Locking tuners, getting in tune.

[GlenP]

Halfway there… pretty much a drop in.
Their mounting screws are a little bit longer, but I did not need to drill the existing holes any deeper. Holes are close enough. The knobs are quite a bit larger than the stock mini knobs, but that makes it easier for me to work with.

 

[GlenP]

And all six installed, pretty easy process. The screw holes were not perfectly lined up, but close enough that they did not need to be filled and redrilled. I think these will do just fine.





FYI: Kluson model KCDL-3-G

 

[Merc]

And all six installed, pretty easy process. The screw holes were not perfectly lined up, but close enough that they did not need to be filled and redrilled. I think these will do just fine.


View attachment 207973

View attachment 207974

Looks absolutely perfect on it.

 

[GlenP]

Still considering if I want to put lockers on my 12-string Gretsch or not.

Here is one more full-frontal picture of the Gretsch with the new full-size locking tuners on.

(The Laurel fretboards on these look fine, but with some colors, like this Arctic White, I like the contrast of a darker stained board. So, this one got the India Ink treatment, and I like how it turned out.)

 

[JB5410]

I put a set of Grover 406 mini rotomatic tuners on my G5657T (basically a G5655T) when I had it. That style of Grover didn't 'lock' by winding a separate knob on the bottom of the tuner, and I found that I still needed at least a full wind or two. I know that's antithetical to the purpose of proper locking tuners, but I mainly wanted those Grovers to get the 18:1 gear ratio, as opposed to the stock 14:1 ratio, which made it nearly impossible to get the G to the accurate pitch.
I swapped the G5657T for a G5410T recently, and I've been fine with the tuning stability of the stock, open-back 18:1. But as others have said, if you do a lot of string changes, it goes way faster with locking tuners, so in that case it's probably worth getting Klusons or other nicer ones than I'd tried initially.

 

[GlenP]

I put a set of Grover 406 mini rotomatic tuners on my G5657T (basically a G5655T) when I had it. That style of Grover didn't 'lock' by winding a separate knob on the bottom of the tuner, and I found that I still needed at least a full wind or two. I know that's antithetical to the purpose of proper locking tuners, but I mainly wanted those Grovers to get the 18:1 gear ratio, as opposed to the stock 14:1 ratio, which made it nearly impossible to get the G to the accurate pitch.
I swapped the G5657T for a G5410T recently, and I've been fine with the tuning stability of the stock, open-back 18:1. But as others have said, if you do a lot of string changes, it goes way faster with locking tuners, so in that case it's probably worth getting Klusons or other nicer ones than I'd tried initially.

I was also considering those Grover 406 auto-locking tuners, nothing wrong with a wrap or two. But I had been “watching” several options in Reverb, and the one seller sent me a discounted offer for the Klusons, and those have a 19:1 ratio, so I decided on those. They are convenient, but it takes a bigger budget for two sets of those on a 12 string, so I may have to save up some mad money twice as long for my 12 string.

PS- welcome to the forum!

 

[cielski]

I've never found a need for lockers. YMMV.

 

[Henry]

If you're worried about hurting yourself on cut strings, you can leave a little extra on the end and bend and crimp it with needle nose pliers so it's not pokey.

 

[GlenP]

This is the one I have been working up to, my Electromatic 12 string. After having installed tuners on a few six strings, this was not as daunting as I had feared. I wanted to try out some different brands and styles, this one got the Grover 406G that auto lock. Very similar to the stock tuners, drop in swap out. The Grover’s have some unique markings on them, they have nothing to do with the position or string, they are machine/tool identifiers for their quality control purposes. That was a little confusing at first when the two sets I got had very different letters and numbers, but no worries.

 

[GlenP]

Before, the back looks about the same, the new ones say GROVER.

Lots of string on the pegs so that I could reuse them, just used a capo to hold them in place.




After, nice and tidy. The through holes are slightly off center so I think it does not kink the string as much. The auto-lock feature works really well. Most are tuned to pitch in about a quarter turn, some maybe 3/4 of a turn around the peg for the lighter gages. Very happy with it.



Stringing up conventional tuners is not that hard, but when you are removing strings with a locking wrap, that can spring back and stick you in the side of your finger or thumb, and that is no fun. Looking forward to the next changes when removing the strings will be easier and I won’t have to give a big enough sample for a Theranos blood test.

 

[Telechamp]

I put some Hipshot locking tuners on my 2015 Gibson Les Paul Special Doublecut (replacing the stock G-Force robo tuners), and I really like them a lot. Fantastic tuners..

 

[thunder58]

Before, the back looks about the same, the new ones say GROVER.
View attachment 209144
Lots of string on the pegs so that I could reuse them, just used a capo to hold them in place.

View attachment 209145


After, nice and tidy. The through holes are slightly off center so I think it does not kink the string as much. The auto-lock feature works really well. Most are tuned to pitch in about a quarter turn, some maybe 3/4 of a turn around the peg for the lighter gages. Very happy with it.

View attachment 209146

Stringing up conventional tuners is not that hard, but when you are removing strings with a locking wrap, that can spring back and stick you in the side of your finger or thumb, and that is no fun. Looking forward to the next changes when removing the strings will be easier and I won’t have to give a big enough sample for a Theranos blood test.

I was waiting for the 12 ..... it looks great

 

[GlenP]

I was waiting for the 12 ..... it looks great

Thanks! I really like these auto lockers.

I was seriously considering the GraphTech Ratio locking tuners, but two sets of those on one guitar just got too rich for my blood!

 

[GlenP]

I decided to replace the HipShot tuner buttons with their D05 butter bean knobs, they sell many different types that are easy to swap out. These just look more traditional on the Tele I think.

 

[GlenP]

One of these came with locking tuners from the factory, the ESP/Ltd Deluxe EC-1000 in the middle. The rest all were recently upgraded to locking tuners, Hipshot, Fender, Kluson, Grover. Latest upgrade is the GraphTech Ratio locking tuners on the Les Paul.

 

[thunder58]

@GlenP , I've never noticed your " signature truss rod covers " before . Very nice ... classy touch
( local guy or internet order ? )

 

[Danno]

@GlenP , I've never noticed your " signature truss rod covers " before . Very nice ... classy touch
( local guy or internet order ? )

Not sure where Glen got his. I got my signature truss rod cover from:

Custom Guitar parts - Truss Rod Covers - Page 1 - Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC

We offer full color and engraved truss rod covers for many makes and models.

www.philadelphialuthiertools.com

My signature is too messy so I opted for a script font than my actual signature

 

[GlenP]

@GlenP , I've never noticed your " signature truss rod covers " before . Very nice ... classy touch
( local guy or internet order ? )

Thanks! I had them made at a local trophy shop. I used to get a bunch of Cub Scout pinewood derby trophies from there back when I was a scout leader and my kid was younger. He did the gold plates too.