Provided that one has a well-cut nut and a great setup, do locking tuners actually help the tuning stability of trem-equipped Strats, or do they just make stringing easier?

Hi Kyle Ashley,

I think that the locking tuners definitely help with tuning stability, as well as easier string changes. Comparing a Classic Player 50s with locking tuners to an Am Std with staggered tuners, the CP50s stays in tune better with heavy trem use. The two Strats were otherwise identical as far as the trem and springs, nut, strings and setup, the only real difference was the locking tuners. Of course I do know people who have trouble with these vintage style and other types of locking tuners (PRS are difficult), especially unlocking the strings. The locking tuners with the knobs on the back to unlock the string are probably the easiest to work with.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

I bought an American Standard and it has the non locking staggered tuners. It had a bit of a tuning problem with tremelo use so I installed an LSR nut and now it holds tune great. I'm not really sold on the locking tuners but to be honest I haven't had much experience with them. The LSR nut is a great improvement.

I have locking tuners on 11 of my 12 guitars and THEY DO make a difference!
I use somewhat heavier strings and they DO stay in tuner longer !
I'm sold!!

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I refuse to have a battle of the wits with an unarmed man!

I believe a small but often unrecognized part of how they help is by reducing the amount of string length exposed to stretching due to tension. There are no winds around the post to slowly stretch while they loose grip on one another and slip and creep around the post over time. Shortens the amount of time it takes for new strings to finish stretching; allotting more of the string's life span to playing in tune.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

SOLID!

I did not know tuners had such an influence on strings.

now ya know and knowing is 1/2 the battle.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

No I get equally as stable tuning out of vintage slotted tuners. It's all about how many winds you make round the post. And how tidy you are about it.

The only plus I've found with locking tuners is the speed with which you can change a string.

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No no and no

+1

Andy

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Pending Greatness