Are the GraphTech Ratio Tuners the best that money can buy???

My 2019 Gibson SG Classic Gold guitar has never stayed in tune worth a hoot since the day I purchased it. I started out by installing a new GraphTech Tusq Nut and that definitely helped, but it still struggled to stay in tune. I decided to finally order the GraphTech Ratio Tuners in GOLD to see if this last ditch effort to save this guitar. In this video we will walk through the install process and then I'll provide my final thoughts...spoiler alert...they kick @ss!!! On top of keeping my SG in tune now, the ease of how the guitar tunes (when needed) dramatically improved as well. These might not make a $200 guitar stay in tune, but after my experience I believe that they could make a huge difference for your guitar. These really do tune up nicely.
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[@singingfedexmanjoshcampbel1614]

a $2000 guitar that doesn’t come with top of the line hardware ? This is why folks are buying mid level guitars and saying fuck you to the Overpriced brand names and saving thousands to put towards other items they might need

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

I couldn't agree more. I've been pretty disappointed with my SG and all of the tuning issues. I've put a TUSQ nut and these GraphTech tuners and it did make a huge difference. Would have rather not had to do that, but it was all worth it to have a USA SG actually be playable.

[@singingfedexmanjoshcampbel1614]

personally i feel like epiphone is a much better value my paul custom is one of the best guitars ive played and still rivals the gibson $3000+ versions even owned an SG classic with p90s bought it on clearance for $399 and it kicked major ass

[@johnsuggs7828]

They make really good tuners. Well built and I like the different ratios they put on the strings. higher ratio for the heavier strings so you can do really small adjustments. 39:1 to 12:1 Wish they had more color options with their 45-degree mounting tuners.

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

I'm still loving these tuners and will most likely update my fleet one guitar at time.

[@ABJG1]

Hey man! Im jazz guitarist in iowa. Thanks for the video. I’m about to buy those for my Gibson es 330 and I am sold now cause of your thoughts. Thank you for the help.

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

Right on! Where in Iowa are you located? I'm in the Marion, suburb of Cedar Rapids.

[@joejohnson8966]

Gonna buy them. Thank you.

[@larrysplayground]

The more I use them the more I appreciate them. I now believe that I'll most likely update most of my other main guitars just as well. I believe that you won't be disappointed.

[@Xcorgi]

Superb tuners!

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

They REALLY ARE!

[@ramencurry6672]

The funny thing is that if you have a budget guitar totally gutted and modded and with these advanced tuners, your guitar may be better than a very expensive USA guitar

[@charlesb7831]

I have 2 guitars I put these on, absolutely amazing tuners! One of my tuners on my 96 Hamer Californian actually broke, so it was a legitimate reason to buy a set of the Ratio non locking tuners and just fantastic with a Floyd rose too. The other guitar I installed on was my 2004 Zakk Wylde Epiphone , 2 of the tuners are "grtty" and feel like crap, so I installed the locking tuners from Graphtech on that guitar. I love the Ratio idea, I have a set of Schaller locking tuners on a Peavey Vandenberg model and the build materials and precision might be a bit better on the Schallers , but the Ratio feature kinda bumps them up a notch. You'll see what I mean if you get a chance to compare them!

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

I plan to replace a couple additional guitar’s tuners here shortly as well. I’ve been extremely impressed with how they performed on my SG. Happy Thanksgiving and Gui’ tar done!

[@abeldasilva9368]

Too bad you didn’t do a follow up video on your SG with the Ratio machine heads.

[@jethrobakerstreet4037]

Yeah, I loved them on my 90's Studio LP at first, but about 3 months later and +/-a pack of strings per week or two, I finally realize that I'm actually bumping the keys up a tiny bit every few songs. Then I realize the bumps are needed particularly after big bends (1.5-2 steps) which in my style of play, all 6 of my wires get bent over backwards and often. Anyway, unless I'm not doing something right, these tuners allow string slippage...I'm on the verge of going back to pin-pricking, pitah normal string winding. I've found I literally cannot torque them by hand enough to stop this and be warned they will guillotine your strings w/ 1-2 turns past finger tight, especially the D string for whatever reason but probably the easiest diameter for that size mechanism to shear. Now I'm trying 2-3 quarter turns with toothed needle nose per string (except for old D-bag over there, who gets his little snooty 1 quarter turn). Hope this helps...me.

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

That is extremely odd! I don't bend quite as much or has far as you are describing, but I've never had any problem with these tuners like you are having. Have you tried to reach out to GraphTech directly to see what they have to say? If not, I'd recommend reaching out to them to see if they might have any suggestions or insight on your issues.

[@jethrobakerstreet4037]

@@LarrytheMusicGuy Thx for your feedback! I will definitely call them and then try to post what I find. After a few more weeks on them, it seems less tied to the bending; just general, random allbeit minor slippage. I tried combining 1 to 1.5 winds and then sticking the string through the clamp and it definitely reduced the frequency of up-tunes, but then I have to wonder how much of any up-tuning is because of the winds😵‍💫 Btw, yes Im using a tuner everytime and yes, I know its a lil OCD on my part, but its also a lil wtf does it take to be in tune all (or at least most) of the time?! Thx!🤘

[@DRKMusicRocks]

I'll be curious to hear what you find out from the manufacturer.@@jethrobakerstreet4037

[@Fedbo]

If you're on the lower strings does it actually take more turns, /longer turns to get to the same note as if you were on a standard set of tuners? Say you need to go from low e to drop D, do you have to turn this gear more or less times compared to a regular tuner?

[@cdnpunk2270]

you restrung wrong. you shouldn't have any wraps on your posts

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

Really? I did not know that! Is that for any locking tuners then? Thanks for sharing!

[@cdnpunk2270]

@@LarrytheMusicGuy correct

[@RubyLeighOfficial]

Graph Tech has the best parts for you guitar! Tuners, Nuts, Saddles…. They Rock

[@paj1015]

@@cdnpunk2270 Correct. No windings on locking tuners. Just pull the string thru and lock the down. Then you should only have up to one winding on the high E-string. The fewer windings, the less string-slippage. Another very good thing to mount on a 3 + 3 headstock, is a Stringbutler. This makes the strings go straight through the nut, without that sharp angle to the tuning mashines and will help the guitar stay a lot better in tune.

[@ericbalthazor4044]

Pull em tight lock em down snip off and tune!

[@EduardoPinto814]

Recently I bought a used '00 Ibanez Rg270L in good state but the tuners are the stock one and I have options to buy: Gotoh or Ratio

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

Both are upgrades, but I’d recommend the Ratio Tuners. They really are the best tuners I’ve ever owned.

[@jimantonino4394]

Geez, get yourself a PRS.

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

LOL...I DO have a PRS!

[@dancotterman1267]

Maybe without regard to cost, but, you’re a victim of diminishing returns here. I am not a fan of flushing money down the toilet. YMMV.

[@officialWWM]

A Gibson that won’t stay in tune? Unbelievable 😂😂

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

Luckily, I have 3 other Gibson's that all stay in tune. One is a newer Custom Shop Alex Lifeson model and the other two are 1970's era Les Paul's. But my newer SG definitely is not of the same build quality as my other 3 Gibsons, which is very disappointing to say the least. It's definitely better than it was before the new TUSQ nut and GraphTech Tuners installed, but still not to the level of my other Gibsons.

[@officialWWM]

@@LarrytheMusicGuy yep, I’ve found their quality to be rather hit and miss.

[@tomtollefson63]

If you're not going to do a video right do do it at all didn't even explain the number system on the locking tuners witch number goes where and doesn't even show how the tuner works putting a string through it and how a locking tuners work

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

This video wasn't meant to be an instructional video on how to install the turners, but a video on my experience of before and after installing the tuners. I'm sure there are videos out there to show how to install or maybe you could also read the directions???

[@josephfigueroa3527]

$100 wasted. All you need is a new nut that's cut properly. Preferably graphtech but brass does well. This issue has been beaten to death. The problem is the headstock shape and angle.

[@LarrytheMusicGuy]

Yep, I put a new Tusc Nut on my SG first before I invested in the Ratio’s. That did help, but didn’t completely fix the tuning issue. The Ratio Tuners did make an additional improvement. And I do agree that the neck angle is a short coming of the SG, but those two investments did make a dramatic improvement.