Well, gentlemen, no shortage of info in this thread and I enjoyed working my way through all four pages, something I rarely do when I stumble into a long and winding post. I'll admit that I am partial to Martian's postings, always a reasonable approach and a kind voice (I'm getting old and sometimes lean to sarcasm...) and always something interesting added to the conversation.

All of that said, I have never minded Fender's standard tuners. I use the Joe Walsh method of stringing my guitars and it seems the only times I manage to impale myself is when I am stringing a guitar and cut that nasty little high E string to get it out of the way, then stab myself as a result when threading another string though another hole. Amazing how much blood can come out of such a small hole in the end of your finger...

Cleaning your headstock with those little sharp ends sticking out is an annoyance, but as others have stated, I generally just super clean everything when the strings are off and don't let the guitars collect dust between changes. Last Christmas my daughter-in-law gave me a very cool detailing kit with lots of different small brushes, thinking I'd use it on my truck - NOT! I keep that thing with my guitars - it's awesome, even around sharp little wires!

I have a number of Fender guitars with vintage tuners, though most of my guitars have the newer standard tuners. I have a few guitars with locking tuners and I have to admit, it took me a while to get the hang of those darn things. I even broke one of the locking tuners on my Fender Showmaster Strat when it refused to release the string and I resorted to a screwdriver! What the heck? It has a screwdriver slot in the top, but it just snapped apart - my bad. I got lucky and found a replacement set on eBay.

Per the OP's original question: Why the heck would ANYBODY want those standard tuners???

I guess I'm just used to them after 48 years of playing and stringing guitars. And I do think they keep my guitars a bit better in tune than the vintage tuners - JMO!

Sorry if I got a bit long winded.

Cleaning your headstock with those little sharp ends sticking out is an annoyance, but as others have stated, I generally just super clean everything when the strings are off and don't let the guitars collect dust between changes. Last Christmas my daughter-in-law gave me a very cool detailing kit with lots of different small brushes, thinking I'd use it on my truck - NOT! I keep that thing with my guitars - it's awesome, even around sharp little wires!

I feel so much better..all the times I thought I needed a transfusion I just thought I was a moron..and I find out its common..Thank you!

Someone should write a song about bleeding on your guitar. I've poked my finger badly several times.

You've already postulated this in other words. My question is, how so?

With locking tuners, there's an acquired finesse to them. See, if you tighten the tuner's locking disk too much, it can cut through the thinner, plain strings. With the wound strings, over tightening the disk can cut the string's winding to where the winding breaks apart and the string begins to unravel. With either scenario, obviously, the string is history. Conversely, if the locking disk isn't tightened enough, any string can slip due to increasing pull tension. So, a happy medium must be found which essentially is arrived at by hands-on repetition being the best teacher.

Yes, I am "For" locking tuners and I have many good things to say about them but I have never made that statement about them and I too would like to hear the logic behind it.

However ....


This is completely foreign to me. I have never experienced overtightening or undertightening issues. I tighten them with my fingers until they stop. They don't slip. They don't cut or damage my strings. If this really happens to other people then the only thing I can think of is perhaps on some tuners there's a slight mismatch between the ball and socket inside the post.

This is ridiculous. If you replace your modern tuners with vintage style ones better get your tools ready. Be prepared for added screw holes........unbelievable.

4th and last: I actually think about exchanging all my tuners which are not vintage but as you might know (or probably not!), every change on a guitar which cannot be reversed without leaving drillholes reduces the value. That said, I will probably NOT exchange the tuners but as I said, in the future vintage tuners will be a criteria for purchase.

perhaps on some tuners there's a slight mismatch between the ball and socket inside the post.