brywool Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Hi, I've been having some pretty annoying tuning issues with my JTV59. I'm looking to swap out the tuning machines. After looking at the forums, looks like someone liked these: TK-0976-010 Schaller 3X3 Chrome Locking Tuners, however they're 85.00, which seems pretty pricey. Have any of you had any luck with any other drop-in solutions? I REALLY do not want to drill new holes or anything. I'm looking for a straight replacement. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snhirsch Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 That price is about average for US or European made precision tuning machines. I have seen some Chinese knock-off tuners for $30-40, but YMMV in terms of quality and longevity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie_Watt Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 You get what you pay for! I like the Planet Waves Locking Tuners. Have them on my Variax 500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brywool Posted December 9, 2013 Author Share Posted December 9, 2013 I'm not really worried about spending the dough (though my post reads like that). I guess I'm wondering if there are alternatives, but might as well go for them. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 These bolt right on - I have these installed on my JTV-59 with Bigsby and they are easy to swap old / install new http://www.guitarfetish.com/Sperzel-Style-Locking-Tuners-3x3-Chrome_p_1172.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigChas52 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 I bought these. They were under $35 and are working fine. They fit the holes in my JTV59 exactly. http://www.guitarfetish.com/Sperzel-Style-Locking-Tuners-3x3-Chrome_p_1172.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snhirsch Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Those are the low-priced units I recall seeing before. Let us know how they work out? I'm really curious what the tradeoff might be between those and the Schallers / Grovers of the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jandrio Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 http://www.americanmusical.com/Tronical-Tuning-Systems See also this post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhyzy Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Grover 406C tuners were a drop-in replacement on the JTV59 I'm using. Cost was around $50, so far so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonic Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Grover 406C here also... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozbadman Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 I went with the Shaller Gold 3x3: http://www.allparts.com/TK-0976-002-Schaller-3X3-Gold-Locking-Tuners_p_3767.html Drop-in replacement. As you noted in your first post, chrome is cheaper at $85 from allparts (possibly cheaper elsewhere). I tried the Gotoh but for me, I preferred the locking mechanism of the Shallers but I also preferred the size of the tuning head of the Shallers. They're physically bigger than the Gotoh heads and seemed to be more in balance with the size of the JTV59 headstock. Purely an individual aesthetic choice on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brywool Posted December 11, 2013 Author Share Posted December 11, 2013 Hey, thanks for the replies. I've not had locking tuners before- I think I'll try the Sperzels. I'll let you know if I don't like them. Looks like people really like them and they're priced right. Thanks again for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie_Watt Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 I really like locking tuners even though I am not a big trem user. Makes changing strings a snap. The Planet Waves tuners even trim the string for you. I have those on my Variax 500. The locking tuners that came on my JTV69S seem fine but I have not changed strings on it yet. It's about due though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snhirsch Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 The JTV69 tuners (I assume the S model is the same as the original) are quite good. For starters they are three-step staggered which gives an optimal wrap angle. When I put the Mighty-Mite strat neck on my JTV69 I re-used the original tuning machines and they have been very stable and smooth to work with. The "Sperzel-like" machines sold by Guitar Fetish sound similar, but they differ a bit visually. Could be the same OEM manufacturer (Chinese?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocco_Crocco Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 These bolt right on - I have these installed on my JTV-59 with Bigsby and they are easy to swap old / install new http://www.guitarfetish.com/Sperzel-Style-Locking-Tuners-3x3-Chrome_p_1172.html I just changed out the tuners on my 59 and used these. Installed perfectly in about 30 minutes. They really won't help to keep my guitar in tune but changing strings is a lot easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hey_Joe Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I had bought the Grover 406Cs for my 59 from tips found on another older thread about the same topic. But then I saw stevekc's advice and link to the Sperzel Style Locking tuners 3x3 chrome drop ins in that thread. I like them on my 69 and also didn't care for the fact that the Grovers were mini and didn't have the twist locking cap on the back and preferred to have larger buttons. Installation was a snap and as stated by Rocco "They really won't help to keep my guitar in tune but changing strings is a lot easier." Thumbs up for these IMHO -http://www.guitarfet...ome_p_1172.html. just my 2¢ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 If you string your guitar with locking tuners with less than 3/4 wrap on binding post , I find any JTV-59 will stay in tune better, particularly the "G" string which is always a battle after Mike Bloomfield style Blues String Bending / left hand Vibrato on LP style guitars. Lubricate the nut too. (dry Ivory Soap, Big Bends Nut Sauce or the new Planet Waves Equivalent work)See my avatar on the left, (my JTV-59 with B7 Bigsby) - no way would this work and stay in tune if it didn't have the Locking Tuners installed too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hey_Joe Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 I just changed my tuners out last week - waited for warranty to wear off. I put some Stew Mac Guitar Grease on the nut - maybe just new strings for my tuning problem. Time will tell if I would withdraw my agreement above about tuning stability. I seem to be drawn to play my 69 more than the 59, so I'll probably find like you that the tuning becomes more stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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