Does anyone actually prefer vintage style to locking?
Yes, they did. In 2020 they went to the vintage style on the McCarty and the 594. I do not care for them because I am lazy. On a positive note, the Phase III are a direct drop in.
I prefer the vintage to locking if the guitar goes in a gig bag. The locking tuners (even with the mini buttons) turn easily enough to detune where the vintage tuners don't.
I mean they fit without having to drill additional holes, ream out the hole, etc. Take the vintage out, put the Phase III in. No need to change the collars, either. Also, PRS makes a Vintage Style locking tuner. Last time I looked, they didn't have any at the PRS Store. I ended up getting mine from John Mann's Guitar Vault. Another thing about the Phase III; because the nitro finish is soft, you will be able to see the outline of the vintage style tuners on the back of the head stock. Here are some pics of the Vintage/Phase III so you can see the marks from the vintage tuners. Also a pic of the locking style vintage tuner.What do you mean by drop in?
John Mann makes his using the Gotoh SD90's but i dont know if he changes the shaft size or just drills and taps the top screw into the original shaft.I would put on kluson locking revolution g mount (non collared). Cheaper. No screw to stare at on the front but thumbwheel on the back. Another drop in option with exact same footprint, unlike phase 3 where you will see the old footprints. And comes in 4 colors. You can find them cheaper elsewhere but here’s the specs and info. Quality tuners. I’ve been always pleased with them
https://www.kluson.com/kluson-3-per...unt-non-collared-tuning-machines-details.html
Yes. Although they are PRS tuners that he sells. I put a set on mine. Happy I did.Sorry to bump a thread, but I’m looking into the Mann tuners. Just got a new 594 and I really wish they had left the Phase III tuners on there. I’d buy the Klusons, but the tuners aren’t white like the originals. Are the Manns really worth it at $190?
John Mann makes his using the Gotoh SD90's but i dont know if he changes the shaft size or just drills and taps the top screw into the original shaft.
Sorry to bump this older thread but this fits what I’m after. My hang tag on the just received 2019 McCarty 594 says December as well. How can I determine if mine has the TCI process and CAB nitro finish? I sent an email to customer service with the s/n. Will that be sufficient? Thanks in advance.I'm happy I managed to pick up a 'late' (Dec 2019) McCarty 594 HBii with the TCI Process and CAB Nitro Finish but before they switched over to the Vintage style non-locking tuners. I'm sure the Vintage tuners will be 'equally' as stable with tuning - assuming you know how to properly wind the string around the post to avoid 'slipping/moving' and I'd be surprised if they were not the same 'ratio' either. Therefore, the only 'advantage' of the locking tuners should be in ease/speed of string changes.
I much prefer locking tuners because I find it much easier and quicker to change Strings and be back playing again. It may save a 'few minutes' but a lot less monotony of winding/unwinding tuners as you need to wrap more of the string around the posts - not so bad with powered winders. I guess it depends on how often you do string changes, how many guitars you have to maintain etc but having 1 or2 non-locking tuner guitars isn't too bad.
It should be enough to find out for certain - although you should also tell from the smell of the Nitro. I believe they had switched over to the TCI/CAB by October 2019 but I can't say for certain. Also you can use the MODCAT number to find out too...Sorry to bump this older thread but this fits what I’m after. My hang tag on the just received 2019 McCarty 594 says December as well. How can I determine if mine has the TCI process and CAB nitro finish? I sent an email to customer service with the s/n. Will that be sufficient? Thanks in advance.
The guitar certainly has a smell to it that my CE24 doesn't. I'm guessing that's the Nitro finish.It should be enough to find out for certain - although you should also tell from the smell of the Nitro. I believe they had switched over to the TCI/CAB by October 2019 but I can't say for certain. Also you can use the MODCAT number to find out too...
Most likely. The 594 was the first model to change the to CAB/Nitro and TCI, and that happened in late October or early November, 2019.The guitar certainly has a smell to it that my CE24 doesn't. I'm guessing that's the Nitro finish.