Upgraded Tuning Machines

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

A customer wants to replace what looks like Gotoh Schaller lookalikes. These are on a Kawai moon guitar (3x3). The guitar has an old Badass bridge/tailpiece so I don't think locking tuners are necessary. Anybody have any feelings about Gotoh/Schaller/Grover/whatever?

If ou are not familiar with this guitar, a version was illustrated in Dangerous Curves.

Joshua

[Greg Robinson]

My personal favorites at the moment are the Gotoh Delta 510 tuners. They are available with a 21:1 tuning ratio which I think is fantastic. Some people dislike high ratio tuners because it takes longer to bring the string up to pitch, or if they use lots of alternative tunings, but I love the finer pitch control. They also feature Gotoh's "Rock Solid" shaft technology, which seems to eliminate any trace of backlash and provides tuning stability as good as any locking tuner I've ever used.
One note though: the locking version of the 510's are junk, in my opinion. They require tools for string changes, and the mechanism is extremely fragile, I managed to break a couple of tuning posts when trying a set out. Also, the stock knobs are pretty butt-ugly in my opinion, they do seem to compliment some guitars, but look out of place on most.
If the mounting holes would match up with the existing tuners, I would highly recommend you consider them.

[Dave Gentner]

I agree on the Delta 510 series. They're standard on all my guitars. My customers seem to really like them.

[Mark Wybierala]

Is it posible that the original notion of replacing the tuners is from a tuning instability problem caused by the nut? I see a lot of people investing money in upgraded tuners for the wrong reasons. Then again, its nice to have nice tuners on a nice guitar. Even the cheapest tuners don't slip backwards unless there is an obvious physical fault or the strings are being installed improperly. I'm a fan of the economical Grover Stay-Tites which are open back.

[Mark Swanson]

Mark, I agree and often see people blame the tuners and it's just a bad nut.

I'm a fan of the economical Grover Stay-Tites which are open back.

I like those tuners an awful lot myself! Now, Guitar Fetish sells a version of these tuners under the name "Wilkinson", and these are superior to the Grover ones and cheaper too. I am very impressed by these tuners. They look the same but the action is tighter and better.

[Greg Robinson]

Mark, I agree and often see people blame the tuners and it's just a bad nut.

I'm a fan of the economical Grover Stay-Tites which are open back.

I like those tuners an awful lot myself! Now, Guitar Fetish sells a version of these tuners under the name "Wilkinson", and these are superior to the Grover ones and cheaper too. I am very impressed by these tuners. They look the same but the action is tighter and better.

As I understand it, the Wilkinson range is OEM "Grover" made in South Korea. Good stuff.

[Mark Swanson]

Yes, they look very close to the Grovers but they are not the same thing- they are clearly better if you ask me.