Locking tuners on my son's PRS Silver Sky SE options?

pauldconyers

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Our guitar crazy 13 ear old son has a PRS Silver Sky SE. Really wanting to upgrade it for him to locking tuners. Because they would match everything I am considering just getting the locking model that comes with the regular $2700 Silver Sky (BTW, can anyone CONFIRM those locking tuners would drop right in without having to do any modification to the head stock, a SPECIFIC part number for them if I want to purchase them and know the cost?) but I would also consider other popular models with S-Style guitars as I am more familiar with Les Pauls. Be it specially branded PRS models or others that are popular on S-Styles are there other specific models to consider? Or should I just get the Silver Sky ones and call it good?
 
$120 is a bit more than I wanted to pay for them. Do many people who have a Silver Sky replace the stock ones where I may be able to find some used ones somewhere?
You can reach out to John Mann at John Mann's Guitar Vault. He was accepting the non locking style and modifying them into lockers. He may still have some of them around, or he may be willing to modify yours if you send them to him. He's an A+ guy and worked with Paul at the beginning. He designed the original trem for PRS (Mil-comm).
 
Your making decisions on your son's guitar instead of him. Let him appreciate what he has and when and if he decides he wants to get locking tuners later on when he really understands the difference, I would get them at that time. As a man who also has a son who plays guitar, I get it, but its more like you're getting it for yourself and not him. I could be wrong, but I have been on your road with my son who is now in his early 20's.
 
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NO! The PRS SE Locking Tuners do not fit into the PRS Silver Sky SE! The SS SE holes need to be enlarged to 3/4" or the tuners will not go into the hole. You take a big chance when drilling a larger hole into a hard wood and risk chipping or cracking. The SS SE stock tuners have 2 screw holes. The PRS SE Locking Tuners have just one screw. The existing holes do not line up with the locking tuners. That would leave you with 2 exposed empty holes and make your guitar look like a hack job. I emailed PRS about this 2 days ago and have not gotten a response. I called Sweetwater where I purchased the guitar 2 months ago and purchased the official PRS SE Locking Tuners last week. Sweetwater knows about this problem and is supposed to make note of it on their website.
 
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I fixed up the OP with some locking core vintage SS tuners I had. He said they are great and his son is super happy.

Locomotive you could buy the core locking Silver Sky vintage tuners and they will slip in with no mod. You are correct, and the standard SE locking tuners are not a direct fit, and will require modification.
 
I can see how the comments could have came across that way but I’m sure it wasn’t the intent, more along the lines of helping the kid become invested in his instrument and develop ideas (and achievable) upgrades that could help him build something himself and understand the why etc.

Either way very pleased it all ended well, and remember, advice is nothing more than someone’s experience, pulled from the garbage and dusted off then recycled for more than it’s worth..

Keep it light guys
 
I just need the size of the tuner peg hole used on the current Silver Sky SE so I can find tuners that fit as the factory SE Locking Tuners I purchased are too big for the hole. I will not take the chance of ruining the neck by hogging out the hole myself or pay bucks for a luthier or other guitar repair person to do what should be a drop in replacement.
 
I just need the size of the tuner peg hole used on the current Silver Sky SE so I can find tuners that fit as the factory SE Locking Tuners I purchased are too big for the hole. I will not take the chance of ruining the neck by hogging out the hole myself or pay bucks for a luthier or other guitar repair person to do what should be a drop in replacement.
I would contact John Mann, the ones he sells that specifically say for a silver sky SE should be a direct drop in. He can also convert your current tuners to locking for a lower price but that would require you to ship them to him.
 
I would contact John Mann, the ones he sells that specifically say for a silver sky SE should be a direct drop in. He can also convert your current tuners to locking for a lower price but that would require you to ship them to him.
Thanks for the info. I spoke with him and found a great solution. They are on their way here.
 
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