Locking tuners

The tuners I've seen use a little rod inside and locks the string to the tuner. As you are tunning the string, the little rod gets threaded against the string at the same time to lock the sting in the tuner shaft.

Joe

In case it helps, they are made by Sperzel. So, do I tighten down the lock only after stringing the guitar, or do I need to open the lock each time I tune a string and lock/tighten it back down. I am having a hard time keeping the guitar in tune and I believe it is something I am doing wrong. I don't have the same trouble with my acoustic. It seems I have to spend a great deal of time each time I want to tune. I get tuned and go back to the low strings for a final check through and it is off again. This is part of the reason that I stick it back up on the wall hanger and grab my trusty acoustic. Frustraiting as all. :oops:

When I restring, I wait till it is in tune then lock it. After that you can tune by keeping the tuners locked. The lock is there to clamp the string to the tuner so the string won't slip while playing and tuning.

After restring, tuning and locking, I like to tug up on the strings and do a lot of bends to try and stretch the strings out. I do the same with my non-locking guitars as well. It helps to break the strings in a little earlier than normal.

Thanks! I bet that has been a lot of the problem with tuning. I have been leting the string go as I am trying to tune. I guess I thought I would strip something if I didn't open the lock while I was tuning. I have been cursing that guitar for a year - little did I know it was cursing me!

locking tuners:
they simply lock the strings into place so you dont have to wind around the post.

twist the button to open the hole in the post.
put the string through the hole leaving some slack. twist the button to close the hole .it clamps the string into place.
now wind the tuner knob so the string winds up to pitch.
that's all you have to do.

I always leave he string locked tight.
re tune the same you you do with a normal tuner.

dont unlock the string until you want to change them.

Thank You! Learn something everyday. Today I made sure the strings were locked down. Tuned up, but also noticed that the tuning pegs were kind of loose. When tuning I was getting wild differences(per ususal) with just a slight adjustment of the peg. With the tuners I have, there is a little screw in the middle of the head of each one. I tightened each one down carefully so as not to strip anything. Gave the strings a gentle tug as suggested, tuned and played for a while. Retuned. I was pleased to see that they were almost in tune! Now that I know that you don't have to wind the strings around the pegs like an acoustic, the next time I will do it properly. I feel a bit silly about all of this, but I am relieved that the guitar that my husband painstakingly chose for us is not a dud. :oops: :shock: :)

I am happy this worked for you.
no question is silly. how is one to learn.
you wouldnt believe the dumb mistakes Ive made and assumptions Ive had because I was afraid of being silly or thought too dumb to ask.

on the other hand...sometimes one has to experience things a bit in order to come up with a question.

once you settle in with your new knowledge and build on your experiences you will be a better judge of things.

ie: like your tuners. do they really wobble and feel loose?
they might not be that great....however, if you found a loose screw and things felt better after you worked on it then you have good tuners and you demonstrated learning by asking.

Dogbite,
I have learned so much in the past year and a half, mostly thanks to Guitarnoise and many supportive guitar playing friends. The tuners seemed to be loose and slipping a bit - not holding tightly. It probably didn't help that I was releasing the lock each time I attempted to tune. Doh! Adjusting the screws seems to have solved the slipping problem. The guitar is beautiful. I look forward to spending more time with it now that I am not glaring at it on the wall as an expensive pretty picture, but with little function. Thanks again. I am shy. I truly appreciate a place where I can go with questions where I don't cringe waiting for a sarcastic reply.
Janet

I too, have found this site to be most welcoming. glad you feel that way as well.

I noticed just now you reside in Brussels. I have been there. a beautiful city. I am a sucker for old world charm.

it is good to know that there is a happy rocker there now.
dont be shy...turn it up and play with feeling. :D

This topic has had 212 views at present, and I found it very helpful. I am going to upgrade a few guitars by adding locking tuners so I havbe been looking at those and noticed this topic.

I see that the Sperzel Locking Tuners are very nice with a rear thumb screw to lock the string, I picked the polished gold one for a sample photo:
http://www.wdmusic.com/sperzel_reg_6_in_line_30839_prd1.htm

Here are some with the locking screw at the top of the peg:
http://www.wdmusic.com/locking_tuners_13524_ctg.htm

And here are is a sample of a Grover Locking Tuner with a Cam Lock:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead/1/Grover_Locking_Guitar_Machines/Pictures.html#details

I wish I had the money for a few sets of these