Obviously both options are a compromise and neither an optimum solution for what are usually very expensive instruments. It was with this in mind that we have developed equipment and are now able to offer gearing cut to the opposite hand, allowing these reproduction machine heads to be reproduced as the originals without compromise.

During the nineteenth century when machine heads first started to be actively used on guitars in place of wooden pegs, makers produced the machine heads with gearing cut in the opposite direction to sets made today.

It is unknown why the direction of the thread was changed and there was certainly an overlap where both old and modern style machine heads were being used. Virtually all guitars made during the 19th Century which have machine heads fitted, have the ‘old reverse type gearing’. Robert Bouchet who was making guitars during the first half of the last century used, to my knowledge, exclusively the reverse gearing.

However during the turn of the 20th Century, machines heads started to be made with threads cut in the modern direction. The change was possibly not due to any degree of enlightenment on the part of the engineers but simply because the makers used equipment they had available. Suffice to say that the winner of this particular ‘format war’ was the now universally used modern ‘left hand’ cut thread.

Luthiers making reproduction guitars now also have the option to have this style of gearing.

Pricing can be found on the price list in the 'Extras' section.

The Images on the right show a Baker Style L201 design set built with the reverse gearing.

Click here for the dimension drawing
Click here to order this set.

Until recently, changing the machine head has meant replacement with the newer modern gearing. The set would either have to be re-dimensioned or fitted backwards. Fitting the set backwards means that although the set could be an exact replica of the old set, the guitarist would have to turn the buttons in the opposite direction to tighten or loosen the strings. Re-dimensioning usually required excessive repositioning and design alterations of the engraving.

A great many guitars were made using reverse geared machine heads and these are all now old and treasured instruments. However many of the old machine heads are now reaching the end of their lives and luthiers and players who own or are in the process of restoring the guitar, face a dilemma when they come to replacing the machine head for a reproduction set.