Locking Tuners, Do or Do Not Like!

[wileypickett]

Ever play an SG?

Not sure I ever played an actual SG, but I played SG style guitars in my early days. I eventually settled on Strat style electrics -- I preferred the sound.

The 12-string electric I used for decades though was a Hagstrom with a headstock larger than any SG and with 12 full-sized tuners. On that one I used an untanned leather strap and never felt like the neck was too heavy.

Possibly of interest:

What Is "neck dive" and How to Fix it - Our Complete Guide - Killer Guitar Rigs

We go over the causes and some popular solutions to the all too common issue of neck dive - if you're an SG player, you'll want to read this!

killerguitarrigs.com

Note solution #3:

"Get a wide or grippy strap . . . We recently tried out one of Levy’s 3″ wide leather straps and it was able to keep our SG in place with no issues. On top of that, being a very wide strap, it made wearing something heavy like a Gibson Les Paul very comfortable, even for long stretches. Well worth checking out, and not just for neck dive."

I suspect the Levy's was similar to what I was using way back when.

But back to the question posed by the poster of the thread: I use both locking and traditional (non-locking) tuners. I'm not advocating the use of one over the other, but the weight of the tuners is a non-issue for me. I can't discern a difference.

It's all about convenience, speed and higher tuning ratios.

 

[tonepoet]

For "neck-dive" I found the solution to be 100% cotton straps, especially with a larger, coarser weave. Those straps stay on my shoulder where I put them. Nylon straps just slip and slide.

It's a matter of individual playing style, but when standing, I have the neck angled where the headstock is about even with my head. So, I need a strap that stays in place. The extra weight that locking tuners may have is not an issue for me.

 

[GAD]

Not sure I ever played an actual SG, but I played SG style guitars in my early days. I eventually settled on Strat style electrics -- I preferred the sound.

The 12-string electric I used for decades though was a Hagstrom with a headstock larger than any SG and with 12 full-sized tuners. On that one I used an untanned leather strap and never felt like the neck was too heavy.

Possibly of interest:

What Is "neck dive" and How to Fix it - Our Complete Guide - Killer Guitar Rigs

We go over the causes and some popular solutions to the all too common issue of neck dive - if you're an SG player, you'll want to read this!

killerguitarrigs.com

Note solution #3:

"Get a wide or grippy strap . . . We recently tried out one of Levy’s 3″ wide leather straps and it was able to keep our SG in place with no issues. On top of that, being a very wide strap, it made wearing something heavy like a Gibson Les Paul very comfortable, even for long stretches. Well worth checking out, and not just for neck dive."

I suspect the Levy's was similar to what I was using way back when.

But back to the question posed by the poster of the thread: I use both locking and traditional (non-locking) tuners. I'm not advocating the use of one over the other, but the weight of the tuners is a non-issue for me. I can't discern a difference.

It's all about convenience, speed and higher tuning ratios.

Most neck dive complaints I see are from SGs and I didn’t really get it until I owned one. Yowsa. It’s not just about headstock mass: the neck weight and body weight matter, too. The SG is terribly balanced.

Yes a grippy strap helps but with an SG then the grippy strap is pulling your shirt down constantly. A Guild S100 balances way better than an SG. I don’t think I’ve ever played a more poorly balanced guitar than a Gibson SG.

 

[tonepoet]

A Guild S100 balances way better than an SG. I don’t think I’ve ever played a more poorly balanced guitar than a Gibson SG.

Good to know. I haven't played either the S-100 or SG yet, but I do have the Epiphone EB-0 bass that is the SG style and it is a neck diver.

On the Epi bass, I added a strap button to the upper bout that helped. It balanced the bass better than the strap button they have on the heel of the neck.