Machine heads replacement

[spleenharvester]

Hey all.

Really loving my 2011 Blacktop Strat. My only really major bug bear with this guitar is that the tuning stability just sucks - can't hit the strings with any reasonable amount of force without them going out of tune in no time at all.

I see Fender Schaller locking tuners being recommended a lot as 'the best' available. At a cost of £100, though, are they really worth it? I'm a bit loathed to spend that much on tuners as I bought the guitar for £350, but I'll suck it up if there aren't any cheaper alternatives which offer stability.

Has anyone had any experience with the above machine heads or any other replacements?

 

[dystrust]

Re: Machine heads replacement

Do you hear a pinging sound when tuning, or do the strings stick sharp after bending? IME more tuning problems are caused by a binding nut than tuning machines themselves. Locking tuners really shouldn't be necessary unless you're using the bar.

 

[GibSG]

Re: Machine heads replacement

The new Kluson Revolution are fantastic

http://www.kluson.com/revolution.html#locking

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Machine heads replacement

Buy USED locking tuners....

 

[GibSG]

Re: Machine heads replacement

Buy USED locking tuners....

Sorry ???

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Machine heads replacement

Sorry ???

OP was worried about the cost....

 

[Mincer]

Re: Machine heads replacement

Tuning issues can be caused by several things. Address some of the other (cheaper) issues. Locking tuners are a great upgrade for any guitar, but I would check for used ones, too. Schallers are a great choice, and many 'traditionalists' don't like them, so they show up used quite often.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Machine heads replacement

I don't have this problem with 2 of my Mexican Strats. Locking tuners don't really mean anything. I have a set of top-notch Sperzels on my Charvel, and it still goes out of tune.

Like others have said, it must have something to do with the nut, or maybe the way you wrap the strings around the post.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Machine heads replacement

If the blacktop is Chinese made
The Carvin branded locking tuners drop in ($59 for chrome)
If they are Mexican
Then the Fender branded Pings are what you want ($55 for chrome)

 

[Mincer]

Re: Machine heads replacement

I use locking tuners for the ease of string changes alone. I never thought they stopped the guitar from going out of tune.

 

[spleenharvester]

Re: Machine heads replacement

Just as an update to this, sanding off the grooves worn into the saddles and tremolo blocking has fixed the problem, machine heads were fine. (I swear the trem block also improved the tone slightly, although I might be going crazy!)

 

[AWhitaker]

Re: Machine heads replacement

Just as an update to this, sanding off the grooves worn into the saddles and tremolo blocking has fixed the problem, machine heads were fine. (I swear the trem block also improved the tone slightly, although I might be going crazy!)

Nicely done.

I recommend getting a lubricant for the nut slot, by the way. It's an incredible boost to tuning stability.
Personally, I use some pure graphite powder that I can apply whenever I restring the guitars, but that does get a bit messy if you're not careful, so I'd recommend getting a lubricant that's actually made for nut slots. I think they're around 10$ and last a long time, but it's been so long since I looked that I'm not really sure

 

[AWhitaker]

Re: Machine heads replacement

I use locking tuners for the ease of string changes alone. I never thought they stopped the guitar from going out of tune.

I recently installed some of the cheap Grotoh locking tuners (the $70 ones, I mean) on a guitar in attempt to make the guitar more stable. Because of some intonation issues in still working on, i can't check the tuning yet, but I was amazed at the simplicity of restringing it. No winds.. just string it through and pull to tension.