[kennium]

In your opinion, which locking tuners are the best choice for my 5120?
I want the best, and the easiest to install. (myself)

[SlinkyString]

Originally Posted by kennium

In your opinion, which locking tuners are the best choice for my 5120?
I want the best, and the easiest to install. (myself)

well i would say sperzel locking tuners but you need to enlarge the tuner holes just a little bit, shouldnt be to hard

[Crooner]

Keep in mind... the general consensus is that locking tuners only aid in the speed of restringing - they don’t really aid in keeping a guitar in tune. The way to keep in tune is to lube the nut, the bridge (lightly), and, if you have a Bigsby, lube on the Bigs tension bar (again, just a little).

[tguen63]

Originally Posted by Crooner

Keep in mind... the general consensus is that locking tuners only aid in the speed of restringing - they don’t really aid in keeping a guitar in tune. The way to keep in tune is to lube the nut, the bridge (lightly), and, if you have a Bigsby, lube on the Bigs tension bar (again, just a little).

+100!

[MyBootsOnFire]

I have a set of Sperzels on my 5129. Installed em myself, wasn't too bad. I've been thrilled with them and plan to put them in every guitar I buy from here on out.

[GattonFreak]

Originally Posted by kennium

In your opinion, which locking tuners are the best choice for my 5120?
I want the best, and the easiest to install. (myself)

Planet Wave 3+3, of course ! Make sure the screw hole is in the " 6 o'clock " position.

I've seen them for $59.00 US on E-Bay.

[GattonFreak]

Originally Posted by GattonFreak

Planet Wave 3+3, of course ! Make sure the screw hole is in the " 6 o'clock " position.

I've seen them for $59.00 US on E-Bay.

Planet Waves will fit right in....NO enlarging the hole required !!!

[Lizardkinged]

Crooner. I must disagree as there is a deeper logic behind locking tuners most people simply neglect for tradition.

Sure the bigger issue always lies @ the nut, but realistically when the nut is perfectly taken care of the instrument's string windings will settle faster and be more effective w/ locking tuners.

If you line the tuning post's string hole up so that you can pull the string straight through w/ zero wraping, Lock it, you can tune every string up and have under half a winding.

Less windings means less time for the strings to settle in and its easier to maintain a tuning stability that way. I HATE stretching out my windings around the tuning post, as it messes w/ the whole tuning of the instrument for at least 30 straight minutes.

I dont have locking tuners, because mine havn't broken yet to replace them, but when I buy new after these strip or what have you I think they're worth the investment.

[kennium]

Thank you guys.
The Planet Waves thing sounds great to me (not drilling)

Valuable opinions. I do appreciate it.

[Crooner]

Originally Posted by Lizardkinged

Crooner. I must disagree as there is a deeper logic behind locking tuners most people simply neglect for tradition.

Sure the bigger issue always lies @ the nut, but realistically when the nut is perfectly taken care of the instrument's string windings will settle faster and be more effective w/ locking tuners.

If you line the tuning post's string hole up so that you can pull the string straight through w/ zero wraping, Lock it, you can tune every string up and have under half a winding.

Less windings means less time for the strings to settle in and its easier to maintain a tuning stability that way. I HATE stretching out my windings around the tuning post, as it messes w/ the whole tuning of the instrument for at least 30 straight minutes.

I dont have locking tuners, because mine havn't broken yet to replace them, but when I buy new after these strip or what have you I think they're worth the investment.

You know what? I'm gonna have to concede to you on the point of less string windings. Having a couple of turns around the tuning peg does, indeed, necessitate extra stretching, but if done right strings will settle in fast, but this can be cut shorter with no windings and locking tuners. That being said, I still maintain that the idea that locking tuners is the ultimate panacea to tuning issues is an exaggeration.

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by Lizardkinged

Crooner. I must disagree as there is a deeper logic behind locking tuners most people simply neglect for tradition.

Sure the bigger issue always lies @ the nut, but realistically when the nut is perfectly taken care of the instrument's string windings will settle faster and be more effective w/ locking tuners.

If you line the tuning post's string hole up so that you can pull the string straight through w/ zero wraping, Lock it, you can tune every string up and have under half a winding.

Less windings means less time for the strings to settle in and its easier to maintain a tuning stability that way. I HATE stretching out my windings around the tuning post, as it messes w/ the whole tuning of the instrument for at least 30 straight minutes.

I dont have locking tuners, because mine havn't broken yet to replace them, but when I buy new after these strip or what have you I think they're worth the investment.

I basically agree with you but . . . you can accomplish the same thing without locking tuners by locking the string tail under the first wind. Only one of my current guitars has locking tuners but all of them have less than one turn of string on the tuning post.

Sent using G-T Forum app

[Lizardkinged]

I mean why are you pointing out the difference in the public misconception that they fix all tuning problems, and not pointing out that they dont even advertise that they stop tuning problems. The company doesn't put that misconception out there...

I'm just saying they're worth what they're ACTUALLY advertised for... Locking and reducing windings... Just because the public praises some crappy pop musician doesn't mean they're actually decent as I'm sure you know. It's the same story.

They're worth what they're literally advertised for, but your right that they will not simply solve tuning stability.

[BarryMClark]

Not a fan of applying 'best' to gear, but I will just run off the assumption that you are just looking for good tuners.

Really, going with any of the well known classic tuners will get you where you are going.

I use Sperzel locking but only because it does help me in restringing and I think that is only because I have been using them for decades and it just what I am comfortable with.

As many others have said, the locking feature hasn't ever offered me anything noticably more in, say, intonation or tuning stability than a good set of Grovers or something.

[kennium]

I simply don't like the stock tuners that much.
I have 18 stringed instruments of various kinds around the house and some of them have locking tuners. Locking tuners make string changing a lot easier, especially when you have a Bigsby to contend with, so that's why I want to change 'em.
I really don't wanna drill. This way, if I decide I don't like them, I can go back to the stock tuners.
Locking tuners do tend to "stay put," when I use my Floyd Rose on my old 80's guitar (where you could tune from either end) I like 'em for that reason too. So, anyway: thanks for the advice. I'mglad to know about the Planet Waves 3+3, and I'll order them today. You guys are very helpful and I appreciate it. Thanks.

[GattonFreak]

Originally Posted by kennium

I simply don't like the stock tuners that much.
I have 18 stringed instruments of various kinds around the house and some of them have locking tuners. Locking tuners make string changing a lot easier, especially when you have a Bigsby to contend with, so that's why I want to change 'em.
I really don't wanna drill. This way, if I decide I don't like them, I can go back to the stock tuners.
Locking tuners do tend to "stay put," when I use my Floyd Rose on my old 80's guitar (where you could tune from either end) I like 'em for that reason too. So, anyway: thanks for the advice. I'mglad to know about the Planet Waves 3+3, and I'll order them today. You guys are very helpful and I appreciate it. Thanks.

One more thing: When I inquired at Planet Wave, I was totally amazed at the service. The very next day, I had someone from Planet Waves E-Mail me to set me strait on exactly WHICH model would be best for the Electromatic (hence the 6 oclock thing ).
Just thought I'd add that.

[Synchro]

Planet Waves are the ones I've been most impressed with.

[kennium]

Mr. Gatton Freak, You've been really helpful. You all have. Thanks to you I've just ordered my Planet Waves 3+3 machine tuners through Amazon, (Cheaper than guitar Center) and I called Planet Waves to make sure that they should fit right into my 5120 without any drilling. He assured me that they will. So, it's all cool. Now, I just have to wait, and as Tom Petty says, "The waiting is the hardest part."

[GattonFreak]

Originally Posted by kennium

Mr. Gatton Freak, You've been really helpful. You all have. Thanks to you I've just ordered my Planet Waves 3+3 machine tuners through Amazon, (Cheaper than guitar Center) and I called Planet Waves to make sure that they should fit right into my 5120 without any drilling. He assured me that they will. So, it's all cool. Now, I just have to wait, and as Tom Petty says, "The waiting is the hardest part."

Oh yeah.... I forgot to tell you that the 3+3 s cut off the excess string automatically........

[rcboals]

Originally Posted by Crooner

Keep in mind... the general consensus is that locking tuners only aid in the speed of restringing - they don’t really aid in keeping a guitar in tune. The way to keep in tune is to lube the nut, the bridge (lightly), and, if you have a Bigsby, lube on the Bigs tension bar (again, just a little).

True but if you must Sperzel are the best I have had.

[kennium]

The tuners just arrived!
(much earlier than promised)
My worry is: After I install them, will the screw hole show?