Author Topic: Machineheads, what's your preferance? (Read 11968 times)

Ratrod · « **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2008, 10:25:12 AM »

Sperzel locking tuners are my favorite. I also have two guitars with Grover Rotomatics, one with the art deco (imperial) heads.

The Sperzels are great with any guitar that has a non locking vibrato. Grovers awlays have a real solid feel to them.

Philly Q · « **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2008, 10:59:40 AM »

Quote from: Antag

Schaller locking tuners are really good, but they are a little heavy so I'd think twice about putting them on certain guitars in case they became neck-heavy.

+1. PWs have the same issue, but to a slightly lesser extent.

My Thinline Tele is just about my only guitar which doesn't have locking tuners, for that very reason. The only direct replacements are the Fender/Schaller lockers, but the guitar is neck-heavy already.

But I'm going to put together a couple of solidbody Teles and I'm using the locking Fender/Schallers on those, so I'll see how they turn out.

Notice how everyone on this thread has different favourites! :lol: You really can't go wrong with any of them.

Philly Q · « **Reply #17 on:** June 07, 2008, 11:02:39 AM »

Quote from: AndyR

... recently Jonathan at Feline "talked me into"(!) Tonepros when I needed replacement "tombstone" types for an Epi LP and SG. I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned them on this thread already ( :) ), but I will happily back up any recommendation he might make, they are good, they feel exceptionally smooth and well-made, it's a pleasure to tune those guitars now!

Are they the locking ones by any chance, Andy? I bought a set but I'm probably going to sell the guitar they were intended for, so I can't decide whether I should keep them for a future project or not.

dave_mc · « **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2008, 02:18:02 PM »

never actually used locking tuners... :lol:

but i have schaller, gotoh and sperzel non-locking tuners, and they all seem pretty good, as philly says it's personal preference... :)

Simon D · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2008, 04:35:42 PM »

I've got Sperzel locking 'heads on my Pacifica 812, PRS SE Singlecut and Warmoth custom, and Gotohs on my Epi LP. I prefer the Sperzels, they're that little bit lighter than the Gotohs, and if I had the time over again I wouldn't put heavy tuners on such an already weighty guitar.

I also like the locking tuners on my PRS, and to be fair, the tuners on my Strat and Tele hold tune very well.

dave_mc · « **Reply #20 on:** June 07, 2008, 09:25:19 PM »

what isn't pretty good, however, is my restringing technique for guitars without a locking nut. another perfectly good high e ruined... :oops: :lol:

good job i use rotosounds, as they have a free one... :lol:

Philly Q · « **Reply #21 on:** June 08, 2008, 12:24:42 AM »

You should try locking ones, Dave. Might seem like overkill on guitars with locking nuts, but it's so much easier.

I have locking tuners on nearly all my guitars now. I never had any problems changing strings with conventional tuners, but I really don't like the process somehow. :lol:

AndyR · « **Reply #22 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:08:13 AM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: AndyR
... recently Jonathan at Feline "talked me into"(!) Tonepros when I needed replacement "tombstone" types for an Epi LP and SG. I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned them on this thread already ( :) ), but I will happily back up any recommendation he might make, they are good, they feel exceptionally smooth and well-made, it's a pleasure to tune those guitars now!

Are they the locking ones by any chance, Andy? I bought a set but I'm probably going to sell the guitar they were intended for, so I can't decide whether I should keep them for a future project or not.

No they're standard Philly. I've never tried locking tuners, not sure what I'm missing, if anything.

But the quality of the two sets (one was push-, one was screw- bushings) makes me think Tonepros know what they're doing. I notice Jonathan seems to like them for a lot of hardware. In fact, I might be looking for a new TOM bridge soon, and I'll be thinking of checking out Tonepros first. So if you've got a set already, and you can find a use for them in the future, I'd say hang on to them.

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #23 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:09:51 AM »

Quote from: AndyR

Quote from: Philly Q
Quote from: AndyR
... recently Jonathan at Feline "talked me into"(!) Tonepros when I needed replacement "tombstone" types for an Epi LP and SG. I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned them on this thread already ( :) ), but I will happily back up any recommendation he might make, they are good, they feel exceptionally smooth and well-made, it's a pleasure to tune those guitars now!

Are they the locking ones by any chance, Andy? I bought a set but I'm probably going to sell the guitar they were intended for, so I can't decide whether I should keep them for a future project or not.

No they're standard Philly. I've never tried locking tuners, not sure what I'm missing, if anything.

But the quality of the two sets (one was push-, one was screw- bushings) makes me think Tonepros know what they're doing. I notice Jonathan seems to like them for a lot of hardware. In fact, I might be looking for a new TOM bridge soon, and I'll be thinking of checking out Tonepros first. So if you've got a set already, and you can find a use for them in the future, I'd say hang on to them.

Locking for life. I can't live with normal tuners now.

Philly Q · « **Reply #24 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:53:10 AM »

Quote from: AndyR

But the quality of the two sets (one was push-, one was screw- bushings) makes me think Tonepros know what they're doing. I notice Jonathan seems to like them for a lot of hardware. In fact, I might be looking for a new TOM bridge soon, and I'll be thinking of checking out Tonepros first. So if you've got a set already, and you can find a use for them in the future, I'd say hang on to them.

Yeah, this set has the screw-bushings - which is why I got them, to replace a more "modern" set. It's good that they offer a choice.

I wonder if anyone (Jonathan?) knows who makes the TonePros tuners? Is it the old Kluson company for real, or have they just bought the name? The TonePros bridges and tailpieces are all made by Gotoh, except - maybe - the wraparound bridge, which doesn't have a Gotoh equivalent. But the tuners are quite different from the Kluson-style Gotohs.

Jonny · « **Reply #25 on:** June 08, 2008, 12:37:25 PM »

How would you replace die-cast tuners? Since machineheads all have a different size. Or do you just go for a safe bet?

Philly Q · « **Reply #26 on:** June 08, 2008, 01:47:12 PM »

Quote from: Jonny

How would you replace die-cast tuners? Since machineheads all have a different size. Or do you just go for a safe bet?

Long post coming....

The sizes are actually pretty standard - they nearly all need a 10mm hole through the headstock (Sperzels and Planet Waves need 10mm all the way through, with the others you may find the hole is 10mm at the back and a little smaller on the face of the headstock).

Matching up screw holes is a little trickier. If the screw is on a "tab" at a 45-degree angle to the body of the tuner, then the appropriate Schallers, Gotohs or PWs will all just about line up.

If they're 3x3 tuners with the screw tab directly below the body of the tuner, then the appropriate 3x3 Gotohs, Grovers, PWs or even vintage Kluson types all, again, just about line up with the screw holes.

Some tuners have a little pin on the body of the tuner to hold it in place, rather than a screw. Sperzels have one pin, Fender/Schallers have two, some other Schallers have one! I think some Wilkinson tuners use this method too. In those cases, you need the same make of replacement tuner, unless you don't mind drilling extra holes.

Jonny · « **Reply #27 on:** June 08, 2008, 01:56:36 PM »

I am completely lost in reading that Philly. I just want to replace the die-cast tuners in my Ibanez without having to do any extra drilling, lol..

Philly Q · « **Reply #28 on:** June 08, 2008, 02:11:42 PM »

Quote from: Jonny

I am completely lost in reading that Philly. I just want to replace the die-cast tuners in my Ibanez without having to do any extra drilling, lol..

:lol: Show us a picture of the back of the headstock.

I'd guess you'd be fine with Gotohs, Planet Waves or some Schallers, you'd definitely need to drill to fit Sperzels.

Do you want locking ones?

dave_mc · « **Reply #29 on:** June 08, 2008, 02:18:28 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

You should try locking ones, Dave. Might seem like overkill on guitars with locking nuts, but it's so much easier.

I have locking tuners on nearly all my guitars now. I never had any problems changing strings with conventional tuners, but I really don't like the process somehow. :lol:

oh, i'm fine on guitars with a locking nut, it's the ones without which are the problem. I might try locking tuners when i get round to it... i seem to remember from the eggle forum that sperzel locking ones are a direct swap for their non-locking ones (could be wrong of course, i'll look into it), so that'd be the obvious place to start.

prepare for a review in around 5 years' time when i actually get around to doing this. :oops: :lol:

i'm actually fine with most of the strings... it's the high e. more often than not, what manages to "lock" the thicker strings on non-locking tuners doesn't manage to do it with the thinner 9-gauge high e... :lol: i'll have another go today...