PRS has re-engineered the shape of its tuners

[David Oxford]

I love the new tuners on my HB II. Another win for PRS.

What do you like about the new design vs the old?

 

[SonicBlue]

What do you like about the new design vs the old?

I liked the locking feature on previous PRS tuners, but have been fine on all guitars I've owned without locking.

The lighter headstock end is a bonus on a hollowbody for balance. At least it seems like it is.

I was surprised how much I like the look, feel and experience with these tuners so I wouldn't swap them out even if someone offered to do it for free, I like the instrument exactly as it is.

 

[David Oxford]

I liked the locking feature on previous PRS tuners, but have been fine on all guitars I've owned without locking.

The lighter headstock end is a bonus on a hollowbody for balance. At least it seems like it is.

I was surprised how much I like the look, feel and experience with these tuners so I wouldn't swap them out even if someone offered to do it for free, I like the instrument exactly as it is.

I definitely can appreciate your input. I think PRS needs to offer the original Phase III as an option still on their guitars rather than the newer less expensive design, perhaps as a cost savings option.

 

[SonicBlue]

I definitely can appreciate your input. I think PRS needs to offer the original Phase III as an option still on their guitars rather than the newer less expensive design, perhaps as a cost savings option.

I'm not so sure they're less expensive. If they are, I don't think cost was the driver in the change, they were after a way to reduce weight on the headstock and the locking phase III's have the 6 steel locking screws and usually metal knobs that all add weight. You can also get locking if you really want them because they're still offered on trem models.

On these new tuners, there is an aluminum collar with a set screw between the buttons and the body of the tuner that doesn't look cheap at all. The tuners are still machined, open gears, the posts where the strings go through appear to be machined brass. and are rock solid. I don't see any indication of a reduction in quality. They had a lot of thought put into them and they're very well executed. In use, they don't jump at all while tuning, they are butter smooth right to the precise point you want them to be and they hold solid once there.

 

[d^rren]

I'm not so sure they're less expensive. If they are, I don't think cost was the driver in the change, they were after a way to reduce weight on the headstock and the locking phase III's have the 6 steel locking screws and usually metal knobs that all add weight. You can also get locking if you really want them because they're still offered on trem models.

On these new tuners, there is an aluminum collar with a set screw between the buttons and the body of the tuner that doesn't look cheap at all. The tuners are still machined, open gears, the posts where the strings go through appear to be machined brass. and are rock solid. I don't see any indication of a reduction in quality. They had a lot of thought put into them and they're very well executed. In use, they don't jump at all while tuning, they are butter smooth right to the precise point you want them to be and they hold solid once there.

My guess is that these tuners are reversible, similar to Sperzels.

The tuner body is now symmetrical. The spacer makes it a modular design. Disassemble them and you can probably pull the worm gear and flip them to either side of the headstock.

That means they now only need to cast or machine one part instead of two. Definitely cost savings there.

 

[SonicBlue]

My guess is that these tuners are reversible, similar to Sperzels.

The tuner body is now symmetrical. The spacer makes it a modular design. Disassemble them and you can probably pull the worm gear and flip them to either side of the headstock.

That means they now only need to cast or machine one part instead of two. Definitely cost savings there.

That's just good engineering. I work for a manufacturing company and believe cost savings there would be negligible in this case. It's still done in batches with the same tooling and materials and the changeover from one part to the other is likely automated anyway. If they're cast, they're probably mirror images in the same mold.

Though I didn't state it very clearly, my point is less about whether the new design is a cheaper to manufacture and it's more about weight savings and quality and user experience. If they can achieve that while also reducing costs and simplifying a design, more power to them. But this tuner change is not a "cost cutting measure" with lower costs as the primary goal. Impact on price would be a secondary benefit in this case, IMO.

In any case, it doesn't really matter. What does matter to me is that I love the new tuners and would consider adding them to other guitars if the holes lined up.

 

[64 Tele]

The new prs tuners are butt ugly.....
There, I said it

 

[SonicBlue]

The new prs tuners are butt ugly.....
There, I said it

 

[d^rren]

That's just good engineering. I work for a manufacturing company and believe cost savings there would be negligible in this case. It's still done in batches with the same tooling and materials and the changeover from one part to the other is likely automated anyway. If they're cast, they're probably mirror images in the same mold.

Oh, I agree. When I first learned that Sperzel tuners are completely modular, I was like, "Why isn't everyone making them this way?" Casting unique left and right tuner bodies just seems wasteful and inefficient, not just from a manufacturing standpoint, but from assembly and inventory as well.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

I'm not so sure they're less expensive. If they are, I don't think cost was the driver in the change, they were after a way to reduce weight on the headstock and the locking phase III's have the 6 steel locking screws and usually metal knobs that all add weight. You can also get locking if you really want them because they're still offered on trem models.

On these new tuners, there is an aluminum collar with a set screw between the buttons and the body of the tuner that doesn't look cheap at all. The tuners are still machined, open gears, the posts where the strings go through appear to be machined brass. and are rock solid. I don't see any indication of a reduction in quality. They had a lot of thought put into them and they're very well executed. In use, they don't jump at all while tuning, they are butter smooth right to the precise point you want them to be and they hold solid once there.

They look like Phase III’s with a different tuner button, so no drop in mechanical reliability.

There was a lot of dislike for them when they were first announced. But they’re probably replaceable, the buttons that is, if people don’t like them.

Horses for courses.

 

[deathworlder]

They look like Phase III’s with a different tuner button, so no drop in mechanical reliability.

There was a lot of dislike for them when they were first announced. But they’re probably replaceable, the buttons that is, if people don’t like them.

Horses for courses.

I don't mind 'plastic'; it's all about the gears to me. My favorite 'vintage-style' tuners are Kluson Revolutions; 19:1 ratio and have no perceptible gear slip.
My all-time favorite are locking Gotoh 510s with a 21:1 ratio.

From what I've read, PRS Phase IIIs have no gear slip as well; their 15:1 ratio is...acceptable. I was on-the-fence when the new buttons were introduced, but I have come to like them on guitars where a vintage style tuner is appropriate.
As far as their purported benifit...I call b*llshit.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

I don't mind 'plastic'; it's all about the gears to me. My favorite 'vintage-style' tuners are Kluson Revolutions; 19:1 ratio and have no perceptible gear slip.
My all-time favorite are locking Gotoh 510s with a 21:1 ratio.

From what I've read, PRS Phase IIIs have no gear slip as well; their 15:1 ratio is...acceptable. I was on-the-fence when the new buttons were introduced, but I have come to like them on guitars where a vintage style tuner is appropriate.
As far as their purported benifit...I call b*llshit.

I can confirm the Phase III’s on this old piece of firewood are the dogs baws

 

[deathworlder]

I can confirm the Phase III’s on this old piece of firewood are the dogs baws

That top and finish...omg!
How is it, that it has no script on the back of the headstock?

 

[Alnus Rubra]

That top and finish...omg!
How is it, that it has no script on the back of the headstock?

It’s a core 2014 10 top, see either side of the tuner.

What I only discovered today, after having owned my Santana for nearly 18 months, there was a Paul Reed Smith signature on the control cover, which someone (not me) has removed.

Hope the pic shows this -



You might need to zoom in.

So at the very least, the cover has been in the hands of Paul.

 

[Bogner]

I can confirm the Phase III’s on this old piece of firewood are the dogs baws

Ohh La La!!!

 

[bodia]

I can confirm the Phase III’s on this old piece of firewood are the dogs baws

Love that so much. Really happy that you didn't let that one get snatched by someone else.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Love that so much. Really happy that you didn't let that one get snatched by someone else.

Oh me too. Thanks to you and @sergiodeblanc for the push.

 

[bodia]

Oh me too. Thanks to you and @sergiodeblanc for the push.

Not that you needed much of a push. Still, happy to have aided.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Not that you needed much of a push. Still, happy to have aided.

I only remember saying what I’d buy and then… boom!

 

[worthmoremusic]

The article mentions:
So, what’s so innovative about these tuners? Well, cosmetically they're designed to echo the 12th fret bird wingspan design, but the change isn’t just ergonomic. Instead, they were “first and foremost” designed to increase the tonality of the guitars that feature them.

What do you guys think?

The rest of the article is here.

I like them much better than the chrome ones...would actually prefer if they were black or same color as the headstock.