I spy...

[BFC]

New locking tuners...

http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server3900/8f505/products/575/images/4614/CLDSSe__48956.1368483829.1280.1280.jpg

[Pietro]

Is this style going on all of them now?

[tom]

yup! after years of having to explain how the gotoh tuners work, we have found a new alternative. i personally love the gotoh tuners, the number of people that can't seem to figure out how they work has exceeded our tolerance for having to explain.
so we started looking for an alternative about a year ago. we found a company who is making tuners for lots of people you know, guitar makers and tuner makers, and they were very willing to listen to what we wanted.

we wanted the familiar rear tightening knob, and it needed to be large enough so that you didn't feel like you were wearing grooves in you fingers to get it tight enough. also we anted shaft heights to suit us and a smooth button. a finer ratio than we have would be nice, and we got 18:1 instead of 16:1. gotoh has always done a very nice job with polishing and plating, so we had to have at least as nice a job there too. we got all these, and the bonus is that they are a retro fit to the gotoh mounting screw location.

they are shipping now for all chrome guitars and when we run through the gold we have they will also show up there. they are also doing a split shaft tuner for us but it will be a little while till we use up what we have on those.

it's not very often that we as a manufacturer find a replacement part that fits all the criteria and doesn't break the bank either.

[BFC]

Very nice!

[bruce]

I just realized in the photo that all 6 strings are tuned to "A". It says so on the locking knobs. Cool feature.

[Big Harry]

...the number of people that can't seem to figure out how they work has exceeded our tolerance for having to explain....

Aha , I got you Tom !
Once the demand for (you know what demand :D ...) ...exceed your tolerance for postponing it for two years , those two tears will suddenly expire and -Hop !:):D

Good looking tuners btw !

[tom]

there may be hope for you zoran...

there are a couple of new things in store, one about ready to debut and one several months off. not to be a tease, just letting you know we are listening.

[Briggs]

there are a couple of new things in store, one about ready to debut and one several months off. not to be a tease, just letting you know we are listening.

Sweet! And nice job on the tuners too!

So any difference in the split shafts they will be doing and the ones currently on my Crowdy?

[Big Harry]

there may be hope for you zoran...

there are a couple of new things in store, one about ready to debut and one several months off. not to be a tease, just letting you know we are listening.

Just fantastic, thanks Tom and team !

[Danny21]

Very cool, i like the gotoh's but cool none the less.

[tom]

the split shaft will look the same as the current ones. the buttons will be the little softer shape like the lockers, and the ratio will be 18:1.

[Pietro]

i personally love the gotoh tuners, the number of people that can't seem to figure out how they work has exceeded our tolerance for having to explain.

I never had to ask and figured it out immediately... That said, neither of my guitars have locking tuners anymore...

Any more of the "inferior" older ones if I want them in chrome? Or are they gone?

[tom]

They are gone but I would entertain trades for few sets as I like them myself.

[kevin h]

i'm sure the new ones will be very nice or you would not make a move to them, but i sure don't understand people having a problem figuring out how to use the old ones. personally, they are my favorite tuner and i've used many different ones over the years. to each his own it guess.

[dannopelli]

I personally like the Gotoh. Never got on with the "knob-on-the-back style. In fact, I found I could restring more quickly with the Gotoh's than any other locking style. And they were low mass and very elegant. But I do understand the "customer is right" perspective.
Like KevinH says, "to each his own."

[Pietro]

It's not a big deal to me.

I LOVE the Sperzels I've had on 3 or 4 guitars, but the knob is too small, I'm sure I like this one better.

That said, now that I no longer have any guitars with locking tuners, I find I miss 'em way less than I thought I would. Changing strings isn't THAT much more difficult, and I do that while I'm watching TV anyway.

I might do the locking tuners on these guitars eventually... who knows...

[Casper]

I've got the very similar Schaller MD-9s on my Luke and I had never been a fan of the sperzel-type, but these are pretty easy to get used to. I didn't mind the Gotohs too much, however, I always had difficulty threading the wound strings and if you pulled up shallow on a string and were already locked, you basically had to throw a string away and start over.
I personallly love the split shaft, but these look awesome too! Good move Tom!

[csd]

iz cool. but just saying if there was a poll on new or gotoh style? I'd have to say my vote would be the gotoh's. I really liked them.

[tom]

You guys are the exception. I've had people in tears and yelling at me because of the gotohs. I'll spend at least an hour less on the phone each week with this change.

[Briggs]

I've had people in tears and yelling at me because of the gotohs. I'll spend at least an hour less on the phone each week with this change.

wow. just wow.

[gibson5413]

You guys are the exception. I've had people in tears and yelling at me because of the gotohs. I'll spend at least an hour less on the phone each week with this change.


How lame to get that emotional about that. Sorry you had to deal with that. If you had all of that time you could have used that time implementing F-holes. :p ;) :D

[Suriel Zayas]

F-holes. :p ;) :D

Please get it right! A-holes, not F-holes. Hipshot has similar tuners.

[dplight]

You guys are the exception. I've had people in tears and yelling at me because of the gotohs. I'll spend at least an hour less on the phone each week with this change.

I wonder how many calls you'll get over the new tuners?

Are the new ones much heavier? Gotta be a little bit it seems.

[Stys]

I personally like the Gotoh. Never got on with the "knob-on-the-back style. In fact, I found I could restring more quickly with the Gotoh's than any other locking style. And they were low mass and very elegant. But I do understand the "customer is right" perspective.
Like KevinH says, "to each his own."

Where is the "Like" button?

[tom]

hipshots are made at the same factory. i had talked to dave about doing his, but the skinny wheel on his made my fingers hurt like the sperzels. the skinny wheel looks cooler, but my fingers complained. the thicker wheel makes it very easy to know when you're tight enough. i also wanted the bonus of retro fit hole pattern so we went with the alternate housing.
16 Grams heavier on the lockers.

the gotoh is faster to me as well, but like i said, we get calls almost daily having to explain the gotohs even though we have directions on our site.

time will tell if we get calls about the new ones, but i think everyone that had trouble with the gotoh said they had experience with the real wheel type and preferred them. the masses have spoken.

so far i have used up a week of gotoh explaining time on these new ones...

[mdrs]

Please get it right! A-holes, not F-holes. Hipshot has similar tuners.

My next Anderson will have at least one A-hole.

I'm waiting.

Patiently.

:)

[Ray K.]

Tom, You just can't please everyone, as you well know...but, you sure seem to give it your best shot. Thank you, sir!! :)

I'm another Gotoh fan and am sorry to see them go. But, that has never been a "deal breaker" for me. In the future, if the Gotoh's are still not an option on a TAG, I wouldn't hesitate to still order/buy. Then I would hunt down a set, even if they didn't have the "A" logo and replace 'em.

Thanks,
Ray K.

[tom]

Without the a logo you would not get the staggered post heights.

[csd]

ya ive put them on all my other guitars and certainly appreciate the staggered height as on the Andys. A little bit of life happens to all of us, right?!
I too am sorry youve dealt with such questions.

Without the a logo you would not get the staggered post heights.

[CoKid]

I'm wondering if these would fit a '97 TA Classic that currently has a set of Grovers.

[Ray K.]

Without the a logo you would not get the staggered post heights.True, but I'm thinking there should be plenty of folks willing to trade tuner sets (their Gotoh's for the new style lockers) if the staggered Gotoh's are no longer available. With as many calls as you've been getting, there out to be plenty available on the trade/for sale market, I'm guessing.

Ray

[wolf]

Sorry to interrupt but what difficulty can someone POSSIBLY have with the Gotohs ?
Turn it and it tightens, loosen it and pop a coin in the slot until it lets go of the string !
DOH :eek:

[tom]

i think people see the slot and try to tighten it with the string inside which is never going to work. you'd be amazed by the things we hear. remember my story about the guy that was complaining that his guitar made a static sound when he dragged it across an electric blanket...

[markus]

remember my story about the guy that was complaining that his guitar made a static sound when he dragged it across an electric blanket...
I'd love to read that thread!!!!! :D

[gibson5413]

+1

lol!! Me too.

[uburoibob]

I've never called about the Gotohs cuz I understand how to use them, but I have cursed them on occasion when having to change a string. Sperzels or these - TO ME - are much faster if you find yourself without a head cranking tool. That said, I think the last time I broke a string live was 20 years ago (so I guess I am speaking hypothetically for no good reason other than I love the knobs on the back from playing a FLY for 20 years). I am playing less pick-intense music these days...

So, will the new ones fit the holes I already have in my Short-T from 2012, or would I have to some adapting? Wait, I think I just read a post that says they will fit retroactively. So, the inevitable question...can I buy a set of the new ones?

Bob

[tom]

to restate, yes they are a direct replacement for the gotohs. you can even use the same huts and washers.
we do have enough now that they can be bought. i'd have to look up the price, but they are not more expensive than the old ones. i already have my first taker for a swap.

[uburoibob]

to restate, yes they are a direct replacement for the gotohs. you can even use the same huts and washers.
we do have enough now that they can be bought. i'd have to look up the price, but they are not more expensive than the old ones. i already have my first taker for a swap.

I'll swap you!

Bob

[uburoibob]

Are the buttons the same size as the old ones? I bought custom ivoroid buttons for my Short-T and would love to be able to use them with the new heads.

Bob

[tom]

i just tried trading buttons, and the new ones appear to have a larger dimension on the flats on the button shaft. i tried a new button on a gotoh and it swam on it even with the screw tightened. so your gotoh fitting button would probably not go onto the new tuner.

[uburoibob]

i just tried trading buttons, and the new ones appear to have a larger dimension on the flats on the button shaft. i tried a new button on a gotoh and it swam on it even with the screw tightened. so your gotoh fitting button would probably not go onto the new tuner.

Thanks for doing that Tom. I have a set that I ordered first to fit Grover/Gotoh that might work. They were too big for the Short-T, so I ordered the smaller ones. If they don't fit, no big deal.

I am still up for a swap, though, if you are. Just please let me know what to do.

Bob

[tom]

just send the tuners with $10 to cover the return. and they are yours. providing of course the gotohs are pretty.

[uburoibob]

Deal - I will give you a call tomorrow.

Thanks,
Bob

[dannopelli]

Deal - I will give you a call tomorrow.

Thanks,
Bob
If you want to sell your old ivoroid buttons PM me. I have two white Anderson's they would look pretty on.

[tom]

for anyone who is going to send in for a swap, please tighten the locking caps on before packing. the set i got today had them all over the place and one is lost.

[uburoibob]

for anyone who is going to send in for a swap, please tighten the locking caps on before packing. the set i got today had them all over the place and one is lost.

Thanks for the tip. Will do that before I ship.

Bob

[uburoibob]

Got the tuners today and installed them. I know it makes me a tuner wimp, but I really love them!

Thanks Tom!

Bob