Fun fact: I played guitar for several decades before I got serious about learning the intricacies of the instrument.
A good case in point is locking tuners. I was oblivious to them for many, many years until a friend gifted me a set for doing some work on his guitar.
If you are a normal guitarist like I was, you may not exactly know what locking tuners are either. If so, don’t fear! We’re going to talk about them today, explain what they are, and discuss why you might choose to use them (or not).
What are locking tuners?
Locking tuners are pretty much exactly what they sound like: tuning machines on the headstock of your guitar that lock the string into place. This is in contrast to traditional tuning machines, which require you to wrap the guitar string around the post to create enough friction to keep the strings from slipping.
It seems like every manufacturer has their own “special” type of locking tuner, but they all basically rely on a post or clamp to bite into and secure the string. The mechanism usually moves into place via turning a screw.
The benefit of locking tuners is really one of efficiency and speed. In fact, they were first used in live settings because guitar techs needed a way to change out broken strings quickly during shows.
The only benefit of locking tuners is efficiency and speed.
But that’s not only the main benefit — I would go so far as to say it’s the only benefit. And that’s not a dig; it is a nice upgrade. Switching from traditional to locking tuners makes string changes an absolute breeze. The set I got even clips off the excess string length for you, which is super cool.
Busting some myths about locking tuners
There is a pervasive myth on the internet, however, that locking tuners actually contribute to your guitar staying in tune. The claim is that the locking feature prevents string slippage, thus keeping the string at the right tension at all times — unlike regular tuning machines.
But the reality is this argument is highly suspect. First of all, there are ways to string a guitar with traditional tuners such that the strings don’t slip. Second, no quality tuning machine will slip, traditional or otherwise. I personally think that what often happens is a player replaces a subpar set of tuners with a locking set and notices a difference. But so far as I know, there are no low-end locking tuners on the market, so it becomes a difference in quality rather than design.
In other words, locking tuners function equally well as, but no better than, other tuners of similar quality. And from my own personal experience, that holds true.
Locking tuners are not a cure-all for tuning issues!
It’s also worth noting that your guitar can go out of tune for a whole host of reasons, and tuners are only one piece of the puzzle. An incorrectly cut nut, poor-quality strings, and even heat and humidity changes can all affect tuning stability. Locking tuners are not a cure-all for tuning issues!
Should you upgrade your guitar to locking tuners?
Locking tuners can be a nice upgrade to your guitar if you are comfortable dropping 60 to several hundred dollars on a new set. They do make string changes easy. And if you are replacing a lower-quality set, they will probably help with overall tuning stability.
But they are by no means the only legitimate option, as some guitarists make them seem. Any good-quality tuning machine will work just as well, especially if you know how to use them properly.
In the end, like so many guitar decisions, there is no one “right” answer. So evaluate the pros and cons, check your budget, and make the best decision for yourself. Good luck!
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