Highest quality replacement tuners?

astrozombie

astrozombie

KatyPerryologist
I’ve researched it myself but have no way of knowing for sure since I can’t test before I buy.

I’m looking for a smooth preferably high ratio tuner for my explorer. The stock mini Grover’s leave a certain sour taste in my mouth. They function fine but feel like they are greased with cooking oil.

I tried schallers once on a les Paul. Those were super smooth. Anyone have any specific recommendations? I am leaning towards hipster with their universal mounting trick and seemingly 1:18 ratio.


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Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

I just saw the Graph Tech Ratio tuners a few days ago. Different ratio for each string, and locking. Pretty pricey but they look good.
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

I have a preference for Gotoh tuners, but do have a set of Hipshot tuners on a Gibson guitar. The universal mount is great and the ratio feels pretty smooth. They hold tune really well and the tuner buttons are interchangeable. I want to get a set for my Koa 356.

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Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Steinberger 40:1 tuners are amazing, and so are LSR tuners if you can find them.
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

My favorite tuners of the major brands are the fulltime Grover 106 self locking series. No knobs to twist or post tops to tighten. Just insert string and turn the knob to lock and tune. I didn't like the mini Grover nearly as much. If they made the 106 in nickel I'd have them on every guitar I own.
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Mincer said:
Steinberger 40:1 tuners are amazing, and so are LSR tuners if you can find them.
Click to expand...

I don’t mean to sound like a pansy but they don’t come in black :(


I wonder if the hip shot with the LSR style buttons would function the same


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Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

I’ve got the Grover locking tuners on two Les Pauls. I have no issues at all with them. One was a factory install and the other replaced the robot tuners on my Special. Iirc, I paid less than $65.
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Grovers on most of mine
Two have the rear lock knob
One has the top locking post
They all work fine

I also have planet waves with the auto trim in black
Those work well also . The trim function takes some getting used to

I also have some Chinese lockers on some
One is Allparts branded two have KD brand
Those have been trouble free as well

I have a dragonfire set from guitarpartsonline and they are kinda junk
Not enough to make me replace them.

The off brand that came on my Ehdwuld guitar , those had stripped gears and never worked
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Yeah, I forgot about the Planet Waves...those are nice, too. I also dig the new crop of lightweight high quality tuners that many companies are offering, especially if you deal with a neck that is slightly too heavy.
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Mincer said:
...so are LSR tuners if you can find them.
Click to expand...

Those things need to come with a drill attachment for when you are changing strings, I can't imagine having turn the knob 40 times just to get one wrap around the post.
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Hipshot take the cake for me with Schaller and Gotoh not far behind.
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

I do also have the newer Gotoh Magnum tuners if you're looking for locking tuners. They work like a charm. The ratio is butter smooth, holds tune, and locks the strings in place. They seem pretty bulky tho, I'm just not too much a fan of locking tuners I suppose. I went with open gear Hipshot due to anesthetics and "weight". They're a bit on the pricey end, especially if you want them in gold. $97 in gold, which is why I don't have any for the koa 356.

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Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Grovers are not very good these days. Old sealed ones are (say '70's and '80's ones), if you buy a set that hasn't been beat. Ugly-ass standard buttons, though. It's just such a lame shape.

Sperzels are good, and lightweight for sealed tuners. They can easily be custom ordered in many different ways, directly from the company (it's a real mom and pop shop). I prefer opting for the small #6 buttons, as all their other buttons are ugly to me. Sperzels are the way to go if you need lightweight, locking, staggered, sealed tuners, and you don't mind drilling a registration hole for each tuner into the back of your headstock. Look at options and order here: http://www.sperzel.com/index.php

Hipshots are very good. I have been trending toward these, as opposed to Gotohs, for builds in which a modern look is okay. They are just solid as all hell, and they are available with very attractive small metal butterbean buttons. Hipshot hardware is really top notch stuff, and always has been.

Schallers are good, but all their buttons are ugly IMO. I'm not really a fan of them over all, because there are more aesthetically attractive options that do the same thing in terms of quality.

Gotohs are good, and available in a million different configurations. Over all, IMO they are the best tuner brand, in terms of available products, and options/features. Their H.A.P. and locking features are awesome. They are the way to go for a vintage look with modern features, or for upgrading the old tuners on a real vintage guitar, without having to modify the headstock. They are my go-to.

Waverlys are very good open-geared tuners, but the buttons are ugly and they are ungodly expensive.
 
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Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

I ordered the Hipshot locking tuners for some $80.

Here is my problem. For the high E string I still have to make more than a full winding to tune it. Is this normal?

It is hard to pull the high E string by hand to put a lot of tension. So even though the string is locked, it is more than an octave down in tuning. I made more than a full turn and even then it is still some 3 full tones below E. It is not yet 329.6 Hz on the open E or 523 Hz (C5) on the 8th fret on high E string. I use pitchperfect software.

They may show in a video that all I have to do is make a quarter turn and it is tuned. Not really, as I cant put enough tension just by pulling using my hand as the string is smooth. The tuner also feels like it is slipping. When I am winding, it just does not feel any different from the stock tuners. So I am not sure if I should call this an upgrade. The stock tuners hold the tuning well when I use the under-over locking winding but that is a lot of manual winding and hence I wanted locking tuners.

I am putting them on a Squier Affinity. Well the main purpose of putting locking tuners on this guitar is to avoid winding and not to make it play better. I hate winding. I am also planning to add mods to the guitar like the GFS grey bottom pups. I am learning to make mods. So starting with a cheap guitar.
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Gotoh Made in Japan
Schaller Germany

For the expensive models... cheapies? Who knows
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

mupi said:
I ordered the Hipshot locking tuners for some $80.

Here is my problem. For the high E string I still have to make more than a full winding to tune it. Is this normal?

It is hard to pull the high E string by hand to put a lot of tension. So even though the string is locked, it is more than an octave down in tuning. I made more than a full turn and even then it is still some 3 full tones below E. It is not yet 329.6 Hz on the open E or 523 Hz (C5) on the 8th fret on high E string. I use pitchperfect software.

They may show in a video that all I have to do is make a quarter turn and it is tuned. Not really, as I cant put enough tension just by pulling using my hand as the string is smooth. The tuner also feels like it is slipping. When I am winding, it just does not feel any different from the stock tuners. So I am not sure if I should call this an upgrade. The stock tuners hold the tuning well when I use the under-over locking winding but that is a lot of manual winding and hence I wanted locking tuners.

I am putting them on a Squier Affinity. Well the main purpose of putting locking tuners on this guitar is to avoid winding and not to make it play better. I hate winding. I am also planning to add mods to the guitar like the GFS grey bottom pups. I am learning to make mods. So starting with a cheap guitar.
Click to expand...

1. Pull the string harder before you tighten the lock knob. (Bend the string end around your hand to pull.)

2. Tighten the lock knob harder.

3. This is normal for locking tuners (though perhaps not quite to the degree you describe, and you do need to address the slippage).

4. It isn't really a problem anyhow. The high E wrapping all the way around the post (and then some) is not going to significantly reduce your tuning stability. (But, again, slippage will.)
 
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Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Ok I pulled the string as hard as possible. Didnt want to cut my fingers as these strings can cause some serious damage to fingers if I wrap it around my finger and pull it like a jute thread. I put the under-over knot and did the winding to tune it. Will see if holds the tuning. It is a new string and I did some stretching. So I may have to tune it a couple of times. After that if it still does not hold the tuning and slips, it is going back.

I bought the hipshot tuner kit mainly because these tuners do not need extra holes for the little pins as they dont have the pins the plate keeps the 3 tuners from rotating. All other tuners either need those little pins or screws to hold them in place. I hope they hold the tune at least for a week. I dont use the trem bar. Will see how it goes. I have 30 days.
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Most of my locking tuners have this problem with the high e
One came out and I tightened it
It was one of the planet waves trimming set and the string was too short to get back in
I like a bit of a wrap but it is hard to tighten down on that skinny little string

I want just a bit more on the b and e myself
 
Re: Highest quality replacement tuners?

Chistopher said:
Those things need to come with a drill attachment for when you are changing strings, I can't imagine having turn the knob 40 times just to get one wrap around the post.
Click to expand...

Got an awful wrist ache.

You need to improve your playing technique.

No, I got it from tuning my guitar.
 
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