The Truth About LOCKING TUNERS - And Why They May NOT Do What You Expect!
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- Опубликовано: 20 июл 2024
- Despite the name, Locking Tuners, in my case Fender Locking Tuners (and possibly other locking tuners) may not perform the way you would expect. In this video we'll talk about my personal experience with these tuners.
Fender Tuners:
🛒 Sweetwater imp.i114863.net/5R1DN
🛒 Amazon geni.us/LockingTuners
🛒 Thomann bit.ly/2UHI9kl
🛒 Reverb tidd.ly/3TMMySz
🛒 Ebay ebay.us/F7bxvx
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:21 - Personal Experience
1:50 - What Locking Tuners Won't Do
3:03 - What Locking Tuners Will Do
4:13 - Wrap Up
My Installation videos:
• HOW TO - Install FENDE...
• Locked and Loaded - In...
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First of all, how great was the Mandalorian season 1?
So locking tuners, yes or no?
Where I bought mine: amzn.to/2QvnGxM (affiliate link)
My Installation videos:
ruclips.net/video/g5FWzzn9zrI/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/AqQrBnWT4eA/видео.html
Timestamps:
Personal Experience: 0:21
What Locking Tuners Won't Do: 1:50
What Locking Tuners Will Do: 3:03
Wrap Up: 4:13
I love the Mandalorian series so far...the episodes are getting shorter though..I'm caught up in season 2
I've played, professionally, for 55 years, and now in later years, I've had 5 strokes. I've had to teach my wife to change my strings, but that doesn't always work out as I would care for. I have, (in my career), been the guitar tech for Earth, Wind & Faire, so string changing was always second nature! Although the strokes taught me that there were many things that came second nature to me, are now things of the past! For one, I have lost the dexterity used in changing my own strings. So I am looking forward to purchasing a set of locking tuners, to free me up to be able to do one of those small things that were lost to me.
I think he likes telecasters
The tuning stability is much more noticeable on a Strat with a floating trem, because there’s a lot less friction on the string without the wraps loosening, and re tightening when you use the bar. On a hard tail, it’s still useful if you do a lot of heavy bending, I have these on my Strat, and Tele, and I really like them.
cool thanks for the feedback!
True. I do extreme bends on all of my guitars including the hard tailed guitars.
For sure helps more with a trem. Also shouldn't have to "stretch" new strings as much for stable tuning with hard tail or trem.
@@landonbailey and everyone - Many thanks for saving me 150 quid ;D its a good thing, but it can wait.
They do help but are not intended to be a cure-all as far as tuning stability goes. There are 4 factors you need to address and machine heads are just 1. I noticed a decent difference when playing heavy but that should reflect to any playing style to some degree. All play styles are moving the strings around. I mean, the very plucking of a string (no matter how hard) is moving and bending the string to some extent.
Also, you'll notice it more on guitars with trem systems, or if you're someone who's constantly bending strings.
You need to consider more than tuners if you want a significant increase in tuning stability.
1. Tuners (Quality locking machine heads)
2. Nut (Quality, lubrication and set-up)
3. Bridge (Quality and set-up)
4. Strings (Try a few different types and gauges) (Try *D'Addario NYXL Nickel Wound Electric* strings. They're very high quality and last, as well as stay in tune, much longer than other strings. They also sound and feel very good.)
If you hone in all of those, you're guitar will have great tuning stability. If it doesn't, there may be an underlying issue with the instrument. A lot of the time a professional set-up is your best bet.
Keep in mind, no matter how good a guitar is you should still tune it each time you go to play it. Strings themselves stretch over time. It's just an unavoidable thing that comes with stringed instruments.
🎸👍
Tele's are rock solid for tuning most of the time. I have them for the quick string changes.
👍🎸😁
I think the confusion for most people new to locking tuners comes from the name "locking". These tuners aren't locking in the sense a floating trem has a locking nut. These are just "quick string change" tuners. They make string changes easier and faster. The tuning pegs aren't locked in place, so you still tune your guitar the normal way.
These are useful for folks that change strings very often or pros who change strings daily etc.
Many thanks for the clarification. You and Landon just saved me some money. =)
I've got a few custom built guitars, all of them have locking tuners. I don't really think they're an upgrade to other tuners in terms of tuning stability, but I'd always opt for a locking tuner over a standard if I'm starting from scratch; purely for ease of string changes. I usually tour with one guitar, so if I break a string onstage, they allow me to replace the string within that song and get on with the show. There may be some benefit to having no winds on the post, reducing stretching, but I haven't really noticed a difference.
seems like it just makes it easier to change strings.
Yes, locking tuners make string changes SUPER quick.
If your upgrading from 12:1 tuners to 19:1 locking tuners, you’re also getting greater tuning stability because there’s no string slip at the tuner.
That said, there are many bad and misinformational videos on RUclips about how to string up locking tuners. The correct way is to point the tuner string hole at the area of the nut that that particular string will be exiting the nut and entering the tuner through. After inserting the string, tighten the locking tuner wheel down all the way and when you tune it up to pitch, you will have no more than a half to 2/3 of a turn around the string post. This is the correct way to string up with locking tuners. Any more than 1/2 turn to 2/3 turn of a locking tuner to get the string to pitch is going to put you back in the same problems you have with traditional Tuners which is string slippage from slack in the string. I love locking tuners so much that I put them on almost every guitar I have. There are many great locking tuners out there and there are many crappy locking tuners out there. Some of my favorite locking tuners are:
1. Fender (Schaller) locking tuners
2. Planet Waves auto trim locking tuners
3. Tone Ninja locking tuners
4. Gotoh MGT series locking tuners
5. Kiesel locking tuners.
6. Graph Tech Ratio locking tuners (a direct, drop in replacement for Kiesel & Charvel Pro Mod guitars).
*Grover locking tuners & Hipshot locking tuners are good but they are not as good as the first brands I mentioned. That’s my opinion.
hey appreciate all the info! thanks 👍🎸😁
What about Graph Tech and Hipshot?
And aren't planet waves associated with D'Adarrio?
Fender Tremolo I have recently gotten 2 sets of the Graph Tech Ratio locking tuners for 2 of my Charvels. They’re a direct drop in replacement for the Charvel tuners. No drilling. I need to add them to the list above. They work great and are built like a tank-tough. Yes, D’Addario makes the Planet Waves Brand. I have had Hipshot locking tuners but they were not my favorites.
I use Hipshot, you make an excellent point about how tuning stability is improved if you are going from 15:1 to 18 or 19. I love the ability to change strings quickly and from my experience tuning stability (if your nut is cut well) is better with higher ratio tuners locking or not.
@@blkjakk Were the hipshots you used closed or open backs? Because the open backs are 18:1, but the closed backs are only 15:1
I insist on locking tuners, but it's not because of tuning stability. It's simply because I don't like the over/under/turn-then-turn-some-more rigmarole involved with regular tuners. I like being able to stick the string through the tuner, then tighten down the locknut, and cut off the excess string. It's just easier. One huge caveat is that you have to avoid going overboard when you tighten the locknut, or it _will_ break the string within the tuner.
You nailed it Landon,quick string change,period!Happy new year sunshine \m/
hey Happy new year!
From Leo: Locking tuners greatly reduce string stretch settling time. They don't lock the gears, just the strings. If you learn to string your guitar with the 1/2 turn and hook method like Martin uses, you also don't have the extended string stretch time and they are quick to change. I have a couple guitars with lockers, but I am not changing any more. The Ratio tuners are nice due to the gear ratio, especially on the low E and the G. Been playing guitar and having fun for a long time.
good info thanks Leo!
I second this notion having hipshot locking tuners, the stock fender tuners are not any different for stability. just easier string changes
I upgraded my tuners in my Fender Pro strat, just to make it easier for changing strings. 3 things that CAN help with tuning stability are 1) bone or self-lubricating nut, 2)rolling string tree, and 3) rolling bridge.
I learned something tonight. People believed (me included) that locking tuners are intended for tuning stability like a locking nut but they are *not*
They are only useful for quicker string changing eliminating the need for winding round the posts
Which also helps tuning stability👍
Thank you. You are saving me some money and I'm sure many others. I appreciate your honesty. That is refreshing and very reassuring. Now, I won't consider making the change unless I'm back in a situation where I'm changing strings often.
no problem!
I simply like the convenience. The Wilkinson EZ post tuners are a little janky but you can use them as sorta staggered tuners on tilted headstocks. they have a lower and higher hole.
I have Grovers and Hipshots on strats, and they do help. They really help with new strings, particularly if you broke one on stage and were in a hurry to change it and don't have time or enough light to do the wrap properly.
As someone who plays pretty much only a 6 string and 9 string. A 9 string I definitely need locking tuners. I’m not trying to spend a half hour on tuning new strings. The thing people need to know most importantly when it comes to playing and tuning stability with them is know your tuning and the right gauge (that’s preference, I try to get away with the thinnest string as I can for what I’m aiming for so the tone is clear and don’t crank the tuners hard. If you do, they will start to cut into the core of the string resulting in either a full string break or the tuning stability will stay bad. And always make sure they are slotted into both the bridge and nut with a nice amount of tension before locking and tuning. I also find making sure the peg holes are directly facing the nut before hand the most efficient.
I totally agree with you thanks.i put a set on my SG.& I thought they would take care of the tunning but it didn't but it did help some.keep posting .thank David
In my experience the Graph Tech Ratio tuners I've installed make changing strings a lot easier and faster. They also make everyday tuning (both fine tuning and tuning from standard E to D which I do a lot) more predictable as turning the tuning heads is super consistent between strings (thus faster and easier). You're also negating the fact that a lot of guitarists out there (most of them beginners, some of them not!) still have issues with installing strings correctly in the first place which can lead to tuning instability or worse, strings breaking.
I see intermediate players having tuning issues. Basically those are because they are lazy and arrogant. They also think they sound better than they do and even in their playing, cut corners.😐
The bonus is quick string changes. In a playing session with a Strat, the locking tuners are helpful in my opinion over the stock tuners, but I, too, live in a place with fluctuating weather. Our winters in WI can be cold and then a 20 degree swing the next day. That affects my tuning, and on my bass guitar, affects my truss rod (I attribute that the the beefier strings and the longer neck). Building a tele now (and enjoyed your video on your recent build) and putting on Hipshot locking tuners.
nice! have fun with the build. don't rush it
I've installed Fender Locking tuners on my MIM strat and now I have a problem with G string ringing above the nut. String break angle is not enough, though G string tuner is staggered... And I don't want to install second string tree and add point of friction. Is there a proper way to fix it without any ugly damping foams etc. ?
Hi Landon, You are right sir, Locking tuners = fast and easy string change. Tuning stability i find is more a combination of things such as the nut, sadles, bridge and to a certain extent the keys. Thanks for another great video!
cheers!
agree
Tuning stability is decided essentially by how well the nut is cut, the quality of the nut. Locking tuners just make changing strings faster be it a Strat, a Tele or whichever guitar you have.
I think my nut is made of plastic. A bone nut would bring more stability?
I have a 2012 MIM Cabronita with standard tuners... swapped for the Fender Lockers... as you said it definitely makes a difference when changing strings (the main feature that interested me as I'm going to start rehearsing and gigging again now that the new year's stuff it's done with... plus I got a gift voucher lol) I must say I did notice it is easier to tune (quicker?) than with the original set... with the standards I always tuned up to pitch, with these locking tuners I can go up or down and with the 18:1 ratio I only need to do very small tweaks to get it spot on... but, like you said, it's all subjective... it applies to this particular guitar with this set of strings (XL's 10-46)
Good vid anyways... cheers.
Yes sir! If current tuners are decent, i.e. no shaft play and snuggly mounted, they will hold tune as well as any "upgrade". Always stretch (3+ times) the strings at installation and once each time you play. It's both a metallurgical thing and a cold/warm guitar thing. Also stretching tightens the tree wraps and the ball wraps. Some strings, depending on metallurgy and mass of each string, tighten/relax more with a few degrees temperture deviation. (This assumes the nut is lubed and the bridge/string movement is free). I personally like vintage split shafts to clean up the cut end. THANKS!
vintage split are my fav too!
I will have to agree. My experience on a fender stratocaster that was upgraded with fender locking tuners is that i didn't had significant raise in tuning stability. The main advantage is hugely in the ease of changing strings. I believe that tuning stability requires a correctly made nut for the string gage used, alongside with a bridge which had a good setup . Happy new year to all!
Well, I'm a 12 string junkie, and changing strings with standard tuning keys is an utter nightmare. Even using a power winder, (which never seem to come with an adapter for mini keys), the winds always seem to be looping all over. and tangling with the strings already in place. So, all my twelves are getting lockers, ASAP.
Hi Landon, Happy New Year! I like locking tuners for quick string change, and the higher the ratio the more precise you can tune. I recently installed graphtech ratio locking tuners on an epiphone 339 they are awesome. I also installed a deucenberg trem arm on it then I had some tuning issues so my fix was changing the nut for a graphtech nut and changed the saddles for graphtech and installed a string butler. The graphtech material is self lub so it helps the string not stick which helps the tuning. Off topic I was listening to your original music and I like it, I was wondering, how do you go about formally copyrighting your music? And is distro kid worth a try? I want to release my originals on my RUclips channel as well as other platforms but before I take the jump wanted your opinion.
Happy New Year! Ya Distrokid was really easy to use and I believe they take care of copyright
My experience with locking tuners is different in that I was replacing budget guitar tuners so it definitely made a great difference in holding tune. I used Vanson tuners on the three I replaced. Stock fender tuners would already be excellent.
ya that would definitely be a great upgrade
I use em on 3 strats and 2 teles. With a trem, you line up holes but load string from far side to give a cam lock helper. Otherwise using trem straight loaded, the strings are far more prone to break at the lockers pinch. So i simply load all from back side of pegs now and havent broken one string since. Rock on!
good tips thanks!
Landon - you have misunderstood the definition of locking tuners: They lock they string, not the tune. The strings expand and contract with temperature, the neck & body move with temperature and humidity (unless carbon fibre etc. - even then), so the tune will change. No tuners can "lock" in the tune. There is no static tune instrument - maybe synths? In the UK we call them "machine heads" - that wordage may have helped you to avoid expectations that could not be met: "Locking Machine Heads".
I absolutely misunderstood, and I think many people do. Also Floyd Rose would like a word! 😝👍
I love the locking tuners they came with my Gibson sg and les paul 2017 and my fender elite, i'm a giging musician and I change strings every two gigs, but I only take one guitar to a job, now are they better than regular tuners I can't tell. I bought some for my players strat to
I find locking tuner great on two of my guitar one is a Gibson standard premium AAAA top the other one is a Fender American Deluxe I personally think there a must for a quick change but still have to tune regularly, like you here in England UK temperature changes quite a bit enjoying you videos thank you for all you do Happy New Year
Hey UK! thanks for watching
Hey dude, for me locking tuners are like expensive cables from brands that tell you you can actually hear a diff in your tone - NO you can't, unless you're a dog.. Out of my 10 electric guitars 7 have locking tuners and only for one reason - It makes it easy to swap strings. That's it! I usually buy Klotz La Grange cables or Dimarzio cables which are about twice the price of your normal Fender cable not because i get a super quality tone but cuz they last. You can twist 'em, tie 'em, step on 'em and you have no issues. 10 years ago I used to buy Fender cables and after 3 to 6 months the cable jack would stop working. So locking tuners are like expensive cables, they are practical. That's my 2 cents. Mike.
👍🎸
If you own ten guitars it indicates that you are a lousy player who is obsessed with gear vs hard work.
@@ll1881ll thats not nice to say
According to bad logic Mark Knopfler must be lousy player because he have much more guitars in his collection.
I have a few guitars that came stock with locking tuners, Grovers on a Yamaha, and 2 schecters. My experience is exactly the same as yours. Faster string changes - Similar tuning stability. Maybe one thing it could possibly help with tuning is that with less winds maybe it takes less time after a string change to settle in and require less stretching. Sometimes the wraps can be a tiny bit loose and need to tighten up over time, if that makes sense.
I don't do any wraps. I've tried both ways and saw no difference
it's great for quick string changing. fast string release and mounting. but for keeping in tune, its just like normal tuners just without the string slip and looping.
If you know how to string properly you can “lock” any string on any tuner. The “under-over” stringing is the same locking effect. Locking tuners are meant for fast string changes really, any tuning stability you get is a side effect. Learn to string properly. 😎
Scott, absolutely. I would also recommend my technique of wrapping as much of the string post as possible with the string. You do not want to overwind though. This will minimize buzzing and Sitar drones as well as direct more energy to transfer through the nut into neck. Basically getting the most out of the parts.😎👍✨
That works great if you don't use a tremolo. If you do use a tremolo all those winds begin to uncoil when the tension comes off the string. This results in sharp notes once the Tremolo goes back to the neutral position
I have a Strat with a floating tremelo and it's rock solid after a proper setup with a new nut and string tree. In all honesty I just bought the locking tuners as the last thing to 'mod' on my guitar. Any improvement is marginal gain at best, because it already played great. Fast string changes are a big plus.
I noticed when using locking tuners that if you don't put wraps then tuning down is a problem. You just don't have enough string to release to go down to dropped D etc.
good point!
I only have one problem with them on my lefty strat and tele, when hanging them on the wall the tuner hits the low E tuner and E string comes loose.
Good info Lando!🎸I just installed Fender locking in my Squire Strat and they are way better quality than the stock Squire machines. String changes are a breeze. I think with some moderate string bends or a harder player will always need to tune up periodically. That’s just physics of metal strings stretching. Give your strings a few stretches after changing and it may help!
for sure an upgrade for Squire tuners
Locking plus tuners plus a graphite nut with hold up to deep bends no problem
i bought a set last year for my ibanez SZ (fixed bridge) 1st time i broke a string since i bought the guitar in 2004. the gears were better than the stock ones so i just pulled the locking screws out and left 'em in.
“I don’t use trems”. Come into our world a while friend! The LT is a god send.
06/12/2022: Locking tuners are not made for locking strings like a Floyd rose system. They are made for just fast-changing of strings with no wrapping of the sting on the post. Therefore, you turn the tuning keys and tune your guitar just like the original non-locking tuners. I had the Fender brand of locking tuners and I loved them, except for one problem, which was user error. Yup, my fault, nothing wrong with the tuners. I thought I had to tighten them very tight, and I broke the tuner. I tried to get parts to repair it, but that quest never did work out, and no one sold just one tuner. Only full sets of six were for sale. So, do not over-tighten them, because they break very easily. Just a light snug turn is needed. I purchased a Guild acoustic guitar, and I am thinking of putting Hipshot Locking Tuners on it. Hopefully, the 18-1 ratio will help to fine-tune the strings. And again, locking tuners make it fast and easy to change strings.
Changed my on Tele and Strat and agree that their was no tuning stability difference. Positive points for me regarding locking tuners are, they look better IMO, (vintage style buttons on mine) and they are less hassle when changing strings. Each to there own I suppose..
A properly cut nut and stretching strings = great tuning stability. Can't control mother nature and rapid humidity changes affecting neck movement.
Well said!
The utmost thing to remember is that the strings span a couple feet (2/3 meter) of wood that is subject to changes size every minute as temperature and humidity changes. I struggle trying to understand why one should not expect to verify tuning each time an instrument is picked up, you understand the difference regarding pianos. lol
locking tuners are upgrade in all aspects . only downside is weight.
Great video as usual! 👍👍
thanks!
I used locking tuners on my custom bigsby telecaster project and they hold really well.
So how about a high quality tuner with less backlash … would that help tuning stability?
If I’m not mistaken, the first time I saw tuners that weren’t locking tuners was when I was 20 and purchased the Jazz Bass that I played from 2000 to 2019. Previously, I don’t think I had seen a guitar with open tuners. To this day, I often wonder what the big deal is with those. That’s after having owned only one electric guitar equipped with them, my own current Telecaster.
When I change tuners on my I bought it to upgrade guitar I’m going with locking tuners for the lock. So long as the lock works I’m sure it will look a lot better than the mess I usually end up with, with the under, then over winds, or is it the other way around? 😅
Good review, thanks for your honest report. 👍 Personally, I think if you have a good quality bone nut and quality string trees, and stretch the strings well after restringing every time, a lot of tuning issues disappear.
Hey bro
I am thinking about buying Schaller locking tuners but I do happen to tune up and down a lot.
Judging by the way these tuners look I suppose tuning to something like Drop A wouldn't be possible
I am not sure about this,please do correct me if I am wrong.
Another question I have is if someone has used Gotoh tuners?
Just wondering because I saw that they cost half as much as the schaller ones
Cheers!
Good advice. Q: what wall holders are those for the Telecasters? Mine are too wide for the head.
I personally only use locking tuners on guitars that have a trem arm. I find the lack of wiIds around the peg helps the instrument hold tune after doing the wigglies
Great video of your experiences! You are correct. Locking tuners only make string changes quicker/easier and allow the strings to stretch faster. In general, the tuners are the last place to look for tuning stability issues, despite what manufacturers and sales reps will say to make a sale. With the quality of manufacturing these days, even with cheap/budget tuners, you'd actually have to really try to make a bad tuner.
Tuning stability issues come from other things. The obvious being un-stretched or poor quality strings, poor technique (playing/fretting WAY too hard), a poor quality neck, or a poor quality trem (particularly the quality of the pivot points). If all those are in check and tuning stability is still a problem, you'd want to first look at the string trees and nut. That list covers 99% of tuning stability issues. Tuners can fail/slip, but it is pretty rare by comparison.
hey guys! thanks for the feedback and info. I bought my Celestion Neo Creamback - 60W and Celestion V-Type from your shop!
you can see them here: ruclips.net/video/Kd83vbJFowU/видео.html
take care!
@@landonbailey Sweet! Thanks!
Do you stretch the strings at all? Or does that just happen over time naturally? Tuning UP for instance?
I have a set, but haven't installed them yet
I always stretch my strings after installing them
Well now, as a fellow Canadian, I’m kind of on the fence about wether to get the locking tuners for my Gilmour Strat or the obsidian blender. I do agree about the locking tuners are the end all of problems. It’s not final w/ locking tuners. Small adjust,ents still have to be made. Decisions, decisions.
Thanks.. this is the exact information I was looking for! You rule sir!
Glad it was helpful!
@@landonbailey dude.. you always have fantastic information.. like that time you taught me how to tune my guitar.. like that time you taught me how to tune my guitar... like that time you taught me how to tune my guitar ;)
I'm still watching that video
I put Hipshot locking tuners on my LP junior and they work well. As you stated, it does not lock the string and keep it in tune forever. The strings do move and get out of tune, just less so than a poorly installed string on the string post.
they just aren't 'locked' like you would think right?
Lando27Music exactly. Maybe it is our understanding of what they mean by “locking”, or their use of the word is misleading.
Great information and video! Thank you!,!,!
Glad it was helpful!
I put locking tuners on my L Paul because I needed to replace a slipping G tuner. Went with locking Kluson's cause the price difference was close enough and its 19 ~1 compared to 16~1 for regular tuners. The locking with its better ratio will need smaller adjustments to bring in tune. And only $30 difference over buying regular tuners. Ease of string changes is another great part. My Strat came from the factory with locking tuners and makes string changes so fast and easy. So I think these are a great change to a working tool of a guitar.
I put locking tuners on my Fender Player. I play a lot of Shadows songs, so I use the tremolo a lot. with the locking tuners, the Fender Player stays in tune. Another advantage is putting new strings on it. you are so done with it.
Whether your guitar has a stoptail/hardtail is kind of a big stipulation, wouldn't you say? My tele doesn't have locking tuners and don't need them, rock solid tuning stability. My strat is a different story and the locking tuners made a big difference in tuning stability.
I like you comments on locking tuners. i live in Ontario, Canada. I was hoping if you could give me some advice for tuning stability for Epiphone Lespaul. I own both Start and Lespaul models. I find lespaul to be more complicated to adjust or modify. thank you
I am buying new tuners for my PRS SE at present, there is a PRS video showing how to loop the string with few turns on non locking tuners. Locking tuners can be considerably heavier and can cause the neck to be unbalanced when hanging from the strap, that with the fact that locking tuners cost 50% more and I don't currently gig, means that I am opting for some nice Gotoh SG381 non locking tuners.
🎸👍
I have them on my Les Paul. I believe they exist to make changing strings easier. Less wraps kind of help a little, but I don't think it's supposed to be like a double locking Floyd Rose.
👍🎸
To me, on my Les Paul, upgrading to locking tuners massively improved tuning stability. Ofcourse I still have to tune on a regular basis. But I can now bend my strings and do some Zakk Wylde pinch harmonic vibrato shit and they stay in tune instead of going completely out of wack. I think part may be because it illiminates some user error when winding the strings. String slippage around the post is illiminated.
My player plus tele came stock with locking tuners. I love them. Im putting a set of locking tuners on my Les Pauls when I get a chance. I'm indifferent to whether or not there's tuning stability, the speed in changing strings is a win itself.
Might be a lengthy thread. I have had several guitars that have had locking tuners. I will go over the ones I have had and currently have.
My first guitar with locking tuners was a G&L ASAT Special and it had Sperzels. Since this is a great US made guitar the tuners worked well and were a breeze to change. I will also qualify that this was probably the best set of locking tuners and it was stock drom the store. This was a mid 90s model and I miss that guitar, really cool.
My next guitar with locking tuners is my Charvel Desolation Series DC-2 in Smear Blue. The tuners work great, they are a Sperzel type of copy. The guitar has a Stopbar and TOM bridge so super stable. The tuners work well and they are easy to restring.
Now I have two guitars were I am rebuilding them and both are copy cat Strat guitars. I decided to go on both of them with the GFS Sperzel style locking tuners. Now where these differentiate from the OG Sperzels and the Charvel tuners is these are staggered heights. Basically there are two tuners each of short, medium, and tall heights. The OG Sperzels were all short, the Charvels are roughly mediums. So the first guitar I put it on I put the tall ones cloest to the nut and the short ones farther away. I found out this require post wrapping to gwt the desired downward angle (actually my guitar tech did that since that guitar had to have the nut relocated closer to the headstock). So on the second Strat copy I put the short ones closer to the nut and the tall ones durther away to take advantage of the Graph Tech string trees I installed. Once I replace the strings on my first Strat copy I will swap the shorties and the tall boys on that headstock.
On guitars with trems, the locking tuners do help the string return to pitch. On non trem guitars, like Landon here its more negligible if one knows how to do a good string replacement job. By that I mean doing and over/under wrap on the string as it goes through the post (pinches the string) and then getting the string wrap close to the bottom of the post. Once the strings stretch, this is a really secure way to have tuning stability and maximum energy transfer through the nut.
On my guitars, the Strat knock offs have a very Fender like non pitched neck and headstock. Same went for the G&L ASAT Special. The Charvel has a shallow pitch so the medium posts work fine on that but I personally prefer to get the strings as close to the bottom of the string post as possible. I have two other Strat style guitars with trems and both have Grover tuners, so with my method its pretty stable tuning. I also have five guitars, solid bodies and hollow bodies with Bigsby or Bigsby style trems and all do fine with stock, non locking tuners.
Now I can only go by my experience, the players I see who tend to have tuning issues honestly do a crap job on string their guitars up. I see two, maybe three winds around the string post and thats it. On all strings. What this does is create a shallow angle from the nut to the headstock so it greatly reduces energy transfer to the nut and this is where I see the buzzing strings and Sitar like drones. Also no over/under string pinch, so yeah, that can cause slippage too. So I have had at least four of them let me restring their guitar, with their preferred strings with the over/under technique and wrap the post pretty much to the bottom. Guess what? Once the strings stretched, far more tuning stability, no more buzz, pretty much no issues.
Now one thing I want to point out which might likely be a reason for Landon's minimal impact on guitar tuning stability. If you put on locking tuners you really should have the guitar professionally set up by a luthier to get the most out of this change. If you want everything, get them to put in a new professional nut of bone or manmade ivory like Graph Tech. This will get the most stability and tone out of that region of the guitar. Otherwise you are looking at minor (single digit percentage) improvements or just sheer preference. If you take the time to do the over/under string pinch technique and wrap up the whole post, you will find you get better tuning stability and a bit of an increase in tone to boot with just this technique.😉👍✨
I recently bought an American Elite Telecaster, I never used this kind of tuners and I did not buy the guitar beacuse of them...do you what is the max string gauge that can be put on these tuners? I usually put Thomastik Jazz Bebop 0.12-0.50
I can’t say what the max gauge would be. I’d be more concerned about the nut being recut to allow for a higher gauge
@@landonbailey Yes, now a set of 0.10 are on so I have to review the setup. I'll do a test hoping not to change my favourite string set for lighter strings. Thanks!
I have some Hipshot locking tuners I got for a super cheap deal to replace some Squier Strat tuners. Not at all a must have for me, but definitely makes stringing that Strat easier. Even got one of those TUSQ nuts and still have to tune often if I go nuts on the tremolo. Just how it is, I guess.
🎸👍
so basically the only perk to spending ~$50-60 is for easier string changing when the original way isn't all that hard to begin with?
it would also be an upgrade over cheap tuners, it that's what you were replacing. but ya a swap of standard Fender tuners to their locking models, pretty much just the ease of string change
I am putting on some Guyker locking tuners as I watch this,, I was like poo they are going to stink ,,But then,,, you said that about ez string changing,, and made me happy again,,thanx🎈
I would suspect just upgrading to a higher quality tuner,would give you more luck staying in tune,this might be why locking tuners are so popular, I've often wonder about them, I've learned some cheap tuners can be better than name brand tuner's too, sometimes nothing works due a bad piece of wood for the neck, I've had tuning problems on a Squire like that, I'm assuming the neck is just too slim to hold tune,or a neck pocket may be moving, sometimes you just have to give up and grab another guitar, thanks for the video, saved me some money Landon.
Teles are the most stable guitars tuning wise. I have lockers on my guitar with a Wilkinson Trem and they help in this situation.
I bought a tele body and neck from a guy online. No hardware or electronics, so i get to choose and build the whole thing. I cant figure out what style tuners i need. The holes seen to be 10mm and next to each one is a single tiny hole centered within the inline direction (meaning the tiny hole isnt offset). I cant tell if it was for a screw or aligning pin. How can i determine the required style? Vintage or modern?
I would pick what you like then mod the neck if needed
Hey Landon I want you to do a video now on kluson Nickel for Fender 2 pin 6 inline Locking Tuners thanks bro!!!!
Hi Landon, do locking tuners work okay if I constantly switch between different tunings?
in what way?
I am upgrading my Fender Deluxe that came with Made in Germany Fender Gold Tuners (non-locking). Question, why are these made in Taiwan (Ping) Fender tuners so expensive? Silly question I know, but I'm trying to justify the price when comparable brands could be significantly cheaper. Pay a little more and you get a Schaller. Are these Fender branded locking tuners really worth the price? I personally prefer to keep everything "Fender" but the price is making me ask that question. Thanks.
Ya sorry, I don’t have any insight into retail pricings
thanks for confirming my suspicions.
Locking tuners allow for ease of restringing the guitar, end of story. With a trem, you don't need to learn to string a guitar with a wrap to keep tuning stability with locking tuners. It's not necessary if you have a properly setup trem and nut with the right angle to the strings at the headstock. It's just easier.
Great video. For most of us. Though comma just like you comma the real benefit is changing strength quickly, especially if you break a string.
In particular, breaking a string in the middle of a gig
String changes are awesome with these
I had an Epiphone LP before, now playing an ESP Eclipse. The tuners work the same. The G string is always out of tune.
Thanks a lot as I was curious about the value in replacing them on all my guitars. I think we live in a very trial and error society in this country. I see many professional that outplay the average and rarely upgrade the tuners. Take Jack Pearson from Almond Brothers he is a great guitarist and plays stock Squiers. I'm sure some companies have lousy ones that"s another thing but if it stays in tune? Thanks Again great tip!
Locking tuners aren't SUPPOSED to give you tuning stability. They just make it easier to install your strings by locking them in, instead of having to wrap them through a standard tuner peg hole. You get more stability by getting the higher ratio. Example: most tuners are 14:1 or 15:1. Better ones are 18:1.
it's a common misunderstanding
Hey Landon, have you ever noticed a difference in tonal response after the locking tuners are installed? I know higher mass tuners can make subtle differences in the higher frequencies. Have you noticed anything like that with Fender Locking Tuners?
no I never notice stuff like that
@@landonbailey thank you!
I got a mahogany modern player jazzmaster, love the guitar but it came stock with vintage style tuners, they need to go. Other then that the guitar was perfect no fret sprout, good action, and intunated straight off the wall at guitar center... when has that ever happened?
I find that if you pull the string hard with a pair if pliers before you lock it you get better results in staying tune. I'm curious as to what the manufactures "say" about why locking tuners were developed in the first place. Is it for quicker string change OR tuning stability. Was it for quicker string change and it happened to increase tuning stability ?
Id like to know as well
I like them for convenience in restringing, but locking tuners still don’t help with changes in temperature. You can tune em up warm, or you can tune em up cold!
Have you tried the Auto-Trim locking tuners? No need to cut the string.
I haven't!
Landon, there's an old vid on youtube, don't know if it's still up made by a guy called Scott Grove. Now Scott's about my age or a little older I'm 52 and though he does have his quirks he really knows what he's talking about and he's got like every guitar you can imagine he's got liken 300 guitars and he did a vid on tuners and basically he says that any tuners will do the job as long as they're not broken a perfectly normal set of tuners is every bit as solid as the most expensive set of locking tuners. Locking tuners simply facilitate changing strings, period, end of story.
cheers thanks!
I think locking tuners get lumped together with locking nuts in many people's minds. But it's sort of a misnomer. The strings lock in the machine heads, but the stability of the machine heads is not affected. I imagine if you were to buy crappy locking tuners (I've not seen any) there would be no point. That being said, locking tuners changed my life. I spend so much more time rubbing out the fretboard and staying on top of the fret surfaces than I ever did, since discovering Grovers, in my case. The reason I don't own many guitars (I have 3 that are playable - meaning properly cared for and ready to go), is that invariably I would become overwhelmed and not care for any of them properly. And here's the thing I never realized before. Playing an uncared-for fretboard, is akin to having what would perhaps be the best sex of your life, but with zero lubricant. There are no plek machines in my locale, so I put the finishing touches on my fretboard and resurfaced (not polished) the frets myself, over time, zeroing in on getting the closest action humanly possible. Now that I play NYXLs, I change the strings every couple of weeks rather than every few days, and I'm having the best shred-adjacent sex of my life. I urge people to take this seriously. It's the difference between a buttery/velvety feel to your expression that compels you to play every available moment and, well, aversive sex. I mean, that's how shit falls out of memory. I've been playing for about 55 years, give or take. But nothing compares to the playing experience I've had since locking tuners made this type of dedication to my craft possible. No one likes string changes and I despised them. And my playing showed it. There's no way grinding skin cells into your fretboard is good for either you or the fretboard. Now the only inconvenience in addressing stuff is when the half-dozen sets of strings dwindle to one or two. I hate going out into the cruel world. There should be a StringFlix (like Netflix) that automatically sends strings like they used to do with DVDs. But I digress. Life isn't really all that difficult. I had some time to kill before bed and I am a Landon supporter and an evangelist for locking tuners. But you will still have to engage the pegs, especially if you have a Les Paul. If you have quality machine heads and your intonation's dialed in, it's truly worth it. That all being said, Landon, love your channel. Keeps us entertained over here in SE Asia. Cheers/Best of luck. I've no idea what Canadians say when they sign off. And I used to live there. So it goes.
I use Gotoh's on both of my Fenders. One is a trem & the other a stop. I've noticed that the Gotoh's hold tune better than the Fenders. If it matters one ax has 10's & the other 8's.