Locking Tuners Question

[dan0725]

I've been thinking about replacing the tuning machines on my Stratocaster with locking tuners. I was wondering if anyone had experience with them and can tell me about what the pros and cons are. Thanks.

[tjmeyers]

I purchased my Fender Strat American Special without locking tuners. My first step was to replace them with locking tuners. All of my electric guitars have locking tuners. 

Pros: Locking tuners make it easier/faster to change strings.
           Tuning stability is great. (the Strat had problems holding tune on a couple strings)

Cons: To this point I haven't found any.

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

For the most part if you wrap your strings properly you'll get minimal slippage , 

Cheap tuners usually have poor gear connection and cause some retuning.

If you want fast string changes, as stated locking tuners are great.

You want a secure never go out of tune, you need a locking nut.

 

Btw I put on my cheap Chinese Strat that's in my car, Guitar Fetish locking tuners and are great

https://www.guitarfetish.com/Fits-Stratsreg-Staggered-Height-Gotoh-style-Locking-Tuners-Sperzel-Style-String-Lock-_p_514.html

 

Edited December 5, 2019 by Eracer_Team-DougH

[dan0725]

4 hours ago, tjmeyers said:

I purchased my Fender Strat American Special without locking tuners. My first step was to replace them with locking tuners. All of my electric guitars have locking tuners. 

Pros: Locking tuners make it easier/faster to change strings.
           Tuning stability is great. (the Strat had problems holding tune on a couple strings)

Cons: To this point I haven't found any.

Is your Strat Special the one that has the HSS configuration? If it is, that's the one I have. 

[dan0725]

Thanks for the information! Since I need to change the strings, I think I'm going to go ahead and do it.

[tjmeyers]

3 hours ago, dan0725 said:

Is your Strat Special the one that has the HSS configuration? If it is, that's the one I have. 

Mine has Texas Special single coil pickups, Greasebucket tone circuit.

In Ice Blue, it also has the extra large Strat headstock.

[dan0725]

1 hour ago, tjmeyers said:

Mine has Texas Special single coil pickups, Greasebucket tone circuit.

In Ice Blue, it also has the extra large Strat headstock.

Nice looking guitar. Mine has the HSS Texas pickups. I swapped out the black pick guard for a white one. 

[tjmeyers]

40 minutes ago, dan0725 said:

Nice looking guitar. Mine has the HSS Texas pickups. I swapped out the black pick guard for a white one. 

Nice axe, Dan.

[tjmeyers]

My Line 6 is HSS, so I can get  those profiles from that guitar. I also have a PRS CE-24 so I can get the humbucker sounds, plus I can split the coils.

It is so easy to dial in Carlos Santana with the CE-24 and the Mesa Express amp.

[Oldjock]

Dan, I'm getting into this conversation a bit late but I installed Schaller locking tuners on my PRS Santana. I did not encounter any problems swapping them in. They work as advertised but still need to be tweaked which should be normal.

Henk

[gotto]

Pros-definitely ease of changing strings. On stoptail designs, tuning stability is improved in my opinion. On a floating bridge , the stability may be less unless one blocks the bridge. I have two strats that do not have locking tuners so I am not sure how a swap would affect their tuning but most of my Teles and both of my PRS's have locking tuners and I am a big fan of them. I also find the gear ratios seem to be better on them, than the Strats. I can't think of any cons.

 

Greg

Edited December 8, 2019 by gotto

[dan0725]

A little bird has leaked the information that the locking tuners are coming for Christmas. Even though I could probably install them myself, I think I'll take the opportunity to bring the guitar to the shop and have a true set up done on it. It's been a few years since the last one. Gives me a chance as well to get the nut adjusted. The low E doesn't fit the slot very well. Spa day for the guitar I guess. 🙂