Schaller M6 mini tuners vs m6 mini locking tuners?

[gdgross]

So I've got a strat with a locking nut that has the schaller m6 mini tuners on the headstock. Problem is that their height is a bit too tall with the string retainer. So I'm looking for a similar tuning machine that has a shorter shaft. Frankly as short as possible will be fine. I noticed the m6 mini locker tuners by schaller. Looks like the shaft is shorter, but does anyone know if they will fit the same screw hole pattern?

Seems a little silly to use locking tuners when I already have a locking nut, but I'll take whatever fits and shaves off some of the shaft height.

If not the locking m6 minis, are there any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[swarfrat]

Search on those terms. I had a thread way back. There is a top locking schaller mini with a straight locator pin leg but nobody carries it.

 

[stratamania]

Another option are Hipshots. They fit the Schaller holes. Can't promise on the screw holes however.

And you can get them on three different sizes of shaft height.

 

[swarfrat]

Here's the Schaller mini top locking tuner:

Allparts will get them for you if you fill out a credit application and go to dinner with their sales droid over a $100 bottle of wine to discuss accounts.

 

[Cagey]

Regular M6 Minis on the left, lockers on the right. Clearly, these are not going to drop right in. M6 Mini lockers would do what you want, but the anti-rotation screw flange is offset, so you'd have a problem there unless you didn't mind having exposed leftover holes.

In any event, why is there a string retainer installed if there's a locking nut? Pull that useless thing off, put screws in the holes, and call it a love story. Plus, it's free mod.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

On a non-tilted headstock, the retainer bar is needed. Without it, the strings move when you lock down the clamps on the nut, and the guitar goes out of tune.

 

[gdgross]

On a non-tilted headstock, the retainer bar is needed. Without it, the strings move when you lock down the clamps on the nut, and the guitar goes out of tune.

What he said - it's not the string tree, but the retainer bar right close to the locking nut.

That being said, the hipshots look like the ticket - they fit the m6 mini pattern already one headstock, and I can get them with the shorter height.

Thanks!

 

[Cagey]

On a non-tilted headstock, the retainer bar is needed. Without it, the strings move when you lock down the clamps on the nut, and the guitar goes out of tune.

So? You've got tuners on the bridge, too.

 

[Slackjaw]

On a non-tilted headstock, the retainer bar is needed. Without it, the strings move when you lock down the clamps on the nut, and the guitar goes out of tune.

So? You've got tuners on the bridge, too.

Yes, but the tuners there are limited in travel. There is something to be said for having the full adjustment available after clamping...

 

[Jumble Jumble]

There's also something to be said for being able to tune the guitar once instead of twice! The string retainer is behind the nut, so once the nut is clamped it has no effect on stability, unlike on a Strat. There's no real downside to it, it's just a tool.

 

[stratamania]

I agree string trees if you can are best avoided but a locking nut on a Floyd has a retainer to make sure the strings are seated correctly in the nut slots prior to being clamped.  The string retainer bar on a Floyd Rose is not a String tree.

If the retainer is too high there will be a change of pitch when clamping down as the angle of the string over the nut has changed.  In this case you would tighten the screws of the retainer so that it is lower so that when the clamps are put on the change doesn't happen or is vastly reduced.

 

[gdgross]

Weil i found a good Deal on eBay for the hipshots - ordered a set, all short shafts, this should fit the bill nicely.

Strat mania is right, the retainer bar has to be low enough so that the position of the string as it exits the locking nut does not change when you clamp the locking bits down. That ends up being pretty low to the headstock thanks to the downward angle of the nut surface relative to the headstock.

Thanks guys.