Official Luthiers Forum!

Has anybody else given the open back tuners a try? http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/Tuning_Machines/Solid_Peghead_Guitar_Tuning_Machines/Economy_Open_Gear_3and3_Tuners.html

I bought some a while back, and just stuck one on my test mule guitar, and I love it. Smooth turning, no backlash, and lighter weight than anything but Pegheds or Gotoh Stealth, both of which cost more per tuner than these do for a whole set Where's the catch? Did I just get a lucky good one? The gear ratio is fairly low at 14:1, but it feels more than accurate enough to me. And the buttons are kind of ugly white plastic rectangles, but I'm sure I can get some wood ones stuck on there some whichaway.

"Where's the catch? "

Although that type of construction can work fairly well initially, and can be "tuned up" several times, it eventually (in the not terribly distant future) gets a bit sloppy. I'm sure they are fine for a test mule, but I wouldn't bother about the wooden buttons.
I use them for cheap instruments where cost is paramount, but on a decent instrument Kluson or Grover tuners are about as low as I go.

I know those tuners...they will break...

Never tried those,
but I went from Schaller, to Gotoh stealth,
which are both really good,
but I'm trying Grover sta-tite for me next build.
They seem nice and tight,
18/1, which I really like,
and they were 42 bucks,
so, they seemed like a good deal,
and they look shweeet!

Aww, I hate it when the catch is in the future. I take it the problem is the hook-like metal bits that hold the worm gear? They do look pretty fragile if the keys ever get snagged on anything, or yanked around by overzealous use of a string winder. Guess I'll stick with sta-tites...

Yeah,
It's the hook like metal bits that don't provide a well supported bearing surface and tend to wear out. On the plus side, the "hooks" can be tapped down to tighten them up several times before the tuners need to be replaced. If you don't mind tinkering with tuners they can work reasonably well.

We used them for all our student guitars over many years. At least 150 sets, only a few defective ones. I don't play that much, but I've not noticed any get sloppy on my own guitars.

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David Malicky

" I don't play that much, but I've not noticed any get sloppy on my own guitars."

"don't play that much" and "guitars" (plural) are operative words. The tuners are not complete junk, and if you don't play that much, and use a number of guitars they will last for years. And they can be tightened up with a few taps of a small hammer. They are cheap and easily replaced.

I just bought a set of Grover locking tuners and it came with a bridge and tailpiece off and Epiphone SG on Ebay. I didn't need the bridge or tail but maybe they'll come in handy in the future. They are new and came off of one of these shipping destroyed new instrument from a music store. $34 with free shipping. I frequently look for stuff like this that will go on some not so special instruments or for repair jobs. I just can't see paying full price sometimes. While we are talking tuners has anyone used the Graph tech ratio tuners? Varying gear ratios for each string. Look interesting but a little pricey compared to Grovers or something similar.

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Another day, another dollar.