Which Tuning Machines

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jonhall5446

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hey everybody,

I am ready to buy new tuning machines for my Les Paul Custom. Any suggestions?

I have a Taylor that has Govers and I love them. I am considering those but I can't decide between locking or the standard. I assume that the olny difference is the better gear ratio, but other than that do you have to lock it somehow?

Anyway, not totally set on Grovers, so I though I'd ask you!
 
I have put Gotohs on most of my regularly used guitars. Very good.
 
I have Waverlys, though they're on a slothead acoustic not a Les Paul. But they're supposed to be the best and, so far, I believe it.
 
They are also open-gear and that may not look cool on an LP. But acoustic players swear by them.
 
Gotoh 510's are the best, and I see no reason to ever use anything else. Allparts has them, so your local shop can get them, or you can get them yourself. You might pay less with a dealer though, as Allparts will charge you full retail.

I will not use any other gear on any guitar I build, anymore. The 510's are better machined, better designed, and just down right cooler than anything else out there. There is no backlash to them, so you can ALMOST tune down to a note (not really, as the string can still stick in the nut, but almost). They are, bar none, the best.


Light

“Cowards can never be moral.”
M.K Gandhi
 
jalbert said:
I have Waverlys, though they're on a slothead acoustic not a Les Paul. But they're supposed to be the best and, so far, I believe it.
Click to expand...

Waverley's are the best open back gears, but the Gotoh 510's are better gears. We use Waverly's when customers want that old fashion look, but as good as they are, they are not machined as well as the 510's.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
I totally agree with Light. The 510's are, by far, the best tuner on the market today. SUPER accurate, and silky smooth, not to mention they look way cool. Not that expensive either.
 
I'll look at the 510's then. Thanks for everyone's advice
 
Sperzels

I have Sperzel Locking Tuners, and I've never had to worry about going out of tune at a show. They may not look very good on a Les Paul, but I think locking tuners are the way to go.
 
Young Squire said:
I have Sperzel Locking Tuners, and I've never had to worry about going out of tune at a show. They may not look very good on a Les Paul, but I think locking tuners are the way to go.
Click to expand...


Locking tuners are fine, and you need them if you are going to have a trem. For a Les Paul, they are not necessary if you know how to string your guitar. And if you do need them, Gotoh is making a locking 510, and their locking mechanism is very cool. There are no knobs to lock it. You put the string in, and the process of tuning up to pitch locks in the string. Very cool stuff.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
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