The Griffinator
Well-Known Member
This is my first major upgrade or mod to any of my guitars aside from a the odd pickup swap. I though I would document the process and share the results.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8666269872_d607cafecb.jpg)
034 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
This is my Ibanez SZ 520. It was the first guitar I ever bought entirely on my own. It's a guitar I will never part with, but I've recently grown unhappy with the stock tuners. the keys look too big for the headstock, and the don't seem to hold tuning very well. The posts do not extend very far out of the headstock, making it difficult to get enough wraps around the post to get a stable tuning.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8666264150_ffb3aac3fb.jpg)
035 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
My solution! Grover mini locking Rotomatics!
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8666258936_8a2a2256c6.jpg)
036 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
A test fit, I like the look a lot more already.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8666255398_c623da9b70.jpg)
039 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
Looks like I'm going to need to drill some new holes. I marked the drill bit with some tape to make sure I don't go too deep.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8257/8666252930_898bf56c89.jpg)
045 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
Success! no finish chips at all!
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8665150201_7176044571.jpg)
047 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
installed and ready to go.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8666242582_9aefd22b05.jpg)
049 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
The last step!!!
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8665136421_4fa481c12b.jpg)
051 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
Annnnnnnnnnnnd done. I've never owned a guitar with locking tuners before, I'm really digging it. I have a few more guitars that will see this upgrade, I'm going to try some different brands and see if there is a difference between them.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8666269872_d607cafecb.jpg)
034 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
This is my Ibanez SZ 520. It was the first guitar I ever bought entirely on my own. It's a guitar I will never part with, but I've recently grown unhappy with the stock tuners. the keys look too big for the headstock, and the don't seem to hold tuning very well. The posts do not extend very far out of the headstock, making it difficult to get enough wraps around the post to get a stable tuning.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8666264150_ffb3aac3fb.jpg)
035 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
My solution! Grover mini locking Rotomatics!
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8666258936_8a2a2256c6.jpg)
036 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
A test fit, I like the look a lot more already.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8666255398_c623da9b70.jpg)
039 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
Looks like I'm going to need to drill some new holes. I marked the drill bit with some tape to make sure I don't go too deep.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8257/8666252930_898bf56c89.jpg)
045 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
Success! no finish chips at all!
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8665150201_7176044571.jpg)
047 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
installed and ready to go.
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8666242582_9aefd22b05.jpg)
049 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
The last step!!!
![](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8665136421_4fa481c12b.jpg)
051 by The_Griffinator, on Flickr
Annnnnnnnnnnnd done. I've never owned a guitar with locking tuners before, I'm really digging it. I have a few more guitars that will see this upgrade, I'm going to try some different brands and see if there is a difference between them.