Do lighter tuners make a difference?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rex Rocker
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Rex Rocker

Rex Rocker

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I have this Les Paul Tribute that I always kept swapping between the stock Kluson-style tuners (which I believe are actually Gibson-branded Grovers), and some Grovers Rotomatics before. I always wanted to keep the Kluson-styles because they looked cool, but I thought the Grovers just functioned better.

But I did notice something in the tone (or maybe it was just the feel of the guitar?) slightly changed when I went back and forward with the heavier tuners vs the much lighter ones.

I just recently went all-out and swapped all the hardware to black. So I got some Gotoh lockers to put in there, but I feel they're pretty much the same weight as the grovers. They do look cool because they have the tulip buttons, though.

But lately I've been reading that apparently, people seek out Klusons not just because of the look, but because there is a sound difference.

So what is you guy's experience? What difference does it actually make? I was wondering if I could achieve a similar thing by just swapping out the buttons in my Gotohs to plastic ones, thus making them lighter?
 
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I couldn’t tell you what tuners are on my les paul or any of my guitars for that matter, now I feel stupid lol
 
LOL, so I'm guessing you guys don't notice a difference?

I mean, I'm not saying I notice like an immediate huge difference. I just notice *something* is different, but that could very well just be how the guitar feels and balances playing tricks on me?

Because, I mean, there is a difference in tone because of the bridge and tailpiece's mass, no?
 
ime heavier tuners do have better tone for sure, especially on bolt on guitar, but sadly you have to deal with neck drive issues
 
I can't say I've ever noticed anything, I've changed out modern tuners for the vintage Kluson ones, Gotoh petal tuners for Gotoh buttons, a shitload of standard tuners for Gotoh Magnums and they just save me time on putting strings on. 🤷‍♂️

Bridges and saddles, for sure I've noticed tonal changes, even nuts, but not so much tuners.
 
I don’t see how tuners can make a difference in tone/eq. They don’t touch the strings like the nut or bridge does so I guess would only be a weight difference of a few ounces perhaps.
 
is just more mass on the headstock, same deal with groove tubes fatfinger or fathead

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People swear up and down that lighter hardware is better, look at aluminum tailpieces for Gibson guitars. In the 70s, it was all about heavier (weight(, but it seems to have shifted back the other way now. Personally, I’m not a fan of basswood body guitars, too light, and I’m not into the tone, I prefer ash or alder.
 
Consider me ignorant on the matter. Not sure I’d ever swap out tuners for any reason other than to get the locking functionality out of a new set.
If I had a G that perpetually dove, then I’d be looking for some lightweight options, I suppose.
 
RaceU4her said:
My LP has Klusions now that I just looked.
Click to expand...

Try using a clip on tuner on the headstock while playing first.
Probably around the same added mass as chrome Grovers vs the plastic Klusons.

Easy way to check for a good/bad mass difference before drilling new holes!
 
DemNuts said:
Try using a clip on tuner on the headstock while playing first.
Probably around the same added mass as chrome Grovers vs the plastic Klusons.

Easy way to check for a good/bad mass difference before drilling new holes!
Click to expand...


my klusions are chrome though, now i dont know what the fuck :ROFLMAO:
 
There is definitely a school of thought that thinks mass = tone and sustain. I don’t necessarily disagree with that thought, but I think tuners are fairly negligible.
But every guitar is different and if someone thinks a change they made was a marked improvement, then that’s all that matters and I’m not going to disagree with them.
 
What do you call those 6 adjustable pieces on most Gibson headstocks?
 
Aynirar27 said:
There is definitely a school of thought that thinks mass = tone and sustain. I don’t necessarily disagree with that thought, but I think tuners are fairly negligible.
But every guitar is different and if someone thinks a change they made was a marked improvement, then that’s all that matters and I’m not going to disagree with them.
Click to expand...
I really think that it very likely depends. Certain guitars might benefit from more headstock mass while others might be the opposite. Light body/heavy neck vs heavy body/lighter neck and a bunch of other variables are always balancing each other.

I'm typ not bothered by half-assed tuners (looking at you Kluson) but when I play one of my guitars with Gotoh mini 510s I'm reminded how nice it is to have good tuners.
 
I tied a brick to my headstock and held a note for 42 seconds or it may just be tinnitus or this bourbon…
 
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