Locking tuners question

[Tone]

I have a 56 NOS Strat which has standard vintage style tuners. I'd like to replace them with locking tuners but which ones? There are, of course, several makes available including Fender and Sperzel but I believe that some of them require location/mounting holes to be drilled in the headstock or, if not that, the existing holes may have to be widened.

I'm rather reluctant to do either so my question is: does anyone know if there are any locking tuners which can be fitted as a straight swap without any drilling or reaming?

Thanks in anticipation.

[somebodyelseuk]

I'm sure there are some 'straight swap' ones, but off the top of my head...
Only thing I would say is, I've been playing Strats (and 'a-likes') with locking tuners since the early 90s. If you want to change for tuning stability reasons, I wouldn't other. It's almost certain the problem is elsewhere - probably the nut.
Otherwise, the majority of my experience is with Sperzel tuners. I got a Strat Ultra last summer that has Fender branded locking tuners (Schallers?). If they ever needed replacing, I'd fit Sperzels.

[Tone]

Thanks, Julian. My main reason for wanting locking tuners is to make string changing easier - for some strange reason I always struggle to change the top E on this guitar.

I do have a Strat fitted with Sperzels and I like them but I don't think they would be a straight swap.

Tony

[rogerbayliss]

Look for a set with the same hole requirements as you have on your strat. 10mm I think from memory typical ? Then they will go in without zlteration. Sperzel I think are what HBM used.

[somebodyelseuk]

Mar 31, 2023 13:05:12 GMT rogerbayliss said:

Look for a set with the same hole requirements as you have on your strat. 10mm I think from memory typical ? Then they will go in without zlteration. Sperzel I think are what HBM used.

10mm is the 'modern' diameter. If you've got vintage Kluson-style tuners, you'd need to ream out the holes in the head, and in most cases, also drill a locating hole, in the back.
I'm sure there is someone who makes Kluson-style locking tuners that are a direct replacement...?

Found 'em - www.axesrus.co.uk/Gotoh-SD-91-Magnum-Thumb-Lock-Set-p/sd-91-set-thumbx.htm

I've dealt with Axesrus plenty of times, and would recommend them, and I always use Gotoh vintage Strat trems - I even have one on my Japanese Fender. I really think these are what you want. The specs are on the page, pretty sure they're a direct, no drilling required, replacement.

[Tone]

Thanks very much Roger and Julian.

Roger - you're right. I've checked my Sperzel fitted Strat and they do require a 10mm hole but the holes on the NOS are approx 8mm so they wouldn't fit without reaming.

Julian - those Gotohs look to be just the job so I'll get a set at the next string replacement. I really appreciate you doing the research.

FWIW, I bought the Strat in question from the late, much missed Steve Reynolds and he used it in many of his videos so I want to treat the guitar with extra respect.

Cheers.

Tony

[somebodyelseuk]

Apr 1, 2023 13:12:58 GMT Tone said:

Thanks very much Roger and Julian.

Roger - you're right. I've checked my Sperzel fitted Strat and they do require a 10mm hole but the holes on the NOS are approx 8mm so they wouldn't fit without reaming.

Julian - those Gotohs look to be just the job so I'll get a set at the next string replacement. I really appreciate you doing the research.

FWIW, I bought the Strat in question from the late, much missed Steve Reynolds and he used it in many of his videos so I want to treat the guitar with extra respect.

Cheers.

Tony

You're welcome, Tony.

I don't log in so often, these days, and was shocked to read about Steve last time I logged in, some time last year.
I was just thinking that modding a CS guitar would hurt it's resale value, whereas, this way you can replace the original tuners without any lasting effects, if you ever need to sell. The fact that it's Steve's old guitar... yeah, I understand that.

Cheers, Julian