Waverly Planetary 5th String Peg

If you are an aficionado of stringed instruments like I am, you will appreciate the resource to humanity that StewMac provides to the world. I've done a fair amount of research on their competitors, and StewMac has earned every accolade posted. Even if you only use it once, it will be worth the money to purchase the #0618 5th String Peghole Reamer to install this correctly. Oh, by the way, this Waverly tuner is excellent!

Over the years and on many different banjos, I’ve used just about every kind of 5th string peg from friction machines to geared setups to homemade inverted guitar tuners with the button pointed down! For my “baby”, my 1961 Ode open-back I wanted something special when I refurbished it. I started off with a geared Waverly: the style with the 90-degree peg sticking up at the fingerboard. It was adequate, but when paired with a Shubb 5th string capo the area around the 5th fret was cluttered and looked clunky. It was less than easy to slide the capo with any speed. This Waverly planetary tuner is such an elegant solution! I set it at the slightest angle to give just a slight bit more space to fool with the capo as necessary. The tuner itself is much cleaner in appearance, operates as smooth as silk, and makes me happy. Tuning is straightforward, solid and accurate. I never have that feeling that I’m about to pop a string when I tune. It accepted a StewMac ebony tuner knob perfectly, matching my original Grovers on the peghead. With the addition of a little string sleeve, the problems mentioned above about string fragments is eliminated. Don’t mess with other 5th string tuners, this Waverly is the one, no doubt.

The Waverly 5th string peg fit perfectly (using the StewMac 5th peg reamer.) It is a very clean design and holds tuning flawlessly. I have to admit, this was my first instrument build from scratch and I do not have years of experience, but maybe that is part of the beauty of it. It made me look good...Great tuner!

Smoothest tuner I have ever used.

The Waverly 5th string machine is the perfect compliment to a set of Waverly machines. The function is superb and the look is far cleaner than other brands. The Waverlys look great on my Tubaphone and Whyte Laydie. Thanks StewMac.

Excelent product, fast delivery though overseas!
Only thing is I think you ought to sell it as a kit with the reamer.
When I first got the reamer, mounting was no problem and my banjo is solid as a rock!!

With the suggested ream, the installation went smoothly.

Many people will say this tuner is a pain to use because of small pieces of string that become lodged in the very tight housing. I have not had that problem. The tuner is smooth, easy to string, and no more needles sticking my thumb when I slide.

My brother got an old Gretsch banjo and it had a friction fifth string tuning peg, which did not stay in tune very well. So I call up my friends at StewMac and said, "Dan man, I like got this old Banjo Dan and I can't get it to stay in tune Dan and what am I gonna do man?" He recommended this neat little fifth string tuner made by Waverly! I ordered it and to my everlasting delight, it not only stays in tune perfectly but also looks really neat!

After installing this 5th String peg I would have to agree with one of the reviews I read before the purchase at Stew-Mac. I'm ready to replace all my 5th string pegs with these.