Jory Simmons
From:
Elkhorn, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2021 10:40 am |
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My brother just called to say he was on his way to G Center to get a set of locking tuners for His new Tele: as he said ..you don't have to "wrap" the string around the post with these.....so it made me think about My Steel...so..question is, anyone using locking tuners on their steel?
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Jory Simmons |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 27 Feb 2021 9:28 pm
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I have issues with locking tuners:
1. Properly (winding as on a capstan) putting on at least a few windings (more for small gauge high-pitched strings) helps avoid string breakage at the keyhead, and gives plenty of friction to hold the string securely and avoid detuning, once stretched in. See, e.g, this recent discussion, but there are more if you look - https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=187780&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=25
2. For pedal steel, I use windings to line up the string break-off point from the tuner with the nut roller. I think this helps with friction/hysteresis at the nut rollers as well as breakage. I want the least amount of sideways stress possible at that critical point. I suppose it's possible one might get tuners that have post holes that line up with the nut rollers on a pedal steel, but I'd be surprised if it worked out that way.
3. For guitar - as far as I'm concerned, winding the strings from the post hole to near the bottom of the tuning post is essential to get enough downward pressure on the nut to give proper seating and good tone. And for something like a Fender, how hard is it to cut the string, pop it into the hole, and use a string winder to rapidly bring it up to pitch? I've had 'em both, and I frequently find that I can restring the classic Fender tuners faster than I can diddling around with locking tuners.
Some specialized locking tuners for 6-string guitar are staggered in height to give lower breakaway points as the distance from the nut increases. I think that helps with the downward pressure issue, but I still think windings do help with string breakage. And I don't think anybody makes specialized locking tuners for pedal steel that consider their special issues.
YMMV, that's what makes the world go around. |
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