It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:03 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Tuners
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:54 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 12:15 pm
Posts: 603
It seems apparent that sealed tuners have many advantages over open tuners. So why do you not see them on bass, acoustic, banjos, and mandolins ?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Tuners
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 8:06 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14049
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
Tuner
Image
Tuning machine
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tuners
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:27 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
Also, "acoustic" does not imply "classical". Acoustic metal string guitars often have sealed tuning machines. Classical guitars generally don't for several reasons:

- The larger cylinders play nicer with the thicker strings used (usually nylon, but also gut and silver spun).
- The classical tuning machines give a lower anchor point, creating more of an angle over the bridge, which helps when playing with lower tension strings.
- The cylinder is anchored on both sides, leading to greater tuning stability.
- The strings are not changed nearly as often, so ease of string change isn't a big factor.

Otherwise, it's mostly traditional, harking back to the days of using tuning pegs (which some instruments still do). The banjo, for example, had simple pegs, and many banjos still have machines that mimic the placement of the pegs.
Some of it is likely also due to open tuning machines (and pegs) being more serviceable by the end user, and the players of those instruments don't always have or want to use guitar techs or replace an entire magic box instead of fixing the actual problems.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tuners
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:42 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:47 am
Posts: 838
Location: Hawaii
Well that was short. How about locking vs non locking? I think locking is almost a must if you have a floating trem but non locking nut.

_________________
"Music is what feelings sound like"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tuners
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 10:20 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:18 pm
Posts: 463
Location: Tucson
If you break/change strings often, locking tuners are a huge benefit!

_________________
https://markhahnguitar.wordpress.com/
https://markhahn.bandcamp.com/releases


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tuners
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:40 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:33 pm
Posts: 811
arth1 wrote:
Also, "acoustic" does not imply "classical". Acoustic metal string guitars often have sealed tuning machines. Classical guitars generally don't for several reasons:

- The larger cylinders play nicer with the thicker strings used (usually nylon, but also gut and silver spun).
- The classical tuning machines give a lower anchor point, creating more of an angle over the bridge, which helps when playing with lower tension strings.
- The cylinder is anchored on both sides, leading to greater tuning stability.
- The strings are not changed nearly as often, so ease of string change isn't a big factor.

Never knew this! Cool info...

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!
Blues, Rock and Outlaw Country
Texas Roadhouse Music at It's Finest...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tuners
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:55 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
mh2000 wrote:
If you break/change strings often, locking tuners are a huge benefit!

The biggest benefit I see to locking tuning machines is that you can tune down to pitch.
With regular machine heads, you generally should tune down past pitch, and tune up again, or there will be too much slack and you'll go sour.

The biggest disadvantage is that the strings can much easier come loose. There's a fine line between holding a slippery string in place and pinching it so hard that it breaks. It can take some trial and error before you get the feel for exactly how tight to turn the locking wheel.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tuners
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 12:54 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:47 am
Posts: 838
Location: Hawaii
This is how mine looks like. Never had an issue with strings slipping or the guitar going out of tune even while yanking on that whammy bar.

Image

_________________
"Music is what feelings sound like"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tuners
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 4:48 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:18 pm
Posts: 463
Location: Tucson
arth1 wrote:
mh2000 wrote:
If you break/change strings often, locking tuners are a huge benefit!

The biggest benefit I see to locking tuning machines is that you can tune down to pitch.
With regular machine heads, you generally should tune down past pitch, and tune up again, or there will be too much slack and you'll go sour.

The biggest disadvantage is that the strings can much easier come loose. There's a fine line between holding a slippery string in place and pinching it so hard that it breaks. It can take some trial and error before you get the feel for exactly how tight to turn the locking wheel.


Haven't ever had a problem with losing tune or strings breaking up at the top. Using a Charvel DC-1 ST (aka. Fender China):

Image

_________________
https://markhahnguitar.wordpress.com/
https://markhahn.bandcamp.com/releases


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: strayedstrater and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: