Favorite locking tuners in 2025?

[Oddguitar]

Back in the day it used to be Sperzel, but now I'm seeing a lot of boutique guitar brands using Gotoh, Hipshot, Schaller, Grover and Graph Tech Ratio. There are a few that have their own branded tuners as well (which are very likely made in the same factories that supply the aforementioned brands).

What's everyone's favorite?

 

[TSJMajesty]

I have Schaller's on 5 guitars, and I love em. They're shiny, so finding the hole (huhhuh) with my old eyes can be trciky if I don't remember to turn the tuner to where I want it, before removing the string. But other than that, they're great. And I love the gear ratio. It's just right imo.

They're M6-IND, if that matters.

 

[laxu]

Sperzel is probably my least favorite due to the poor gear ratios (less precise tuning adjustment) on the tuners and the rough edges on the thumbwheels.
Schallers tend to be heavy weight.

I like Gotoh Magnum Lock and Hipshot. Gotohs look like regular tuners and the mechanism just automatically locks as you start winding the string.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

Gotoh and Hipshot are my favorites these days. I tend to use Hipshots more often because they mount on a plate so you don't need to drill or match hole patterns.
Schallers are fine too but usually more expensive.

 

[451]

+1 for Hipshot locking tuners w/ the plate gizmo. Super easy mounting. +1 for the Gotoh staggered and non-staggered as well, though seems to be some QC variance with some being generally stiffer than other sets.

 

[QQQ]

Gotoh and Hipshot. Depends on the guitar.

 

[Axe]

I grab mine from guitarfetish.com... I probably better than a dozen sets on my guitars.

 

[scole]

Gotoh would be my #1 but I also love the Tone Ninja tuners which seem to have quality at a good price (and have a screw pattern that matches the existing screw holes I’ve needed).

 

[Frankencat]

Gotoh and Hipshot are the main ones I use. Lately I have been digging the Gotoh SD-91 MGT set on Strats.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I've always liked the Planet Waves, and have 4 or 5 sets. Used Sperzel way back in the day, but their ratio and fine tuning wasn't as good. Maybe they're better now though. I have 2 sets of Fender locking and they're pretty good too.

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

I actually prefer the Schaller locking tuners I installed on my Fender to the Gotoh ones I put on my Edwards. They are very precise and run smoothly. In direct comparison, the Gotohs feel less steady.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Hipshot and Gotoh.

For cheap partscasters I’ll go GFS and they’re great.