software

going through all sorts of sites looking for tuners i see pretty much the same description on all of them and most are like 12:1 14:1 i looked into LSR's ( 40:1 i think ) but i kinda would like a step down from that..any suggestions ?

Depends on the application. My new project is getting Schaller locking tuners @ 14:1 IIRC. My Les has 14:1 Grovers. They both operate smoothly and allow for slightly finer tuning (in theroy) personaly I don't know if I can tell the differance between 12:1 and 14:1. The 40:1 well thats really picky (But i'm going to try them anyway ). I've seen several Gotoh's @ 16:1 and other brands @ 18:1. Any good quality tuner should do you fine. My recomendation is whatever you choose go Locking.

Locking Grovers are 18:1. That's the finest ratio I've seen without going to LSR's or Steinbergers.

I have a set of LSR's and they are really sweet. I love the design of them.

I hope this isn't a thread hijack, but since we're on the subject of tuners . . .

. . . what exactly, do locking tuners do for me? Are they a quot;must havequot;?
Are they a matter of tuning stability, convenience, both?

Thanks.
Artie

yea i definately want locking tuners i do realize its probably beyond picky to worry about but i hate having more string around my tuners than i need..plus i need my guitar body-heavy and hey..every little bit i can shave off ( excess string in cluded ) from the neck / headstock well thats a for me haha


Originally Posted by ArtieTooI hope this isn't a thread hijack, but since we're on the subject of tuners . . .

. . . what exactly, do locking tuners do for me? Are they a quot;must havequot;?
Are they a matter of tuning stability, convenience, both?

Thanks.
ArtiePull the string through, lock it down, and tune.

With locking tuners, you take away almost all of the stored slack that's on the tuner, giving you better tuning stability when used with trems or string benders (or if you yank on your strings like Albert King ).

They make life with a trem much easier, and add some mass to the headstock, making the tone a bit thicker and more direct.

If you're going for a truly vintage sound from your Lester, Strat, or Tele, locking tuners aren't for you. gotoh makes some very nice Kluson copies if that's the tone you're looking for.

If you have a strat or a tele with some tuning issues and you would like to make it sound a bit thicker and bigger, get a nicely cut bone or graphite nut and a dd a set of locking Schallers, Sperzels, or Grovers.

I'm getting ready to put a set of the locking Grovers on my Les to increase the tunning stability and to speed up string changes. I'm going to get mine from stewmac (, so far thats the cheapest I have found them.

also thanks alot for pointing out the grover locking tuners..this is EXACTLY what i was looking for

I have both Grovers and Schallers, and both are excellent. Locking tuners eliminate the need to wrap the strings around the post. Even if you know how to properly wrap strings, it's easy to accidentally do it incorrectly and not realize it. Locking tuners can have the string up to pitch with half a wrap or so, eliminating the tuning problems that are associated with multiple wraps. There's also a convenience factor, as you can change strings faster and easier with locking tuners.

Having said that, the nut is a cause of tuning problems more often than many people realize. I highly recommend Earvana nuts, they have all the desireable properties of a graphite nut, and they make a huge difference in intonation. I have them on two guitars, and both guitars are in 100% perfect tuning (or very, very close to it) at every point on the fretboard when checked with a strobe tuner.

Ryan

I've had Grovers, Kluson and some random stuff before, but my favorites right now are the Gotoh locking tuners that are on my Grosh. Really fast and easy to use and they never slip, I wish all my guitars had them (I'm too lazy to change them out).