Not into locking tuners
- Thread starter JB_From_Hell
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Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Not into locking tuners
I also use this when changing strings, had plenty of guitars with both......but love the vintage splitshaft tuners the best....never had issues with those, all the other leaves that hated little spiky stump that wants to kill your fingers...
View attachment 96314
I also use this when changing strings, had plenty of guitars with both......but love the vintage splitshaft tuners the best....never had issues with those, all the other leaves that hated little spiky stump that wants to kill your fingers...
View attachment 96314
Francois
New member
Re: Not into locking tuners
Perhaps you are using them incorrectly. I have used literally dozens of locking sets and it is all that I use on my custom builds, and I have never had such a problem. I use Planet Waves and Fender two-pin locking tuners. I don't pull the strings tight through the hole before tightening the lock, I leave enough slack in the strings so I can remove/change/modify the pups without having to remove the strings from the tuners. I have (repeat) NEVER had a problem doing it this way.
If you are breaking strings it is probably because there is a bur or sharp edge on the tuner where the string goes into it. An easy fix with a fine rat-tail file or Dremel with a small bullet-shaped stone.
Perhaps you are using them incorrectly. I have used literally dozens of locking sets and it is all that I use on my custom builds, and I have never had such a problem. I use Planet Waves and Fender two-pin locking tuners. I don't pull the strings tight through the hole before tightening the lock, I leave enough slack in the strings so I can remove/change/modify the pups without having to remove the strings from the tuners. I have (repeat) NEVER had a problem doing it this way.
If you are breaking strings it is probably because there is a bur or sharp edge on the tuner where the string goes into it. An easy fix with a fine rat-tail file or Dremel with a small bullet-shaped stone.
Re: Not into locking tuners
I happen to love locking tuners. They are so convenient and quick. I especially like the Planet Waves auto trim tuners. They work like magic, are quick to use, trim the string ends automatically and so close to the shaft that you will never poke yourself with those pesky pointy string ends left from using diagonal cutters. My ONLY problem with them is that they are pretty heavy. But they are gorgeous looking, especially the gold and black. I now use the Fender lockers almost exclusively on my custom guitars. They work great, are slightly lighter than the Planet Waves. and line up perfectly because of the pins on the back (of course I use a jig to get the pins holes drilled and aligned perfectly).
I happen to love locking tuners. They are so convenient and quick. I especially like the Planet Waves auto trim tuners. They work like magic, are quick to use, trim the string ends automatically and so close to the shaft that you will never poke yourself with those pesky pointy string ends left from using diagonal cutters. My ONLY problem with them is that they are pretty heavy. But they are gorgeous looking, especially the gold and black. I now use the Fender lockers almost exclusively on my custom guitars. They work great, are slightly lighter than the Planet Waves. and line up perfectly because of the pins on the back (of course I use a jig to get the pins holes drilled and aligned perfectly).
Synapsys
Well-known member
Re: Not into locking tuners
+1 on the PWs. Don't mind the added weight, since the axes with them are still balanced. Got a set of the Sperzel ones, not bad, but I prefer the feel and tuning accuracy of the PWs.
+1 on the PWs. Don't mind the added weight, since the axes with them are still balanced. Got a set of the Sperzel ones, not bad, but I prefer the feel and tuning accuracy of the PWs.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: Not into locking tuners
Well, I do pull the strings tight through the lock because I thought part of the whole locking tuners discourse is no string winds, no friction, more stability.
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Not into locking tuners
That was my understanding, as well. On my one locking tuner guitar, I pull them pretty tight so there is as little string touching the tuner as possible. Even on my non-locking guitars, I have as little string as possible on the tuners. Everything seems to stay in tune better that way.
Well, I do pull the strings tight through the lock because I thought part of the whole locking tuners discourse is no string winds, no friction, more stability.
That was my understanding, as well. On my one locking tuner guitar, I pull them pretty tight so there is as little string touching the tuner as possible. Even on my non-locking guitars, I have as little string as possible on the tuners. Everything seems to stay in tune better that way.
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Not into locking tuners
The whole point of locking tuners is to have less than one wrap on the post so as to avoid friction and slipping of the wraps. I can't remember if it was the Sperzels, but one of my sets included instructions to string them that way and I've been doing so on all of my locking tuners since.
Well, I do pull the strings tight through the lock because I thought part of the whole locking tuners discourse is no string winds, no friction, more stability.
The whole point of locking tuners is to have less than one wrap on the post so as to avoid friction and slipping of the wraps. I can't remember if it was the Sperzels, but one of my sets included instructions to string them that way and I've been doing so on all of my locking tuners since.
Re: Not into locking tuners
I know that locking tuners are designed so that you don't have to wind the strings...just pull them tight, lock them, and tune to pitch. And they work great that way. But if you do that and need to work on or change a pup it's next to impossible to feed the strings back in and reuse them. And since I never really have tuning stability problems with any guitars with "old" tuners wrapped a half dozen winds, I do that with lockers for the convenience of rewinding the strings after working on the guitar.
I know that locking tuners are designed so that you don't have to wind the strings...just pull them tight, lock them, and tune to pitch. And they work great that way. But if you do that and need to work on or change a pup it's next to impossible to feed the strings back in and reuse them. And since I never really have tuning stability problems with any guitars with "old" tuners wrapped a half dozen winds, I do that with lockers for the convenience of rewinding the strings after working on the guitar.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Not into locking tuners
Took the strings off my new Ibanez 8 string to oil the board and clean up the windings. Seriously rethinking my stance on locking tuners.
Took the strings off my new Ibanez 8 string to oil the board and clean up the windings. Seriously rethinking my stance on locking tuners.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: Not into locking tuners
I use lockers for guitars for live performance.
-but honestly, as much as string winding around the posts is a functionally problematic practice for intonation stability -it does impart extremely slightly more string energy into the post than a pinch lock .... It's likely never an audible difference, but sustain could be affected by the transmission loop through the nut, tuners, bridge and body being more efficient.
but I actually love the look of windings done properly too.
I use lockers for guitars for live performance.
-but honestly, as much as string winding around the posts is a functionally problematic practice for intonation stability -it does impart extremely slightly more string energy into the post than a pinch lock .... It's likely never an audible difference, but sustain could be affected by the transmission loop through the nut, tuners, bridge and body being more efficient.
but I actually love the look of windings done properly too.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Not into locking tuners
I've started to become a fan of Wilkinson's "EZ-LOK" design. They aren't an extremely revolutionary design that I'll be throwing out all my Sperzels for, but they are cheap (only $30), fairly smooth, and being able to use the top or low hole as the first one the string enters is a great way to adjust break angle for finicky vibrato bridges.
I wouldn't put them on a higher end guitar, but they are great for cheaper guitars that I want to keep mechanically simple.
I've started to become a fan of Wilkinson's "EZ-LOK" design. They aren't an extremely revolutionary design that I'll be throwing out all my Sperzels for, but they are cheap (only $30), fairly smooth, and being able to use the top or low hole as the first one the string enters is a great way to adjust break angle for finicky vibrato bridges.
I wouldn't put them on a higher end guitar, but they are great for cheaper guitars that I want to keep mechanically simple.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Not into locking tuners
That's an old Schaller trick from at least the '80s. My first guitar had the double holes.
If you like that, you really need to try Gotoh's H.A.P. feature. H.A.P. = Height Adjustable Posts. Equal string break across 6-in-line nuts, with no string trees. Obviously more expensive than what you are talking about, but very cool nonetheless. It's also pretty much a stealth feature; doesn't look out of place or modern on vintage-style tuners, or require enlarging tuner holes on old guitars.
That's an old Schaller trick from at least the '80s. My first guitar had the double holes.
If you like that, you really need to try Gotoh's H.A.P. feature. H.A.P. = Height Adjustable Posts. Equal string break across 6-in-line nuts, with no string trees. Obviously more expensive than what you are talking about, but very cool nonetheless. It's also pretty much a stealth feature; doesn't look out of place or modern on vintage-style tuners, or require enlarging tuner holes on old guitars.
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beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Not into locking tuners
Have Grover mini lockers on my Brian May guitar. Amazing stability. The nut and bridge are excellent, so I can throw the vibrato all over the place and it returns to zero and stays in tune just as well or better than any Floyd or Kahler system I had in the 80’s. It’s my only experience with lockers so far. But it’s got me thinking I should upgrade all my gigging instruments
Have Grover mini lockers on my Brian May guitar. Amazing stability. The nut and bridge are excellent, so I can throw the vibrato all over the place and it returns to zero and stays in tune just as well or better than any Floyd or Kahler system I had in the 80’s. It’s my only experience with lockers so far. But it’s got me thinking I should upgrade all my gigging instruments
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