Quick question about Planet Waves tuners

[juliancs]

I'm going for em on a whim - alot of people have told me they are good and I have read a few reviews. Anyway, this is my first locking tuner other than a flloyd rose, so I was wondering  - how does one "fine tune"? Once they are locked in, how you do slightly adjust it? Just turn the machine head?

Cheers!

 

[jackthehack]

Yes

 

[juliancs]

Thanks hack!

 

[GoDrex]

They don't lock like a Floyd Rose where the string is immovable. What they do is lock the string inside the hole in the tunning peg. Then when you tighten up the string it cuts the excess string off. You don't have to do any wraps around the peg like on a normal tuner.

 

[blue313]

Check out this little demo for instructions, its just like these guys are saying.  :icon_thumright:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/1/Planet_Waves_Auto-Trim_Locking_Guitar_Machines/Instructions/I-5280.html#details

 

[ironfist]

How do the Planet Waves compared to other locking tuners on the market, such as Sperzels and Fender/Shallers?  From the specs it looks like Sperzels don't have as fine of a tuning ratio.  I've tried the Gotoh locking tuners that came on the MusicYo Kramer guitars, but the locking mechanism was a bit tough to engage.

 

[jackthehack]

How do the Planet Waves compared to other locking tuners on the market, such as Sperzels and Fender/Shallers?  From the specs it looks like Sperzels don't have as fine of a tuning ratio.  I've tried the Gotoh locking tuners that came on the MusicYo Kramer guitars, but the locking mechanism was a bit tough to engage.

I used to use Sperzels, but they are such a pain in the ass to install I tried the PWs on a build and got sold on them. Work as well as the Sperzels, the aurto trim feature is great. Just wish they'd put out a staggered post set to eliminate  the need for any string retainers.

 

[ognolman]

How do the Planet Waves compared to other locking tuners on the market, such as Sperzels and Fender/Shallers?  From the specs it looks like Sperzels don't have as fine of a tuning ratio.  I've tried the Gotoh locking tuners that came on the MusicYo Kramer guitars, but the locking mechanism was a bit tough to engage.

I've had both PW and Sperzels on strats.  I didn't like the lock knob on the Sperzels-- it's too thin.  I had PWs on my MIDI strat and they kept breaking strings (the strings would break right at the post hole, not the trimmer).  So I replaced them with stock, non-locking Fender tuners and have been happy as a clam.  I thought the string trimmer was great, but I think my PW tuners had seen a lot of miles, so I'd say they are OK.  Maybe plan on replacing them in a few years.

JBd

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Here's a question

Do you need a locking nut with PW locking tuners?

 

[GoDrex]

Here's a question

Do you need a locking nut with PW locking tuners?

no - - but you do if you've got a Floyd Rose and you want it to not go out of tune.

I think what you're trying to ask is if you have a Floyd Rose will locking tuners make it so you won't need the locking nut. The answer is no. Well actually you don't need anything. I use a trem without a locking nut and with locking tuners and it stays in tune OK if I don't go too nuts on it. But it's not at all like using a locking nut. Locking tuners don't replace the function of a locking nut.

 

[GoDrex]

How do the Planet Waves compared to other locking tuners on the market, such as Sperzels and Fender/Shallers?  From the specs it looks like Sperzels don't have as fine of a tuning ratio.  I've tried the Gotoh locking tuners that came on the MusicYo Kramer guitars, but the locking mechanism was a bit tough to engage.

I had PWs on my MIDI strat and they kept breaking strings (the strings would break right at the post hole, not the trimmer). 

that's really weird - I hope that doesn't happen to me. I haven't had any trouble with them yet. Did they start out working OK and then get messed up over time?

I was thinking the other day that if someone put the string in backwards (not on the side with the dot) the tuners would cut the string off (not the excess string) when you tuned up. I assume you're not doing this and there's some other problem.

 

[ognolman]

that's really weird - I hope that doesn't happen to me. I haven't had any trouble with them yet. Did they start out working OK and then get messed up over time?

They did, but I bought them on a used strat neck, so they had been fairly well used before I got them.  I had replaced a few sets of strings before this started happening.

I was thinking the other day that if someone put the string in backwards (not on the side with the dot) the tuners would cut the string off (not the excess string) when you tuned up. I assume you're not doing this and there's some other problem.

No, that's why I mentioned that the string was not being cut, that it was breaking right at the entry of the post hole.  It was probably burred or something.  I tried filing it a little but it didn't help.  I lost about 7 or 8 E and B strings before giving up and getting the stock Fender set.  I'm sure your PW tuners will give you years of reliable service, but just keep this in the back of your head, so if you start breaking strings too you'll at least be expecting it sooner or later.  BTW, I did take it to another luthier just to be sure I wasn't overlooking something obvious and he had the same results.

JBD