I can see where some locking-tuners, on some guitars, could cause less down-pressure over the nut; that could be detrimental. But that can be addressed when choosing just which locking tuners to use and during their installation.

I just saw this on Scott Henderson's forum. Here's his view on locking tuners. The question is in regards to keeping your guitar in tune.
Henderson Forum
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First, put Sperzel locking tuners on your guitar - that helps a lot. When you use regular tuners and the three low strings are wrapped around the posts more than once, the ridges on the strings can hang up on each other and prevent the string from returning to pitch. Sperzel tuners also improve the tone of the guitar. I've compared their tone to Klusons and Fender tuners on the same guitar and Sperzels definitely sound better.

I`ve been using the D`Aquisto method for decades, 2 wraps per string and I`m done.
I`m curious as to how so many people find unlocking three nuts, threading strings, winding them to pitch and relocking three nuts to be faster than threading strings and winding them to pitch.

Are you referring to locking nuts, or locking tuners there, skip?

If the latter- locking tuners- some of them automatically clamp onto the string as you begin to tune-up a new string, and automatically loosen their vise-like grip as you de-tune to remove the old string, not requiring any locking or unlocking, and much fewer turns of the tuner.

Even the ones that require the turning of a knurled-knob or the like to lock the string into the post- such as Sperzels, Schallers, Kluson-by-TonePros, and some Grovers- can still reduce stringing and tuning time by quite a bit, as they require only about a quarter to a half turn of string winding around the tuner-post to tune to pitch.

Well, given my choice I put on Schallers, not from any knowledge, just from 40 years of personal experience....they've worked best for me. I don't wrap the low strings but I'll put a bunch of winds on the high strings.... another tip given to me many years ago by some luthier or another... I've always done it and it works sorta like a spring to create a little give when I'm abusing things.

I wouldn't have guessed such a trivial topic would result in this many replies, so I'm glad I posted! Bill, thanks for the tip on the smaller strings, makes sense but never thought of it. The first three strings are the ones that get tortured the most so that's good knowledge to have, thanks bro'.
L.B.

Ah maybe I was thinking of a locking nut. Anyway for tuners I`ve used Sperzels quite a bit, no doubt about the convenience. Soundwise, I have no interest in a beehive of wraps around the post regardless, not worth the hassle.

"I have no interest in a beehive of wraps around the post regardless, not worth the hassle."


Not a beehive.
Put the string through the bridge-tailpiece assembly. Pull it tight. Wrap it around the post a few times. Slip the end of the string through the hole in the post, making sure that you go over one wrap under at least one on the other side, so that the string can't slip. Done. Takes seconds, and if you are any faster with your way than I am with mine, it will be insignificant to any audience.

Locking tuners even with a locking nut. I'm a very patient person, but can't hang with the wrapping now that I'm spoiled by locking tuners. Insert, tighten, trim, tune...

insert rolling on floor smiley

I've never used locking tuners... I dread the thought for some reason...

The only tuners I've ever thought of changing are on a '65 SG special, because they stink and are hard to turn...



but the guy resurrecting that guitar for me says he can bring them back to life...

There's live stuff from the 60s and 70s where the entire band (Stones, Who, Neil and Crazy Horse) is out of tune and it still kicks almost everything around today...

imperfection is a big part of the charm of the rock and roll guitar. If it wasn't music would be dominated by synths and electronics like they have predicted would come to pass every 2 years for the past 30 years...

Like this?

You have both synths AND the charm!

I'd probably start by spraying Blast or some similar product in the little holes, followed by WD40,and then a spray lubricant. But that is just a guess.

You can't make it any easier or more pleasant to change strings than on a Fender with locking tuners...it will spoil you...but if you like that old guitar or even the new one, leave it stock as it's not really that hard to change strings on any type of tuner...if it stays in tune, that's even better...

I could only make it to 2:16, everything is out of tune including the singer and the synths (not just the guitars)....too much charm for me...and I wouldn't stay for the 2nd song unless all of them said "we were just joking", tuned up and tried it again...

yeah... uh... exactly... the crowd still cheers...

the guy I play with uses old Wurlitzers, so luckily he gets as out of tune as the rest of us as the night goes on...

I love the locking tuners on my PRS'. I can easily change a string during a keyboard solo.

Right on Terrell! Insert, tighten, trim, tune...and play! Locking tuners rule.

now, I remember when I was a kid... a guy I knew had these little metal things, like a square folded in a 90 degree angle, and he'd thread the string through the tuning machine, put these things on them (they kind of clamped or something) then tune up. That was it. It was a commercial product, I saw an ad in Guitar Player, maybe, after seeing him use them.

Yes the D`Aquisto method is faster, and there`s the advantage that you will never have to try and pull a wound string through a partially blocked hole. Basically it`s the same steps you mentioned but in reverse, make an `L` bend in the string, pull it through the post hole FIRST, then make a simple loop like tying a shoelace-I like to keep a small pair or pliers for the wound strings due to their tendency to grip. pull the loop tight, wind the tuning peg once, the string locks itself.
FWIW I can`t stand dangling string ends, I also keep a pair of nail clippers to snip them off. The only caveat there is, guitar string ends are remarkably hazardous. They have to be disposed of promptly.

Alas, as good as EVH is/was he should have been able to tune on the fly. Sounded like he was only a 1/2 step down.

I remember seeing SRV on a Jazz Fest in Montreal I think; busted a string, made eye contact with the tech and changed guitars before the measure was done.

I had a Strat with locking tuners and LSR roller nut...I just didn't like it. Give me good tuners and I'm happy. And if you've been playing guitar long enough, even the "beehive" wrap can be done fairly quickly

I believe he was using a Jazz technique of playing outside (he was probably listening to Ornette Coleman back stage)...he just never resolves.

Have no use for string winders but I guess some must like them as they haven't gone away...I found when ordering a Taylor that the strings are factory wrapped the same way I've always done it...no half hitches, no over and under, etc., just wrap 2 winds on the 6th string pole before starting, then thread through the top of the whole above the wraps and as the string is tightened the lower strings push up and lock the one on top in place, then add an additional wrap for each additional string before tightening (Ie. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1)...if the lower wraps are too low on the pole just give them a little upward push help with your thumbnail before tightening...looks clean and factory wrapped...goes on fast and stays in tune...my tech does a single wrap with a half hitch which also works very well but looks a little strange....