Self-Locking String Winding?

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Self-Locking String Winding?

+1 on the first method pictured. I've been doing that for as long as I can remember. (Longer, actually...) It's simple & easy, locks well, and I don't recall ever breaking a string at the tuner. For non-trem guitars it's perfectly suitable. Of course, the nut needs to be slotted properly. One trick that helps is to pull the string fairly tight through the hole, so there's as little wrap around the post as is practical.

Very few of my non-trem guitars have locking tuners, and the ones that do had 'em when I got them. Using this method I've never felt the need.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Self-Locking String Winding?

I used to use the first method and it works quite well, BUT one day my string broke at the tuner (which rarely happens) and it was a pain trying to wrench the knot loose. I imagined if I was at a gig and needed to make a quick string change and I decided against using that method ever again. Also, I didn't like having to measure a proper slack for how much string was needed to thread the post. But, like someone else posted - to each his own.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Self-Locking String Winding?

I'm sure they both work equally as well. I've used the second way for 50 years and have never had an issue. Now all of my guitar builds get Planet Waves locking tuners...they look great, they never slip, and they are quick and easy to use, they even automatically trim the excess string.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Self-Locking String Winding?

I tried it once some years ago both ways. I've even tried the overlapping coil method where the premise is that the outer wraps hold the inner wraps more tightly by crossing them. I've tried using the entire string, with the notion being that the upward force of 100 wraps pressing against the one little bit that goes through the hole will prevent slippage.

Untying that knot when the string breaks at the tuner is a PITA with a small pair of needle nosed pliers, and impossible to do by hand without suffering serious injury. Don't want to talk about a broken string end slipping under the thumbnail, either.


For one thing, if you properly stretch your strings, you have to tune up. This puts more wraps around the post. If you've already got a couple of wraps before you stretch, you're going to add more. And more.

Alternatively, if you run them through and leave just a little slack, tie your knot, then tune and stretch, you risk cutting it too short.

Sperzels are just too easy not to use. Run it through, turn the knob, it's locked.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Self-Locking String Winding?

once I discovered cheap locking tuners
it was over

get a good brand
never look back

the cheapest ones I have are also the oldest ones I have
the idea was solid
the implementation was horrid

the cheap ones I got from an online store for $30 were junk
the Pin wasnt attached to the thumb wheel and I have to pry the pin down
each time I change strings

other than that they work fine

better brands work so much easier

the top locking Gotoh tuners are a bit different
theres a learning curve on those
but just because they are different

similar to the PRS style
wilkerson makes some that they sell at GFS,com
top locking that is

 

[Mincer]

Re: Self-Locking String Winding?

I am a huge fan of locking tuners, too, but I didn't grow up with them, and you are right, cheap ones aren't very good. Lightweight, good quality ones has saved me lots of time over the years (especially at gigs). After using headless double-ball strings, though, makes me think that it is silly that we still wrap strings around a post at all.

 

[johntheswan33]

Re: Self-Locking String Winding?

I use this on my Strat. I overuse the tremolo more then Ritchie Blackmore and it used to go way out of tune before. Now it stays in perfect tune. I definitely recommend

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