Is upgrading the tuners worth it?

[Blues Lawyer]

Years ago, I remember a senior partner scolding a new associate who had spent an inordinate amount of time writing a reply brief.

"It's a brief, not a career!"

I know that this Strat is a guitar and any guitar has the possibility of becoming a "career." Last night, while tuning up to practice/noodle on the couch, I noticed that the stock vintage tuners felt somewhat loosey-goosey. As in to took a bit more of a turn of the key to get the post to turn.

It's a nitpick, I know, but let's face it - folks who post on guitar fora look for nits to pick.

Would you upgrade the tuners on, what is, a quality MIM Strat, given the following:

1) The neck is comfortable. Not as comfortable as my AO60s but considerably better in the hand that my 05 American Series.

2) It's probably a lifer, given that I don't flip guitars. I mean to, but I never do and probably won't because of the hassle it will add to my taxes.

3) The fretboard is about an 8/10. I prefer it to be a little more rolled on the edges and the rosewood to be darker. Both of these can be fixed by playing the damn guitar.

4) The guitar was $1000. The $40 70s F logo style tuners are almost certainly what are already on it. A replacement German-made set would be about $150.

5) I'm already kind of alright with this guitar being a continual project. The stock "custom ceramic" pickups are fine but not amazing and I'm already eyeballing pickups to swap in.

 

[Fretting out]

The main thing is..is there anything wrong with them?

I understand changing if you prefer vintage split shaft but if you want the same type just more expensive if there’s no problem there’s no point

If it’s a tuning issue 90% of the time it’s something else unless you can physically feel something wrong when turning them to tune

So sure change them with what you want but unless they are really gritty or just feel weird new tuners aren’t going to be a big difference (at least tuning wise)

I personally prefer vintage split shaft so would change them but that’s just me

 

[Dismalhead]

I put locking tuners on a '96 MIA Strat and then I took the original MIA tuners and put them on a '99 MIM Standard Strat. After I'd done a couple I realized they seemed to be the same exact tuners. Not sure about all the years, but I'm pretty sure the MIMs have pro quality tuners already.

If you do replace them, you should consider locking tuners. So much easier to string. I've got them on a couple of guitars now.

 

[dreamingtele]

beautiful strat! the 70's vibe of white, black pickguard and large headstock works so well! I'm not usually a fan of 70's spec models.. but this one is nice!

I've only ever changed tuners once.. for two reasons, the Ping (korean) tuners have failed already.. (I did get almost 20+ years on them though), and I want gold tuners..

I havent changed any tuners since.. if it works, replace it when it breaks.. getting the nut cut correctly is a far more better use of money to maintain tuning stability rather than upgrading the tuners..

 

[hepular]

you answered it with current tuners feel loose. all the rest is rationalization, especially with instrument's status as continual project. get some (& shop around, you can beat $150 for sperzl/schallers (or gasp, get asian made that work as well).

 

[CB_2005]

I bought Fender ones and there were two different sizes in the package. I sent them back and bought cheap locking ones from Amazon. They work fine so far. I had Gotoh on the neck I replaced and they work great 30 years on. YMMV

 

[fenderchamp]

If it was me, I think I should get the best tuners money can buy for it. Hipshot makes some nice tuners. Kluson Revolutions are made just for the very scenario you're dealing with. Pick that nit, nobody wants loose lashing tuners on the couch!

Get your self a swanky new set of Lollar's, or maybe some Klein epics while you're at it. Maybe a nice spitfire tortoise pickguard, that would really dress that lil' ole stratocaster up but good.

 

[StoneH]

My '69 Strat has it's original tuners, and after 54 years, they are still smooth and tight. On the other hand, my 2022 CV50s didn't tune well out of the box (although many people have no issue). I bought vintage Gotohs that have been perfect. I'd change the tuners, but I also took a belt sander to a brand new guitar.

 

[jrblue]

A replacement German-made set would be about $150.

Making that leap seems, well, ridiculous. If you don't like the feel of the current tuners, you can get much better ones for way less than $150. Nobody on earth cares what tuners are on your guitar.

 

[John C]

If it was me, I think I should get the best tuners money can buy for it. Hipshot makes some nice tuners. Kluson Revolutions are made just for the very scenario you're dealing with. Pick that nit, nobody wants loose lashing tuners on the couch!

Get your self a swanky new set of Lollar's, or maybe some Klein epics while you're at it. Maybe a nice spitfire tortoise pickguard, that would really dress that lil' ole stratocaster up but good.

I would agree with the Kluson Revolutions - they are one of the few tuners that are made to directly replace those F-style tuners and they are about half the price of the Schallers (but they are about twice the price of the Fender tuners).

 

[tfarny]

gotohs have been 40 a set for a long time and are very good quality. yes i’ve had german ones.

 

[fender4life]

I'd just replace em with a new set of the same thing assuming those are worn out. I have them too on a late 80s RI tele and they're fine. The problem is for me is that no one makes a replacement thats just a better version of the vintage fender F tuner. The only replacements are heavier cast types that are no doubt good quality but when you add weight to the head it changes the dynamics. You may like the result, i don't and so i'm just mentioning it so you are aware before you jump in. It will add sustain but the dynamics will be lessened, sorta like compression. The degree to which that happens depends on the weight difference and how sensitive you are to tone and feel. It's somewhat subtle but i don't like the effect because to me great dynamics are one of the most important things i look for. So just thought i'd mention it. By the way, i have had a few reissue type fenders with F tuners and of them one set was sloppy. The others were not top notch but better then that one set and not problematic at all. I think a new set is pretty cheap, around $30 if i recall. And with a new set if there is 1 or more sloppy ones you could always take the tightest ones from your old and the new set and make one good tight set from them. Nice strat by the way, and coincidentally i have been intensely searching for the same model for the last few weeks, either MIM or USA depending on the deal.

 

[takauya]

I'd replace it with the Gotoh SD91 in a heartbeat. F tuners should be banned on this planet.

 

[northernguitar]

The tuners feel loose? Is it some that can be fixed by tightening the tuner screws or nuts? If that’s the case, fix them up and leave them. If not, perhaps a replacement is ideal. May as well buy locking tuners in the event you want to use the tremolo; this is the one time locking tuners help with tuning stability, plus they do make string changes a bit faster. Hipshot tuners offer exceptional value and won’t break the bank. They drop in quickly; I swapped min in less than ten minutes.

 

[tomasz]

If there is a specific problem with the tuners, that you cannot fix with machine oil and/or a small screwdriver. Otherwise, nope.

 

[Bruxist]

My experience with F style tuners is that they seem loose when you are not tightening, but hold just fine, all other things being equal.

If they feel loose when actually tuning the guitar, that is different and I would say replace them if it is bothering you.

I am also a fan of Gotoh's.

Is this a Classic Player 70's?

 

[Boreas]

IME, tuners don't just suddenly start slipping (wear out). Are they strung correctly?

After ruling out string slippage, I WILL say I am not a fan of Fender F logo tuners. I find them stiff and inaccurate. Fender sells replacements and I recently bought a set to put on a 70s neck, but they are stiff as well! I am a fan of the Kluson Revolution tuners.

 

[scelestus]

The tuners feel loose? Is it some that can be fixed by tightening the tuner screws or nuts? If that’s the case, fix them up and leave them. If not, perhaps a replacement is ideal. May as well buy locking tuners in the event you want to use the tremolo; this is the one time locking tuners help with tuning stability, plus they do make string changes a bit faster. Hipshot tuners offer exceptional value and won’t break the bank. They drop in quickly; I swapped min in less than ten minutes.

This was my thought right away. Those look like split shafts but the tuner heads look bigger. If there's a screw on the end of the tuner head, try tightening it a bit and seeing if that helps.

 

[THX1123]

Making that leap seems, well, ridiculous. If you don't like the feel of the current tuners, you can get much better ones for way less than $150. Nobody on earth cares what tuners are on your guitar.

I live on earth and I'm a little tiny bit concerned about what tuners are on his guitar.

There are enough choices out there that you should be able to change them (and change them back) without drilling, or reaming the holes out with a T-Handled reamer.

Will you enjoy trying new tuners? Then do it.

 

[Lou Tencodpees]

If preserving the original guitar isn't a concern and you've ruled out any repair/adjustments that can be made, then I think the decision is fairly academic. The one's you choose is merely a matter of personal preference.