Tuning Keys

[mullyman]

So I've had a hair up my butt about getting Schaller locking tuners for this upcoming Frankenstein build so I went to All Parts to order them and found that Schaller now has a set called "DaVinci" that look pretty damn sweet. So, a quick "What do you guys think?" is in order.

DaVinci

Locking

 

[bagman67]

Those look cool as hell.  My wallet is huddling in a fetal position as I contemplate what Allparts is likely to charge for them... but they look really bad-ass.


Bagman

 

[croquet hoop]

The DaVinci looks great for a few seconds, then you realize the pointlessness of having a display case to exhibit the gear at the back of a tuner.

The locking is much less fancy but more functional, and doesn't look bad anyway. So if I had to choose, locking > DaVinci.

 

[mullyman]

Those look cool as hell.  My wallet is huddling in a fetal position as I contemplate what Allparts is likely to charge for them... but they look really bad-ass.


Bagman

I think they were $105.00. About 20 bucks more than the locking.
MULLY

 

[mullyman]

The DaVinci looks great for a few seconds, then you realize the pointlessness of having a display case to exhibit the gear at the back of a tuner.

The locking is much less fancy but more functional, and doesn't look bad anyway. So if I had to choose, locking > DaVinci.

Ah, you must have missed my other thread on the tuners topic. The guitar I'm building has a locking nut so the locking tuners aren't really necessary. I was only getting them for the convenience they bring to the table when changing strings. "Pull, lock, cut, tune, done" as opposed "measure, set, wind, wind, wind, etc..." Locking tuners cut a lot of time out of the job. I think I'm willing to tolerate all the winding for these bad assed looking keys. Regardless of them being on the back, I'll know they're there and they will definitely be a topic of conversation when someone checks out the guitar.  arty07:
MULLY

 

[mullyman]

Those are Bad Ass looking tuners :icon_thumright:
But sorry, once I did my first set of locking tuners, I would never go back to standard.
I would put em' on my acoustic if I could.
I am really glad I don't do gold hardware.  A set of those tuners in gold is $182.00 plus shipping...
If ya get em', ya better be posting a review. 
Good luck on your build &  :rock-on:

Yeah, I felt the same way when I first went to lockers. Many years ago I even went so far as to put Sperzel's on a 35th Anniversary Les Paul Custom that I had. The main reason I did that was because I couldn't get the damn thing to stay in tune if I had .009's on it. .010's were fine, throw a set of 9's on there though and it wouldn't stay in tune at all. Locking tuners fixed that right up.
MULLY

 

[AutoBat]

Restringing on my VIP Floyd makes me relearn how to do string wraps all over.  I've had Schaller lockers on my Strat for so long it's spoiled me for restrings.
The locking nut is why I went with Grovers, because I like how they look, even if it's a bit more work once in a while.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I'd pass on the DaVinci tuners.  It's basically a sealed tuner with a window.  Go locking for the reasons you mentioned.

 

[croquet hoop]

I think I'm willing to tolerate all the winding for these bad assed looking keys. Regardless of them being on the back, I'll know they're there and they will definitely be a topic of conversation when someone checks out the guitar.  arty07:
MULLY

Well, I gave you my opinion, but you're the one who will pay and use them, so if you really love the looks of these tuners, there is nothing I can say against that.

Generally speaking, in a case of love at first sight with a piece of gear, I try to hold my horses; if I'm still in love a fortnight later, I'll go for it, otherwise I'll keep my money for something else.

(which is why I've still not bought the strat body my neck needs — none of those that struck me have passed the 2-week test)

 

[mullyman]

I think I'm willing to tolerate all the winding for these bad assed looking keys. Regardless of them being on the back, I'll know they're there and they will definitely be a topic of conversation when someone checks out the guitar.  arty07:
MULLY

Well, I gave you my opinion, but you're the one who will pay and use them, so if you really love the looks of these tuners, there is nothing I can say against that.

Generally speaking, in a case of love at first sight with a piece of gear, I try to hold my horses; if I'm still in love a fortnight later, I'll go for it, otherwise I'll keep my money for something else.

(which is why I've still not bought the strat body my neck needs — none of those that struck me have passed the 2-week test)

Yeah, I've been holding off on the order button for the better part of a week now. I'm not an impulse buyer. My first build took 6 months for the right body to show up in the showcase. For bodies and necks, after almost 30 years of playing, I know what I want spec wise, so when it comes to Warmoth I put the specs in that I'm looking for and then it's just a matter of something jumping out at me visually. I figure with these tuners, they're the same Schaller tuners, so it's not like they're some off brand, Chinese knock off. The quality is there. It's all coming down to whether I want the looks of those tuners to outweigh the convenience of the locking ones. I have them both in the shopping cart......maybe I should just buy both. Of course if I do that then I'll have an extra set of tuning keys lying around.....which would mean I would have to build another Warmoth. HAHAHA!!  :headbang1:
MULLY

 

[mullyman]

I'd pass on the DaVinci tuners.  It's basically a sealed tuner with a window.  Go locking for the reasons you mentioned.

The window part does bother me a little bit in that it's a sealed window. Granted, you wouldn't want them open to get a bunch of grit and dust in there, but Japan is really, really humid and I'm sure, no matter how well I take care of my gear, those little plastic windows would eventually get moisture in there, fog up, grow mold etc... Or am I over thinking that part of it?
MULLY

 

[Cagey]

You're probably over-thinking it.

They do have an interesting appearance. But, I wonder how long I'd be fascinated by the appearance of a simple worm gear. I know you're using a locking nut, but to my way of thinking locking tuners are not an option; they're a standard requirement.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I'd go locking. Who looks at the back of the guitar headstock anyway??

Every future build of mine will have locking tuners (except for a Tele I have in mind that I want to appear vintage but have better pickups and compensated saddles).

 

[mullyman]

Well, I went with the voice of reason and ordered the locking tuners. Those open backed DaVinci's look awesome, and I'll probably get a set someday for something, but for this build, I'm going with the lockers.
MULLY

 

[mullyman]

I'd also like to say one thing to the people that said "Since they're on the back, who's going to see them?" Well, with that thinking there's no reason to get a custom neck plate either. Not trying to be snide with you guys, just pointing that out.

I went with the lockers for convenience. At the end of the day, those DaVinci's would look bad ass  up until I go to change strings. Once I get working on that I'd be pissed that I didn't go with the locking tuners.
MULLY
hates changing strings (but I do once a month regardless) I like fresh strings.

 

[bbl4ck]

MULLY hates changing strings (but I do once a month regardless) I like fresh strings.

I am right there with ya' bro regarding fresh strings.  I have friends that leave their strings on for a year and claim it makes no difference.
I say bull to that.  Nothing sounds better than a nice fresh pair of strings...
:rock-on:

 

[Jumble Jumble]

I'd also like to say one thing to the people that said "Since they're on the back, who's going to see them?" Well, with that thinking there's no reason to get a custom neck plate either. Not trying to be snide with you guys, just pointing that out.

Very good point. The difference, of course, is that getting a custom neck plate doesn't come at the expense of making string changes take longer.

 

[Great Ape]

I wonder if you can order those DaVincis with, maybe a pair of fish in there, or maybe a desert scene with a horned toad...or, a kaleidoscope! Or.........just shoot me... :icon_biggrin: 

 

[swarfrat]

I saw the DaVinci's recently too. I'm a sucker for Skeleton watches and the like, but a couple thing come to mind.

1) tuners are dirt simple machines, its not like there's a geneva drive or other geegaw whirring around in there.

2) the shape of the window kinda evokes a steam punk thing. The chrome just doesn't work for that. They could look sweet in that copper finish that comes up once in a while, on an appropriately themed guitar.

 

[thearmofbarlow]

I saw the DaVinci's recently too. I'm a sucker for Skeleton watches and the like, but a couple thing come to mind.

1) tuners are dirt simple machines, its not like there's a geneva drive or other geegaw whirring around in there.

2) the shape of the window kinda evokes a steam punk thing. The chrome just doesn't work for that. They could look sweet in that copper finish that comes up once in a while, on an appropriately themed guitar.

1) Who cares? It's just part of the visual appeal. The question is how well do they work? From what I've read about them they're some pretty damn good tuners.

2) "Choose from 24K Gold, Nickel, Ruthenium, Chrome, SatinPearl, BlackChrome and SatinChrome all the way to the incomparable handfinished VintageCopper." The copper looks freaking SWEET. You can see them in the images section here: http://guitar-machine-heads.com/hp411366/Machine-Heads-Da-Vinci.htm

These are high-end tuners for high end applications. Price-wise they're right there with Waverly and others that fit this kind of mold.

Personally I find 'em cool as hell but I wouldn't put them on anything outside of either a top-tier VIP build or a jazzbox. Anything else and they'd be out of place.