mystixboi1
Kick Henry Jackassowski
For my Andy Timmons Ibanez...
which one and why?
which one and why?
Locking tuners... Sperzel or Gotoh?
- Thread starter mystixboi1
- Start date
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
#fuqalockingtuna
That is really clever.
I have guitars with both Sperzel and Gotoh tuners. I never really paid attention to which I prefer, as they both do what they are supposed to pretty well. I also have several sets of fender locking tuners, which are nice, and a set of planet waves tuners....all of which have performed well.
If you go with some that need screw holes drilled, be smart and drill pilot holes. The screws that come with tuners often break when screwing into the hard maple of a guitar neck...and then you have to remove a broken mini screw from your headstock.
Chad
Slender Hobbit
I got that kit when I built my Tele and kicked myself for not getting those sooner. While I like Sperzels (they are on my McFeely) installing them sucks. I always end up with one that isn't perfectly straight because I drill that hole a tiny bit off. I've also broken screws and I have even drilled through the headstock once.
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
In my experience Sperzels are too heavy. Hipshot are lighter but my favorite for strats are the Gotoh vintage locking tuners.
They look like a regular vintage strat tuner, but the slot on the tuner post isn't for tucking the string into, it's for locking and unlocking the post with a dime or a guitar pick. WAAAAY better than the big knobs on the back of the tuner IMO. I have them on my Thorn and all of my partscasters. I know there are some who don't like them but if I'm not mistaken, @Mark Wein has them on his McFeely, and they'll be on mine too.
They look like a regular vintage strat tuner, but the slot on the tuner post isn't for tucking the string into, it's for locking and unlocking the post with a dime or a guitar pick. WAAAAY better than the big knobs on the back of the tuner IMO. I have them on my Thorn and all of my partscasters. I know there are some who don't like them but if I'm not mistaken, @Mark Wein has them on his McFeely, and they'll be on mine too.
Lerxst
spaghetti and blankets
Whichever one works like what Reverend uses
Seriously, those are great tuners. I think the equivalent is sold by GFS? One of those discount guitar sites, anyways.
Don't get me wrong, they're perfectly functional locking tuners but they aren't anywhere near the level of quality & precision as the other tuners being discussed here.
Jbird
Kick Henry Jackassowski
I had a guitar with Sperzel locking tuners. The ones Reverend uses are better, in my opinion.
The Sperzel ones would only open so far before the little thingy inside would fall out of it's place and rattle around inside the peg. It was always a pain in the butt to get it to go back in where it was supposed to be. The low E-string one was always falling out, as opening it to allow a .46 through it was just about as far as it would go before falling out.
Maybe Sperzel doesn't use that design any more?
Lerxst
spaghetti and blankets
The pin lock tuners on Reverends and from GFS are a Sperzel trim-lok copy
I've changed mine to the standard Gotoh Klusons without the locking pin. It's a giant PITA on stage when you are trying to change strings in a hurry.In my experience Sperzels are too heavy. Hipshot are lighter but my favorite for strats are the Gotoh vintage locking tuners.
They look like a regular vintage strat tuner, but the slot on the tuner post isn't for tucking the string into, it's for locking and unlocking the post with a dime or a guitar pick. WAAAAY better than the big knobs on the back of the tuner IMO. I have them on my Thorn and all of my partscasters. I know there are some who don't like them but if I'm not mistaken, @Mark Wein has them on his McFeely, and they'll be on mine too.
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
Exactly why I sold those locking Gotohs that were on my tele to baimun. Like all locking tuners, save PRS Phase II, they're more trouble than they're worth.
mikesr1963
Gonna walk my dog, you?
I've never tried locking tuners. Any problems I've had I found had to do with the nut
Lerxst
spaghetti and blankets
iMO, locking tuners really only provide tuning stability if you do a sloppy job of stringing a guitar. They do have an advantage of usually being quick & easy....slip the string through the post, tighten the knob, quick tune & clip. Granted, like Mark and HAIR have mentioned it can be a clusterfark trying to do that on a dimly lit stage, under pressure, with some styles.
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
I agree that if you take the time to wind strings properly they stay in tune fine... I like being able to pull a string through a locking tuner, give it a little turn, and tune to pitch. So fast and easy.