Do you actually use genuine Gotoh tuning machines?

I've heard that Gotoh tuning machines are the best tuners available. Whether that's true or not, they seem to be standard on very high end guitars such as R Taylor. I find it surprising that you would use such expensive hardware on a $1,000 guitar. Please explain.

You're very observant. Those are indeed genuine Gotoh tuners on the early MacKenzie & Marr Tofinos. And yes, you're very well informed. Gotohs are usually only found on very expensive guitars. We love the smooth accurate tuning, the string lock and the 16:1 ratio. Perhaps using Gotoh 381 tuning machines was a bit frivolous but in keeping with our philosophy of putting the money we save on distribution into building a better guitar it made sense to us.

In April of 2011 we began a running change - switching from Gotoh 381s to a new tuning machine of our own design. We wanted to increase the turning ratio. 16:1 is better than anyone else offers in this price range but we found a way to get 20:1 without an increase in cost. The fact that the factory that makes our new tuners is across the street from our guitar factory is an added plus.