Favorite Tuning Machine?

[e_chord]

Curious what people prefer for tuning machine machine heads?  Interested if anyone has used/uses Steinberger gearless tuners?  Also curious about the Planet Waves Auto Trim tuners. 

 

[mayfly]

Curious what people prefer for tuning machine machine heads?  Interested if anyone has used/uses Steinberger gearless tuners?  Also curious about the Planet Waves Auto Trim tuners.

Love the PW tuners.  I have them on all my telecasters

 

[Hbom]

Having tried several, I like Schaller the most.

But I haven't tried the Steinberger's yet, they do look interesting.

:rock-on:

 

[Cagey]

I used Sperzels for a long time, and still think they're great parts. But, given a choice, I now use Schaller's Mini-Lockers. Essentially the same design as the Sperzel, but the knurled nut on the back that you use to lock the string is slightly thicker, so it's easier to get a grip on. Plus, you can get brilliant finishes on them, while Schallers usually have a matte/satin finish.

The Planet Waves locking auto-trim parts are well-made and usually work well, but I'm not sanguine about their life expectancy. Cutting strings isn't easy, so I expect them to fail early. Unless the posts are cobalt, which I highly doubt since the things would be a helluva lot more expensive than they are if they were. 

 

[DavyDave53]

Locking Hipshot.  Open or closed it matters not.

 

[stratamania]

I like the open gear Hipshot locking tuners.

 

[Fat Pete]

I have some open gear Sperzels on my new Warmoth Tele. Haven't even changed the strings on it yet but they seem very smooth in use, hold tune well and certainly look unusual.

 

[sixstringsamurai]

Steinberger's are awesome  :headbang1:
http://unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=22695.0

 

[SustainerPlayer]

I'm only using Planet Waves Auto Trim tuners. Used them since 2006 on 15+ guitars (8 of them Warmoths). They just work.

 

[sixstringsamurai]

I'm only using Planet Waves Auto Trim tuners. Used them since 2006 on 15+ guitars (8 of them Warmoths). They just work.

those things are little tanks, I had some in a heavily abused electromatic I had,
never had an issue with tuning stability with them.

 

[guitartom]

Schaller's (M6) Mini-Lockers - My favorite.  I put them on everything I build.  I like the staggered sets a little better than the slightly taller size that warmoth sells individually.

I have used Sperzels, but do not like the alignment pin as much as the offset screw.  The Gotohs work well (and seem to be a little lighter), but the locking mechanism doesn't work as well as the rear thumbscrew and they only come in the taller size.

Also, I have used the Schaller knockoffs from the bay and they seem to work OK too.

 

[Tony Raven]

I've tried so MANY over the years, & with the exception of some truly awful no-name cans, have never found a bad tuner.

But I keep coming back to Grover Rotomatics & Minis. I actually prefer the old 12:1 (USA), but they're getting pricier by the second. I have a couple of Switch Music guitars with screw-top Minis; though not convenient like knobs, they definitely get a bulldog grip on the strings -- not standard Grovers, though, so the model apparently died with Switch.

A friend has a few Gretsch classics with the big top-end Grover Imperials. The only "oh, wow" feeling I've ever got from a goshdarn machine head. Try it out if you get the chance.

And Grover Musical Products really DOES honor their "lifetime guarantee" promise -- they sent me a new set of chrome Minis & didn't even charge me postage!!

(But beware the cheap fakes from Hong Kong: they don't look as good, they often stick, sometimes crack, & might drag down the value of your axe if you want to sell it to someone who knows what to look at. In any case, probably not guaranteed, for life or any portion thereof.)

 

[stubhead]

I think it was DanerousR6 who pointed out that these things are about as engineered-up as you'll ever need. There's a half-dozen brands that all do the same thing very well. I wouldn't even pull the Pings off of a budget Ibanez or Epiphone unless they were doing something wrong.

Schaller - 10
Sperzel - 10
Gotoh - 10
Hipshot - 10
Planet Waves - 9
Grover - 9
These last two - I just don't like them as much, that's all :laughing3:
Steinbergers - 8
Ping - 8
No-Name Whatevers - 7? 8? 9? Do they TUNE UP.... :dontknow:
Old Klusons - 0.083. Yeah, I know. They're on all those $400,000 1958 Les Pauls. Dumbasses.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I just bought a set of Gotoh delta magnum and as far as engineering and cosmetics they look awesome. I am waiting for my neck and will report back when I try them. As far as looks I am stoked hopefully I am as stoked with function 

 

[Tony Raven]

Back to the OP. The Auto-Trim tuners appeal strongly to my geek/hacker side, but I still prefer to use a pair of side-nipper pliers to cut wire. My cutters get trued up once in a while, & tossed for scrap when they stop working; in a tuner, it just seems like one more thing to wear out, especially with stainless-steel strings.

I get sorta the same feelings about the Steinie heads. I've always liked the unique look of the reverse Firebird, with them gold banjo tuners. And the Steinies just look so cool, period. But I figure you'll lose a LOT of convenience.
(1) when you load a string, you're apparently supposed to pull the string tight while you crank down the setscrew, & a few reviewers recommend pliers-tight.
(2) for me, even 18:1 is overkill; I grew up learning on friction-peg instruments, so I find 12:1 a blessing! If the nut & bridge are good (lubed, no sharp edges), I can restring a guitar in near-darkness in less than 15 minutes without breaking a sweat -- that 40:1 means I'd at least have to buy a crank for my cordless drill.
(3) and because of the 12:1 ratio, when I switch between regular tuning & drop-D, it's one fast twist & a brief tweak, almost as fast as a Scruggs peg (look it up). If you use multiple tunings during a set, & don't want to swap guitars, that could be some LONG moments with everyone staring expectantly at you twisting wildly away.
(4) the string end apparently has to be cut close to the post or the end will dangle out, kinda spoiling the look.
(5) there are some good cases out there that won't have clearance for the back of those tuners.

IN SUM: if they're worth the hassle to ya, then they're worth it, right? They're super-accurate, very stable, look cool, & don't cost a month's pay.

FWIW, here's the current instruction set, & a legacy version:
http://www.steinberger.com/media/StnbrgrGrlsTnrInstruc.pdf
http://www.steinberger.com/images/gearlessuse.pdf

On acoustics, the "snob appeal" tuners are Waverly. Individual 16:1 open-gear machines, $150+/set.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

Back to the OP. The Auto-Trim tuners appeal strongly to my geek/hacker side, but I still prefer to use a pair of side-nipper pliers to cut wire. My cutters get trued up once in a while, & tossed for scrap when they stop working; in a tuner, it just seems like one more thing to wear out, especially with stainless-steel strings.

If they should "wear out"* at some point. They would still function as "ordinary" locking tunes and you can put your trusted cutters to use again.

* but seriously - have you seen how they actually cut the strings? I doubt very much that system to wear out.

 

[Cagey]

Back to the OP. The Auto-Trim tuners appeal strongly to my geek/hacker side, but I still prefer to use a pair of side-nipper pliers to cut wire. My cutters get trued up once in a while, & tossed for scrap when they stop working; in a tuner, it just seems like one more thing to wear out, especially with stainless-steel strings.

If they should "wear out"* at some point. They would still function as "ordinary" locking tunes and you can put your trusted cutters to use again.

* but seriously - have you seen how they actually cut the strings? I doubt very much that system to wear out.

I've installed a couple/few sets, but only on other people's guitars. I'd never put them on my own, at least not because of the "auto trim" feature. Unless the posts and the shear are made of cobalt or carbide, they're going to go the same route as your side cutters. Strings are tensilized steel; they're not easy to cut. The "auto trim" feature is not going to cut after X number of string changes. It's just going to wind the string under the shear bushing, and good luck getting that out. Even on brand new parts, the smaller gauge strings don't cut reliably.

It seems like a great idea, because nobody likes to carry or keep track of tools. But, I suspect in order to make such a design work well over time they'd have to use materials and processes that would make the tuners unacceptably expensive.

But, you're right - the rest of the design is fine. They function as good locking tuners, even without the trim feature.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

Well - we have had this discussion before.

The "auto trim" feature is not going to cut after X number of string changes.

It is pure speculation on your behalf. And will X be 1000, 10000, 100000? Other things wear out and stops functioning. Why is it so crucial that it _could_ happen with the tuners?

It's just going to wind the string under the shear bushing, and good luck getting that out.

More speculation. Care to share any links or anything else confirming this?

Even on brand new parts, the smaller gauge strings don't cut reliably.

And what gauge will that be? I had even used these on a 12-string with 9 sets on. No problems.

All of these "problems" are issues thought up inside of your head.

 

[Cagey]

All of these "problems" are issues thought up inside of your head.

No, they're based on knowledge and experience. Your mileage may vary. I'm sure not everybody has these problems, or they'd have stopped making the things a long time ago. But, I'm not going to tempt fate. Guitars are too dear.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

But, I'm not going to tempt fate. Guitars are too dear.

Ahh yeah - and let's stop putting strings on as well - because you know - they will break at some point. And then we can spare the expense for tuners also.

And the switches, the pots, the pickups, the frets, the neck, the finish ... it will all wear.  :doh: