Sperzels or Schallers

I want to replace the Grover tuners on my Washburn with a locking type. I've narrowed it down to Sperzels (love those color combos) or Schallers. Anybody have any kind of opinion on either one? Thanks!

I like sperzils, I have used them as replacements over everything from LPs to strats !

I'd go with Sperzels also.

Sperzels on both my electrics...both are ALWAYS in tune. So i say Sperzels.

Thanks guys! Sperzel's it is. I bought a nice brand new gold/black set off of ebay for $56.49 including shipping. :)

Awesome, do you know how to install them ? I have done 3 on my own now ! Not a difficult thing to do but much easier if you have the right tools !

I have the Schallers on my Fender American Deluxe ('93), I like them for the simple fact of when you change/break a string it takes only a few seconds to replace. Pull the string through very snug, clamp it down, and tune. No need to wind it 3 or 4 times. And I have no problem with it staying in tune like this. I haven't tried Sperzels, but I'm in the same boat because I want to put a set of locking tuners on my SG. Just don't know which ones I'll go with yet.

Dr_simon,
I think I should have the right tools. I've got a small drill press that I can set the depth on. Do you know if they come with a template for the hole placement? Thanks in advance! :)
rob b. The guitar these are going on is for my 12 year old son. Maybe he'll quit bothering me every time he breaks a string!

Originally Posted by: tubes... The guitar these are going on is for my 12 year old son. Maybe he'll quit bothering me every time he breaks a string!

[font=trebuchet ms]I think you should find out why he's breaking strings. That shouldn't be happening. There may be a burr or a sharp edge somewhere that cuts into the string.

Buddy Guy is known to break a string on almost every song, but you'll notice that it's always the high E, and he has a tech waiting off-stage to bring him a freshly-strung axe. It's a set-up. A good tech could solve it in a couple of minutes, but Buddy thinks it looks cool. :p

Strings don't break unless

• The strings are old
• They're being beaten unmercifully (five-minute penalty for roughing) :mad:
• There's a sharp spot cutting the strings

[/font]

Well if you are happy using a drill !!
I used a tapered rasp or reamer to widen the hole for the peg head (up from an 8 to a 10mm diameter) and went very slowly. I did use a drill bit for the locator pins.

I guess you could use the packing as a template however I figured it was safer to fill the existing screw holes with a bit of toothpick, sealed with some super glue and re set the machine head locator hole using a drill attachment for a power screwdriver (and a little duct tape as a depth gauge) !

It is very important to make sure you get everything strait as wonky tuners looks silly (boy do I know about that !!) !

Originally Posted by: Lordathestrings[font=trebuchet ms]I think you should find out why he's breaking strings. That shouldn't be happening. There may be a burr or a sharp edge somewhere that cuts into the string.

Strings don't break unless

• The strings are old
• They're being beaten unmercifully (five-minute penalty for roughing) :mad:
• There's a sharp spot cutting the strings

[/font]

Thanks for the feedback. I want to clarify that I don't think the tuners will help with strings breaking, rather will allow him to change the strings himself.

He typically breaks the lower strings and almost always at the bridge. He does like to pluck on them like a bass so that could be part of the problem. :confused:

Originally Posted by: Dr_simonWell if you are happy using a drill !!
I used a tapered rasp or reamer to widen the hole for the peg head (up from an 8 to a 10mm diameter) and went very slowly. I did use a drill bit for the locator pins.

I guess you could use the packing as a template however I figured it was safer to fill the existing screw holes with a bit of toothpick, sealed with some super glue and re set the machine head locator hole using a drill attachment for a power screwdriver (and a little duct tape as a depth gauge) !

It is very important to make sure you get everything strait as wonky tuners looks silly (boy do I know about that !!) !

Thanks Doc. I agree that the reamer would be probably do a better job keeping the peg hole centered. Looks like I better give myself enough time for this little project!

Originally Posted by: tubesThanks Doc. I agree that the reamer would be probably do a better job keeping the peg hole centered. Looks like I better give myself enough time for this little project!

[font=trebuchet ms]If you can (gently!) clamp the peg head to the table of your drill press, the easiest way to ensure centring on an existing hole is to chuck a drill the same size as the hole, and (with the drill shut OFF), bring the bit down to the work piece. Turn the chuck backwards, slowly, by hand, so that the bit doesn't cut into the material. Adjust the workpiece position so that the drill bit touches evenly all the way around the hole. Tighten the clamp(s) to hold the piece in place, chuck the new drill, set the depth stop, and drill the new hole.

Easy, yes?[/font] :D