tuner problem on Drop Top.

[pittster]

Hello All-
have just joined this allustrious club - purchased a Hollow T DT in light tiger eye burst - made 03-22-04P bought from replayboy who posts on this website-am very pleased with the gtr, it's fantastic, save for one thing - the tuners!
Have emailed Tom A. but it's got to the point where I don't want to keep hassling him-
my problem is I've been told they're Gotohs, yet they seem to work (using the Anderson website guide) like the Grovers. To explain, the string does not automatically clamp/un-clamp like the website FAQ says it should-the only way it does clamp is if the top of the slotted post is kept still with a coin/screwdriver, this sounds like the Grovers? the guitar didn't come with a supplied 'grover tool' as it says in the FAQ for grover stringing.
Can anyone help with suggestions-am sure I must be doing this wrong as the stringing seem so fiddly!
many thanks for any ideas :)

[Stan Malinowski]

Based on the production date of your Andy you have the Gotoh Tuners. You can tell the Grover versions by the knurled cap on the tuner.

With the Gotohs it is still necessary to hold the locking part of the tuner from moving by placing a coin in the slot you mention. It only has to be held for about a half turn or so of the tuning key. The lock will loosen, turn the tuning keys a couple of more turns and the string should be able to be pulled out.

[pittster]

thanks Stan-
is it me or are these tuners a bit of a pain in the ****?
are there any other types that can retro-fit and just drop into the tuner hole with no routing? have a feeling I read somewhere that Tom posted about there being a 'conspiracy' in the tuner business and no 2 tuners fit into the same hole....is this true?

[killerburst]

I just put the string through the slot, hold it taught, and turn the knob. I haven't found any need for a key or coin when locking the string. As the the inner shaft rotates counter clockwise, the string holds the outer shaft in place. This causes the two parts to thread togather with the string in between them. Once there is enough tension, the string is locked. You do need a coin or key (or a hard pick) to unlock the string, however.

Give them some time. Once you get used to them, they are very easy to use.

[Stan Malinowski]

I haven't found any need for a key or coin when locking the string.

I have to note that Jon is absolutely correct when he says you dont need to hold the slot when tightening, I've only found it necessary when unlocking or removing strings. When tightening sometimes it takes a few turns of the tuning keys before the lock catches.

I have a variety of different lockings tuners on my guitars (Sperzels, other styles of Gotoh, PRS) and would say the Gotohs are amonst the easiest to use.

[BrownDog]

Just slip the string through the hole and turn, it "automatically locks." The only time I use a coin is to removed a string - after the string is slack, just an ever-so-slight turn and the string is released.

Plus, I feel they hold their tune very well on my fixed bridge Hollow T.

With tone and oneness, Mike.

[dpeterson]

i just hold my thumb down on the top while i'm turning the string winder, and it will catch, or a nickel.

dave

[Gary F.]

Tuners are a personal choice these days. It's my opinion that the Gotoh's TAG uses are slightly inelegant because of the need for a coin to unlock the strings. Breaking a string on my DTC at rehearsal or a gig necessitates unusual fumbling, for me. I have chosen to go with Sperzels on my upcoming Classic. Easy to use, lightweight, no 'tools' needed and they hold their tuning well. Unfortunately, they are not a perfect retrofit for existing Andersons.

p.s.- Stan, I just checked out your collection. Anyone ever tell you that you have an AMAZING group of axes?

[Stan Malinowski]

Gary,

Thanks for the compliment! My wife has a few things to say about the collection, amazing is not one the terms!:D

I also have to break the news to her about the Andy I just ordered on Friday, have to wait for the right moment for that!

[Gary F.]

The girls never understand, do they?

[pittster]

Tom has just answered on my personal email, and many thanks for your replies...am getting to grips with the Gotohs, they don't seem so evil as they did 24 hrs ago (just before my first gig with the gtr!) :-)

[BFC]

I've been using these tuners since Anderson switched over to them. I just use a string winder, period. To unlock them I just spin the winder until the string is completely slack, then keep going until it starts to tighten again in the opposite direction, keep going and it'll make a popping sound when it unlocks, keep going while pulling on the string down by the nut and the string should just slide right out. I crank on the string winder as fast as I can go and it only takes a matter of seconds to get the tuner to unlock.

The only time this doesn't work is when a string has broken. Then I'll use a small screwdriver.

Brian

[MapleGuitar]

I can only think of one or two things I wish Tom would change in his guitars... and one of those would be to use Sperzels as the default tuners.

It always seems that I need 3 hands to change strings with my TA guitars.

I've never asked before, maybe this is a good time: Tom, why don't you use Sperzels? Not trying to pick a fight, but I'm curious if it's sonics, quality, economics, or some other reason?

> It's my opinion that the Gotoh's TAG uses are
> slightly inelegant because of the need for a coin
> to unlock the strings. Breaking a string on my
> DTC at rehearsal or a gig necessitates unusual
> fumbling, for me. I have chosen to go with
> Sperzels on my upcoming Classic.

[killerburst]

I can't answer for Tom, but I'll tell you why I don't like Sperzels. I'd be curious to hear Tom's reasons as well.

-The ratio is only 12:1. That combined with a fairly jerky gear movement makes it difficult to fine tune the guitar. It's very easy to over shoot the pitch you're trying to reach and have to repeat several times, no matter how carefully you turn the peg.

-The plating is horrible. I've seen new product fresh from Sperzel with plating blisters and pits. There is probably a good reason why they only offered brushed anodized finishes initially. Maybe it's difficult to plate aluminum. In any case, I'd rather have cast zinc housings and buttons with high-quality plating.

-They're too bulky. The mass of the tuners accounts for a large percentage of the whole headstock mass. Despite Aspen Pittman's claims that more mass on the headstock is "better", I prefer a tuner with a lower mass. I developed this peference after installing Sperzels on a guitar with traditional gears, hating how they changed the sound, and noting that the sound improved (returned to "normal") after reverting to the original tuners.

-It's very easy to loosen the thumb screw past it's detent position. If the thumb screw comes out, it loses its detent permanently and you always have to be conscious of how far you unscrew the thumbscrew. Otherwise, the pin could fall out (it does this easily). Lose the pin at a gig and you're toast.

There's a simple way of installing strings on non-locking tuners that effectively minimizes string wraps and gives the same benefit as locking tuners. I would rather have non-locking Gotoh or Schaller pegs and spend the extra few moments at string changing time than use Sperzels any day.

Just my 2 cents.

Next time on "Meet the 'Burst": Why I hate Wilkinson bridges.

[dannopelli]

Originally posted by killerburst

-They're too bulky. The mass of the tuners accounts for a large percentage of the whole headstock mass. Despite Aspen Pittman's claims that more mass on the headstock is "better", I prefer a tuner with a lower mass. I developed this peference after installing Sperzels on a guitar with traditional gears, hating how they changed the sound, and noting that the sound improved (returned to "normal") after reverting to the original tuners.


Next time on "Meet the 'Burst": Why I hate Wilkinson bridges.

I have to agree with this assessment too. Once you get the hang of it the TAG tuners are VERY easy to use. And IMHO the reduced mass improves tone. Produces a bit more wood resonance.

I too noticed a change for the better on my PRS guitars when switching from the old bulky "wing" tuners to their newer version.

And I have a Strat with Sperzel type tuners that I am going to install Gotoh's soon.

But each his own when it comes to this. Use what works for you!