Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

[Petros]

The individual machine heads or "tuners" used on one side of the headstock for a strat or tele come in left or right handed versions.

I have an old squire stagemaster strat (from 2000) that came stock with a lefty neck installed onto a right-handed guitar. The tuners are at the bottom of the headstock as you are playing (or the right side of the headstock as you look at the guitar on a stand), which is awkward but not unheard of.

I just bought a replacement neck that's intended for a right-handed guitar, which means it has the tuners in the more conventional way of being at the top of the headstock as you play (or the left side of the headstock as you look at the guitar in a stand). To save some $ I just reused the original tuners. Is this going to cause a problem? Do I really need to get right-handed tuners? I'm not sure what the original tuners are, but the original neck was definitely a lefty neck.

Personally, I don't care if the wind direction is reversed. What I'm wondering about is the structural integrity or if there's some reason the tuning will slip more.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

yes it will be a problem
some tuners let you swap them around
I doubt yours are those

do yourself a big favor and get a nice locking set

 

[VinceT]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

When the wind is on the "right" side of the peg (away from the tuning key), the string travel is straight from peg to nut to bridge. This means less binding at the nut, particularly with respect to trem use.

When they're wrapped the "wrong" way, the strings will form an angle at the nut and be more likely to bind. That means tuning problems.


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[ehdwuld]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

When the wind is on the "right" side of the peg (away from the tuning key), the string travel is straight from peg to nut to bridge. This means less binding at the nut, particularly with respect to trem use.

When they're wrapped the "wrong" way, the strings will form an angle at the nut and be more likely to bind. That means tuning problems.


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the op can turn the keys clockwise or counterclockwise to wrap in either direction

the worm of the tuner will be on the wrong side
and wont mount properly

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

Most gears are straight cut so yea they turn both ways, the only issue is that the tuners will appear to be offset to one side and look weird. I'd rather get the proper machines and not have to drill extra holes that will be left over, should you decide to swap them later.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

Get the correct tuners. Not only will they look and function better, but they will fit. I'm not entirely sure that the left-hand tuners will fit properly on the headstock. If you already have them mounted on your new neck and they fit fine and you don't mind how they look, then leave them. They will work fine and you will have saved a few bucks if that was your objective.

 

[Petros]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?




Thanks for the replies, but I'm a little lost. What is there to not fit?


You can see from the back of the original neck below, the major difference is that the gear portion of the housing is facing up on the new neck and was facing down on the old neck (you can see the impressions in the wood). Given machine heads wind in both directions, I didn't see what difference it makes. But in case anyone is wondering how these screw on without shifting all over the place when you tighten the strings, there's a small pin on each tuner that gets pulled into the small hole you can see on the original neck which holds it in place once you tighten the nut you can see on the other side (front) of the headstock.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

I was getting confused with your description...the pic explains a lot more. I don't know if it makes a difference, really. I know Graph Tech tuners have a mounting plate that covers up pin holes if that is a problem.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

Sorry I was thinking you were using a strat shaped headstock
And the pin would've been awful close to the edge
If that works for you then there you are.
Good job

 

[Petros]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

I know the photos help to explain, so I posted them.

But does anyone know if using lefty machine heads on a right-handed neck installed as shown does something to make the tuning slip more? I mean, is there some reason that the wheel-like gear is typically at the bottom and the knurled shaft is above it?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

Nope
The gears are ambidextrous
They hold tension in either direction

I was mostly concerned about fitting on the headstock
Some manufacturers design them for worm on a particular side

The 4x2 sets are spaced to where if they aren't just so
They won't bunch together

Mechanically they should be fine

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

You're fine. They are just gears...there is no right or left, up or down on a gear...a wheel with cogs on it. It works the same both directions.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

Yup - just make sure the strings wrap to the center of the headstock.


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[EDX]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

just so you know, the headstock orientation doesn't define if a neck is righty or lefty, specially if the radius is centered or flat and the contour is symetrical, in those cases the only difference is the nut slots

i prefer the reversed headstock, for aestethics and tuning is a bit more confortable

 

[Mincer]

Re: Right-handed vs. Left-handed tuners on a strat?

just so you know, the headstock orientation doesn't define if a neck is righty or lefty, specially if the radius is centered or flat and the contour is symetrical, in those cases the only difference is the nut slots

i prefer the reversed headstock, for aestethics and tuning is a bit more confortable

I like no headstock at all. Also, tuning is more accurate (40:1 ratio). But I have seen tuners mounted every which way. It doesn't matter- what matters more is straight string pull.