Official Luthiers Forum!

Well I am about to make a move on my first build thanks to seeing how much fun everyone here seems to be having. I have decided to go simple and make the lightest weight hollow body tele I can. I was reading somewhere recently (dang if I can remember) an article about the comparisons and weights of many different tuning machines.
Anyone have any ideas about the lightest weight either locking or non-locking tuning machines for electric guitar?
Any help would be great, oh yeah I also promise to make an acoustic but my fear is I will over build it and it will be the heaviest acoustic of all time. It would be size and weight proportionate on Jupiter
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Evan,

I don't have a lot of weight comparison stuff but I sell Sperzel's and I weighed them against a set of Shallers I have and the Sperzel's (all aluminum construction) were, I think about 300 grams lighter. I need to confirm that and I will later tonight if your like.

Shane

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Canada

Thanks Shane that would be great!
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Ok Evan, I should remember not to go from memory, but there in lies the problem! I digress...The Shaller's weigh 273 grams and the Aluminum Sperzel's weigh 178 grams. The Shallers are about 35% heavier.

Hope that helps

ShaneShane Neifer38745.0863310185

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Canada

I'll jump in on this since I happen to have the box 'o' tuners open on the bench right now;

Full size Grovers are 256 grams, full size Gotoh 510's with Ebony buttons are 184, and Gotoh minis (the new organic-shaped ones) with standard knobs are 160.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

By the way, those Gotoh minis are the best non-Waverly tuners I've ever tried. Ultra smooth 18:1 and the fit and finish makes Schaller M6's look like crap by comparison.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Hi John, are you saying the 510 minis are nicer than the full size ones? And do you know what the difference between the normal 510s and the delta series tuners is (appart for the gear ratio), the deltas are more expensive...?

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

What a nice way to wake up! With info, thanks guys those mini organic guys were my first choice as they look like they are from the movie The Abyss. I am glad to hear that they work very well.
Anyone else with info would be my lifelong hero!
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

One more Evan,

Sperzel open back chrome, 163 grams. The ones I weighed above were standard gold and were compared to Shaller M6's. The Sperzel open backs are non-traditional and are quite cool looking. You can see them on my website.

Cheers and good luck in your search for just the right tuner.

Shane

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Canada

Arnt, no the full size ones work equally well in my opinion. I'm not familiar with a "Delat Series". It's not in Gotoh's catalog. Where did you see it?

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Check LMI's "Gotoh Contour Steel String" page. They sell a "Delta Series" version of the 510 with a 21:1 ratio.

Allparts sell may different configurations of the 510's, including the "Deltas" and "antique gold" and what not.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin