Locking Tuners

[Cagey]

How do you get banged up, sore knuckles from putting strings on a locking tuner electric guitar?  :icon_scratch:

Maybe he has anger management issues.

"Sumbitch won't tune!" he cried, as he punched his headstock senseless, gouts of blood spraying everywhere, exposed bone and gristle garishly exposed to the audience's glee.

 

[B3Guy]

How do you get banged up, sore knuckles from putting strings on a locking tuner electric guitar?  :icon_scratch:

Maybe he has anger management issues.

"Sumbitch won't tune!" he cried, as he punched his headstock senseless, gouts of blood spraying everywhere, exposed bone and gristle garishly exposed to the audience's glee.

and thus was born the new musical sensation, GristleMetal.

 

[Cagey]

Had to happen. I mean, if rap can make money...

 

[Strat Avenger]

Locking tuners are pretty overrated in terms of tuning stability. Tuning stability is mainly a function of your trem setup and your nut - slots are usually too tight. I still use them on most of my guitars, though.

They eliminate string slippage on the post, which does happen on non-locking tuners with 3 or 4 string wraps around the post.
So they're not overrated. They do what they are supposed to do. Of course the rest of the setup will need to be right for complete tuning stability. The tuners by themselves will not guarantee a guitar to stay in-tune.

 

[dudesweet157]

How do you get banged up, sore knuckles from putting strings on a locking tuner electric guitar?  :icon_scratch:

Maybe he has anger management issues.

"Sumbitch won't tune!" he cried, as he punched his headstock senseless, gouts of blood spraying everywhere, exposed bone and gristle garishly exposed to the audience's glee.

and thus was born the new musical sensation, GristleMetal.

Lol, you guys are great. :icon_biggrin:  What can I say?  I'm a basket case.  I almost always seem to injure myself when working on a guitar.  Be it a string impaled hand from wrapping up old strings without paying attention or hitting my knuckles on tuning buttons because I didn't orient them out of the way before bringing a string to tension.  I also shouldn't be aloud to play with soldering irons because I always manage to burn the hell out of myself.  Also, wacking your knuckles on tuning keys isn't really an issue on Gotoh/Grover style tuners with soft edges.  It's the Schaller/Sperzels with the sharp edges that totally suck.

 

[tfarny]

Locking tuners are pretty overrated in terms of tuning stability. Tuning stability is mainly a function of your trem setup and your nut - slots are usually too tight. I still use them on most of my guitars, though.

They eliminate string slippage on the post, which does happen on non-locking tuners with 3 or 4 string wraps around the post.
So they're not overrated. They do what they are supposed to do. Of course the rest of the setup will need to be right for complete tuning stability. The tuners by themselves will not guarantee a guitar to stay in-tune.

\
String slippage on the post is pretty minimal, if you are doing it right. My most in-tune guitar is my Larrivee acoustic which has non locking tuners. I didn't say they were ineffective, I said they were over-rated - good non locking modern tuners do a great job. People blame all kinds of other parts when the problem is nearly ALWAYS at the nut.

 

[AutoBat]

Banging a knuckle on a tuner pales in comparison to introducing the end of a high E string into your finger.

 

[Cagey]

Been there, done that, multiple times. I've always been surprised at the amount of pain vs. the size of the wound. Seems unfair.

 

[elgravos]

Yep, I've inflicted all sorts of damage upon myself while changing strings.  Surprisingly painful activity.

I'm also of the locking tuners on all guitars (hardtails included) school of thought.  The time benefits are just too good - and all things considered, I do believe I don't hurt myself  quite as often changing strings these days as used to happen - other than the high E stabbing of course.

 

[Tipperman]

Warning Cagey: Don't read this.


I would prefer the vintage tuners. Vintage tuners, an outdated 6 point trem.... I'm a heretic. Although that being said, I really really love the Schaller mini locking. I just don't like the aesthetic.

On a functional level my dream would be locking tuners that look like the vintage style ones, a 6 point trem that functions like a boogie rail.... but I'll keep my buzzy single coils.

 

[B3Guy]

Warning Cagey: Don't read this.


I would prefer the vintage tuners. Vintage tuners, an outdated 6 point trem.... I'm a heretic. Although that being said, I really really love the Schaller mini locking. I just don't like the aesthetic.

On a functional level my dream would be locking tuners that look like the vintage style ones, a 6 point trem that functions like a boogie rail.... but I'll keep my buzzy single coils.

um . . . . http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/item/1954?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=2011-10-gp

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

People blame all kinds of other parts when the problem is nearly ALWAYS at the nut.

+1

 

[Strat Avenger]

Locking tuners are pretty overrated in terms of tuning stability. Tuning stability is mainly a function of your trem setup and your nut - slots are usually too tight. I still use them on most of my guitars, though.

They eliminate string slippage on the post, which does happen on non-locking tuners with 3 or 4 string wraps around the post.
So they're not overrated. They do what they are supposed to do. Of course the rest of the setup will need to be right for complete tuning stability. The tuners by themselves will not guarantee a guitar to stay in-tune.

\
String slippage on the post is pretty minimal, if you are doing it right. My most in-tune guitar is my Larrivee acoustic which has non locking tuners. I didn't say they were ineffective, I said they were over-rated - good non locking modern tuners do a great job. People blame all kinds of other parts when the problem is nearly ALWAYS at the nut.

Somehow I doubt you are using a vibrato bar on your acoustic guitar. My acoustic guitar stays in-tune quite well too.

When using a vibrato bar with non-locking tuners and no locking nut, the strings will slip on the post. Removing the tension and then suddenly regaining it will wreak havoc with a non-locking tuner unless the motion is ever so subtle.

Locking tuners are also not "overrated" just due to the simple fact that , as mentioned previously, string changes are much quicker.

 

[tfarny]

You really have a problem with me not loving locking tuners, don't you? I hereby solemnly declare from the highest mountaintop my solemn belief that locking tuners don't help all that much if you know how to properly string yer axe.... :hello2: :hello2:

 

[Tipperman]

Warning Cagey: Don't read this.


I would prefer the vintage tuners. Vintage tuners, an outdated 6 point trem.... I'm a heretic. Although that being said, I really really love the Schaller mini locking. I just don't like the aesthetic.

On a functional level my dream would be locking tuners that look like the vintage style ones, a 6 point trem that functions like a boogie rail.... but I'll keep my buzzy single coils.

um . . . . http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/item/1954?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=2011-10-gp

I've seen em, but I like the slightly older style, more Squarish less rectangular ones. I'm a picky bitch.

 

[Strat Avenger]

You really have a problem with me not loving locking tuners, don't you? I hereby solemnly declare from the highest mountaintop my solemn belief that locking tuners don't help all that much if you know how to properly string yer axe.... :hello2: :hello2:

I couldn't care less that you don't like them. I'm just saying that your statement about them is bogus. I've been playing guitar for 26 years, and that's enough experience to know that they do in fact help significantly.