Guitar Machineheads

I installed it on my Epiphone Les Paul Ultra. The installation was easy, the system integrates perfectly and it doesn't stand out in relation to the rest of the guitar. Installing strings is pretty straightforward. But pay attention when tightening, so you don't overdo it, the internal mechanism could break. It is relatively easy to use once you've understood how it works, after reading the manual. Changing tunings is done relatively fast. It's nothing like on the promotional videos, but it's faster than doing it by hand. The problem is the precision of the tuning, it's very poor. There's no need for a tuner to notice it, anybody could hear it right away. So you need to finish the job by hand. A pretty expensive product to end up doing it all by hand!

(Originally written by lemondedejef/translated from Audiofanzine FR) I've been using it for one week. Setup time: 20 minutes (but it was not my first HipShot). Bought on ebay. GT1 model with Grover machine head. GT2 model is exactly the same with a Schaller machine head. The choice depends on your taste! I installed this Hipshot Xtender on a Fernandes Elite (Les Paul type) to switch to a Drop D tuning with one thumb move. It's impossible to compare it because there is virtually no competitor on the market. It doesn't change the look of the guitar too much (only an additional lever on the head). HipShot offers different models and colors so that the system matches the machine heads look. The sound is great: the system stays in tune and you can switch very quickly to Drop D tuning. But the string has to be tuned twice (E and D). So it takes a while! When I switch to D I play a "silent bend" to make sure that the E string has been tuned to D. I've had a couple of surprises because the string was first tuned to D sharp. This trick allows you to avoid ugly surprises. I'm satisfied with my purchase because it extends my possibilities, especially live on stage!

The Sperzel Trim-Lok tuner is my favourite tuner that is currently on the market. I have compared it to Kluson, TonePros, Grover (regular and locking) and Schaller locking just to name a few. They are the tuner I always request on a guitar if I'm having it built to order as I love the ease of use as well as the good clean look that they offer. They're really well designed and eliminate much of the tedious work in stringing guitars. Instead of leaving a certain amount of slack on the string and then trying to get a clean number of windings (I usually shoot for five or six). Often times using typical tuners, my hands will slip and the winds will end up overlapping and looking like a total mess which will also kill tuning stability. With the Sperzels you basically just pull the string through the tuner (making sure the string pull is as perfectly straight as possible) and once you pull it through... just pull it taut and then bend the string at a right angle. Then tighten the thumbwheel on the back and tune the string to pitch. It only takes about half a turn and doesn't require a string winder and endless attempts to get it right. I can string a whole guitar with Sperzels in about 2 minutes if I work quickly... it's like working in NASCAR... gotta be fast and quick and get back to the races. They're a little bit difficult to install (hence why the rating's not a perfect 10) and do require some drilling. I'd like to see them put out a tuner that would fit a Les Paul or other Gibson without drilling and use the same TrimLok technology as the regular tuner. For $80 per set, they're a bargain, plus they're available in a bunch of colours from the standard to the extreme.

My BC Rich Warbeast NJ Deluxe came with Grover Mini Rotomatics on it stock from the factory. I've had the guitar for over two and a half years now, so I've obviously used the tuners a decent amount and have enough knowledge and personal experience to write a decent review on them. Let me start by saying that even though the Warbeast has a Floyd Rose on it, if I am jumping around tunings a lot I'll leave the nut un-locked, which means that it's up to the Grover's to provide stability. While they don't do as good of a job as locking tuners or locking nuts do, they do still provide decently stable tuning. If you have a non-tremolo equipped guitar then these tuners will provide all the stability you need I would imagine. They seem to have minimal-to-no slippage, even when doing high bends and double-stops. I also tend to play with a fairly aggressive style as far as picking and hammer-ons and pull-offs, but they still seem to hold their ground just fine. That being said, I also try my best to always tune up to a note, rather than down, so that probably helps it some as well. Overall, these are good tuners for the money. If I had to buy a new set of tuners for a guitar, I would probably go with some locking tuners, but it is just not worth the cost to upgrade the ones on the Warbeast, since most of the time I've got the locking nut clamped down anyways. The Grover's definitely do a good job overall, and definitely are a big upgrade over generic tuners. Buy these if you are looking for some mid-cost tuners and don't like locking tuners. Don't buy these if you are looking for the ultimate in tuning stability, go with some sort of locking tuners instead.

This is a special, custom-made guitar tuner that can be installed onto any pre-existing guitar headstock (assuming that your headstock is where the tuners are located, this is not always the case). The cool thing about these tuners, at least initially, is that they clip the excess part of the string that isn't used after you re-string. Locating the constantly-missing pair of wire-cutters always somehow seems to be a hassle for me. These tuners solve that problem easily, and make cleanup far easier. Beyond the clipping feature, the hands-down best feature of these tuners is the fact that THEY KEEP THE GUITAR IN TUNE. I've been happy with many of my tuning knobs and tuning systems, and they all have their merits, but I really can't believe how much better this system tends to be. I've been able to play my Tele for 3 days straight and not having to tune once. That's a remarkable accomplishment in craftsmanship on the part of Planet Waves. Considering how many times my guitar has gone out of tune on me at extremely inopportune times, these tuners are a godsend. This is assuming, of course, that you are willing to go through the relatively painstaking process of installing these. I personally had some professionals that I trusted do this work for me. I deliberately selected a newer guitar that I wasn't necessarily in love with. This is mainly because I didn't want to drastically alter the look of my old Strat, or my relatively old Les Paul. Thus, I used an early 00s tele that I wouldn't have minded abusing slightly. There is a noticeable change on the headstock, one that would be enough to severely alter the look of a vintage instrument. While this guitar is sort of still being broken in, my older ones are already sort of set in their ways, and would not have handled a drastic change such as that without playing or looking worse. So if you don't mind some heavy remodeling in the name of great intonation, you should definitely get these tuners.