One of the most popular models of Gotoh^® tuners in recent years is the SG510 in the XG finish, known to most as "antique gold". The X-Finish uses Lubri-Plate technology to increase durability and functionality but it also looks great! In particular, acoustic guitar owners have been drawn to its understated beauty.

There are many options available but we'll save some space by showing just a few of the most popular:

Beveled Washers to Complete the Look

The difference may be subtle, but it's real. Beveled washers look less mechanical, more organic. They make your Gotoh^® tuners look less like hardware attached to your instrument and more like a part of your instrument. In this photo we show three normal washers (top) and three beveled washers (bottom). See for yourself the difference!

We offer beveled washers as an option with any Gotoh^® 510 model in any finish for an extra $3.

There's a good chance if you've heard of Uo-Chikyu (also known as Hiroshima Files) then you either own some of their files or want to. Their reputation for making precision files used for slotting nuts and filing frets is unsurpassed among luthiers.

The standard series nut files come in 34 widths, from 0.009" to 0.135". Unfortunately, it's difficult to find these single gauge nut files from most sources. It's easier to find the two sets (of 5 or 8) which provide you with some selection, but don't necessarily match up with any sets of strings that you'd put on a guitar. We can provide any of the available sizes and - after talking to some luthiers about the sizes they actually want - we've assembled a few cost-saving and convenient sets of six.

Individual nut files are $11.50 from 0.009" to 0.065" and $14.95 from 0.078" to 0.135". Our custom sets of six (shown below) are $65 each.

History

The company was founded in Hiroshima in 1937. Hiroshima is well-known in Japan as the source of the highest quality files and Uo-Chikyu's reputation is second to none. In 1983, after getting requests from major instrument manufacturers, they started to make precision nut and fret files. Since then they have become the file of choice for many of the major builders, not just in Japan but all around the world. Think of a guitar company and you're probably thinking of a company that uses Uo-Chikyu brand files.

There are many imitators, but there is only one Uo-Chikyu. Make sure you're getting the best. Make sure it says Uo-Chikyu on it.

There's a new Gotoh^® catalog out for 2012 and we have it here for download. It's 40 pages of beautiful photos and detailed information. That also makes it a pretty hefty download (40MB) so please be patient. It could take a minute or two, depending on your connection speeds. Another option is to view it on their website in a Flash PDF viewer.

Something to keep in mind when ordering Gotoh^® parts is that they are available in a number of finishes and configurations - many more than most people realize. Take a look at the photos on pages 6 and 7 to see some of the great options. Most stores will only carry a few of the most popular options, but Gotoh^® offers so many more. Custom ordering is easy and fast. Why not try something a little different?

Download the Gotoh^® Parts & Collection catalog or view it on their website.

As I'm sure you're aware, certain types of shell product that are commonly used when making guitars are no longer allowed to be shipped across the border from the USA to Canada. The good news for you is that we have a great supply of high-quality abalone and mother of pearl inlays, both pre-cut and blanks. You don't need to worry about cross-border shipping - we ship from right here in Canada!

To see these products and many others, download the DoMo Parts & Materials catalog.

And for Canadian luthiers who sell to customers in the USA, it's also more complicated to ship down south than it used to be if you use shell inlays. That's why we also carry great looking celluloid alternatives. With these non-shell inlays, you can make a beautiful product and ship it to your customers without the hassles of expensive and time-consuming paperwork!

Celluloid and acrylic inlays are listed in the DoMo Parts & Materials catalog. Note also that we also sell a 2mm celluloid dot inlay that is not listed in the catalog.