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Post by kc on Sept 8, 2019 12:18:09 GMT -7
I'm considering changing the tuners on my Strat - it's the Clapton model and it has vintage type tuners. They won't stay in tune long enough (to suit me). With the present tuners I've made sure to kink the string at the post when putting it on, sometimes I've wrapped-over-the-top, and have always stretched them adequately after putting strings on.
There's got to be a better solution - locking tuners. I'm seeking your experienced recommendation. First and most important is that they work well to stay in tune. A secondary consideration is ease of installation, meaning minimal drilling into headstock. Thanks in advance.
Edit: Duh! I should have added - the Strat has the tremolo blocked, it has never been unblocked.
kc
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2019 12:19:50 GMT -7
Has your guitar been set up by a pro recently? There's a lot of considerations to keeping a guitar in tune, especially a Stratocaster.
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Post by kc on Sept 8, 2019 13:21:44 GMT -7
Has your guitar been set up by a pro recently? There's a lot of considerations to keeping a guitar in tune, especially a Stratocaster. It was setup by a pro when I had it re-fretted about a year ago. Since then I've only changed strings every couple of gigs using the same gauge. kc
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Post by shiner51 on Sept 8, 2019 14:08:00 GMT -7
Hipshot makes locking tuners for strats and Teles with a mounting plate that requires no drilling and is completely reversible if you decide to sell the guitar.
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Post by ss "Shane" on Sept 8, 2019 18:48:36 GMT -7
If your set on locking tuners then I’d recommend the fender locking tuners. Their as good as any in my opinion. No drilling, just throw em on.
Personally, my favorite tuners are the vintage tuners. I think some people call them ping tuners...anyway, its the tuners that came on the model guitar you have. I’ve never experienced locking tuners out performing the vintage ones. Lots of times a nut not being cut right can actually pull your strings out of tune. This is generally detected by the guitar getting too sharp as opposed to becoming flat when getting out of tune. If this is your problem then no kind of tuner, locking or vintage, will correct this problem.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Sept 8, 2019 19:47:18 GMT -7
I’ve got the Hipshots and the Fender locking tuners. Bought both of them staggered. I like not requiring a string tree.
They are both excellent and work well. The Hipshots are more mechanically advanced and are as smooth as butter. It almost seems too easy to tun the keys. The Fenders work well but don’t have that ease of use that the Hipshots do. I think you‘d be happy with either set. Good luck!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2019 5:39:26 GMT -7
If your set on locking tuners then I’d recommend the fender locking tuners. Their as good as any in my opinion. No drilling, just throw em on. Personally, my favorite tuners are the vintage tuners. I think some people call them ping tuners...anyway, its the tuners that came on the model guitar you have. I’ve never experienced locking tuners out performing the vintage ones. Lots of times a nut not being cut right can actually pull your strings out of tune. This is generally detected by the guitar getting too sharp as opposed to becoming flat when getting out of tune. If this is your problem then no kind of tuner, locking or vintage, will correct this problem. Yep.
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Post by kc on Sept 9, 2019 6:10:59 GMT -7
Thanks for all the input, this is exactly what I was hoping for. Doing a little online reading, it seems many say that locking tuners don't really improve tuning stability, they really only allow for faster string changes. Some folks, however, do say that locking tuners improve tuning stability. Many pointed to the nut as key to tuning stability, so I may consider either getting a new nut or possibly using something to give it greater lubrication. Although, the strings go flat, not sharp. What sayest thou?
kc
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Post by gbowman on Sept 9, 2019 9:46:45 GMT -7
I used the Fender locking tuners on my strat. I think they help tuning a bit, but as mentioned above, there are other factors. I had a better nut added and changed the string tree. (http://www.dynaguide.nl)
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Post by Jefferson on Sept 9, 2019 10:17:51 GMT -7
my experience over the last couple of years is that I have to spend more time than I used to in stretching out my strings prior to gigging them. Not sure why. Maybe I used to spend more hours playing and the strings just naturally stretched out. Perhaps trying some different strings could be a worthwhile experiment.
FWIW, I do believe that 99% of tuning problems are nut related and not tuner related.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Sept 9, 2019 11:36:34 GMT -7
Any time a string is wound upon itself it will, according to the laws of physics, not be as stable as a string that does not. All that said, nuts ARE the biggest culprits to tuning instability.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Sept 9, 2019 11:50:02 GMT -7
Thanks for all the input, this is exactly what I was hoping for. Doing a little online reading, it seems many say that locking tuners don't really improve tuning stability, they really only allow for faster string changes. Some folks, however, do say that locking tuners improve tuning stability. Many pointed to the nut as key to tuning stability, so I may consider either getting a new nut or possibly using something to give it greater lubrication. Although, the strings go flat, not sharp. What sayest thou? kc I sayest that you're definitely barking up the right tree. I occasionally like locking tuners here & there but I don't perceive them to help/hurt tuning problems vs. non-locking tuners as long as they're restrung/wound properly. Now, binding issues as the string goes through the nut, however--now there's a real common problem area on lots of guitars. Most people will recommend Big Bends Nut Sauce but I still use Rene Martinez GraphitAll which, as far as I can tell, is practically the same chemical product just different brand. Just the tiniest dab on each nut slot and on the saddles while restringing (I also "floss" it in with a leftover string piece) and you've done your job. I also hit the underside of my string tree, just to be thorough.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2019 5:28:01 GMT -7
In the studio over the years I have watched people struggle with keeping their instruments in tune. Almost every time I eventually asked for a break and carefully restrung and stretched the strings myself for the client and the problems were gone.
The one time that did not work was with a client playing an SG. After changing his strings the problems persisted. I played the guitar myself and there was no problem, gave it back to the guy and there were the tuning problems again. Finally played the guitar my self again Standing Up like the client and saw that the mere laying of my right forearm of the guitar was pulling it out of tune.
Locking tuners wouldn't have helped that one either!
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Post by Rhythmark on Sept 10, 2019 5:57:31 GMT -7
Locking tuners are a must have !! Even just for simplicity! No string winding!
The nut cant be too tight on the strings either.
I have a strat , tremolo floating.’I can use the bar and stay in tune. Its in the whole set up that makes it work. Cant have any part of the strings bind.
Lube areas needed.
But locking tuners are on all my guitars! I love them!
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Post by Rhythmark on Sept 10, 2019 6:04:05 GMT -7
If your string are going flat they are stretching.
Ill say it again locking tuners are worth the price To me. It takes the string wind out of the problem.
Nut is #1 culprit. Nut file the slots a tad wider.
I know how to set up a strat. Do it right and you won’t be out of tune all the time. Im a string bender and trem user. And my strat pops right back on track.
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Post by kc on Sept 10, 2019 7:06:29 GMT -7
Thanks again for all the replies. I'm going to use some lubrication on the nut (graphite from a pencil!) next string change and see if that makes it any better. Failing that - Roscoe, could you show up at the Chagrin Falls FOE hall this Friday at about 6 and change the strings on my Strat? I'm buying drinks and dinner!
kc
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2019 7:09:07 GMT -7
Thanks again for all the replies. I'm going to use some lubrication on the nut (graphite from a pencil!) next string change and see if that makes it any better. Failing that - Roscoe, could you show up at the Chagrin Falls FOE hall this Friday at about 6 and change the strings on my Strat? I'm buying drinks and dinner! kc Ha! Made me look up Chagrin Falls!
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Sept 10, 2019 9:35:06 GMT -7
Thanks again for all the replies. I'm going to use some lubrication on the nut (graphite from a pencil!) next string change and see if that makes it any better. Failing that - Roscoe, could you show up at the Chagrin Falls FOE hall this Friday at about 6 and change the strings on my Strat? I'm buying drinks and dinner! kc Nut sauce is also a very good product. Good for nuts, saddles, string trees or anything that touches the strings.
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