Schaller Locking Tuners - Sevenstring.org

Schaller Locking Tuners

Published by noodles
11-23-2005

Author review
Ease of Use		5
Features		5
Reliability		5
Value		5
Customer Support		5
Expressiveness/Sounds		5
Overall Rating		5
Average 100%

Schaller Locking Tuners

I now have absolutely no reason to ever buy a set of Spertzels ever again. I got seven of them in black chrome for my Jackson Stars, and they were a perfect drop in replacement for the Gotoh minis that were on there. Popped out the old ones, popped on the new ones.

They have a wider ratio than Spertzels, so the tuners aren't so touchy when you're trying to make that string just a little bit sharper. They're shorter, so the string angle increases over the nut, giving me more punch and sustain. Every thing about them feels solid. Since they're minis, the footprint is much smaller than a Spertzel, too.

FYI: If you like big strings, beware. I use a .060 on the bottom, and it took some persuading to make it fit. With Spertzels, you can drop the locking post out of the bottom and drill out the hole. The locking posts appear to be spring loaded on the Schallers, so I'm not sure how to widen the hole without damaging the top of the post.

I'll try to post some pics tonight. They look really sharp and work great.

By eleven59 on 11-23-2005, 01:28 PM

Let me know if you figure out a way to drill out the hole, cuz I'm interested in locking tuners for both of my guitars, but use a 65 on my 7-string's low A.

...maybe I'll just replace the top 6 tuners for now...or use 6 of one kind and one of something else (since it's a 6/1 headstock anyways).

By dpm on 01-20-2006, 04:52 AM

The Schaller locking knobs are attached pretty much permanently during manufacture. You can get them off but they're damn hard to get back on and are never the same again, so don't try

These are the best locking heads

By eaeolian on 01-20-2006, 05:04 AM

I need to get a set of these for my Washburn. While I won't be replacing the Sperzels on my Jackson, the Schallers are enough better that I'll use them going forward...

By JJ Rodriguez on 01-20-2006, 06:01 AM

I use a .70 for my low B so if there was a way to drill them out then I'd probably get a couple sets.

By dpm on 01-20-2006, 06:04 AM

I'll try to look into that next week, please remind me if I don't reply.

By noodles on 01-20-2006, 04:51 PM

I've noticed that the low B is getting easier to install with every string change, so I'm attributing the first time to break-in woes. Division has a show Saturday, and I'll probably change my strings after that (two shows and three practices are about the limit for the way I punish strings). I'll try experimenting with some bigger stuff to find the upper limits of what the tuning peg can accept.

By eaeolian on 01-20-2006, 07:56 PM

Hmm. We'll both be playing on strings we used Tuesday. Danger, Will Robinson!

By noodles on 01-20-2006, 08:53 PM

Maybe we'll both break an A.

By dpm on 01-26-2006, 11:57 PM

Hey, guess what? I forgot to check....

#10

By eaeolian on 01-27-2006, 09:04 AM

That's OK, we forgot to remind you.

#11

By dpm on 02-01-2006, 09:19 PM

Well, I remembered to take a look at the Schallers we have in stock. This particular batch won't even fit a .052 through the holes!! Schaller's consistency and quality control is getting pretty sad.
The good news is that the spring loaded pin has a lot of downward travel which means it should be no problem to drill out the holes.

#12

By noodles on 02-02-2006, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpm

Well, I remembered to take a look at the Schallers we have in stock. This particular batch won't even fit a .052 through the holes!!

The first time I strung up my seven with Schallers, it took about fifteen minutes of fiddling around to get the .060 through the post. Ever since then, I've had absolutely no problems. I think it has something to do with the locking post getting in the way, until the string keeps it pushed out of the way for a while.

#13

By dpm on 02-02-2006, 02:33 PM

Nah. I was pushing the locking post down from one side with a pointy object while testing from the other with various size drill bits. I do recall that we have a seven string acoustic customer using a 74 with Schaller locks.

#14

By noodles on 02-02-2006, 03:50 PM

Wow, that really sucks. I've never heard anything negative about a Schaller product ever.

#15

By JJ Rodriguez on 02-02-2006, 08:55 PM

So for locking tuners for my 7 with heavy strings should I get Schaller or Sperzal?

#16

By dpm on 02-02-2006, 09:40 PM

Either one may require drilling out the posts. Schallers are more precise (gear ratio), and imo that makes them better. Sperzel's are good heads too, and easier to configure for 7 string applications as the components can be shuffled around for left or right side operation. I don't know how easy it would be to get hold of a set of 7 Schallers in your part of the world.

noodles, I'm a real fussy prick when it comes to guitar stuff. There's not much I don't find some fault in. It's my job

Schaller still makes great stuff

#17

By JJ Rodriguez on 02-03-2006, 04:02 PM

I'll be using a .070 for the low A, so how would I go about getting that drilled? I would have to get someone to do it. Can I mail it to you or someone here and get whoever to drill it? I don't have the equipment to drill metal, and I wouldn't trust myself. Can the Schallers be drilled?

#18

By noodles on 02-03-2006, 04:15 PM

Drilling the posts (at least on the Spertzels) isn't as hard as you're making it out to be. The great thing about them is you can turn off the the thumbwheel, and drop the entire lock post out of the back of the tuner. After this, a hand drill and a good drill bit will do the job. I've done them myself, and never ran into any problems.

I haven't attempted to drill a Schaller out yet, because I'm not sure how to deal with the locking post (it's spring loaded and the thumbwheel isn't easily removed), and am afraid of ....ing it up (they're $8.50 a piece). DPM, maybe you could offer some advice?

#19

By JJ Rodriguez on 02-03-2006, 04:21 PM

They're only 8.50 a peice? I thought they were a lot more expensive than that.

#20

By dpm on 02-03-2006, 04:47 PM

When you drill any of these posts take the drill sizes up gradually. With the Schaller spring loaded pins probably the best method is to drill from one side while holding the pin down from the other with some kind of pointy object. You might want to make it a two person job. You may be able to run the bit straight through, otherwise do one side then flip it over and do the other.

#21

By SGB on 02-17-2006, 07:41 PM

I had the Schallers on my RG421 but I changed them to the Planet Waves Auto-Trim tuners. I like them WAY better! 18:1 compared to 16:1 also!

#22

By JPMDan on 03-13-2007, 09:53 AM

I just got my set yesterday for my ESP, I was able to fit a 52 just fine however still trying to get a 64 to fit without drilling the tuner itself. Anyone had any luck?

#23

By darren on 03-13-2007, 11:26 AM

I use a .060 on my JP7, and it *barely* fits... i think that's about the maximum it'll take without drilling.

#24

By Benzesp on 03-14-2007, 10:44 AM

Are these a direct replacement for Jackson tuners? I have a COW that I would like to have some lockers on and I dont want to drill holes for Sperzels.

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