astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
are they really all that?
i mean this kind:
what exactly locks?
i mean this kind:
what exactly locks?
Locking tuners?
- Thread starter astrozombie
- Start date
Oceano
New member
Re: Locking tuners?
Locking tuners are cool cos they make string changes hella fast, but they aren't really worth 60 bucks to me. I think you're better off taking that money and investing in a new properly cut nut for tuning stability purposes. What guitar is it going on? The tuners on it might be quite adequate, thus making locking tuners somewhat unnecessary (unless string change time is enough for you to get them)
Locking tuners are cool cos they make string changes hella fast, but they aren't really worth 60 bucks to me. I think you're better off taking that money and investing in a new properly cut nut for tuning stability purposes. What guitar is it going on? The tuners on it might be quite adequate, thus making locking tuners somewhat unnecessary (unless string change time is enough for you to get them)
JaySwear
New member
Re: Locking tuners?
as has already been said, they make string changes extremely easy. however, i really don't know if they improve tuning stability.
they basically make it so you don't have to wrap the string around the peg multiple times. instead of putting the string through the peg with some slack and then tuning, you would string it through, tighten down the locking mechanism (the knob on the back of the tuner, where the "F" is) without leaving any slack in the string, then tune as you normally would. you end up with anywhere from only a wrap or two around the peg on the lighter strings to maybe a half a wrap or less on the heavier strings.
anyway, thats my longwinded explanation of how they lock haha sorry. i was really confused as to what they were before i bought my sg (which had them installed). i always thought that they locked the string so it wouldn't change tuning like a locking nut, but it's a different purpose entirely. hope some of this made some sense
as has already been said, they make string changes extremely easy. however, i really don't know if they improve tuning stability.
they basically make it so you don't have to wrap the string around the peg multiple times. instead of putting the string through the peg with some slack and then tuning, you would string it through, tighten down the locking mechanism (the knob on the back of the tuner, where the "F" is) without leaving any slack in the string, then tune as you normally would. you end up with anywhere from only a wrap or two around the peg on the lighter strings to maybe a half a wrap or less on the heavier strings.
anyway, thats my longwinded explanation of how they lock haha sorry. i was really confused as to what they were before i bought my sg (which had them installed). i always thought that they locked the string so it wouldn't change tuning like a locking nut, but it's a different purpose entirely. hope some of this made some sense
Re: Locking tuners?
The tuners shown above use the thumbwheel on the back of the peg to tighten a rod/piston in the peg where the string goes through the peg hole. It "Locks" them to the peg. On a non-locking peg the string winds around the peg a few times to create tension. The theory is that the string tension on non-locking pegs will "slip" causing tuning instability. This is supposedly more pronounced on tremlo equiped guitars.
I had tuning stability issues on a hard-tail guitar & tried the Locking Rotomatics as an experiment. They didn't improve the tuning stability any. I don't have any tremlo guitars so I don't know if they make any improvement there either, but the theory claims they do.
My tuning stability was greatly improved by working on the nut slots repeatedly until I was able to overcome most of the problems. I suspect if you have tuning stability problems the majority of it can be resolved by nut adjustments.
If you still want to switch to locking tuners check out the Locking Rotomatics. They're much simpler to use & work as well if not better than the thumb-wheel type locks. They make string changes extremely quick.
Good Luck
The tuners shown above use the thumbwheel on the back of the peg to tighten a rod/piston in the peg where the string goes through the peg hole. It "Locks" them to the peg. On a non-locking peg the string winds around the peg a few times to create tension. The theory is that the string tension on non-locking pegs will "slip" causing tuning instability. This is supposedly more pronounced on tremlo equiped guitars.
I had tuning stability issues on a hard-tail guitar & tried the Locking Rotomatics as an experiment. They didn't improve the tuning stability any. I don't have any tremlo guitars so I don't know if they make any improvement there either, but the theory claims they do.
My tuning stability was greatly improved by working on the nut slots repeatedly until I was able to overcome most of the problems. I suspect if you have tuning stability problems the majority of it can be resolved by nut adjustments.
If you still want to switch to locking tuners check out the Locking Rotomatics. They're much simpler to use & work as well if not better than the thumb-wheel type locks. They make string changes extremely quick.
Good Luck
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Locking tuners?
thanks alot guys! im interested in those fender ones because they retrofit a guitar I own, which is an upgraded mexican telecaster.
thanks alot guys! im interested in those fender ones because they retrofit a guitar I own, which is an upgraded mexican telecaster.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
phil_104
Cheesesteakologist
Re: Locking tuners?
I think they are worth it. What you are looking to do with tuning stability is return the string to it's original position. With no winds around the post, you remove another thing that can go out of wack. Combine this with a good nut, and you are set.
I think they are worth it. What you are looking to do with tuning stability is return the string to it's original position. With no winds around the post, you remove another thing that can go out of wack. Combine this with a good nut, and you are set.
lex666
New member
Re: Locking tuners?
I have 2 Fender strats, both with floating trems, one with regular tuners, the other with locking tuners & a LSR roller nut....
I prefer the regular tuners, to be honest. I think I actually get more stability wrapping the strings a few times around the post. The locking tuner in theory, should be more stable, but IME I've had strings slip & pop out. Especially when using the trem. I think a properly set up guitar with regular tuners is more stable when using the trem.
I have 2 Fender strats, both with floating trems, one with regular tuners, the other with locking tuners & a LSR roller nut....
I prefer the regular tuners, to be honest. I think I actually get more stability wrapping the strings a few times around the post. The locking tuner in theory, should be more stable, but IME I've had strings slip & pop out. Especially when using the trem. I think a properly set up guitar with regular tuners is more stable when using the trem.
Bludave
New member
Re: Locking tuners?
I have the Sperzels on a Strat. This guitar also has a graphite nut & graphite saddles. It stays in tune very well, but I agree that if the nut is setup properly tuning stability is usually not an issue. The drawback to Sperzels is, if you do break a string..... on stage where the light is not good, the hole is so freakin' small you will never be able to thread a new string through it.:eyecrazy:
The older I get the harder doing this has become. Another drawback is if you use very heavy strings for down tuning. you may have a problem getting a #6 string through the hole. You probably won't be able to get more then a 50 or 52 through that hole.
I have the Sperzels on a Strat. This guitar also has a graphite nut & graphite saddles. It stays in tune very well, but I agree that if the nut is setup properly tuning stability is usually not an issue. The drawback to Sperzels is, if you do break a string..... on stage where the light is not good, the hole is so freakin' small you will never be able to thread a new string through it.:eyecrazy:
The older I get the harder doing this has become. Another drawback is if you use very heavy strings for down tuning. you may have a problem getting a #6 string through the hole. You probably won't be able to get more then a 50 or 52 through that hole.
Diego
New member
Re: Locking tuners?
Doing the "folded sandpaper under the string" trick to widen the nut slots to my strings solved all my tuning issues. My Squier particularly has some awfully cheap tuners yet they hold the strings fine... winding/stretching the strings properly, a bit of graphite in the nut slots and the tuning is rock stable, vintage trem set to float and everything.
Locking tuners are convenient and practical, but they're not a solution to tuning issues, unless you don't know how to wind them correctly on the tuning posts, and that's assuming the nut is well cut, because that's where most tuning problems begin, and usually end too.
Doing the "folded sandpaper under the string" trick to widen the nut slots to my strings solved all my tuning issues. My Squier particularly has some awfully cheap tuners yet they hold the strings fine... winding/stretching the strings properly, a bit of graphite in the nut slots and the tuning is rock stable, vintage trem set to float and everything.
Locking tuners are convenient and practical, but they're not a solution to tuning issues, unless you don't know how to wind them correctly on the tuning posts, and that's assuming the nut is well cut, because that's where most tuning problems begin, and usually end too.
ibanezrocks
HardtailPisser
Re: Locking tuners?
I agree with most of what has been said. On a hardtail guitar the use of locking tuners is not going to solve any tuning issues you have but they do make string changes really really easy. With a trem they should make a difference only if the tuning issues stem from the wraps around a non-locking tuner having a different tension than the rest of the string. As others have said, the nut is the more common culprit for this.
I think they're worth it for the easy string changes alone but maybe I'm just lazy.
I agree with most of what has been said. On a hardtail guitar the use of locking tuners is not going to solve any tuning issues you have but they do make string changes really really easy. With a trem they should make a difference only if the tuning issues stem from the wraps around a non-locking tuner having a different tension than the rest of the string. As others have said, the nut is the more common culprit for this.
I think they're worth it for the easy string changes alone but maybe I'm just lazy.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Locking tuners?
these? http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiezvisttufo.html
or these?
http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiezlotu6inf.html
these? http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiezvisttufo.html
or these?
http://store.guitarfetish.com/wiezlotu6inf.html
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Locking tuners?
im probably going to end up buying the fender ones, just because they retrofit perfectly, and I don't mind the price. :scratchch
im probably going to end up buying the fender ones, just because they retrofit perfectly, and I don't mind the price. :scratchch
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
SabbathFan0220
New member
Re: Locking tuners?
You wrap a piece of sandpaper halfway around the string and use it like a file. It'll make the slot as big as the string + the width of the sandpaper. It's a quick way to widen the slots without a file.
I love locking tuners. Like everyone says, you still need a properly cut nut, but I think they make tuning more stable regardless. Even if they don't, it's worth the money just for ease of string changes. I use them on my hardtails too.
You wrap a piece of sandpaper halfway around the string and use it like a file. It'll make the slot as big as the string + the width of the sandpaper. It's a quick way to widen the slots without a file.
I love locking tuners. Like everyone says, you still need a properly cut nut, but I think they make tuning more stable regardless. Even if they don't, it's worth the money just for ease of string changes. I use them on my hardtails too.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Locking tuners?
+1. Master Luthier Dan Erlewine says that almost all 'tuner problems' are actually issues with the nut. Like Diego said, most guitars these days have decent tuners, even cheap guitars. If you pull on the strings a few times when first tightening them, to get the slack out from where they wrap around the posts, you elminate most of the initial slipping.
+1. Master Luthier Dan Erlewine says that almost all 'tuner problems' are actually issues with the nut. Like Diego said, most guitars these days have decent tuners, even cheap guitars. If you pull on the strings a few times when first tightening them, to get the slack out from where they wrap around the posts, you elminate most of the initial slipping.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Locking tuners?
this is starting to sound really interesting. what grit sandpaper?
this is starting to sound really interesting. what grit sandpaper?
jcthejester13
member
Re: Locking tuners?
I am a fine of locking tuners. Don't get me wrong, I have my nut cut too for proper tuning. But I like the ease behind locking tuners, and no matter how miniscule it may be, I feel I have noticed at least a little difference in my guitars with trem bars and locking tuners.
I am a fine of locking tuners. Don't get me wrong, I have my nut cut too for proper tuning. But I like the ease behind locking tuners, and no matter how miniscule it may be, I feel I have noticed at least a little difference in my guitars with trem bars and locking tuners.
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