Steinberger Gearless Tuners...anyone ever use these ???

[Superbeast520]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Steinberger_Gearless_Tuners.html?tab=Pictures#details

These are really interesting to me.
A  40:1 tuning ratio, sounds like tuning paradise.
They are ugly, or at least I've heard people say that, and definantly not for the vintage crowd but damned if I don't want to try em on for size.
Love to hear about anyones experiences with these.

 

[kboman]

They look way cool and different, but even with my pretty thin fingers I'd be a bit concerned about things getting a too crowded when I'm tuning  :icon_scratch:

 

[Superbeast520]

They tune from the bottom of the head stock.   .......        and pull the string straight down, so no twisting of the string as you tune, like there is in a normal tuning post,alot of people don't realise that with a normal tuner the string twist not only around the post at the headstock but also length wise from the saddle to the post, like when you hold a string from hand to hand, and spin it between your thumb and fore fingers in opposite direction from each other, twisting up like a spring.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Steinberger_Gearless_Tuners.html?tab=Instructions#details

 

[bbl4ck]

I picked up a used set that I am going to use on my Firebird build.  Just got the neck and body the other day but have not installed them yet.
I will post about them as soon as I do.

They have been rather hard to find lately, anyway the chrome has.  You will see they have a 3 to 4 week wait time on StewMac.  It was 2 to 3 months, then went down to 2 to 3 days, and now back up to 3 to 4 weeks again. 
It is because they are changing the style.  Notice the shape of the black [old style] compared to the gold and chrome [new style] on StewMac. 

I have read nothing but rave reviews...
:rock-on:

 

[back2thefutre]

wow, never heard of those. They are neat!!!

 

[Superbeast520]

Thanks Black Dog, I wait in anticipation.
  Im very patient and will plan down to the last detail every part after meticulous research, before going head long into my project, as the planning phase is the most important for sure.
Its always nice to hear the real deal from someone who knows.

I do tend to shy away from them because they are so far from traditional in their appearance, but just the physics alone has me thinking.....sheees....whats more important traditional looks or extremely functional parts.....so I do find these very interesting.
I also noticed the pics were different than they used to be when I first came across these about 3 years ago, I sure hope the new changes are for purpose and not just to cut manufacturing cost, I wouldn't be able to live with the fact that I coulda had a better part had I ordered them back then as opposed to now.

 

[kboman]

...alot of people don't realise that with a normal tuner the string twist not only around the post at the headstock but also length wise from the saddle to the post...

I did not know that. Very interesting point!

 

[wlk7dv]

I first became aware of Steinberger gearless tuners when the factory Gibson Klusons wore out on my '76 Bi-centintenial Firebird (one-owner, bought NIB from Fox Music downtown Charleston). Origional tuners lasted a couple of years before wear (slippage) made the instrument troublesome to keep in tune (minor source of irritation when trying to do club work).

Tried schaller banjo-keys. NO GO. Tuning ratio ( 20 something: 1) does not hold appropriate tension to  secure tuning post in position (slipage). But, they were more easily affordable @ the time (approx. $40.00 @ that time).

Two choices left. Factory Gibson @ $ 250.00 (Circa 78...) or Steinberger @ $65.00. Steinbergers won out ($), and I'm glad they did......Check-out the following:

    1.) They work on a totaly different principle that conventional tuners AND THEY ARE SOUND AS A (REAL) SILVER DOLLAR....!

    2.) They have 0-nothing room for wear (slop in the few moving parts).

    3.) They are accurate and will not SLIP.

    4.) The best part. You can not change a broken string in the middle of a song on a Gibson as fast as you can with Steinbergers, and when it's brought to tune,...it stays there. It will not Slip!





 

 

[Superbeast520]

 Thank you wlk7dv .....I have been debating over $150 gotohs or $100 Steinbergers for the last week and it was a minor frustration as I was concerned about the Quality of the Steinbergers....I have made up my mind and will be using them on my build, which Totals $2100 bucks so you can imagine I wanted the best I could get.

Im mating them to a Quartersawn Wenge on Wenge Fatback neck and think they will be a wonderfull addition to the whole guitar, being they are so stable tuning wise. Though oddly I have decided to skip a Trem all together and do another build with the Hipshot .175 baseplate Hardtail.

So even though I won't have much in the way of string slippage, I do bend alot and I was disappointed with some of the nicer locking tuners as they slip way too easy for my likings.....but Im anal about that stuff anyhow so no biggie....
Thanks for the info, I feel better hearing that. :icon_thumright:

 

[big bob]

I have a set on the mini-v. work fantastic. The mini-v also has a kahler pro trem and no matter how hard I divebomb the steinbergers stay in tune.. looking for a second set for the current build.

 

[OzziePete]

I have always thought that, besides the Firebird replacement situation, they'd be a handy tuner to mix and match with standard tuners on a 12 string Warmoth project. 3  a side each, plenty of room to use the tuners with your fat fingers!

Only issue might be gearless tuners' housing footprint at the back of the neck and whether there's enough room on a 12 string headtock to fit them in bewteen mini tuners. :dontknow:

 

[Ulfast]

Steinberger gear ratio: 40:1!
I think regular tuners usually are like 20:1.
Like a fine tuner.

One thing though, you can't turn them more than "one turn".
This means that you when changing strings, have to turn it all the back before you lock the string and start tuning.
If you have a trem bridge, Steinbeger recommends tilting the trem slightly forward (dive) before locking the (thin E) string! Thin E only.


Time from order to delivery from Stew Mac is two months at the moment. The Chrome S-bergers that is. I ordered a set before X-mas and will hopefully have them by the end of February...
When I ordered the I think they were 1-2 weeks.

 

[bbl4ck]

Time from order to delivery from Stew Mac is two months at the moment. The Chrome S-bergers that is. I ordered a set before X-mas and will hopefully have them by the end of February...
When I ordered the I think they were 1-2 weeks.

The wait time provided by Stew Mac has varied from 3 months to one week back and forth and back and forth since before October of last year.
I finally called them last Friday and they claim they keep getting changing reports from the manufacturer. 
The delay is all related to the design change.  They appear to have the new model in gold and the new model coming in chrome. 
However their pic of the black tuners seems to still be the old model.  I too am trying to get a set of the new model chrome.
Waiting, waiting, and waiting just sucks...