What makes for good tuners on a guitar?

[videocat23]

I have this Samick LP gold top copy. WHile leading worship one sunday, we decided to do a song in drop D. In practice it worked pretty cool. After the first song we, me and the other guitarist, were going to drop the low E to D together for everyone to here. However, during practice, my pick up switch went out and I have to play a different guitar. On my samick, it was about a turn and a half to get to D from E, but on my other guitar it ended up being several turns....and rather embarassing as I fumbled around trying to find where D was at.

So I was wondering what is a good quality tuner and why? More or less turns? Material? Who makes the best, etc? What do you guys think?

[Guitar-Sam]

For me if the tuners HOLD TUNE,is #1 importance.
Next a smooth action to them,as long as I can hit the pitch without going past it six times trying to get the guitar intune.
Them are the only things I care about.That said I've never had anything but stock tuners on any of my guitars,Cept a few cheapos that I just sold rather than buy tuners for.

[dcaster]

Generally speaking, the higher the ratio rating on the tuner, the better. That allows you to pull the string slower when trying to get to the pitch that you desire and allows more "resolution". Having an inline tuner on the floor that you can step on and mute the guitar while you are tuning is also very helpful and less irritating to the people that are sitting infront of you. I HATE sitting and listening to people tune to each other on stage. If you are infact on stage, you should have your own tuner and be responsible for keeping your instrument in tune.

[fillmore nyc]

So I was wondering what is a good quality tuner and why?

CHICKEN OF THE SEA!!!
(Sorry, man... I couldnt resist)

I think the best tuners I've used are Sperzels. Absolutely ZERO backlash, nice high ratio, and they lock the string at the post without having any string wraps around the post when you tune it up.
String goes thru the hole, tighten the rear string-lock knob and clip the excess. Some guys dont like the way they look (all finishes appear satin-like... gold, black, silver, etc). I THINK the tuner body and knob are aluminum. They're really light weight, but as most guys say, if they stay in tune... IMHO, nothing stays in tune as well. You can also order them directly from Sperzel in any knob/body/color configuration you want, and the price direct is basically what you can get them off of eBay for.

[NY Chief]

"Only cowboys stay in tune anyway" J.M. Hendrix

[908ssp]

Generally speaking, the higher the ratio rating on the tuner, the better. ...

Not the whole story. The diameter of the post is directly related to the pull ratio a large post pulls faster a smaller post pulls slower. So gear ratios only tell you part of the story you have to know the post diameter as well. It is not the revolutions that matter but the inches of pull per revolution of the knob and nobody gives you that info.

I like Sperzels great quality, light weight and look great. You can custom order pearl plastic buttons and open back with auto locking for super light weight. On trem guitars without a locking nut I prefer the manual locking tuner.

[jbzoso2002]

I LOVE GROVERS

jimmy

[fillmore nyc]

I LOVE GROVERS

Like I always say... its weird how players preferences are all SO different, but thats what makes us all unique!! Grovers are the one tuner that if they come on a guitar, they are the first thing to go. I dont really know why, but I dont like the look of that big kidney-bean shaped tuner key, and the tuner body is too big and heavy for my tastes as well.
I dont think there's anything mechanically wrong with 'em... its just an aesthetic thing with me.
I hate to say it, but the one thing I DO like about Grovers is that the tuner body locating screw is in the same location as the bottom screw on a set of Tone-Pros Klusons, so if it came with Grovers, you can bet a set of Tone-Pros are goin' in. Retro fitting a set of TP's is as simple as drilling one extra hole for the top locating screw and bolting 'em up.
(Of course, no dis intended, JB. Its just apples and oranges)

[jbzoso2002]

no problem fillmore nyc if everyone liked the same thing
it would be boreing. i had grovers on a 1989 gibson les paul std
and it stayed in tune for days. i love the look because im a zep
freak.
but my 2004 ephi les paul came new with grovers and for the last
year or so tuneing has been getting worse. i thought it couldnt
be the grovers so a bone nut and new set up ( well woth it though)
then tone pros bridge didnt help either. so i got new grovers and
put em on tonight and it stayes in tune great.
i had that last set last for years and no probs???

jimmy

[Wasabi]

I have tried a few:

Sperzels on my Thorn they never felt right, just seemed to lack smoothness. But on my (old) Parker Fly they are great, and hard to beat. I wonder if the quality has varied over the years.

Grovers Feel great & seem to work perfectly, maybe a bit heavy but I like them a lot.

Gotoh Klusons Look great on my Tele, but they just don't feel right when tuning the guitar, they seem to lack "resolution", and vary in feel from one tuner to the next, but I'll still use them 'cause they look right on some guitars.

Waverly tuners look nice, but don't feel too smooth. I wouldn't use these again, but they do looknice on my acoustic.

Schaller locking works great, looks a bit industrial to my eyes, and they are heavy.

Overall, I'd be tempted to give the Sperzels another try, of just stick with the Grovers.