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Hey,

What would you guys suggest as far as locking tuners go? I mean quality, stability, durability, etc. I'm looking at the Schallers, Grovers, Planet Waves, and Sperzels.

Any ideas?

i just got grovers for my acoustic and couldn't be happier.

I have a set of grover mini rotomatic locking tuners on my custom strat and ibanez, and there are both of supreme quality, with amazing smoothness and micro-adjustment ratio 18:1, they make changing strings a breeeze cause they lock the string in the post before you start tuning to pitch. ( no more holding the string while tuning) They also have a lifetime gaurantee. I haven't tried any of the others.

I have locking Grovers on my LP, they are solid and reliable, work great.

I have had both Grovers and Spertzels on previous guitars. Both worked great, but I prefer Grovers because they look traditional.

I'm using Grovers now and love them. Easy to install and they work great.

How well does the automatic locking feature work on the Grovers? Is re-stringing just like normal locking tuners, except there's no screw to turn?

I think they all make good locking tuners. I'd probably go with the schallers myself, but it's more for cosmetic reasons than anything. Just remember that some of them may be a different size than your stock tuners so you may have to ream the holes out or fill them and redrill.


Originally Posted by Jag513How well does the automatic locking feature work on the Grovers? Is re-stringing just like normal locking tuners, except there's no screw to turn?

It's easy, you thread the stirng through, start to tune up (the post will lock the string first, then tune up), and you're done!


Originally Posted by rinse_masterIt's easy, you thread the stirng through, start to tune up (the post will lock the string first, then tune up), and you're done!

yup. its that easy. that's why i love them.


Originally Posted by JacksonMIAI think they all make good locking tuners. I'd probably go with the schallers myself, but it's more for cosmetic reasons than anything. Just remember that some of them may be a different size than your stock tuners so you may have to ream the holes out or fill them and redrill.

Besides the peghole diameter, what other measurements are required? My Schecter has Grover non-locking tuners as it is, and they require 10 mm diameter pegholes, as do all the locking tuners (except the PW - they don't say).

I prefer Sperzels because the different design (Instead of a screw-in collar it´s a screw-on collar) holds the shaft more stably, further improving tuning stability. I also find the thumbscrew easier to grip and lock than the screws on others or some of the wierd mechanisms (PRS/Schaller tuners being a notable exception)....My personal favorite tuner.

But if cosmetics or vintage are an issue, there are locking tuners on the market to retrofit practically any guitar withoug modification.


Originally Posted by Jag513Besides the peghole diameter, what other measurements are required? My Schecter has Grover non-locking tuners as it is, and they require 10 mm diameter pegholes, as do all the locking tuners (except the PW - they don't say).Since you have Grovers in there now, they'll probably fit fine. However to be sure, check on the Stew-Mac website, they show diagrams illustrating all the measurements. Mine fit my '61 LP/SG reissue perfectly. The locking ones have a longer shaft.

For those guys who need locking tuners a vintage stratocaster with kluson style tuners, I'd recommend the Gotoh locking tuners. The only inconvenience is that a coin is required to unscrew the head of the tuner. Apart from that, they look vintage and work extremely well.


Originally Posted by Jag513Besides the peghole diameter, what other measurements are required? My Schecter has Grover non-locking tuners as it is, and they require 10 mm diameter pegholes, as do all the locking tuners (except the PW - they don't say).

I put Sperzels on my Schecter C1 , and just had to drill the small hole for the set pin. The hole in the headstock was already the correct size.

I put Sperzels in my Strat, and I couldn't be happier with the quality. Zerberus's comment above is right on the money.

I've got Schallers on my Legacy. Just the small set pin hole needed drilling. They've been great. Had Sperzels on my old Yammies, they worked well too.

I've tried sperzels, schallers, and grovers.

Sperzels are probably my favorite, they feel real smooth, have a nice modern look to em, and the string lock mechanism feels real solid.

Schallers are cool tuners too, though on some of my axes the lock mechanism can get stuck before it tightens all the way, not a huge problem, but enough to be irritating. They're real smooth in tuning though, probably even better than the sperzels.

The grovers honestly I don't care for too much. It just seems to me like the posts are far too tall, at least taller than the standard non-locking grovers. it somewhat defeats the purpose of a tilt-back headstock, and i can imagine it might cause some problems on a strat-style headstock. The unwound strings tend to slip a little bit in them as well, though that mostly only happens when you first start to tune up. However, it has happened to me occasionally while i've been playing.

Positives though, they're real smooth, great feeling tuners, and if you've already got grovers ya dont have to drill for new tuners.

I almost installed a set of planet waves locking tuners in one of my guitars, but had to return them cause I needed a 6-in-line and they gave me a 3X3. One thing I noticed on the negative is that the lock mechanism comes out of the tuner when you unscrew it. Not so much of a problem if you're careful, but if you lose it you're f***ed.

my .02

*edit*: Though, after looking at the ad on the stew mac website, it seems their grovers have somewhat shorter shafts than mine. maybe a new design? I dunno.

Thanks for the info guys. Has anyone used the Planet Waves? Comments on those?

Krank, I know what you mean about the Grovers being a bit tall. I put a set on my Hamer and I noticed that the post holes were a tiny bit higher than they used to be with the stock Schallers. The difference is very small, and I don't notice any problems with having slightly less pressure over the nut. But still, I could see them being too tall to work well on guitars that didn't have a tilt-back headstock. They do work very well though, and they maintain a stock look which is nice if you don't want a thumbwheel on the back of the tuner.

I also have a set of Schallers on my Strat, and I really like them. I recommend them when you need locking tuners in a 6-inline configuration. Go with the staggered height models because they completely eliminate the need for string trees. They are opposite from the Grovers in the sense that they are actually fairly short. On the tuners for the G, B, and high E strings, the string hole just barely clears the face of the headstock, which is why you don't need any string trees. I tried to put a 3x3 set on my Hamer, but they were too short. So keep that in mind if you have a 3x3 guitar. They hold their tune very well, the only drawback is the look of the thumbwheel if you're bothered by that sort of thing.

I've heard good things about the Sperzels, but I've never tried them because I prefer the higher gear ratios of the Schallers and Grovers. As for the Planet Waves models, I've heard mixed reviews. The built-in string cutter is a brilliant idea, but I've also heard that they aren't built as solidly as the other brands. I've never tired them myself, so I can't really comment on that one way or another.

Ryan