Tele locking tuners

[Prawnpuller]

I have an 85 Japanese tele that I would like to put locking tuners on. Is there any on the market that will fit this guitar without re-drilling new holes to accomodate the locking tuners? I was hoping that I could find some that would just pop in but cannot find anything on the market...............Has anyone put some in that could help me. Thanks.

[originalmatthew]

IMHO, locking tuners are for floyd roses or bigsbys. A standard design tele shouldnt need them. If you are having tuning issues, I would look at the nut first, making sure the slots were the right size and lubricated, check all the screws for tightness (gently!) and make sure the bridge isnt moving on you. If you just want locking tuners for the sake of having locking tuners, I honestly dont know where to look. I've always used Sperzels. You might consider a new neck to put the lockers on, and retain the stock neck for if you ever want to get rid of the git.

[mellecaster]

There are quite a few different tuners used on various models of Japanese Teles...I think a pic of what you have now might reap more informed answers.

[jrfrond]

I agree that Tele's and many other guitars do not require locking tuners. If you want more stable tuning, retrofit the old tuners with a set of Gotoh Safeti-Post tuners (Fender Kluson clones) and call it day.

[Guitarmadcat]

Going off-subject slightly, a few of you may have missed an important reason for someone requiring locking tuners - swift string changes.

[Prawnpuller]

OK I appreciate all the advice and I know some of you " purist's" shudder at putting anything on your Tele that is not stock. I have another guitar that has Schaller locking tuners (Ernie Ball Albert Lee Model)and I love them. You can change strings quickly and no chance of string slippage from the wraps around the post soooooo was thinking I would like to put them on my Tele also. The problem is most locking tuners have a shoulder on the shaft so that would mean re-drilling and I am not prepared to do that to my beloved little Tele. If I could find some that would just pop in without any modification then I would be interested. That way I could keep my old parts and put them back in the Tele if and when I chose to do so.

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by Guitarmadcat

Going off-subject slightly, a few of you may have missed an important reason for someone requiring locking tuners - swift string changes.

Is the correct answer, and the reason I prefer to use locking tuners. Go straight to the top of the class!

Originally Posted by Prawnpuller

OK I appreciate all the advice and I know some of you " purist's shudder at putting anything on your Tele that is not stock. I have another guitar that has Schaller locking tuners (Ernie Ball Albert Lee Model)and I love them. You can change strings quickly and no chance of string slippage from the wraps around the post soooooo was thinking I would like to put them on my Tele also. The problem is most locking tuners have a shoulder on the shaft so that would mean re-drilling and I am not prepared to do that to my beloved little Tele. If I could find some that would just pop in without any modification then I would be interested. That way I could keep my old parts and put them back in the Tele if and when I chose to do so.

Depends on what type of tuners you have on the guitar at the moment. My two favourite types are Sperzels:



and Gotoh HAPM:



but both need 10mm holes. However, the Spezels only have a pin retaining them which is covered by most other style of tuners if you decide to remove them and replace the originals, and the Gotohs are a direct replacement for Kluson style.

I do repeat, however, that both need the bigger holes but the originals can be replaced by fitting the special bushings designed just for this purpose.

Teles don't really need locking tuners unless fitted with a whammy or vibrato system, but as already mentioned, string changing is so much easier and faster with locking tuners.

I love 'em.

Peter

PS. In case you are remotely interested, the two headstock signatures are (Strat) Tommy Allsup, Buddy Holly's guitarist and the guy who flipped the half-dollar with Ricky Valens; and (Tele) Bill Kirchen, Telemeister who needs no introduction in these parts!

[TELEkinetic]

These may be your ticket. I own a set and love them. I can change an entire set in less than 5 minutes.

[ejb222]

I've got Schalers on my tele...not sure if they make a huge difference tone wise...but for ease of use A+

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by Prawnpuller

If I could find some that would just pop in without any modification then I would be interested. That way I could keep my old parts and put them back in the Tele if and when I chose to do so.

And once again, despite all the responses to your query...it is useless if we don't know the type of tuners that are on the guitar now ?...for the simple fact that you stated you did not want to modify....Excuse my repetition.

[Prawnpuller]

Much thanks for all the good advice.........To PeterUK good stuff and I just love Bill Kirchen's music and picking he's one of my idol's along with Albert Lee.

To Mellecaster....not ignoring your post...just an old dog trying to learn a few new country riffs AND my way around the computer Think I finally got a pic of the tuners on my Tele. I am not sure of the make of these tuners but they are the stock ones when I bought the git..then again being a "made in Japan" maybe they are different from US parts.Hope this pinpoints it.

[Southern Ill Electrics]

Vintage slotted tuners have to be the most simple to use tuners you could buy.

Easy to use .....takes a few more winds but I like that.

[kenfolk]

stew mac has gotoh vintage style locking tuners that might work

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Southern Ill Electrics

Vintage slotted tuners have to be the most simple to use tuners you could buy.

Easy to use .....takes a few more winds but I like that.

I like those Sperzel lockers that Tommy Allsup has, but I can remove and replace a set of strings faster with the tuners already being used.

Originally Posted by kenfolk

stew mac has gotoh vintage style locking tuners that might work

They would work, and install super easy. They'd leave no evidence, when you decided to go back to the Gotoh split shafts - or maybe put a brand new set of Gotoh split shafts on there.

It is all in how you prepare and load the string.

[hudpucker]

Originally Posted by PeterUK

Is the correct answer, and the reason I prefer to use locking tuners. Go straight to the top of the class!



Depends on what type of tuners you have on the guitar at the moment. My two favourite types are Sperzels:



and Gotoh HAPM:



...string changing is so much easier and faster with locking tuners.

These are my two fave types as well. Simply put, they're a 'better' mousetrap, IMO.