Which tuners would you suggest me?

[KeeperOS]

Hi, I have a guitar (latest info suggests it's a heavily modified Cort!!!) that feels great, plays great, sounds great but can't stay in tune even if its' life depended on it (figuratively speaking).

It has an especially tough time with the G string (a minor bend will do it) and to a much lesser extent the B and low E.
I suspected the nut to be the culprit but my tech says it's the tuners.
Considering all I could find on the Cort site was they are "Die cast" I tend to believe that the theory has some merit...
(and if not I'd still be upgrading, btw, I tightened the tuner's screw to the point that I couldn't turn the button but nothing changed).

The guitar has a Wilkinson tremolo (I think it's the VS50 II) which I regularly (read: heavily) use. In fact I would go to a Floyd if I didn't find it to be so high maintenance.
Keeping that in mind which tuners would you suggest me to get?

Right now I am looking at the Sperzel Trim-Lock 6-Inline. However I primarily want tuners that once they are "locked" they will not turn, I wouldn't be against tuners that also lock the string itself but I would rather have the ability of "locking" it after I have made a couple of winds around the post like with conventional tuners and I saw a thread earlier that suggests the Sperzels have short posts that only serve for tuning (maybe get one turn max). I think that would trouble me (worry about string slippage etc).

Bellow are some photos of the guitar and the headstock (click the thumbnails for larger photos).
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
(BTW, I am cost conscious but I love whammy action and would sacrifice some more money if it meant using it more and re-tuning less )

CheerS!

 

[darnright]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

It's been my experience that any quality non-locking tuner will give you great service. I don't care for locking tuners as I like to have 2-3 rounds of string on the tuning post. If strings are installed properly and you have quality tuners, then tuners will not be your problem. I don't have any specific brand I use, I've used all of them at one time or another. Just wrap properly and you won't have tuner slippage problems.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Yeah basically any decent name-brand tuner should work. Just find out which one will fit with the least amount of wood being taken off the headstock and you'll be good.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

That's another thing, how do I go around doing that?
Actually I posted the pictures in the hopes that the current tuners could be identified, as you can see the headstock is tight as it is at the high strings and I would really be pushing my luck if I were to widen the holes...

IF the guitar is the one that I think it is (pretty sure but not 100%) then it is a Cort G series 254, I chose the Sperzel trim-lok because that's what they use in the two higher-end models. The rest have Cort parts...
(Similarly those two higher end models have Graph Tech Trem Nut while the rest just a crappy graphite one...)

 

[scottish]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

i too, am not a fan of locking tuners. i would highly recommend schaller minis available from stewmac to any1. i also have not had good experiences with sperzels.

also, stick a graphtech tremnut on there and get it properly filed and shaped

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Go to a different tech. You are probably correct about the nut being the problem.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Go to a different tech. You are probably correct about the nut being the problem.

Yes! I replaced a few tuners, and THEN found out about putting graphite powder on nut slots, and haven't replaced tuners again. I don't use vibrato bars, but do LOTS of string bending (Peter Green style) so they get a work out. I've read from a luthier that something like 90%+ of tuning problems are the nut, not the tuners.

Wrap your strings right & lube the nut, and you'll rarely need new tuners. Locking tuners are a hassle (to me) and not worth it.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Go to a different tech. You are probably correct about the nut being the problem.

Normally that's what I'd do.
Two problems though, the tech is the original owner of the guitar (makes me think he knew the problem from the start including the cause but thought to wait it out. No comment there) plus the only other tech we have here that I could really trust has a back list of 20 or so days...


I live in Greece so StewMac is not exactly the simplest thing for me, plus I REALLY don't want to have to widen the holes, just check the distance between the headstock end and the high e tuner to know why...

I am DEFINITELY changing the nut, I may not be a tech but the slots don't look the best to me...

However I'd still like to know my best options so that if/when the time comes I'll know what to do...

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

There's all kinds, and people have their favorites, but I've always liked Grover Rotomatics. Rugged & reliable. Never had a problem with them.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

I meant it more in which would be best for this particular headstock than anything else...

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Just for giggles, take a pencil and rub it in the nut slots. See how that does you.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

i'm pretty sure the major brand names of tuners use centimeters to measure the holes their tuners will fit. measure your holes and match the numbers...

pencil in the nut is awesome tho. makes my vintage strat trem really loose.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Guys, I tried so much pencil shavings that whenever I use the whammy bar I get pencil shavings at my fingertips :9:

In any case, today I visited the local Cort dealer.
I played 3 different guitars of that same series and sure enough, they had the exact same problem and at the same strings no less!!!

True though, the ones that had the Sperzel and the Graph Tech nut had a far lesser issue.

Right now I have asked my tech to find a nut that will fit my guitar without taking any wood from the fretboard and if I still have a problem I'm getting new tuners too...


Thanks guys!

 

[donahue]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

The Grover 18:1 auto locking rotomatics rule. You can have a few wraps around if you would like too, just like regular tuners.

 

[theodie]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Yes! I replaced a few tuners, and THEN found out about putting graphite powder on nut slots, and haven't replaced tuners again. I don't use vibrato bars, but do LOTS of string bending (Peter Green style) so they get a work out. I've read from a luthier that something like 90%+ of tuning problems are the nut, not the tuners.

Wrap your strings right & lube the nut, and you'll rarely need new tuners. Locking tuners are a hassle (to me) and not worth it.

Do not lube the nut, take your guitar to a tech and get the nut worked on so you dont have to use some stupid ass lube. Thats like using duct tape to fix anything rather than fixing it correctly. It will work in a pinch but, it aint the right way to fix things.

Yes, most tuning problems IMO are the nut and yes, I am a tech.

 

[theodie]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Guys, I tried so much pencil shavings that whenever I use the whammy bar I get pencil shavings at my fingertips :9:

In any case, today I visited the local Cort dealer.
I played 3 different guitars of that same series and sure enough, they had the exact same problem and at the same strings no less!!!

True though, the ones that had the Sperzel and the Graph Tech nut had a far lesser issue.

Right now I have asked my tech to find a nut that will fit my guitar without taking any wood from the fretboard and if I still have a problem I'm getting new tuners too...


Thanks guys!

You dont need a different nut, the one you have just needs to be fine tuned. Your tech should have already told ya that by the way it sounds. I would go to another tech, the dude sounds like a douche.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Ah yes, he told me that he has just ordered a set of nut files that are yet to arrive, maybe he'll try that once they come...

Either way he already told me that he's fixing it for free, whatever he does he won't charge me for it.

Personally, I looked very carefully the slot and it looks as if it was cut with a cutter or sth. It's not a straight slot but has the shape of a blade.
That's why I thought that perhaps a fresh start would be best...

 

[theodie]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

Ah yes, he told me that he has just ordered a set of nut files that are yet to arrive, maybe he'll try that once they come...

Either way he already told me that he's fixing it for free, whatever he does he won't charge me for it.

Personally, I looked very carefully the slot and it looks as if it was cut with a cutter or sth. It's not a straight slot but has the shape of a blade.
That's why I thought that perhaps a fresh start would be best...

...wait, he is a tech and does not own nut files?????? That is one of the first tools a tech should own!

Run to the hills!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

What Der Ødie said!
And get those stringtrees smooth as well....the nut and string it well, stretch those suckers and see what it does for you!
To me those tuners looks like some Gotoh ones...and those are far from bad!

 

[scottish]

Re: Which tuners would you suggest me?

...wait, he is a tech and does not own nut files?????? That is one of the first tools a tech should own!

Run to the hills!

yeah dude, if he doesnt own a set of nut files then he cant call him self a tech. that means all he knows how to do is to tweak the action via the truss rod and bridge (and the action cant even be done properly in some cases without filing the nut).

i would not trust this dude as far as you could throw him. i do all my own work on my guitars and ive built a few. i wouldnt call myself a certified tech and i own my own nut files.