Does tuner head material, affect tone?!

[solspirit]

I am not saying it doesn't matter but its impact once the note is fretted is minimalized greatly. Once the note is fretted the string is no longer in contact with the tuner or the nut. The greatest impact the nut or the tuners have on the tone is when open notes are played.

I don't see how it's affected by the nut or tuners at all, if it's properly fretted.

 

[GuitarStv]

I am not saying it doesn't matter but its impact once the note is fretted is minimalized greatly. Once the note is fretted the string is no longer in contact with the tuner or the nut. The greatest impact the nut or the tuners have on the tone is when open notes are played.

I think you might be running from an invalid assumption here. It doesn't seem likely to me that functioning tuners (able to hold the string to pitch) have measurable impact on tone beyond the (minimal) weight that they add to the guitar neck. If that's the case, then fretting/open doesn't matter. Tuners would have the same (minimal) impact on sound either way.

 

[Securb]

Once fretted the string is no longer connected to the tuner. Tuning stability is critical, I am talking about the tone it creates.

 

[GuitarStv]

Once fretted the string is no longer connected to the tuner.

That's demonstrably false and easily disproven. Fret a string and cut it above the fretted position with some wire cutters. I suspect you'll notice a change when the string is truly no longer connected to the tuner.

Tuning stability is critical, I am talking about the tone it creates.

The mass of the tuner will still be added to the mass of the guitar neck whether or not a note is fretted. It's possible that the dampening added by the hand and arm attached to the guitar would minimize this though, is that what you mean?

 

[Securb]

So if I am using a locking nut does the tuner material matter? Lock down your stings with a locking nut then cut them from the tuner, your tone will not change.

 

[solspirit]

That's demonstrably false and easily disproven. Fret a string and cut it above the fretted position with some wire cutters. I suspect you'll notice a change when the string is truly no longer connected to the tuner.




The mass of the tuner will still be added to the mass of the guitar neck whether or not a note is fretted. It's possible that the dampening added by the hand and arm attached to the guitar would minimize this though, is that what you mean?

I see what you're saying now and it makes omelet sense.

 

[GuitarStv]

So if I am using a locking nut does the tuner material matter? Lock down your stings with a locking nut then cut them from the tuner, your tone will not change.

The locking nut removes tension between the tuner and the nut from the equation. It also changes the mass of the neck though.

 

[Securb]

^ Spot on. Also, if nothing north of the fretted note matters, then nothing south of the bridge saddle matters.

The string is sitting on the saddle so it is still vibrating heavily when it gets to the tailpiece. From your fretting finger to the tuning peg there is little vibration. Your finger is essentially clamping the string down to the fretboard, similar to the function of a locking nut or capo. I am not saying the tuner's style or type has no effect on tone but it is minimal when the note is fretted.