Scott Howard _Keyless Tuner

[Eldon]

Scott, I'd like to see what you have for a keylees tuner. I'm in the process of building one. Could you post a couple of photos of yours please?

[Bent]

I'll second that one Eldon/Scott. At the same time if you would be so kind as to list what you think are some of the advantages of a keyless tuner, other than the obvious 5 or 6 inches that you save in length....and disadvantages, if any.
Thanks!
Bent

[Scott Howard]

I have several types . The ones I have in use are all the same , I have another one on order for my next project. I have one I bought and have not used yet but have a guitar it will fit. I also plan on getting one like kline used for the guitar I am going to build and not the ones I have just modified.

Here is what is on my sons and my MSA . They are for a 3/4" neck and MSA used a 1 " so I made a 1/4 " thick aluminum plate to go under it and cover any left over holes.

[Scott Howard]

Here is the type I am having made for my single neck 12 string MSA.

[Scott Howard]

Here is one made years ago that I have used on a Emmons push pull. I had bought the one in the picture but resold it . The one I did use was the same except without the box. It was called a Bela and was my first keyless tuner.

[Scott Howard]

Here is one made by BMI that I like and they said they would sell me one but I never was able to get back in touch with any one.

[Scott Howard]

Here is a Kline and probably my favorite. I plan on using one like it on the guitar I bulid.

[Scott Howard]

This one may go on my Dekley , if I run out of things to do.

[Scott Howard]

Here is one but I don't know who made it.

[Scott Howard]

The advantages always seem to start a big debate but I will offer my opinion. I am no expert but here is the way I see it. I first saw a picture of a keyless and I liked the way it looked , However most people call them ugly and that seems to be the #1 reason for there dislike and to the point I think most have never tried them.
They offer shorter guitars as I have shortened all of the MSA's I have done over 5 inches. To me this centers you up in the guitar and to me it just feels better. I did not shorten the push pull Emmons and installed the regular keyhead when I sold it . I did notice this with the Emmons. It was a working guitar and all I did was change the key head to a keyless head . EVERY string change took less travel both raises and lowers. This is because you are still pulling the extra lenght on the other side of the rollers with a keyed guitar. Look at the extra lenght on string 5 & 6 on a 10 string. It seems to never break a 3rd string now partly because it is shorter and now takes a little less movement. I find it easier to go off the guitar with bar as it seems to clear better as in going from 1st fret to open.

Some build longer scale guitars like 25 " and I think I saw a 25 1/2 " listed on a Excel. Even with a 25 " scale the actual string is shorter than on most keyed 24" guitars.
It is easier and quicker to change a string on the keyless guitars that I have. You can simply bend the string back and forth a few times and it will break off as clean as can be.

I would suggest reading on the GFI website and I will look up some other links and post Tomorrow.