Can Anyone Identify These Tuners

[DAKnox]

I'm looking at a used Graham Coxon Telecaster - the tuners should be vintage style - the type where you slot the string in the top.

The guitar I'm looking at doesn't have these it has tuners I've never seen before. They seem to have the slot at the top - maybe just for the appearance, but the string goes through like a modern tuner.

Here is a photo (does anyone know what kind they are and if they are any good?):-

 

[fender4life]

Those are gotoh locking tuners. Fender also sell them under the fender brand. gotoh are the originator. There are several versions including ones with height adjustable posts so you can stagger them to mimic a string tree w/o using one, and ones that are not adjustable but are staggered permanently. I have both and they're quite good.No extra weight over regular vintage so no change to the guitar's tone.dynamics.

The slot in the top is to loosen thenlocking so the string can be removed. They are locking posts, theres no knob or anything like sperzels for example, tho they DO have a version like that which IMO ruins them. But those are very rare. most use the regular ones.
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[DAKnox]

Those are gotoh locking tuners. Fender also sell them under the fender brand. gotoh are the originator. There are several versions including ones with height adjustable posts so you can stagger them to mimic a string tree w/o using one, and ones that are not adjustable but are staggered permanently. I have both and they're quite good.No extra weight over regular vintage so no change to the guitar's tone.dynamics.

The slot in the top is to loosen thenlocking so the string can be removed. They are locking posts, theres no knob or anything like sperzels for example, tho they DO have a version like that which IMO ruins them. But those are very rare. most use the regular ones.
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Thanks good info! SO do you need a screwdriver to change strings then to raise the post to release and to screw back down on the new string?

Would you know if these would be better than what was on it stock? It's MIM Kluson style originally.

I always thought locking tuners were more for trem use - Strats or whatever...does it seem a bit strange on a tele?

 

[morky]

The tuners on the picture seem to have more than one wraps, that makes me think that they might not be locking tuners.

If they are though a coin or even a pick sometimes is enough to unscrew them.
In my gotoh locking tuners though I don't have to unscrew or screw anything. They call that system magnum lock and you just turn the tuner and it locks the string with string tension or something like that. The same for unscrewing you just detune until the top unscrews with the string tension.

I have the SDS510 HAPM. Which have adjustable height and magnum lock and they are like the vintage kluson in appearance.

 

[John C]

The tuners on the picture seem to have more than one wraps, that makes me think that they might not be locking tuners.

If they are though a coin or even a pick sometimes is enough to unscrew them.
In my gotoh locking tuners though I don't have to unscrew or screw anything. They call that system magnum lock and you just turn the tuner and it locks the string with string tension or something like that. The same for unscrewing you just detune until the top unscrews with the string tension.

I have the SDS510 HAPM. Which have adjustable height and magnum lock and they are like the vintage kluson in appearance.

A lot of people don't know how to use these tuners; I can't tell you the number of times I've seen guitars with these strung up like they were non-locking tuners. I've had the Gotoh Magnum tuners on a couple of guitars (one had the Kluson-style body, the other was branded Grover during a brief time when Gotoh was making that style tuner for Grover). In both cases I would usually have one or two strings where the tuner would not unlock itself by detuning - then I would have to use a coin or a screwdriver to unlock it (I use Dunlop nylon .73mm picks or old Herco gold picks and neither of them were stiff enough to unlock the tuner).

The best way to describe these is that they have a "post inside a post" - you put the string through the hole in the "outer" post, and when you turn the button it turns the inner post that grabs the string and locks it. Once the string is locked then it start tuning the string.

 

[fender4life]

Thanks good info! SO do you need a screwdriver to change strings then to raise the post to release and to screw back down on the new string?

Would you know if these would be better than what was on it stock? It's MIM Kluson style originally.

I always thought locking tuners were more for trem use - Strats or whatever...does it seem a bit strange on a tele?

You put the string thru then u can either turn the top (i use a coin...screwdriver will chew it up) or just turn the key and it will lock by itself. I prefer to use a coin and lock it so i can get it to clamp down tighter on the string. Otherwise it may slip a bit as you stretch them.

Are they overkill on a tele? Not to my way of thinking because they make string changing quicker and you don;t have to stretch them afterwards near as much and the settle in quicker. But they are indeed more important on a strat.I just used them on my teles because i had several strats with them and sold all but one so i kept the tuners and put them on the teles. The original vintage tuners are fine, but these are a little nicer for the reasons i stated TO ME. Either or not you will be happy you got them i can't say, but if you are just looking to buy them because you think they might be worth it but don't really have issues with the stock ones i'd say pass. .

 

[ebb soul]

Good tuners but good grief they keep fixing a problem that doesn't exist . How many seperate and moving parts do you need and why is more things to go wrong a good thing?...must be German engineers, like putting windshield wipers on headlights..how many blades does a shaver need? 7?
How about posts inside of posts inside of posts, that lock from the back or the top, how thin do the internals start to get?

 

[Brokenpick]

ebb soul I hear ya.
I don't know that sticking the string end into the NONlocking hole and turning on a couple wraps has ever threatened me with accidental string release (ASR) OR even detuned mid song and been the worst part of my sound. But KISS ain't everybody's motto....
I guess it's a good feeling to think of your strings as locked in. (Lord knows my licks ain't...)

 

[BigDaddyLH]

Good tuners but good grief they keep fixing a problem that doesn't exist . How many seperate and moving parts do you need and why is more things to go wrong a good thing?...must be German engineers, like putting windshield wipers on headlights..how many blades does a shaver need? 7?
How about posts inside of posts inside of posts, that lock from the back or the top, how thin do the internals start to get?

On the other hand, I think the Steinberger gearless tuners were even simpler than standard tuners: http://www.headless-europe.eu/Stein...es/GearlessTuners_MusicYo_Tech Info_small.pdf

 

[ebb soul]

I've used

On the other hand, I think the Steinberger gearless tuners were even simpler than standard tuners: http://www.headless-europe.eu/Steinieland/Know-How_tech_files/GearlessTuners_MusicYo_Tech Info_small.pdf

I've used those. You can bearly turn them at all.
And locking and unlocking them best done with a wrench.

 

[morky]

Good tuners but good grief they keep fixing a problem that doesn't exist . How many seperate and moving parts do you need and why is more things to go wrong a good thing?...must be German engineers, like putting windshield wipers on headlights..how many blades does a shaver need? 7?
How about posts inside of posts inside of posts, that lock from the back or the top, how thin do the internals start to get?

ebb soul I hear ya.
I don't know that sticking the string end into the NONlocking hole and turning on a couple wraps has ever threatened me with accidental string release (ASR) OR even detuned mid song and been the worst part of my sound. But KISS ain't everybody's motto....
I guess it's a good feeling to think of your strings as locked in. (Lord knows my licks ain't...)

I won't argue that you are wrong but each one has it's own opinion. For me I was having trouble with the stock baja tuners. they wouldn't stay in tune. the strings were properly wrapped, I changed the nut, and set up the bridge. I was sure there was something wrong with the tuners.

I chose locking tuners with adjustable height just to get rid the string tree and for easier change of strings. The moment I installed them all my tuning problems were solved. Another simpler tuner would have worked too but for the reasons I already mentioned I chose to go that way.

 

[AndrewG]

I won't argue that you are wrong but each one has it's own opinion. For me I was having trouble with the stock baja tuners. they wouldn't stay in tune. the strings were properly wrapped, I changed the nut, and set up the bridge. I was sure there was something wrong with the tuners.

I chose locking tuners with adjustable height just to get rid the string tree and for easier change of strings. The moment I installed them all my tuning problems were solved. Another simpler tuner would have worked too but for the reasons I already mentioned I chose to go that way.

With respect tuners cannot 'not stay in tune'. Even badly worn and sloppy gears will not slip once they're coaxed into tuning the string to pitch; the mechanics of a worm/gear arrangement won't allow them to. 99% of tuning 'issues' are due to either improper stringing technique or insufficient 'stretching'.

 

[Tonetele]

If they are indeed Gotoh, then they're good quality, I use them often.
I just don't like locking tuners- I prefer to retune quickly and easily.
( No doubt some here will disagree with my last statement).

 

[10thoufirst]

On the other hand, I think the Steinberger gearless tuners were even simpler than standard tuners: http://www.headless-europe.eu/Steinieland/Know-How_tech_files/GearlessTuners_MusicYo_Tech Info_small.pdf

Simpler? Now they DO look over-engineered. I had a 1993 PRS EG2 once which had quick-lock tuners using an eccentric cam to grip the string. Great idea IF they gripped the strings, but plain strings were a problem. I changed mine to ordinary Schallers and no more problems.
I think Leo's originals are a very good design, especially on Teles. Neat and effective. You don't need anything else.

 

[DAKnox]

Just for clarity, I'm looking at purchasing the guitar, the tuners are already on it. I'm checking the guitar out this weekend and if the guitar is nice to play and these tuners are OK I'd go for it. I really like the regular vintage style Kluson tuners. I like the neatness of putting the string end inside and not having a bit of string poking out like these. But if I go for the guitar and it stays in tune, I don't know if I'd bother swapping them out for the type I'm use to.