I have a new model American Special Stratocaster HSS (Black, sweet) and I'm considering upgrading the tuners to the Fender Schaller Locking Tuners. Does anyone know for sure if they are a direct, drop in replacement for the stock tuners? I need to know if I'm in for luthier expenses on top of the tuner price, or if this is a handyman special that I can do with care on my own. Thanks to anyone for some reliable advice.

i installed fender locking tuners on my 09 mim strat, and they dropped right in

Direct fit. Used them on mine when I had it.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I have an American Special HSS just like yours, but in the special Olympic White finish exclusive to Guitar Center.
I, too, hated the tuners.
The Fender /Schaller locking tuners are indeed a direct drop in replacement...no modification required!
That, aside from changing the pickups , was one of the best changes I've made to the guitar!
You won't regret it!

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

Thanks for all the advice from everyone. My new tuners are on their way and one day, maybe I'll start swapping pickups. The tuners are a daily issue so that was first on my list. Thanks again.

Just be sure that you are getting "Fender" Schaller locking tuners. Schaller makes a set of six-on-a-side locking tuners that are not made for Fender guitars. They lack the locator pins that drop into the holes on Fender headstocks and they therfore have a small flange molded to the side of the mounting surface through which you must drill a hole into the wood of the headstock and install a screw in order to secure the tuners for orientation position else they will simply rotate around under string tension until the adjustment knob collides with the next tuner..

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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.

Just a note, are you sure the tuners are bad, or is it the nut? When I first got my LP Jr it had constant tuning issues and I too thought I'd have to swap the tuners. On the advice of someone on a forum, I lubricated the nut slots and voila! Tuning issues disappeared!

Try lubing the nut slots and see if that doesn't solve your issues. Not saying the locking tuners aren't nice to have (especially for restringing).

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Lubbing the nut slots sounds logical to me. Any suggestion what material or product to use for that? I just read the set up guide for Strats on this support page and they mention lip balm applied with a toothpick to the slot. Seems odd, but maybe that's OK. I would be inclined to avoid any petroleum based product of any kind. Suggestions welcome. Thanks again.

Honestly, I just used some pencil lead. I had to use a box cutter to shave the lead real thin and then I just worked it in the slots a bit. Not the cleanest method, but effective.

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Graphite sounds perfect. I already have some in a small puffer bottle. Excellent idea and thanks.