Locking tuners - yay or nay?

[John A.]

I had always assumed that the main selling point was better tuning stabililty -- even though I didn't believe it based on my experience with non locking tuners holding tune perfectly.

Or is it faster string changes?

It helps with tuning stability on guitars that have whammy bars (by keeping the string from slipping on the tuning post). It also simplifies installing strings.

I actually did go to the trouble of installing locking tuners (Kluson Revolution) on a guitar. On that guitar (Godin Kingpin), it was a small convenience over regular tuners, but nothing earth-shaking. One of the tuners broke (not the locking part FWIW), and I wound up putting the originals back.

One of these days I might try some sort of locking tuners on my Strat. I’ve been saying that for about as long as I’ve had it, which is almost 35 years. You could probably take that as a measure of how compelling I find the idea.

[AllanAllen]

While we're talking about strings,...
anyone around here use the method of stretching their new strings where after getting the strings tuned to standard, each string is individually (one at a time) tuned up two whole tones, then tuned back down to standard? The method is based on avoiding the mechanical horrors of just grabbing a string and yanking it some undetermined displacement perpendicularly off the finger board, the theory is based on the string manufacturers' statement that tensile strengths will tolerate a two and a half whole tone over standard tension... supposed to ensure that the forces applied are "in-line" with the guitar's structural strength and below the strings' rated break point.

No, I just tune them up and play. I keep the winding low on the peg head and they stop slipping pretty quick. At a gig I would just tune between each song.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

LYou can’t tighten the locking nut beyond barely snug, or you’ll break strings
- see the first section about how to avoid cutting strings

I think it depends on the brand / design of the tuner and how loose the string is in the post hole. I’ve used Sperzels since the ‘90s, and the strings that have broken at the tuner have been the heaviest ones. The cores of both 0.052 and larger 6th and 0.075 7th strings have broken because I overtightened the locking screws in my early innocence. And they almost always broke when I detuned to work on the guitar or change the strings - it only happened once while playing. When I still played 6 strings, I had two PRS customs and their lockers worked perfectly for me, with no broken strings.

Even using your turn-tighten-turn-tighten method, you can overtighten them and cause breakage. In general, far more direct damage to fasteners and the things they’re fastening is done by overtightening than by undertightening. Easy does it!

[SlowJoeJones]

A THUMBS DOWN to locking tuners. They simply aren’t as effective as a properly wrapped string, don’t save much if any time during a string change (not that that’s a problem for most of us using heavier strings anyway) and add an unjustifiable amount of weight.

[GNAPPI]

None yet though I've thought about it on a couple of strats and teles.

[Alter]

Changing strings without doing all the winding is worth it for me. On electric guitars that risk breaking a string live (and need new strings more often) I always install locking tuners. I have found Sperzels to be the best.

If the strings are properly installed and wound, regular tuners are fine for stability so I only use locking ones for speed on string changes. I wish they were more readily available for acoustics..

[st.bede]

I have put the self cutting planet waves locking tuners on about 4 of my solid body guitars. I like them. String change quick and easy.

[Herbie]

While we're talking about strings,...
anyone around here use the method of stretching their new strings where after getting the strings tuned to standard, each string is individually (one at a time) tuned up two whole tones, then tuned back down to standard? The method is based on avoiding the mechanical horrors of just grabbing a string and yanking it some undetermined displacement perpendicularly off the finger board, the theory is based on the string manufacturers' statement that tensile strengths will tolerate a two and a half whole tone over standard tension... supposed to ensure that the forces applied are "in-line" with the guitar's structural strength and below the strings' rated break point.

Interesting method!

I just pull them manually until they stay in tune after pulling.

I used a Stretcha tool for this for a while. Then I spoilt some sets of rock strings by stretching them too much. They lost the brightness, got very dull. I stopped using the Stretcha and returned to pulling them manually.

I have to try Your method next time!

[sgcim]

I had bad experiences with two POS guitars that had them. I'm still too traumatized to talk about them.

[Woody Sound]

I wish they were more readily available for acoustics..

Are acoustic tuners different?

[pauln]

Interesting method!
I have to try Your method next time!

Just to be clear, that's not my method...
I saw a show where the guitarist came out on stage with two guitar cases and began changing the strings on one of them. This was someone about to play three hours of just Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimmy Hendrix tunes; I thought he must be crazy to being putting on new strings, especially as he didn't even yank on them at all. Then I figured that must be his backup guitar, but then he opened the second case and restrung that guitar, too!
I was surprised that the guitar stayed in tune - the first set was 90 minutes. He played the second set with the other one. I wondered about this for years until I figured out what he had been doing.

My method is to restring, bring up to tune slowly, and not touch or adjust the guitar at all until the next day. The main reason is that when strings are just put on and tuned, the string parts going through the nut and over the bridge are "curved" but will settle into break angles with play. But tuning has to be adjusted as they are played in... the problem is really when to check and adjust intonation.

If you set the break angles early by pulling the strings, but before the tuning has stabilized, the apex of the saddle break angle may migrate off the saddle peak into the sounding length of the string as the string is tuned up while the string pitch / tension relationship is still becoming stable. That deformation of the string is normal if it sits on the saddle peak, but if subsequent tuning and / or intonation adjustments move the little deformation into the sounding length of the string, it can cause tone problems if you play clean, may alter harmonics, intonation itself.

I never stretch out new strings; I just play them in beginning the next day, waiting until tuning is stable before adjusting intonation.

[Rickco]

Im an old guy and thought the idea was ridiculous (thought the same thing about electronic tuners when they came out) now I rarely tune without one. A friend was raving about locking tuners, I asked him if he was worried about some one stealing his strings.... fast forward...now all my gits have locking tuners including my prewar archies, I happily took off the Waverlys or whatever originals and would never go back, was carefull to put originals in case pocket and no new holes in headstock. So far Ive used Sperzel, Grover, Hipshot and Gotoh they all work great on any string from med to heavy round or flat bronze or nickel. Fast easy string changes and I dont wrap and get instant tuning stability even with my Sacconi tp. I started playing gigs in the '60s and had no trouble tuning or changing strings, now that Im retired Im perfecting laziness!!!

[Mick-7]

I have a Telecaster with locking tuners and a removable whammy bar on it. The locking tuners help keep the guitar in tune if I'm using the whammy bar, but if l'm not using it, I could do without them, they don't make a difference.

now that Im retired Im perfecting laziness!!

Watch out, another word for perfect laziness is death, and as far as I know, there are no locking tuners to save you from it.

[Rickco]

In heaven everyone plays their fantasy guitar which never goes out of tune, has magic strings that last forever and you play like you want, if perfect laziness is the practice run Im in.

[Oscar67]

Strictly for jazz, soundwise I hear no advantage of locking tuners nor do I detect more stable tuning. Otherwise, I think locking tuners are fantastic and they rule the roost.

• Even with reading glasses it’s getting harder to neatly wrap strings around a non-locking post. Locking is so much easier, just guide it through the post, tighten it, done.
• Which means string changes are faster and easier.
• For anything involving bending or trem work, locking tuners are a no-brainer. The guitar stays in tune effortlessly.
• I can even keep used strings that are still good and rotate between various used gauges and brands, depending on what the music needs. I’ve had sets that have been on and off the guitar four or five times before issues arose. I can switch from used-but-still-good TI’s to regular 11s or vv within minutes.

[WillsJazz]

No need. My guitars stay in tune. If they don't then there's another issue that needs to be addressed.

[Adam C.]

YEY!
Fast string changing, great tuning stability.