Replacing tuners? Help!

[matt_tgpg]

I want to change the tuners on my Hamer Slammer series. I've changed out the factroy pups for SDs and now the last thing to improve is the machineheads. So, I was wondering what the best ones are? My guitar is a les paul style guitar. I just want something that looks pleasing to the eye and most of all will hold a tuning well. Brand and model suggestions please!

Any advice would be welcome! Many thanks!

 

[NathanCahill]

Re: Replacing tuners? Help!

I'm putting Grover locking tuners on my Les. 18:1, Locking, and Looks like the originals.

 

[Curly]

Re: Replacing tuners? Help!

I would find out what the current ream is, and see if I could find something better that would fit without any modding.

both Warmoth and StewMac have info on various size reams.

I like the Schallers on USA Hamers though.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Replacing tuners? Help!

I have used both schaller and grover, and really prefer the Grovers. I have the locking 18:1's on two of my guitars, and couldn't be happier. I like the fact that they look like normal Grovers....I dislike the look of thumbscrews on anything other than a strat.

 

[matt_tgpg]

Re: Replacing tuners? Help!

Cheers!

Just been looking at a set of Grover locking 18:1 tuners. Can I ask what difference the ratio makes?? (i.e. 14:1, 16:1... etc..) You'll have to be patient here, I know very little about tuners! Also when you say "locking", how does that work?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Replacing tuners? Help!

The higher the ratio, the more turns of the machine head screw required to move the tuning post one revolution, the more accurately you can tune. In reality, 14:1 is more than enough for most of us. However, most of us here are anal, so we tend to gravitate towards the higher ratio.

On grovers, there is a smaller post inside the main post. When you insert the string and turn the key, the inside post turns and locks the string down, then the main post begins to turn, tuning the string to pitch. On models with the thumbscrew, you insert the string into the post, and turning the thubscrew slides a cam into place that locks the string down. You then tune the string by turning the tuning key. Same theory, different ways of getting there.