What is everyones feelings on the use of open tuners? I've looked at allot of pics and almost everyone uses sealed tuners. Is their a reason for using the sealed ones? I was thinking of using open ones because I actually like the look of the gearing. Just wanted some thoughts on the subject.Thanks for reading.
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Any supplier's "economy tuners" usually work out well. When you get them, just twist the stem... it ought to have some resistance, not loosey-goosey. If there is wabble between the stem and the box, check to see if the screw attaching the gear to the post is loose. If it is, tighen it up. That ought to snug up the gears. If it doesn't, its a bad tuner.... You can expect 3-5 in a hundred economy tuners to be unusable. Most are just find. Then just be careful during installation not to flex the backing plate and things will be fine......
Sam
Earl William Birth III said:
Thanks for the insight.I was wondering why you didn't see many open tuners.I honestly like the look of the open tuner.I think seeing the gearing has a neat look.I certainly don't want to have trouble with the tuners.Is their an open tuner that you would recommend? I am not opposed to closed tuners I just like the open tuner look.
Wichita Sam said:
Earl,
Sealed tuners have a reputation of being more stable under tension. There's more mass to the body and the gearing is usually more precise. But, a cheap sealed tuner can be worse than a good open tuner. I've played the heck out of CBGs with open tuners and some of my custom clients ask for them to get that vintage look.... Here's where many go wrong with open tuners... they are subject to the backing plate bowing. If the bow is outward (away from the guitar), this spreads the gears and makes everything loose. I've seen poorly installed open tuners actually slip/skip gears... If you pay attention to keeping everything square and tight, an open back tuner will work just fine.
Thanks for the insight.I was wondering why you didn't see many open tuners.I honestly like the look of the open tuner.I think seeing the gearing has a neat look.I certainly don't want to have trouble with the tuners.Is their an open tuner that you would recommend? I am not opposed to closed tuners I just like the open tuner look.
Wichita Sam said:
Earl,
Sealed tuners have a reputation of being more stable under tension. There's more mass to the body and the gearing is usually more precise. But, a cheap sealed tuner can be worse than a good open tuner. I've played the heck out of CBGs with open tuners and some of my custom clients ask for them to get that vintage look.... Here's where many go wrong with open tuners... they are subject to the backing plate bowing. If the bow is outward (away from the guitar), this spreads the gears and makes everything loose. I've seen poorly installed open tuners actually slip/skip gears... If you pay attention to keeping everything square and tight, an open back tuner will work just fine.
Sealed tuners have a reputation of being more stable under tension. There's more mass to the body and the gearing is usually more precise. But, a cheap sealed tuner can be worse than a good open tuner. I've played the heck out of CBGs with open tuners and some of my custom clients ask for them to get that vintage look.... Here's where many go wrong with open tuners... they are subject to the backing plate bowing. If the bow is outward (away from the guitar), this spreads the gears and makes everything loose. I've seen poorly installed open tuners actually slip/skip gears... If you pay attention to keeping everything square and tight, an open back tuner will work just fine.
Replies
Any supplier's "economy tuners" usually work out well. When you get them, just twist the stem... it ought to have some resistance, not loosey-goosey. If there is wabble between the stem and the box, check to see if the screw attaching the gear to the post is loose. If it is, tighen it up. That ought to snug up the gears. If it doesn't, its a bad tuner.... You can expect 3-5 in a hundred economy tuners to be unusable. Most are just find. Then just be careful during installation not to flex the backing plate and things will be fine......
Sam
Earl William Birth III said:
Wichita Sam said:
Earl,
Sealed tuners have a reputation of being more stable under tension. There's more mass to the body and the gearing is usually more precise. But, a cheap sealed tuner can be worse than a good open tuner. I've played the heck out of CBGs with open tuners and some of my custom clients ask for them to get that vintage look.... Here's where many go wrong with open tuners... they are subject to the backing plate bowing. If the bow is outward (away from the guitar), this spreads the gears and makes everything loose. I've seen poorly installed open tuners actually slip/skip gears... If you pay attention to keeping everything square and tight, an open back tuner will work just fine.
the best,
Wichita Sam