Just bought a set of Grover RotoGrip Locking tuners!

[MrDan666]

Just ordered a set to replace the original tuners on my '78 Gibson LP Custom! I'm hoping that they will work out great and improve tuning stability/make string changes quicker too.

The original Gibson branded Schaller tuners on the guitar are pretty worn out, although the gold plating still looks near perfect considering they're 31 years old

Anyone using the Grover RotoGrip tuners? If so, how do you like them?

Cheers!
Dan

 

[GITTarzann]

I am interested to see how they work for you.

I have a '78 Custom in need of replacement tuners as well.

 

[MrDan666]

I am interested to see how they work for you.

I have a '78 Custom in need of replacement tuners as well.

Nice!! My '78 is my fav guitar, the 3 piece maple neck really gives it an extra boost that the usual mahogany necked LP's lack IMO.

I'll have them anytime in the next 7 days, so once i have them installed i'll give a full report on them!

 

[thiswaythatway]

Any drilling required or do they drop right in?

 

[MrDan666]

Any drilling required or do they drop right in?

On my LP Custom it will most likely need another small hole to be drilled in the back, for the screw that holds them in place.. As the tuners they put on the LP Custom's back in '78 are different to what they come with now i think.

On a newer LP Custom there's a good chance they may fit straight in without any need for extra drilling

The thing i liked about the RotoGrip tuner compared to the RotoMatic tuner, is that the RotoGrip tuner has the locking thumbwheel on the back similar to the Sperzel or Planet Waves Locking tuners. I definitely prefer this method more than the ones without the thumbwheel!

The Sperzel's are cool, i have them on my GMW. But i dont like the way they look on LP's.. The Grovers look more like a stock Gibson tuner. Plus the Grovers have 18:1 gear ratio, while the Sperzels are 12:1.. So the Grover will tune more fine/accurately!

 

[Digital Jams]

Any drilling required or do they drop right in?

You hanging it or playing it boy?

I like my vintage locking tuners I have, string changes are fast and even without a string tree I have little tuning issues.

 

[killertone]

I have Sperzels on 2 of my customs and they are awesome. Kind of a PITA to install but they work great. I think they might make them easier to install these days, I have had mine for about 4 or 5 years.

 

[thiswaythatway]

You know, I'll probably pass on locking tuners since my LP holds tuning well. I have a book at home that covers everything from amp bias, to pickup swaps, to frets, etc. I never bothered to look at string changing. Funny, i used to just put the string through the hole and start winding which apparently is the wrong method. I used followed the book and it seems the strings hold better. Even if i had a Floyd I'd probably do it this way, unless i had locking tuners.

 

[MrDan666]

I have Sperzels on 2 of my customs and they are awesome. Kind of a PITA to install but they work great. I think they might make them easier to install these days, I have had mine for about 4 or 5 years.

I had Sperzels on my R7 Goldtop LP, and they worked great and also weren't really a pain to install. This was about a year and a half ago. I think you're right, the older ones may have been a bit trickier to install!

One thing i know for sure though, is that the actual tuner holes in the headstock needed to be reamed out a little in order to fit the Sperzels through the holes. Im pretty sure this isnt necessary with the Grovers, but we'll see how it goes when i receive them!

 

[MrDan666]

You know, I'll probably pass on locking tuners since my LP holds tuning well. I have a book at home that covers everything from amp bias, to pickup swaps, to frets, etc. I never bothered to look at string changing. Funny, i used to just put the string through the hole and start winding which apparently is the wrong method. I used followed the book and it seems the strings hold better. Even if i had a Floyd I'd probably do it this way, unless i had locking tuners.

Dan, you're right the locking tuners aren't necessary at all if you know what your doing as far as keeping the guitar setup and stringing them the right way.

I have the Dan Erlewine book which covers all that stuff in detail, but im such a lazy bastard that i never bothered with it.

Im so used to the simple method of restringing using Locking Tuners, that i thought screw learning how to string the 'correct way'.. i'll just put Locking tuners on my LP too and do it the lazy 'easy' way

 

[thiswaythatway]

You know, I'll probably pass on locking tuners since my LP holds tuning well. I have a book at home that covers everything from amp bias, to pickup swaps, to frets, etc. I never bothered to look at string changing. Funny, i used to just put the string through the hole and start winding which apparently is the wrong method. I used followed the book and it seems the strings hold better. Even if i had a Floyd I'd probably do it this way, unless i had locking tuners.

Dan, you're right the locking tuners aren't necessary at all if you know what your doing as far as keeping the guitar setup and stringing them the right way.

I have the Dan Erlewine book which covers all that stuff in detail, but im such a lazy bastard that i never bothered with it.

Im so used to the simple method of restringing using Locking Tuners, that i thought screw learning how to string the 'correct way'.. i'll just put Locking tuners on my LP too and do it the lazy 'easy' way

*in my best Homer Simpson impression* mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Lazy.

 

[killertone]

I have Sperzels on 2 of my customs and they are awesome. Kind of a PITA to install but they work great. I think they might make them easier to install these days, I have had mine for about 4 or 5 years.

I had Sperzels on my R7 Goldtop LP, and they worked great and also weren't really a pain to install. This was about a year and a half ago. I think you're right, the older ones may have been a bit trickier to install!

One thing i know for sure though, is that the actual tuner holes in the headstock needed to be reamed out a little in order to fit the Sperzels through the holes. Im pretty sure this isnt necessary with the Grovers, but we'll see how it goes when i receive them!

Yeah, that reaming was the worst part. I don't think you have to do that anymore, a friend of mine just installed some and said he didn't have to do it.

 

[MrDan666]

I have been looking for something to use with my R8 Les Paul. These look like they might be the answer...as long as I dont have to enlarge the post holes.

Dave, i should have them soon.. ordered them from StewMac and the delivery says 3-7 working days. Once i get them i'll let you know if there's any modification required

 

[MrDan666]

*in my best Homer Simpson impression* mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Lazy.

 

[MrDan666]

Yeah, that reaming was the worst part. I don't think you have to do that anymore, a friend of mine just installed some and said he didn't have to do it.

Yeah i think it all depends on the guitar you put them in... I guess its possible the holes may be bigger on some other Les Pauls, which would mean no reaming required!

 

[MrDan666]

I have been looking for something to use with my R8 Les Paul. These look like they might be the answer...as long as I dont have to enlarge the post holes.

Dave, i should have them soon.. ordered them from StewMac and the delivery says 3-7 working days. Once i get them i'll let you know if there's any modification required

Thank you my friend!!!

No problem bro! I just wish they would arrive like right now .. the LP desperately needs a restring and i don't want to have to use up a pack now and then have to restring when i recieve the tuners!

 

[Gainiac]

Hey, just reading some of these and thinking about the 'tuning problem' guitars I've had come in the shop over the years, I cant TELL you how many were "mis-wound 'round the peg" issues, it's insane....
and as far as locking tuners, I've got the sperzels on 2 of my toys and what a JOY to slam the strings home in seconds flat, it makes the floyd string replacement soooo much faster.... Locking tuners RULE!!

Dan, let us know how you like those babies once u get em in there!

H

 

[MrDan666]

Hey, just reading some of these and thinking about the 'tuning problem' guitars I've had come in the shop over the years, I cant TELL you how many were "mis-wound 'round the peg" issues, it's insane....
and as far as locking tuners, I've got the sperzels on 2 of my toys and what a JOY to slam the strings home in seconds flat, it makes the floyd string replacement soooo much faster.... Locking tuners RULE!!

Dan, let us know how you like those babies once u get em in there!

H

Will do H, I'll give a full report once i have them in!

Yeah half the issue with people having tuning issues with a Les Paul is the fact they haven't been strung correctly. But like i said, I'm such a lazy bastard that i never bothered to learn how to
Locking tuners make my life a billion times easier, because it couldn't be simpler when stringing up.. And also you only have to tug the string like twice and its stretched out. With normal tuners i end up stretching each string nearly 10 times or so just to gain some stability!!

 

[MrDan666]

So i got the Grover tuners a few days ago and i fitted them to the guitar!

They work great, just like other locking tuners (Sperzels, Planet Waves, Schaller etc), they lock via thumbwheel at the back of the tuner. Makes for super fast and easy string changes, and also the tuning stability is great!

Now the guitar they went into is an older LP Custom from 1978. The original tuners aren't the same as what Gibson use nowadays. I had to ream out the holes ever so slightly, im talking a tiny amount. I also had to drill new holes for the small screws on the back of the tuners, because the original holes were in a different place.

Other than that, it wasn't a difficult installation

I'm 99% sure that these will be a direct retro-fit for Kluson loaded Gibsons or modern day LP Customs. As i say, the only reason i had some issues was because the original tuners were different to the ones they use nowadays.

A big thumbs up for the Grover RotoGrip Locking tuners!

 

[Gainiac]

DAN!!! you drilled out the peg holes!??!?? Are you INSANE, MAN??!??

thats IT. you RUINED the sustain. You can hear it anymore now, CAN you??!??
the guitars shot. You might as well ship it over the pond now. To,.... Me!!