Staggered Tuning Machine Heads
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Sweetwater Carries the Best Locking Tuners for Guitar, Bass, and Beyond
Does your guitar often go out of tune, particularly when using your vibrato arm or bending strings? Do you find it tedious and time-consuming to restring your guitar? Do certain strings repeatedly slip and go flat, no matter how many times you tune them?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, locking tuning heads might be part of the solution.
Unlike traditional tuning machines, which rely on friction created by multiple winds around the string post, locking tuning machine heads feature built-in clamps that — you guessed it — lock strings in place, reducing the chance of slippage at the tuner. For rock, metal, blues, country, and other genres that involve string bending and frequent use of the whammy bar, locking tuners can offer added convenience and consistency.
Advantages of Locking Tuners
- Stability: Bending a note or using a vibrato arm to raise or lower the pitch can cause slight movement of the winds around a traditional string post, knocking the string out of tune. Since a locking tuning machine keeps the string stable on the post, it helps ensure that when you release the string or whammy bar, the string returns to its original pitch.
- Faster string changes: On a traditional tuning peg, you typically want to wind a string 2–5 times around the post (more for unwound strings, fewer for wound strings). A string-winding tool helps, but this is still time-consuming, especially if you break a string onstage and your band is waiting to start the next song! Guitar locking machine heads are a huge time saver. Simply thread the string through the hole in the post, clamp it down, and go.
- No string slippage: Particularly with the high E, it’s possible for the string to slip and go flat, even when the guitar is on its stand. Locking tuners make this problem a thing of the past.
Things to Consider When Choosing Locking Tuners
- Modification-free installation: No one wants to drill holes into a perfectly good guitar. That’s why it’s essential to select locking tuners specifically designed for your make and model. Sweetwater carries a complete selection of locking tuners for Strats, PRS tuning pegs, Gibson-style locking tuners, Fender Telecaster locking tuners, and more. If you’re unsure what to select, your Sweetwater Sales Engineer can help.
- Look at the big picture: There can be multiple reasons why strings go out of tune, including a nut that binds the strings, issues with the bridge, or a poor setup. Locking tuning heads can help, but they work best as part of a holistic approach to optimizing your guitar’s performance. A qualified guitar tech can help you identify and correct other problem areas.
- You don’t need locking tuners when you have a locking nut: If your guitar features a Floyd Rose-style tremolo system with a locking nut, locking tuners can speed up string changes, but otherwise aren’t necessary.
- Match your tuners to the rest of your guitar’s hardware: Before making a purchase, choose a look that complements your guitar’s bridge, knobs, and other aesthetic appointments. Sweetwater offers a comprehensive selection of finishes, from classic chrome and gold options to modern black or brushed chrome, making it easy to get the perfect set.
Find the Best Locking Tuning Machine Heads at Sweetwater
To make the selection process simple and easy, Sweetwater has detailed filters that can help you find the proper locking tuning machine head based on brand, series, price point, style, and more. For a deeper dive, check out our buying advice for guitar or explore our vast library of guitar demo videos on YouTube to see the hottest gear in action! If you prefer personalized recommendations, our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers can offer expert guidance you can trust.
