Locking tuners?

[astrozombie]

Re: Locking tuners?

hold the phone...

what about all this talk about windings making the break angle of the strings appropriate?

is that lost with locking tuners?

 

[Diego]

Re: Locking tuners?

this is starting to sound really interesting. what grit sandpaper?

I usually start with 400, then finish it with 1500 so it's very smooth.

Use a movement towards the tuners only (I'd written back and forth, don't know what I was thinking), you don't need to apply any extra pressure. Just keep some tension on the string so that it guides your movement, but not too much or it will probably ruin your sandpaper. You can't afford to chop the nut slot the wrong way, it might make it too wide and that's not good either.

Now, with this method you can do 2 things.
#2 is probably not optimal, but I've hacked my guitars away with it and got good results in playability with no added issues:

1) Widen the slots, which is very easy and will probably solve your tuning issues quickly.

2) Deepen the slots. This would be probably better done by a qualified luthier, but I've deepened the nut slots on all my guitars with this method to bring the strings closer to the frets. You just gotta keep chopping down after finishing the widening, but slow please, if you go too low you'll get massive fret buzz with the open strings. I did ruin two nuts in my Epiphone. Gotta learn somehow.

It improves the intonation on the lower frets and makes barre chords easier to play.

If you go too low, mix baking soda with superglue and fill the nut slot with it, let it dry for an hour and sand away again. It will be as hard as plastic. Just don't do it for friends this way, it's not professional, buy a new nut.

Hope this helps!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Locking tuners?

This kind of info is readily available in books and magazine articles by technicians like Dan Erlewine. Smoothing out the profile of nut slots makes enormous sense for vibrato-equipped electric guitars. IMO, locking Fender/Ping tuners on a Telecaster is over the top UNLESS the price is right.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Locking tuners?

are they really all that?

i mean this kind:

what exactly locks?

These are Schaller-licensed, Ping-made, China-manufactured pieces.

Combines all the worst aspects. The superheavy weight of the Schallers without the precision. Definitely out.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Locking tuners?

this more like it? listed as schaller.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Locking tuners?

what about all this talk about windings making the break angle of the strings appropriate?

is that lost with locking tuners?

The steeper the angle of deviation that the string takes over the nut, the greater the string tension and, more importantly, the more likely that the string could snag in the nut slot. The best locking heads have either different length posts or the holes drilled through them at different heights.

FWIIW, I have a set of the Fender/Ping locking heads on a mongrel MIM Stratocaster. Yes, they would fit right onto my American Standard Strat but I really would not want my friends to see those on one of my "upmarket" guitars.

Unless you plan to install a Bigsby or a B Bender to your Telecaster, locking heads are unnecessary. The regular, Schaller-made, non-locking Fender heads would do just fine.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Locking tuners?

this more like it? listed as schaller.

I have decided against these Schallers based on weight. These are really heavy. Quality-wise Schaller, as in Schaller German-made is top notch.

You can mount knobs made from pearl or ebony which gets them somewhere between too heavy and much too heavy.

 

[brentrocks]

Re: Locking tuners?

i have used locking Grovers and Spirzels....both i would say are great!!! lubed nut is KEY!!!

 

[cayle_6]

Re: Locking tuners?

if the bushing for the locking tuner is smaller in diameter compared to the tuner hole in the headstock....what can i do to make it fit?

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Locking tuners?

if the bushing for the locking tuner is smaller in diameter compared to the tuner hole in the headstock....what can i do to make it fit?

i think they make conversion bushings, but i dont know if whats you need or not.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/nivitucobu.html

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Locking tuners?

I have decided against these Schallers based on weight. These are really heavy. Quality-wise Schaller, as in Schaller German-made is top notch.

You can mount knobs made from pearl or ebony which gets them somewhere between too heavy and much too heavy.

is that german made?

and doesnt heavy usually mean sustain?

 

[cayle_6]

Re: Locking tuners?

i think they make conversion bushings, but i dont know if whats you need or not.

I don't know if that's what i need though. Mine's a sperzel with screw in bushings. I put some teflon tape around it to make it fit. It's starting to loosen now. I'm looking for a more effective and durable method.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Locking tuners?

I've had no experience with them whatsoever, but I know some guys on here talk about those bushings.

you might want to start a new thread and ask there, as to bring more attention to your question. :beerchug:

 

[cayle_6]

Re: Locking tuners?

I've had no experience with them whatsoever, but I know some guys on here talk about those bushings.

you might want to start a new thread and ask there, as to bring more attention to your question. :beerchug:

Yeah, i think you're right. I'm already threadjacking here. Thanks! :beerchug:

 

[Diego]

Re: Locking tuners?

is that german made?

and doesnt heavy usually mean sustain?

Heavy means more sustain, but it also translates into a quicker, blunt attack instead of a softer, woodier sound. At least according to Lew and others who've tried heavy tuners.

That could be good or bad depending on what you're after. Some prefer the lower mass tuners.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Locking tuners?

Yeah, i think you're right. I'm already threadjacking here. Thanks!

its fine bro!

Heavy means more sustain, but it also translates into a quicker, blunt attack instead of a softer, woodier sound. At least according to Lew and others who've tried heavy tuners.

That could be good or bad depending on what you're after. Some prefer the lower mass tuners.

kind of less middy and vintage? hmm, i dont know.

the thing is, i dont want to modify the guitar too much, ive never installed tuners, and seeing different screw placements and stuff on tuner sets kind of worries me to be honest, i mean, how do you install them and have them stay put at the perfect angle? are tuners difficult to install?

 

[The Dali]

Re: Locking tuners?

I prefer the Sperzel's, but when dealing with a Fender it is so much easier to simple use the Schaller drop-in replacement. I've tried both the German Schaller and the Ping versions and the German Schallers are SOOOO much better.

I've tried the Wilkinson ez-locks, but quite honestly, you need to wrap the string 2 or 3 times with those so you might as well use a standard tuner.

In my opinion, the locking tuners are great when you are building a guitar, but to retrofit (especially with the drilling necessary with Sperzels) for a guitar that is already working just fine doesn't make sense.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Locking tuners?

I love my locking tuners by Planet Waves... http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/..._Waves_Auto-Trim_Locking_Guitar_Machines.html
I got the gold. The post is black and is sexy as h***. Plus they automatically trim the strings.

Do they keep my guitar in tune better than my previous non-locking tuners? I think they do. (yes, I've fine tuned, smoothed, and lubed my nut and bridge saddles)

They are a bit costly, but they work great, they make string changes VERY quick and easy, they are convenient, and they really look great. So, to me they are def worth it.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Locking tuners?

I have Grover locking tuners on my Epiphone and I like them a lot. The guitar is very stable, stays in tune really well, and string changing is a breeze. I wanted to put them on my Hamer, but the Schallers on the Hamer have holes that don't match any locking tuners that I can find. So I'm leaving it for now. My only recourse would be to drill new holes into the headstock and I really really REALLY don't want to do that to my Hamer. It stays in tune fairly well anyway, just string changing is a bit harder. (although not bad really...)

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Locking tuners?

...i think i forgot to mention: the reason why i ask is because I took the tuners off of my telecaster in order to tint the neck, and when putting them back on, I broke one of them. seeing as this is THE telecaster i will own for at least a couple of years, I'd like to upgrade it as much as possible.

it already has a hotrails in the bridge, im throwing a humbucker in the neck and replacing the bridge... i think tuners better tuners is something to consider, since i have to buy a replacement anyway.

I'd love to have them retrofit, i dont want to drill any holes!

that being said, are the super expensive fender schallers the german ones? if they are, no matter the price, ill work towards that goal.