How to Set Up and Use Locking Tuners

Installing locking tuners on your guitar is a satisfying afternoon job — no specialist tools required for most modern guitars. The result is a noticeably more stable instrument with a faster string change routine. Here's how to do it properly.

What You Need

• Your new tuner set
• A Phillips screwdriver and a flathead
• A socket wrench or pliers (wrapped in cloth to avoid scratching)
• String winder (optional but useful)
• New strings — it's worth changing them at the same time

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Remove all strings. Wind them off and discard — installing new hardware with old strings is messy and you'll want a fresh set afterwards anyway.
2. Remove the old tuners. Unscrew the mounting screw on the face of the headstock for each tuner. Then loosen and remove the hex nut on the back using a socket wrench or padded pliers. Keep any vintage-style bushing sleeves if you might want to refit the originals later.
3. Fit the new bushings. Press the new ferrules into the headstock holes. They should fit snugly without requiring force. If they're loose, they need a small amount of friction tape; if they don't fit at all, check whether you've ordered the wrong diameter.
4. Mount the tuners. Insert each tuner through the bushing from the back of the headstock. Tighten the hex nut finger-tight, then check alignment — on a 6-in-line headstock, all tuner buttons should point in the same direction. Tighten fully once aligned, then add the mounting screw on the face.
5. String up with locking technique. Thread the string through the tuner post hole. Pull the string to pitch-appropriate tension by hand — leave just a small amount of slack. Lock the string by tightening the thumbscrew or locking collar at the back of the post.
6. Tune to pitch and stretch. Bring each string to pitch, then gently stretch it by pulling the string away from the fretboard at the middle of the string. Retune. Repeat two or three times until the strings hold pitch, then do a final tuning pass across all strings.

Using the Locking Mechanism Daily

For day-to-day use, locking tuners require minimal thought. When changing a string mid-set or backstage: loosen the thumbscrew, remove the broken string, thread the new one, lock it and tune up. It takes a fraction of the time of conventional tuners. The locking thumbscrew should be finger-tight — you don't need tools to operate it in normal use.

Troubleshooting

If a string slips at pitch after locking, the thumbscrew hasn't engaged fully — tighten it more firmly. If tuning instability persists after installation, check whether the nut slots are binding: a string that sticks in the nut rather than moving freely will still cause tuning issues regardless of the tuner type.

Need help choosing the right set? Our buyer's guide covers compatibility specs. New to the concept? The overview guide explains the mechanism in full.

Frequently Asked Questions