Guys, I have an American Strat and 2 Mexicans and both varieties have what appear to be the same tuners factory installed. Visually they look identical except that the American has staggered posts. The stat sheet on the American says Fender (r) / Schaller (r) Deluxe Staggered Cast / Sealed Tuning Machines and the 2 Mexicans say Fender (r) / Ping (r) Standard Cast / Sealed Tuning Machines. Again, aside from the staggered posts how can I tell them appart? The obvious difference on the 2 stat sheets is Schaller (r) Deluxe Staggered Cast vs. Ping (r) Standard Cast. Is the difference internal only?

The main difference is that they are made by two different companies. Typically the Ping are used on the lower cost instruments, and a lower quality is at least inferred, though not necessarily true. I don't see either one as vastly superior to the other, in this case especially, aside from the staggered posts. I thought that both brands were made to the same specs internally.

_________________
---> "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 recently gave away an entire shoebox full of Ping stuff -- half a dozen complete sets of tuners, four or five trem bridges.

And I'm known to be a pretty frugal individual.



Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

In late 2009 Fender changed to Ping tuners. All Fender Stratocaster American Standard (I am not sure about the Deluxe) from 2010 on don´t have Schaller tuners but Ping.

Cheers,
Robin

_________________
_________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
_________________________________

So then, am I to take it that there is no visual difference between the two?

You're looking at them right now aren't you? You tell us.

_________________
---> "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 can tell the difference with the Gotoh vintage style Pings, in feel and stability, but I can't tell a difference with the modern style cast sealed jobs.

_________________
---> "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've never run across a problem with either Gotoh or Ping nor have I ever seriously delved into the minutiae between the two. Having said this, I wouldn't worry about either brand as long as they are reliably doing their job.

As always, this is merely my experience/opinion where YMMV.

_________________
You dig?

Yeah by the way they never arrived in the mail

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.

My clients most assuredly did not want them on their guitars, trust me.

And I know you're more fastidious about your Strats than they are.



Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY