Wilkinson EZ Lok Tuners: A Revisit

Here's ONE method (of many) for installing strings using Wilkinson EZ Lok Tuners.

[@jeff1506]

no matter what tuning machine you are using, the string wraps should go lower than the last one. This ensures a good break angle over the nut and keeps the string from popping out of the nut itself. This video is more dangerous than covid misinformation imo!

[@nihilistlivesmatter]

Nope, depends on the guitar, headstock angle etc.........short version : personal preference

[@jeff1506]

@@nihilistlivesmatter physics > personal preference

[@nihilistlivesmatter]

@@jeff1506 Hold on we got another physics professor in the comments section, what Newtonian law does wrapping strings up the peg break then Einstein? I'm looking forward to this

[@bluwng]

@@nihilistlivesmatterhe is right you are wrong , so don’t nope him you dope. It’s physics not personal preference.

[@nihilistlivesmatter]

@@bluwng m'kay dude, now show me the physics

[@StuartKReilly]

*Wonders what all the dislikes are about *Guy begins putting tons of wraps all the way up the peg .....oh dear

[@ultraflex6257]

Sorry dude, it is all wrong still. there is only one correct way. For 6 in line staggered tuners - Top hole first for the E, A & D. Bottom hole first for G, B & E. For 3+3 tuners - Top hole first for all E, A, D, G, B & E. Be sure a string in through correct hole, pull tight then wrap 3/4 around the post, pull tight through the other hole. Tune to pitch, cut the string - DONE.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Ok to re-watch....there's a million ways to do this! :-)

[@ubermac85]

@@guitarhowtos2148 6 posts with two holes each does not equal a million ways. LOL

[@mickdebergerac1143]

@@ubermac85 You haven't found the right place to go mate... OOOPS, wrong website.... 😉😁

[@brianohamill7236]

On my strat, top hole was too high for the low strings as well. I was getting buzzing at the nut. It’s great with all strings bottom hole.

[@chasterling237]

These are interesting, I thought I remember reading or watching somewhere where a tech/luthier said to put all subsequent winds down (below the string coming out of the hole) and not up, this was supposed to help with tuning stability and intonation. These tubers don't seem to be designed to be able to do that. Would love to hear thoughts.

[@Pirushu]

According to the page, the way to put the strings is similar to a Locking Tuner (although I would not call this system a Locking tuner) you have to pass the string through the hole above then tighten the string, and give a couple of turns in the peg and then re-pass the string through the other hole then cut the string and tune

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Yes. That works...different ways to achieve similar results.

[@davidstone3780]

I go bottom hole, no slack, wrap once around going under the string then pull tight through the too hole.

[@daviddigital6887]

You do have to go bottom hole to get a proper break and then one wrap an pull through top. I have these on a cheap strat an they are fairly good. The ratio is higher than stock an the wrap thing does seem to get a dang good hold. You can do a regular old school wrap of through top and pull the string under an over an get the wraps going downward which improves your break angle. For 20 bucks they beat the heck out of the typical junk tuners.

[@bluwng]

You don’t need so much slack for any tuner on any guitar.

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: You did a good job showing a technique. I used to really like Wilkinson tuners. Their new two hole solution is more cumbersome than just learning to attach the strings correctly. People seem to keep buying them anyway. I use the 1/4 turn and bend a hook style like Martin Guitars come with on regular tuners. I have had zero problems.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi Barb. Thank you for commenting. Of course, several methods work. :-)

[@TheDealRonaldTrump]

No, he did a TERRIBLE job. Literally NOBODY wraps 2 frets worth of string around a post. That’s like 6 wraps for a low E! 😳🤯

[@guitarhowtos2148]

@@TheDealRonaldTrump Jim, what you see in this video IS 2 frets. Looks good to me! :-)

[@TheDealRonaldTrump]

I’m sorry, I thought I posted a reply but I guess I didn’t. I’m seeing it’s a more common thing than I thought. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@larsdahl6594]

I'd throw some superglue on that, just to be sure. It looks secure, but you never know.

[@kimballowen-brown4771]

The two sets of holes are for different thicknesses of headstock

[@LucasMastropasqua]

I love the innovative design and I’m sure it does what is intended but for me this isn’t the time saver I need. For me i need easier quicker string changes and don’t use locking tuners for tuning stability. Still glad I could see these in action though. Thanks!

[@somethingelsedoesmatter]

He didn't follow the directions correctly, so you still haven't really seen these in action. What tuners do you use for quick string changes and tuning stability? For me, I am loving the vintage tuners on my Jazzmasters. Literally makes changing strings a joy. Never used a locking tuner, myself, but I'm looking for an upgrade for my son's Squier Mini Jazzmaster, and was considering these E-Z-Loks mainly because of the higher ratio, which should make it easier for him to tune to pitch.

[@jimmynich4791]

​@adolson I've got these on my tele style guitar, they hold their tuning really well better than my guitars with locking tuners. Locking tuners are just super easy & quick to change strings, they're not any more stable for tuning than any other tuners.

[@yetigoosecreature8682]

I nearly got these tuners (by mistake) after being mislead by the "lok" description. I don't like the idea of creating a sharp angle in the string. In my experience this can lead to breakage. I prefer proper locking tuners, or just put up with the non-locking type if they are not causing tuning issues. Most tuning issues are caused by the nut anyway, and a new TUSQ nut is a cheap upgrade.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Understood. Perhaps these should point out that they are double eyelet.

[@yetigoosecreature8682]

@@guitarhowtos2148 Yes. String breakage wise, I don't know if 2 kinks are worse than 1 kink. ;)

[@chriswebb383]

Pull the string right ..... put brought the top hole .... wind end around and through the bottom hole ... tune up and done .. no wraps is the whole point . Both videos were wrong bud .. only ONE way these work not a million .. just one

[@rampman8940]

Less turns, better tuning.

[@jonmahoney74]

I love these EZ lok tuners but don't really do it this way. Here goes...I'll string through both posts with enough slack so that I can do 1 loop round above the level of both post holes. Then I'll wind to pitch making sure each wind goes downwards under this first loop, that way you get the EZ locking aspect but also the upwards tension of the string angle from the nut gives you an extra "sandwiching" guard against any slipping in your tuning. Sorry there's so many rude people posting comments. Keep rocking!

[@yourgen1891]

I just buy it good démultiplication and sweet but I will use regular method cause I think the string Wille break.

[@TAURUSARIA]

That's not right. Too many turns around on post. Lock Tuners don't need that...

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi Alexander. Kindly re-watch. Method stated as non-absolute. Too, wraps can distribute tension around the post.

[@TheDealRonaldTrump]

See, that’s the point though isn’t it? BASICALLY you say “you can either have a couple wraps and do it the right way, or you can wrap it so much that it looks like a ball of string wadded up on the post.” ... yeah you don’t “have to” wrap it 6 times because it’s WRONG. You need to make that clear.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

@@TheDealRonaldTrump Wrong? Oh my! :-0

[@jarrodhurd3168]

hey buddy, im not trying to be mean but you should just delete this video as it is completely wrong. totally defeats the purpose of a LOCKING tuner.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi Jarrod! No worries. Thanks for your comment. Future videos are planned to cover other ways to re-string with these tuners.

[@nefariouspreludev2.046]

That is totally wrong

[@onefatstratcat]

what a pain in the ass.. just spend the money and buy some Grovers

[@cdnpunk2270]

You didn't need slack ffs

[@wealthfinder192]

doesn't look right. They are called EZ lock, that didn't look easy or locked.

[@bluwng]

I never, ever, no matter which type of tuners leave any slack, absolutely unnecessary.

[@Anne6621]

way to many wraps

[@ThePetejames]

No offense, constructive critique here, ... but this is totally wrong. Don't do it this way. Your strings should always wind from the top of the tuner downward to insure maximum downward pressure of the string behind the nut. This is called "break angle". Doing it properly improves the tone and sustain of the guitar, as well as tuning stability. Cheers.

[@Doomlord777]

Looks a mess!

[@paulslack4303]

My god that looks sooo bad..... Not for me

[@mindfield9832]

😂. This is definitely not how to do it. You want the wraps to go from the top to the bottom to ensure a proper break angle. Wilkinson has instructions.

[@GaryKissinger]

What a mess------I doubt this was the intent of the design. Such slop...

[@wezilman]

Everything in this video is wrong, please don't do any of this.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Please then show us how

[@EXSENTRIX]

This is some bs.

[@vintagetone22]

You messed up the tuning peg.dont do you tube instruction please.complete wrong.4 turns on the heavy strins???and the wrapping right at the top.????i think you just seen a guitar 2 days ago.omg help us .we need help.😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😡😡😡😡😡🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😱😱😱😱