Kluson Tuners

[Lewguitar]

Re: Kluson Tuners

The Gotoh aluminum tailpieces are the best value. They look great and sound great and are about half the cost of a Gibson aluminum stop tailpiece.

 

[Bluzboy66]

Re: Kluson Tuners

I was under the impression that the more weight and desity at the headstock, the more resonance is helped. Wouldn't that be a similar effect to the fatfinger?

There was a huge contraversy over the Fat Finger when it was released. Some swore that it helped fatten the tone, while others removed them, vowing NEVER to add more weight to the headstock again. I installed a set of Sperzel locking tuners to a PRS Custom a while back in hopes of remedying some tuning gremlins. The guitar's tone was DRASTICALLY changed.........so much that it caught me off guard. The guitar lost its low-end, and seemed to gain some odd 'crispness', or brassiness. I hadn't expected the heavier Sperzels to 'sound' any different than the lighter Shaller-made factory PRS tuners. That was enough for me. I put the factory tuners back on.

I've never tried the Fat Finger myself, and doubt that I ever will. Maybe the design of the device CAN help the tone of a particular anemic Strat. It is brass, correct? That may have a different effect than a set of heavier diecast metal tuners. The flat plate-like Fat Finger could, in theory, resonate with the headstock, while I doubt that the tuners are even capable.

Think about the effect that deadener rings have on drum heads (They're typically used to tame drum heads in the studio). They're thin donut-shaped perimeter rings that are merely laid on the head itself, and not very heavy at all, but they'll kill a 'ringy' drum like nobody's business.

Sure something to think about......

Mike

 

[B2D]

Re: Kluson Tuners

Yeah, I know I kind of skewed the data with the whole Micheal Bolton thing. I didn't realize it would matter.

"You have paid the price for your lack of vision!!" :laugh2: :burnout:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Kluson Tuners

There was a huge contraversy over the Fat Finger when it was released. Some swore that it helped fatten the tone, while others removed them, vowing NEVER to add more weight to the headstock again. I installed a set of Sperzel locking tuners to a PRS Custom a while back in hopes of remedying some tuning gremlins. The guitar's tone was DRASTICALLY changed.........so much that it caught me off guard. The guitar lost its low-end, and seemed to gain some odd 'crispness', or brassiness. I hadn't expected the heavier Sperzels to 'sound' any different than the lighter Shaller-made factory PRS tuners. That was enough for me. I put the factory tuners back on.

I've never tried the Fat Finger myself, and doubt that I ever will. Maybe the design of the device CAN help the tone of a particular anemic Strat. It is brass, correct? That may have a different effect than a set of heavier diecast metal tuners. The flat plate-like Fat Finger could, in theory, resonate with the headstock, while I doubt that the tuners are even capable.

Think about the effect that deadener rings have on drum heads (They're typically used to tame drum heads in the studio). They're thin donut-shaped perimeter rings that are merely laid on the head itself, and not very heavy at all, but they'll kill a 'ringy' drum like nobody's business.

Sure something to think about......

Mike

Tighter and steelier is how I hear the heavier tuners...woodier and more acoustic is how I hear the lighter tuners. I don't notice a loss of bass with the heavier tuners...but the balance seems differant and maybe the steelier treble gives the impression that there's less bass. I don't find the heavier tuners to have a "bad" tone...just differant. I can see how some players might even consider it an improvement. Also, I think the diff is more obvious on a Les Paul with a mahogany peghead and neck than on a maple neck Strat. Lew

 

[B2D]

Re: Kluson Tuners

Seriously...

I have never tried vintage Strat-style or ANY Gibson style kluson that stayed in tune very long under my playing style. The modern, new Strat Klusons that are on my '92 MIA Strat stay in tune VERY well when i play the guitar without using the trem and I unlock the nut, which surprised me because they're the vintage-style ones.

So the newer Fender ones work great, but as for the Gibbos... I need a good set of Grovers. But in any case I prefer Sperzels.

As for the tonal change when I switched to Sperzels with my MIM... yes the tone had a HUGE change and surprised the heck out of me but it was a good change. Clearer, louder, more defined tone with more sustain. I loved it and haven't moved back.

As for the fatfingers... I had one and didn't notice a difference. and the only other two guitarists I saw use one (Satriani and my guitar teacher) ditched them after a while... my teacher didn't notice a difference either. Fatheads are a little bit different though. IIRC they're brass plates shaped to the guitar's headstock that screw on from the back. I haven't tried one nor do I remember any comments about Fatheads.

Of course, then there's George Lynch's famous "headstock weights" trick. I seem to remember a few forum members tried it and reported very positive results.

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Kluson Tuners

Hopefully I'll get in to see my hand doctor and find out this is easily fixed. If not, well I am building a lap steel. I think that will be fairly painless to play. And being a committed guitar player, I will play through the pain as long as possible, if that's my only choice. You guys know what I mean. That's what you'd do, right?

It depends on the type of pain. Sometimes a break from playing would heal you up. If you spend a ton of time on the computer, that may be causing your hands to hurt. Also, warm up before playing like a madman. Good luck with the Doctor.

 

[Bluzboy66]

Re: Kluson Tuners

Tighter and steelier is how I hear the heavier tuners...woodier and more acoustic is how I hear the lighter tuners. I don't notice a loss of bass with the heavier tuners...but the balance seems differant and maybe the steelier treble gives the impression that there's less bass. I don't find the heavier tuners to have a "bad" tone...just differant. I can see how some players might even consider it an improvement. Also, I think the diff is more obvious on a Les Paul with a mahogany peghead and neck than on a maple neck Strat. Lew

Very good points. Your descriptions "woodier and more acoustic" are dead on. Resonant tone is everything to me, and the more I can get out of the guitar, the happier I am. I've heard the Bluegrassers around here talk about how different their D28s sound when played standing as opposed to seated.......the whole back rings when seated, but not much at all when performing standing. Oh, they get pretty ruffled about it.

........We really ARE quite sick, you know?

Mike

 

[Bluzboy66]

Re: Kluson Tuners

......As for the fatfingers... I had one and didn't notice a difference. and the only other two guitarists I saw use one (Satriani and my guitar teacher) ditched them after a while... my teacher didn't notice a difference either. Fatheads are a little bit different though. IIRC they're brass plates shaped to the guitar's headstock that screw on from the back. I haven't tried one nor do I remember any comments about Fatheads........

THAT's what I was referring to, the Fat HEAD. The were shaped the same as the Strat and Tele headstocks they were meant to attached to. I'm also familiar with the Fat Finger (it slides over the edge of the headstock), but the Fat Head raised a bunch of eyebrows when it came out. Players couldn't decide if they liked them, or not.

Mike

 

[skh515]

Re: Kluson Tuners

It depends on the type of pain. Sometimes a break from playing would heal you up. If you spend a ton of time on the computer, that may be causing your hands to hurt. Also, warm up before playing like a madman. Good luck with the Doctor.

Thanks for the thought. I took a pretty long break without improvement. It seems to be in the thumb, basically when I have to squeeze, I get pain. For example, barre chords; I can hold a barre for a measure or two, but that's it. I have some material I arranged from piano; all barre chords. I've quit playing those songs (like Tom Wait's "New Coat of Paint" or "Fumblin with the Blues.")

I've been trying to play chords without barres, sometimes using my thumb on the low E, a la Hendrix. I'm also trying to play more open chords, use drone strings, etc.

Are there any warm-ups that will help with that? Gripping the tuners with my right hand causes the same pain.

I have considered Carpel-Tunnel, that is definitely a possibility. The pain goes back 15 years or more, however, since before I spent so much time on the computer. But the pain has definitely gotten worse over the last few years.

 

[skh515]

Re: Kluson Tuners

"You have paid the price for your lack of vision!!" :laugh2: :burnout:

Thanks B2D, I enjoyed your response.

I started a new thread in Tips and Clips about my hand pain, based on this thread. Look here if you want to check it out:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=25394

Steve