Favorite Tuning Heads?

[jwc574]

What tuning heads do you all prefer? I have to pick some for my Special build (just using the standard heads from my SG right now) I figured I'd pick your brains. Someone here said Neil Young switched to Shaller M-6's on Old Black so I'm kind of leaning toward those (though I do realize he's rarely in tune!)
IMG_5067.jpg

[treddingjr]

1. Grover kidney beans
2. Grover keystones
3. Kluson Single line keystone heads
IMHO

[xsouldriverx]

im going to try out some sperzels trim-lock soon so ill let you how those go.
Sperzel Locking Tuners
look through that site and you can see the sperzels have a lot of options

[TheWellGoodShow]

Grover Imperials.

[jwc574]

Thanks for the input. I am curious about those sperzels

[xsouldriverx]

if you call the guy he will help you out a hell of a lot. he is really nice and talkative(in a good way though) i had a 30 min conversation with him when he called to confirm my order. he also carries hipshots but he uses sperzels on his own instruments

[John Catto]

On a Les Paul (or anything else really)

For Function:

The new Grover 18/1 Cam Locking tuners. Look like a stock set of Grover Kidney Kidney Beans, work amazingly, NO hideous locking knobs on the back, restring a guitar in like 2 minutes. Wish they came in Nickel though.

Grover Full-size Locking Tuning Machines at Stewart-MacDonald




For tradition:

Gotoh Kluson types, they're OK... If you can find the old ESP branded ones you don't even need to change the buttons.

For other stuff:

The new 18/1 Grover Sta-Tite reissue. Open bck, look cool, work FANTASTIC with a great damped feel. I really wish Grover would make a "Kluson-A-Like" with the same construction, that would be great.

Grover 18:1 Sta-Tites at Stewart-MacDonald

[xsouldriverx]

was looking into the grovers first but i heard not soo good things about their locking tuners. so i looked into sperzel and schallers. sperzels won out b/c of the options (i got a d-thing for the low E so i can flip a lever and be in drop d tuning) and the hole size is more common. they also had satin black and grovers locking didnt come in the black nickel (black nickel looked so good) the only downfall of the sperzels is that they come in 12:1 and not the prefered 18:1

[bigdaddy496]

i read that sperzels dont match up to our headstocks properly


i would love some lockers

[krokodyl]

Erm... I like standard shaped tuning heads (like on the strat) on all guitars. LP also

[xsouldriverx]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy496

i read that sperzels dont match up to our headstocks properly

well im using sperzels on a build so i can drill the holes to fit right, but yeah if youre replacing i would look for whats the same size (or bigger) then choose. i know you can plug the holes and redrill but i think thats a bit too much work for a tuner change.

[st.bede]

pwat.jpg planet waves auto-trim....

I have them on my LP and one day all my guitars will have them...I have read slightly mixed reviews (1/4 bad at most) but, I love them and have had no problems what so ever...(I do have to admit the new Grover 18/1 Cam Locking tuners look pretty nice comparitivly
)

[bigdaddy496]

i want some that lock and i dont have to do anything but put them in, not reroute the holes or any crazy stuff, just simple install.

[st.bede]

Originally Posted by st.bede

Attachment 3367 planet waves auto-trim....

I have them on my LP and one day all my guitars will have them...I have read slightly mixed reviews (1/4 bad at most) but, I love them and have had no problems what so ever...(I do have to admit the new Grover 18/1 Cam Locking tuners look pretty nice comparitivly
)

I just learned that if you pull on the string very hard it will pull out with the planet waves....I had to pull it up close to the tunners and with more force then if I was streaching out a string...(one person I respect says this is enough for him not to use them but I do feel different). I just wanted to update my post so, people can know this before goimg with the waves...

[ehamady6]

I just put the chrome full-size Grover 18/1 Cam Locking tuners (ordered from Stew-Mac) on my black Gibson LP Custom. They perfectly dropped right in and took only 15 minutes to install. (Note that the tuner holes in an Epi's headstock may have to be enlarged a tad to accomodate them.) The cam automatically locks the string down so you don't have to use finger wheels to do the locking. The Grover locking system is self-contained so the tuners look identical to "regular non-lockers", keeping the look and aesthetic intact. String changes are a snap now and there is only half of 1 string wrap on each post. I rarely stretch my strings and they stay in tune. The Grovers are one of the best (and simplest) mods I've made in conjunction with my locking TonePros bridge and tailpiece. To me, the word "locking" means stability and sustain.

[LeadGuitarMtl]

The new TonePros 33's with the bolt-on bushings, best tuners I have ever had...ever.

[NeoConMan]

Originally Posted by ehamady6

I just put the chrome full-size Grover 18/1 Cam Locking tuners (ordered from Stew-Mac) on my black Gibson LP Custom. They perfectly dropped right in and took only 15 minutes to install.
String changes are a snap now and there is only half of 1 string wrap on each post.

I love Grovers anyway, these sound like the ticket!
I don't mind the knobs on the back of the tuners (Schallers on my Strats) but if they are that clean and work that well, I'll be adding them to a few of my Gibsons.
Maybe my EDS-1275 double neck.....

[ausmatt]

Grovers.

[kspeed]

Originally Posted by ehamady6

I just put the chrome full-size Grover 18/1 Cam Locking tuners (ordered from Stew-Mac) on my black Gibson LP Custom. They perfectly dropped right in and took only 15 minutes to install. (Note that the tuner holes in an Epi's headstock may have to be enlarged a tad to accomodate them.) The cam automatically locks the string down so you don't have to use finger wheels to do the locking. The Grover locking system is self-contained so the tuners look identical to "regular non-lockers", keeping the look and aesthetic intact. String changes are a snap now and there is only half of 1 string wrap on each post. I rarely stretch my strings and they stay in tune. The Grovers are one of the best (and simplest) mods I've made in conjunction with my locking TonePros bridge and tailpiece. To me, the word "locking" means stability and sustain.

So the screwhole lines up perfectly with the stock vintage style tuners (which have one screw hole up top and another on the bottom)? If so that sounds like the ticket - sometimes it's a PITA to find gold locking tuners that'll fit that style.

[JasonC]

I've definitely always loved the solidity/smoothness of Grovers. I might have to give those locking once a shot, they sound pretty nice!

[asmith9509]

I just put a set of Gotoh 16:1 keystones on my '80 LP Custom. Not locking, but much better ratio than the crappy stock tuners and no slop whatsoever. They're very good- not quite as smooth as the Grovers that came on my Taylor, but a big improvement over factory. Plus- they are indistinguishable from the factory tuners cosmetically, which was important to me with a semi-vintage (read: collectable) instrument.

[Deftone]

I have locking Grovers on two LP's, Schallers on my Strat and Sperzels on one more LP. I think I like the Sperzels the best. The Grovers stick up too high on the top of the peg head. The Sperzels sit low and are easy to use.

[kluson]

only one answer for me! Easy