A few years back, Fender listed individual locking tuners, but the only tall ones were right hand and the shorties only in left hand. I called Fender to politely whine and because they weren't listed as an available part, but they had them, the rep simply sent me two right hand shorties for my two sets that each needed a shorty to make them 4/2. He sent for FREE! I love my Fender lockers, but not as fond of a similar Schaller set! Ahhh, Those Were The Days, Gene
From a manufacturing perspective, 3+3 is one less product to make than 2+2+2... If 3+3 is good enough, then the cost saving is worth it (according to the Leo principle).
When I got my new AmPro Tele I asked the shop to get their (very good) tech to fit my set of Ping locking tuners before I collected it. Picked it up, got it home, couldn’t work out what was odd about it. Then I noticed that the three tallest posts were on the bottom strings. Quick check to make sure it wasn’t me that had had them wrongly fitted for years and back it went. Turns out they’d entrusted the job to a guy on the sales floor. I gently remind him of it once in a while!
And another thing..................why do Fender recommend tuning UP to pitch except with licking tuners when they recommend tuning DOWN to pitch?
I have Hipshot staggered lockers on a partscaster tele, but at only 1-2mm difference in height I couldn't see the tension difference, so I put on string trees anyway (?)
Not sure what you are saying. The shorter posts should be used for the higher (GBE) strings to get more break angle over the nut thus eliminating the need for string trees. Ultimately there is only one string length that will be in tune and strings need to eventually be stretched out to settle. Personally I tune up to pitch, play, tune up to pitch, play, repeat... Depending on temperature and humidity I may need to tune down after the guitar sits for a while. And sometimes I need to tune up. Staggers aren’t about tension. They are about break angle over the nut. Depending on that angle the string overrun from the nut to the tuning peg will behave differently. Not enough angle and more chance of sympathetic vibrations and unwanted tones. With the right break angle the use of string trees is redundant and not necessary.
Do they? I hadn't seen that. Up to pitch should be correct in any instance, if the reasons for it are sound, and I think they are. I can't see what, about the type of tuner, would change that.
All I care about is not needing a tree on the E and B. I can get away with it on two out of three of my strats with the 3+3 stagger. For whatever reason theres just not quite enough break angle on the high E on one of them.
I remember seeing that in a thread a couple of months ago and I think it was a misunderstanding. I suppose if you have locking tuners AND a Wilkinson or LSR roller nut, it wouldn't make much difference, but the friction from a regular nut will always mean that tuning up to pitch is preferable.
OK, look at support.fender.com/GC/en-us/articles/212774786. Right towards the bottom, Additional Hints. Clearly states tuning down to tune with lockers. No explanation.
Odd that they would say that. Makes no sense at all. Tuning down might work with a roller nut, but tuning up always works.
Tune 'em up tune 'em down bring 'em home bring 'em out make sure they're healthy make sure they're doing the right thing our way you know what I mean..... Few little rock and roll rituals, if anyone knows you know....
I bought the 3/3 set. After experimenting with installing, I decided the 3 short ones are on g-d-a strings. The tall ones are on e-b-e strings. Nice angle from nut to tuners. String tree does the job on high strings.
