Weight difference between vintage locking and non-locking tuners (for Core) ?

[DarkskyZ]

As I do believe what PRSh chooses to be best for any given model at any given time actually is the best, I do really prefer locking tuners so I am considering replacing my vintage non locking tuners with locking ones on my recently acquired '23 SC 594.
But before I do that I would like to know what the difference is in weight for the set of 6 vintage tuners locking VS vintage non locking.
The switch PRS did was said to be about weight and I'd like to know what it is really all about.
Difference with Phase III already have been discussed but not Vintage vs Vintage locking.

Anybody able to tell ?

Thanks

 

[xxxadixxx]

I recently replaced the stock non-locking vintage tuners with PRS locking vintage tuners on a 2023 SC594. It is helpful to note that the two are identical except for the modifications to make them locking. The post is drilled out and then the locking screw is inserted. Therefore material from the post is removed (less weight) which is offset by the locking screw. You could approximate the weight difference between the two by taking 3 of the locking screws from another PRS. It is a very small difference on the full guitar.

 

[DarkskyZ]

Thanks a lot for these details. Makes a lot of sense.

 

[pwrmac7600]

I did this in my 2002 McCarty and didn't feel any difference in weight.

 

[gush]

As I do believe what PRSh chooses to be best for any given model at any given time actually is the best, I do really prefer locking tuners so I am considering replacing my vintage non locking tuners with locking ones on my recently acquired '23 SC 594.
But before I do that I would like to know what the difference is in weight for the set of 6 vintage tuners locking VS vintage non locking.
The switch PRS did was said to be about weight and I'd like to know what it is really all about.
Difference with Phase III already have been discussed but not Vintage vs Vintage locking.

Anybody able to tell ?

Thanks

Just get vintage kluson lockers from Mann and call it a day. Drop in and no mods.

Put em on my 2000 McCarty and never looked back.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

5 fluid ounces.

 

[RC Mike]

As for the reason why, nobody here will ever really know. If PRS swapped Widget Y for Widget Z on the guitars, Paul would say it was for better tone, true to his vision, that Alloy 7 naturally vibrates in sympathy with the sinus rhythm of the human heart, or that it’s a small change that somehow makes the guitar better when the tide is out.

Any of that could be true. Or it could be that supply chain problems made it hard to get the old part and guitars were otherwise finished and couldn’t be shipped. Or a supplier went out of business. Or it takes five fewer minutes of staff time per guitar, which adds up. Or too many of the old parts weren’t passing QC.

 

[DarkskyZ]

I agree, could be any reason for the change but weight is said to be the one. Thus, not blindingly believing anything but trusting the brand, I am just wondering what this difference is.
I found a video on youtube on this exact subject and it seems like the difference is around 0.4 oz / 11 grams for the whole pack of 6 tuners with same buttons. So I think I have my answer. I don't change strings that often but I like the convenience of locking tuners so I may swap at some point.

Thanks for the answers.

 

[dogrocketp]

I put lockers on everything, but my partner still refuses to wear the chastity belt I bought her. Go figure…….

 

[DISTORT6]

I put lockers on everything, but my partner still refuses to wear the chastity belt I bought her. Go figure…….

If you wear it inside out, it makes things easier.

 

[Dagoe]

I put lockings on my 2012 SE Santana and it developed a moderate neck dive.

 

[DarkskyZ]

I did it, I upgraded my '23 SC 594 to locking vintage tuners last Sunday. That's a 10 minutes very easy job I should have done straight from new.
No regret. As others said before, weight is not even discernable from non locking and the convenience of locking tuners is a huge plus. I am not sure why PRS removed them to be honest, 11g is not nothing zero but who can really tell ?
To me at least, this not a more modern feature than the kinda pointy headstock or the belly cuts.
To me PRS = tuners locking from the top, that's what I liked and what I want from a PRS.

I put fresh strings on after the upgrade of course and with the new locking tuners I notice an extremely stable tuning now. Improvement is very perceptible even though the guitar was already very stable. Maybe my stringing technique on the non locking tuners was not optimal but I religiously applied the method PRS recommends so that seems kinda weird.
I know locking tuners are not supposed to help much at tuning stability but I really never had a guitar staying that well in tune, and with new strings, even though I always stretch them well, I usually experience some drift even if not unmanageable at all. Not even my T Type is that stable. I wasn't expecting that, I sure am pleasantly surprise !

Now I am thinking about the newest tuners with the buttons that not everybody likes. Those can't be upgraded to locking with the same button design as they just aren't available. I guess you guys in the US will get some Mann made version to get just that but us in Europe won't have that chance.