FAQ – Guitar Monkey

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Guitar and bass mechanics in general

Can I buy guitar machine heads individually?

Yes, you can buy all of the guitar and bass tuners we offer individually. Just have a look at our shop .

We also offer various custom options for guitar and bass tuners.

What is left, what is right guitar mechanics?

One differentiates between left and right guitar mechanics. The neck of a left machine head is on the left side, with a right machine head the neck is on the right side.

Here you can find out the exact difference including a picture between a left and a right guitar machine head.

What does bass side and treble side mean in guitar machine heads?

It means whether it is a left (bass side) or right (treble side) guitar machine head.

You can find out how to distinguish left from right guitar mechanics here.

What does gear ratio mean in guitar machine heads?

A worm gear works in every guitar mechanism. This worm gear consists of a worm shaft and a gear wheel, which is also called a worm wheel.

The button of the guitar mechanism is on the worm shaft. The worm wheel sits on the adjusting axis (post) in which the guitar string is attached.

If you now turn the button on the guitar mechanics, the worm shaft also rotates and drives the worm wheel with the adjusting axis (post). The adjusting axis (post) with the guitar string turns and the guitar string is tuned.

Of course, worm gears also have different translations. Common gear ratios are 12:1, 15:1, 16:1, 18:1, 19:1 or 20:1.

A gear ratio of 18:1 to one means that you have to turn the button of the machine heads exactly 18 times so that the adjusting axis (post) with the attached guitar string also rotates once around itself.

A high gear ratio means you have to turn the guitar more often or tune the bass up or down a note. The guitar can therefore be tuned more finely.

A low gear ratio means that you don't have to turn it as often to tune a note down or up.

For our Monkey Locks - Locking Tuner, we chose a gear ratio of 18:1, which we believe is the perfect gear ratio. The guitar can be tuned very finely and precisely, but you don't have to turn it often unnecessarily to achieve a result.

Our bass tuners have a gear ratio of 20:1.

Learn more about our Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners / clamping tuners here.

Learn more about our bass tuners here.

What does staggered posts/mechanics mean?

With staggered machine heads, the rear adjusting axles (posts), in which the guitar strings are attached, are shorter than the front ones. This increases the string pressure on the saddle for the guitar tuners at the back.

Staggered tuners only make sense for guitars without headstock angles that do not have string retainers. Since this is very rare, we currently do not offer any staggered variants for our Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners.

My guitar is top heavy, what can I do about it?

Especially cheap guitar machine heads often weigh much more than quality machine heads. Therefore, the weight can be significantly reduced by exchanging the guitar mechanics. If you don't want to change your tuners, you can reduce the weight by over 20% simply by swapping the metal tuning buttons for wooden tuning buttons, which can be very beneficial for top-heavy guitars. A wider belt can also help.

Here you can go directly to our wooden buttons.

How do I correctly install guitar and bass machine heads on my guitar/bass?

Here you will find detailed installation instructions for guitar and bass machine heads.

Do you also repair guitar and bass mechanics?

Unfortunately we do not offer a repair service.

How do I clean guitar and bass mechanics correctly?

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Swap guitar tuners? Why should I do that?

Why should I swap guitar or bass machine heads?

There are many reasons for this. Defective mechanisms must of course be replaced, that is completely clear. But inferior or outdated guitar and bass mechanics should also be exchanged.

Because high-quality guitars and bass mechanics make it easier to tune your instrument and, of course, keep the tuning much more precise. Locking tuners / clamping mechanisms are ideal for keeping the tuning precise and also for speeding up the string change.

You can find out how to swap guitar or bass mechanics here in our detailed installation instructions.

Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners / Klemm Mechaniken

Do you also sell spacers individually?

No, unfortunately no. However, we sell the rings in matching sets for the number of strings on your guitar. Just drop by the Shop.

Do you offer locking tuners for left-handed guitars?

Of course! We offer almost 900 different set combinations. We always want to know whether you play a right-handed or left-handed guitar so that we can also put together the tuners with the larger string holes correctly for your set.

You can find more information here.

Do you also offer locking tuners / clamping mechanisms for guitars with reverse headstock / headstocks?

You can find more information here.

What are locking tuners / clamping mechanisms?

Locking tuners, also known as clamping mechanisms, are guitar mechanisms that lock the string with a locking mechanism. Thus, the string is tight and can no longer be out of tune. It is also possible to tune the guitar faster, since it no longer needs windings.

Our monkey locks work with a clamping wheel which is slightly tightened by hand on the back of the guitar mechanics. As a result, a metal pin inside the pin presses against the guitar string and anchors it firmly to the mechanics.

Here you will find all the functions that make our Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners so special.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of locking tuners / clamping mechanisms?

The advantages of locking tuners / clamping mechanisms clearly outweigh the few disadvantages.

Advantages

+ tuning stability

Locking tuners ensure a guitar that stays in tune (of course only if the nut and bridge are of good quality)

+ faster string changes

since no additional windings are necessary , changing the strings is done very quickly

Disadvantages

- Locking tuners are often more expensive than non-locking tuners. But you get the locking function

- locking tuners are often heavier than non-locking tuners. However, this mass can also mean an increase in sustain.

However, our locking tuners are among the lightest on the market. The weight can be reduced even further with our wooden buttons

Learn more about our Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners

Do locking tuners / clamping mechanisms only make sense with tremolo / vibrato guitars?

No! Locking tuners also make sense for guitars without a tremolo system. Because even on guitars with a fixed bridge, the string windings on the mechanics loosen when playing and bending. This happens even when strings are wound very well. So locking tuners make sense on all kinds of guitars when you want tuning stability and fast string changing.

Will my guitar never go out of tune with locking tuners?

Our Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners are among the best mechanics on the market. They work extremely precisely and the locking mechanism also secures the strings securely.

Nevertheless, other parts of a guitar are also responsible for the tuning stability, such as the saddle and the bridge.

If the saddle and the bridge of the guitar are also of outstanding quality, your guitar will be completely in tune with the Monkey Locks - Locking Tuner.

Are Monkey Locks - locking tuners / clamping mechanisms also suitable for acoustic guitars and lap steel / pedal steel guitars?

Our Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners are suitable for electric guitars as well as for acoustic guitars and lap steel or pedal steel guitars.

It is only important to note the technical data to ensure that the Locking Tuners fit your instrument.

Pay particular attention to the screw lug of 135 degrees and the height of the pin, which is suitable for headstocks with a thickness between 12.7mm and 16mm.

Learn more about the technical data of the Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners

Do locking tuners change the sound of a guitar?

The slightly higher weight of the locking tuners / clamping mechanisms adds a little more mass to the guitar's headstock. This allows the guitar to have more sustain and a slightly fatter tone. The effect is similar to a Fat Finger.

What is the size of the hole in the headstock of my guitar?

Most modern guitars have a hole size of 10 millimeters. Vintage instruments often have a hole diameter of 8.5mm.

Our Monkey Locks - locking tuners / clamping mechanisms fit headstocks with hole diameters of 9.9mm to 10mm.

If you have holes with 8.5mm, you can simply drill them out with a countersink (10mm). If you are unsure, any guitar builder will of course do this for you.

It would be best if you take a look at our technical drawing here before you buy our tuners.

How do I know if the locking tuners / clamping mechanisms also fit my guitar?

You basically have to consider 3 things:

1. Angle of the screw lug

Our Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners / clamping mechanisms have a 135 degree screw lug. This fits a lot of guitars, but not all. Of course you can also drill holes to install our Monkey Locks if your guitar doesn't have holes for 135 degrees.

2. Headstock hole diameter

Most modern guitars have a hole diameter of 10mm. Vintage instruments often have a hole diameter of 8.5mm.

Our Monkey Locks - locking tuners / clamping mechanisms fit headstocks with hole diameters of 9.9mm to 10mm.

If you have holes with 8.5mm, you can simply drill them out with a countersink (10mm). If you are unsure, any guitar builder will do this for you.

3. Thickness of the headstock

Our Monkey Locks fit headstocks with a thickness between 12.6mm and 16mm. This is the normal standard and is the case with almost all guitars.

Basically, it is important that you look at our technical drawing before buying to find out the exact dimensions.

You can find the technical drawing here.

How do I install/swap locking tuners/locking machine heads on my guitar?

You can find detailed installation instructions here.

Installing Locking Tuners - I need to drill new holes, what size hole do I need?

Our screws have a diameter of 2.3mm.

For hardwood headstocks (e.g. mahogany, maple, rosewood, koa, korina) drill a 2.0mm diameter hole.

For softwood headstocks (rather rare), drill a 1.6mm diameter hole.

Do you also offer staggered mechanics?

Staggered machine heads only make sense for guitars without headstock angles that don't have string retainers. Since this is very rare, we currently do not offer any staggered variants for our Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners.

Do you offer spare parts for your Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners / clamping mechanisms?

Currently we only offer spacer rings for guitars and basses. You can find these in our Shop However, we will also offer other spare parts in the near future.

Do I have to oil or grease Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners clamping mechanisms?

No, our mechanics are closed and you don't have to grease them (mechanics are generally greased with Teflon grease, not oiled).

Open mechanics, on the other hand, can use some grease after a few years after the mechanics have been thoroughly cleaned.

Learn here more about the advantages of our mechanics.

How do I use locking tuners correctly? How do I put strings on locking tuners correctly?

It is extremely important that locking tuners are not used like normal guitar machine heads. With normal guitar machine heads, the strings are wound around the adjusting axle/post. This can lead to the strings always slipping slightly and thus detuning the guitar.

This is avoided with locking tuners. But here it is extremely important that the strings are not wrapped around the adjustment axis/post.

Open the clamping screw of your Monkey Locks - Locking Tuners and put the string through the hole and pull the string tight. Clamp the strings by locking the clamping screw again. Cut off the excess string. Now tune the guitar.