Does anyone have experience w/Fender locking tuners?

[long standing member]

I'm doing a setup for a friend, who had a custom built strat (by a luthier).
It's equipped with Fender locking tuners.
My friend says he's broken a couple of high E strings already (10's), and he's had it less than a month.
I've already broken a high E and a wound D w/ brand new strings, just tuning up and down twice!
I'm just using simple thum and index fingers twisting motion to tighten the locking mechanism, not using The Hulk like tightening pressure.....

Any ideas why this is happening?

[GuitarBilly]

Fender locking tuners are rebranded Schallers.

Assuming they are breaking at the tuner: are you loosening the strings to make adjustments etc? It's best to release the locking mechanism before you do that.

Every time I broke a string at the tuner with locking tuners was trying to loosen the string with the tuner locked.

Obviously if they're not breaking at the tuner the problem is somewhere else.

But to answer your question, I've never had an issue with Fender/Schaller locking tuners in particular.

[Texsunburst59]

I have 3 ’90 fender Strat plus guitars with the Fender/Schaller tuners and never had a string break on me.

[primeholy]

I’ve had my American Deluxe for about 9 years now with no issues with my locking tuners

[linthat22]

I’ve had my American Deluxe for about 9 years now with no issues with my locking tuners

Exactly the same here, zero issues.

[long standing member]

Fender locking tuners are rebranded Schallers.

Assuming they are breaking at the tuner: are you loosening the strings to make adjustments etc? It's best to release the locking mechanism before you do that.

Every time I broke a string at the tuner with locking tuners was trying to loosen the string with the tuner locked.

Forgive my ignorance, but I've never had a guitar w/locking tuners........hard to believe, I know.
Yes, they're breaking at the tuner...
When you say "loosening the strings", do you mean the same thing as lowering the pitch of the string turning the tuner key?
I don't get how that would break the string, so I guess I don't understand...

(BTW, brand new strings)

[GuitarBilly]

Fender locking tuners are rebranded Schallers.

Assuming they are breaking at the tuner: are you loosening the strings to make adjustments etc? It's best to release the locking mechanism before you do that.

Every time I broke a string at the tuner with locking tuners was trying to loosen the string with the tuner locked.

Forgive my ignorance, but I've never had a guitar w/locking tuners........hard to believe, I know.
Yes, they're breaking at the tuner...
When you say "loosening the strings", do you mean the same thing as lowering the pitch of the string turning the tuner key?
I don't get how that would break the string, so I guess I don't understand...

(BTW, brand new strings)

yes lowering the pitch.


It breaks the string because once the guitar is tuned up, the string is locked on an angle. Once you start to lower the pitch, you are moving that angle to the opposite direction. That creates stress on the part of the string that is pinned down.

For normal operation (raising and/or lowering the pitch a step or so while tuning the guitar) it is not an issue. But if you're trying to completely loosen the string (to make adjustments to truss rod, pickups etc) then you should unlock it first.

It would be easier to show you than to try to explain it online, but it's a thing. Just make sure you are unlocking the string if you have to loosen them for any reason.

[long standing member]

Thanks for the explanation, got it!

I just never had experience w/a guitar breaking new strings, and even a wound one...

[Riffraff]

I’ve had my American Deluxe for about 9 years now with no issues with my locking tuners

Exactly the same here, zero issues.

Same guitar here too and never an issue with the locking tuners.

[linthat22]

I’ve had my American Deluxe for about 9 years now with no issues with my locking tuners

Exactly the same here, zero issues.

Same guitar here too and never an issue with the locking tuners.

Question, anyone having buzzing issues this year? I think I might need to adjust the truss rod for the first time.

[primeholy]

I’ve had my American Deluxe for about 9 years now with no issues with my locking tuners

Exactly the same here, zero issues.

Same guitar here too and never an issue with the locking tuners.

Question, anyone having buzzing issues this year? I think I might need to adjust the truss rod for the first time.

Not yet, but it doesn’t feel as good S it used to, so I need to get it setup.

[GuitarBilly]

I’ve had my American Deluxe for about 9 years now with no issues with my locking tuners

Exactly the same here, zero issues.

Same guitar here too and never an issue with the locking tuners.

Question, anyone having buzzing issues this year? I think I might need to adjust the truss rod for the first time.

I had to adjust my Les Paul Classic a few weeks ago. Not buzzing but the neck had shifted a bit with the change of seasons.
The maple neck guitars are still fine