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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I need some opinions from you guys. I want to replace the tuning machines on my electric tacoma papoose. Nice guitar, great sound (the offspring of telecaster mated to a mandoline), but due to the amplification and short scale length I can really notice it getting out of tune as I play. It bothers me. I believe it has cheap Gotohs on it. Normally, I'd get Grover Sta-tites, however, the holes in the headstock are 10mm. The headstock is about 14mm thick (about .5") so I'm looking for something else.
I'd like to know what you think about locking tuners like
Schaller Mini Locking Tuners
or
Planet Waves Auto Trim
From Warmoth
Do these tuners stink? Do you know better ones?
Thanks
PS You guys have given me great advice on capos (I wound up with a shubb) and on pick-ups (I got a bill lawrence, and it made my tele sound great) |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The Schaller minis are nice tuners. Have never tried the others that you mentioned. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Stephan,
Are they nice, or do they hold their tune? The gotohs my axe came with are annoying. On a cosmetic basis my inclination is to go with the schaller's. And 48 bucks is the right price for me.
Stienberger's stuff is well designed. But I'm like you, I know no one who is using them. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Well, it has been a while and I no longer have the guitar, but it seems to me that I was quite satisfied with them.....but I would guess it might depend on how "aggressive" you are with your playing.
Since I started using a single wind around the peghead and then giving them one or two good stretches, 90% of my tuning issues have gone away.
I think that improper stringing (such as 3-5 winds of the string around the peghead) attribute to more tuning issues that bad tuners slipping. |
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November 2004
Posts: 382
Location: USA | Personally I do not favor locking tuners...but thats just my opinion.
Had them on my electric...took em off.
My celeb was going out of tune...I replaced the tuners with grovers...
money well worth spent...
http://www.myspace.com/styllheartandsoul |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | the schaller minis are very nice. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I like the fewer rounds idea. I generally do 3 or 4, which is not a problem on the Adamas schallers. OK, string change and then play for an hour. Will give a report. |
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Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | I am watching to see what answer Skinny has. My Papoose goes out of tune easily as well. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Make sure that you lock the string properly when you do the single wind.
Here is a good picture that shows the proper way to change them.
Changing Strings |
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Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Wilkinson has a new type of tuner also.
Example
Of the locking tuners I've tryed (Sperzel, Schaller & Planet Waves), I like the Planet Waves best. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | in Dan Erlwine's book there's a picture of B.B. King's Lucille with the entire string wound round the post... the full length
Erlwine says that's BB's preference and he never goes out of tune.
Go figure. |
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Posts: 382
Location: USA | Ever see some of Michael Schenkers??? haha nothing like a few feet of string....
I used to have my strings like that until i almost poked an eye out...
http://www.myspace.com/styllheartandsoul |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I tried new strings, dean marlkey, cryogenic cl's, (the old ones were daddario 120's) and made sure to use a locking loop when I put the strings on, and only put on two wraps around the post. At low volume the problem seems to have disappeared. After I get a chance to play loud, I'll report back.
I wish all my problems were solved this simply.
PS Never had an issue with string winding on schallers |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
Erlwine says that's BB's preference and he never goes out of tune.
Go figure. Listen to his live stuff. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I'm surprised that two wraps and a different set of strings can make a difference. Problem is, now I've got a jones for locking tuners. Unless when I play tonight, the thing stays in rock solid tune, I'm gonna have to give into temptation and get new tuners. Pray for me guys. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I've been using the technique that Stephen posted a link to for a year and staying in tune is not a problem anymore. On the wound strings, sometimes I don't even have a full wrap around the post - that under-wrap locks it right in place. And I play pretty hard sometimes... |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Stephan,
I have to agree with you on BB. You'll notice he never plays chords. He never sings and plays at the same time. Those string bends and trills are his way of swinging back into tune. That said, I love how he plays and wish I had just a touch of his talent. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | an4340,
I know it is difficult to believe that you don't need multiple winds, but once you break the habit you will see that a single wrap is sufficient. Even just having 2 wraps like you did might lead to a little slippage.
Like Waskel, sometimes I don't even have a full wind but the tuning stays rock solid.....it does take a little practice to do it properly and confidently.
Locking tuners seem like an easy fix but why spend the extra money.
Ditto the BB comments. |
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November 2003
Posts: 56
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma | I just installed Planet Waves Auto-Trim/Lock tuning machines on my Ibanez RG solid-body last night. It's my project guitar (converted from trem to hardtail, 2 of 3 pickups replaced, new nut). All it needs now is a new paint job.
Back to the tuning machines: I had rave recommendations for the Planet Waves from a friend who's used them for some time. So far (only 24 hours), they're holding the tuning beautifully. They feel very secure. I don't have any concerns regarding their quality or performance, but I'm just not certain I'm as confident, yet, without a couple of wraps around the post. I can see them being extremely useful for quick string changes, but I almost always change strings at my leisure, at home, so that's not much of an issue for me. It was kind of cool, not needing any wire nippers.
I got them at a pretty good price from MusiciansFriend, then found that Elderly had them $10 cheaper. That was 3-4 weeks ago. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Tim,
You and I think alike. I love those RG Ibanez, and the RGA's are even better. I especially like the RGA 121, one of the best guitars I've ever played. Period. Which RG do you have?
I gave into temptation and bought the Planet - Waves tuners yesterday. I'm putting them in tomorrow. I hope they work. As for price I paid $48 dollars including tax at Guitar Center. I found an ebay store that sold them for $45 and went to GC and asked them to match it. They did. Holding their tune for 24 hours is awesome. I hope my luck is as good as yours. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Tim,
What did you use to cover up the holes for the old tuners?
As it stands now, I'll either use plastic wood, or a small dowel or toothpick and elmers. Or a combination of the two. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | My luck held out. I can recommend the Planet Waves auto-trim tuners for anyone who wants to replace their crappy tuners. You'll love the string cutting feature and the 18:1 tuning ratio. There's no way I'll change my schallers. They still work great on my Adamas and Country artist. Cheers. |
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November 2004
Posts: 382
Location: USA | I agree...I only do a 3/4 wrap....almost a full...the only time the strings really go out is when its time to change them...
http://www.myspace.com/styllheartandsoul |
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OT:Replace Tuning Machines-Opinions
