Gotoh vs Schaller n Sperzel

[Caddie]

It seems there is a substantial diff in price between Gotoh vs Schaller n Sperzel on most parts, but specificly on locking tuners. In your experience is there a significant diff in quality?

Cheers

caddie

[RobB]

Depends on what style of tuner you're looking for. If you have, say, a Strat/Tele and don't want to drill out the tuner holes to 10mm, Gotoh's HAPM locking tuners are tits. I installed them in my Wingwee Strat and they work great (removed the string tree, too).

I think Sperzels/Schaller are pretty much tied, but Sperzels are less invasive, though you DO have to drill a hidden, guide post hole to install. I don't like Sperzel's thumbwheel; it's too thin and cuts into fingers somewhat.

Besides their their thumbwheel models, Schaller and TonePros make a locking tuner that has the locking mechanism on the string post. I don't dig these, as I think it ruins the look of the headstock.

PRS and Planet Waves make very good lockers, too.

[murkat]

Sperzels. + good people, family owned and operated. will do, make just about anything, custom order, etc.

- made out of aluminum. soft. can cross thread VERY EASILY. weak in tone vibration transfer.

Schaller. + German engineering. Great tuner, dependable, over built. Usually a drop in model avail. solid.

- can be pricey new, you have to shop. shafts can be overly tall for some headstocks, string break over the nut.

Staggered shafts are avail (Fender Schallers)

Gotoh. + Japan engineering. solid tuner. certain models have higher gear ratio compared to the others.

- hard to find a good drop in model. Model, designs change frequently.

I tend to favor Schaller tuners. solid. dependable. solid locking (on the back side) nice weight/ resonate ratio.

also to add,

Grover~ not like they use to be... really. Kinda like Gibson... Klunky. the locking is rudimentry, out of date. rough machining.

Klusons~ They are back, and making a fine tuner. 100% drop in models ( GCS R's) good reliable tuner (waffle backs rock!)