Morning.

Stewart-MacDonald made my weekend! [again] The Best service, advice and hardware are a mouse click away!

Thanks for taking such good care of me -- yet again!