Author Topic: 3x3 Locking tuners (Read 7980 times)

Ted · « **on:** August 13, 2007, 06:11:57 PM »

Gang:

Can anyone recommend some good locking tuners for my new project. They will go on a LP style 3x3 neck.

I have been longing for some Sperzel's but fitting those is too scary, owing to the blasted stabilising pins. :roll:

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2007, 06:17:44 PM »

I don't know why anyone would want anything other than Sperzels.

Maybe they don't have the perfect turning ratio or w/e - But they're solid as rock and have easily the best system.

If you're afraid of fitting them - Then talk to someone who has - Jon and Wez should be able to help you out if you ask them.

Ratrod · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2007, 06:35:49 PM »

I love my Sperzels. You could try some Grover locking tuners too.

Philly Q · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2007, 06:38:40 PM »

Sperzels really are quite easy to fit - unless you already have another brand of non-locking tuners and you want direct, no-modification replacements, I wouldn't worry too much about the installation.

I've had lots of different locking tuners. My personal favourites are Gotoh Magnum Locks - the locking mechanisms are in the tuner posts so they look almost exactly like stock tuners. And you can get them in both vintage and modern styles.

Apart from those, you've got Grovers - work fine but they're heavy and the posts are too long IMO (on the 3x3 set, at least); Planet Waves - again work very well, but the posts and thumbwheels are finished in black, which looks weird on more vintage-styled guitars; and Schallers, which again work great but they're heavy - and also getting much harder to find. Oh, and TonePros/Kluson - I haven't tried them but they have screw-down locks on the tops of the posts, like PRS tuners.

If you long for Sperzels, I'd get Sperzels.

WezV · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2007, 06:42:35 PM »

i like the planet waves auto-trim tuners- mainly because i am lazy

Simon D · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2007, 08:52:00 PM »

+1 for Sperzels here - I've got several sets - a set on my PRS SE, a set on my Warmoth Soloist, and a set on my 8 year-old Pacifica, which were original equipment, and I've not had any problem with them at all - still solid as a rock.

They also have the advantage of not making the guitar headstock-heavy, which the locking Gotohs on my Epi LP certainly did.

headtheball · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2007, 08:53:26 PM »

Sperzels FTW, really.

Surely, if you're not replacing old heads, it shouldn't be that much more awkward to fit them as opposed to another kind?

hunter · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:19:19 PM »

I put these on my Les Paul
http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/shop/products.php?category=214&product=5142

1-to-1 replacement fot Klusons, just fit the old holes perfectly. I am happy with the tuners too. Work very well for me.

Philly Q · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:51:11 PM »

Quote from: Simon D

They also have the advantage of not making the guitar headstock-heavy, which the locking Gotohs on my Epi LP certainly did.

Which Gotohs did you have, Simon? They shouldn't be any heavier than the corresponding type of conventional tuners.

Simon D · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:05:36 PM »

I may have overstated a little Philly, the didn't make the guitar neck-heavy as such, just a good deal heavier.

They aren't the old school Kluson type, they're the modern type which look a little like Schallers with the thumbwheel on the back - they were therefore a hell of a lot heavier than the cheap-ass Epiphone Kluson-a-likes they replaced.

Philly Q · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:13:23 PM »

Ah, I wasn't aware Gotoh made thumbwheel types as well as the various Magnum Locks.

I agree, thumbwheel locking tuners (apart from Sperzels) definitely add extra weight. I sometimes replace the metal tuner buttons with pearloid or ebony ones to compensate.

Simon D · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:19:38 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Ah, I wasn't aware Gotoh made thumbwheel types as well as the various Magnum Locks.
I sometimes replace the metal tuner buttons with pearloid or ebony ones to compensate.

It was some time ago - they may not make them any more.

Swapping the buttons is a good idea - might do that with mine to ease the weight a little.

sgmypod · « **Reply #12 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:33:49 PM »

http://www.axesrus.com/axemachine.htm

had the grover ones from here they worked great..just like they should

Ted · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2007, 09:37:28 AM »

Thanks guys, the tuners are going on a custom Warmoth neck, so I don't want to c--k it up by drilling Sperzel's required stabiliser holes myself, but I really like the look of Sperzels.

I have looked at planet waves and I think they look a bit odd, although they would be so much easier to fit and I would be happy to fit them myself.

Decisions, decisions...

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2007, 09:48:38 AM »

Quote from: Ted

Thanks guys, the tuners are going on a custom Warmoth neck, so I don't want to c--k it up by drilling Sperzel's required stabiliser holes myself, but I really like the look of Sperzels.

I have looked at planet waves and I think they look a bit odd, although they would be so much easier to fit and I would be happy to fit them myself.

Decisions, decisions...

People all over the world fit Sperzels everyday without mistakes - why are you so adamant that you'll muck up? lol?