Who makes the better tuners?

[OzzyC]

I want to build a guitar in the (distant) future, and there are three tuning machines I'm trying to choose between.

Gotoh SG38 (locking)
Schaller mini locking
Planet Waves Auto trim

Gotohs- Price is about half of the other two.
Schaller- I've heard many good things about them.
PW- higher ratio and string cutting (A gimmick, I know. But it's a cool gimmick. ) And the 7th is free.

 

[Durero]

My fave is LSR

LSR Precision Tuners

 

[OzzyC]

My fave is LSR

LSR Precision Tuners

One thing I didn't mention was that this would be a Strat. LSRs don't really fit in with that theme, but thanks.

I hope to one day:
carve a new body for it out of swamp ash
routed for Hipshot Contour trem
HSS or SSS

make a new neck
maple
with a rock maple F/B
SS frets- tall and narrow (If I can find them)
trem nut
side dots
reversed inline
tung oiled w/ clear over the headstock (for my logo)
and a logo I may create

basically, building a new guitar part by part.


If my math is right (Which it should be ) It'll cost 900 in the end....plus any tools I may need. (But I have a friend who may be able to help me as far as tools go.)

 

[Popsyche]

Of the ones you mentioned, I'd go with the Schallers, but nothing wrong with Gotoh, either.

 

[Durero]

I take it you mean you're going for a traditional look?

I've got Black LSRs on my strat-style 6, and I think they look wicked and feel smooth as silk. But then I'm a bit of a geek


My second choice would definitely be the Planet Waves 'cause I'm really curious to try them.

 

[OzzyC]

I take it you mean you're going for a traditional look?

I've got Black LSRs on my strat-style 6, and I think they look wicked and feel smooth as silk. But then I'm a bit of a geek


My second choice would definitely be the Planet Waves 'cause I'm really curious to try them.

Yeah, basically.

If/ when I play live, I don't want everyone staring at the tuners- they may figure out it's a 7 before I get to the low B/A/ or lower riffage.
I think it would certainly turn some heads to hear that after I tell people I play a mid-low priced Squier.

And besides all that, it's a 7, so I'd have to buy two sets.

 

[HighGain510]

Someone just posted that if you buy planet waves and send them your receipt they will send you the extra tuner for a 7 set at no extra charge, so you don't have to buy 2 sets for 1 tuner! Major cool points awarded to them for that. Personally, Sperzel and Schaller make my favorite locking tuners!

 

[eaeolian]

I've had good luck with all three, but I have Sperzels on one guitar and Planet Waves on two. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[OzzyC]

Someone just posted that if you buy planet waves and send them your receipt they will send you the extra tuner for a 7 set at no extra charge, so you don't have to buy 2 sets for 1 tuner! Major cool points awarded to them for that. Personally, Sperzel and Schaller make my favorite locking tuners!

Yeah, that is really cool. But, you may notice that I alluded to that in my first post. When I said that, I was referring to LSRs which AFAIK, doesn't supply extra tuners.

 

[Durero]

I've made several orders of 7 tuners from LSR. They'll happily send you any number you'd like - I ordered 14 once. They charge an individual tuner price for the extra though, which is not as nice as free like Planet Waves.

 

[Stitch]

I've had good luck with all three, but I have Sperzels on one guitar and Planet Waves on two. Draw your own conclusions.

They ran out of Sperzels at your local machinehead dealer?

 

[Kakaka]

Sperzelizzle fa shizzle, ma nizzle!