Grover Roto-Grip vs Rotomatic

[Dave Sloven]

Okay I have been replacing the Rotomatic auto-locking tuners on my guitars for the older Roto-Grip style

The cam in the auto lockers makes them too tight and I couldn't fit anything bigger than a 52 through them comfortably, even with filing. Also the tall posts are ugly and I always had problems with the light plain strings. I had previously changed the buttons on the SG from metal to lightweight acrylic so I transferred those over to the new tuners.

The inline type on my Explorer required redrilling for the screws a little lower than stock but the 3+3 type on my SG Special did not need this, they just used the stock holes.

I am looking to sell the old inline set. I will put the 3+3 set on my acoustic, as one of the Grovers on that is damaged. I don't use any bigger than a 52 on that anyway, my fingers aren't used to an acoustic!

The only guitar of mine that still has the Rotomatics is my SG Junior. I suspect I will change them for Roto-Grips or Gotohs eventually.

Here are some photos from today, plus some old photos of the SG Special with the auto lockers. I also changed the pickup height adjustment screws from chrome to black. I think they look better.

 

[smitty_p]

I have the auto-lockers in my '74 SG. I agree with your assessment of them. Did you also have problems with the internal cam gripping the lighter gauge strings, like the high E and B?

Maybe, since you use heavier strings to down-tune, you never had that issue. But, I also have issues getting heavier, wound strings to go through the post, like you did.

 

[gball]

Bigger than a 52? Are you laying Transatlantic cable or tuning waaay down?

Cool guitar either way.

 

[smitty_p]

Bigger than a 52? Are you laying Transatlantic cable or tuning waaay down?

Cool guitar either way.

I think Dave downtunes two full steps, hence the heavier strings.

 

[gball]

I think Dave downtunes two full steps, hence the heavier strings.

That's what I figgerd

 

[Goldmember]

I really dig the TV Yellow!

 

[Dave Sloven]

Did you also have problems with the internal cam gripping the lighter gauge strings, like the high E and B?

Yes. I have used them with lighter gauges such as 9, 10, 11, & 14 and found that issue

 

[Dave Sloven]

Yes I tune this guitar down to C standard with 11-56 strings, so the string tension is actually fairly light

If you look at the front bobbin on the bridge Warpig you will also notice the chunk taken out with my Dunlop Max Grip 1.14 picks. I just noticed that when I looked a the photo. I have the same thing on the front edge of the P-90 soapbar cover in my SG Junior

 

[Thatbastarddon]

Yes I tune this guitar down to C standard with 11-56 strings, so the string tension is actually fairly light

If you look at the front bobbin on the bridge Warpig you will also notice the chunk taken out with my Dunlop Max Grip 1.14 picks. I just noticed that when I looked a the photo. I have the same thing on the front edge of the P-90 soapbar cover in my SG Junior

Wow! I figured that was just a string divot from chugging a bit too heavy handedly!

 

[Dave Sloven]

Well it might be from the string

I've never watched myself closely ... I just figured it must be the pick ... that is roughly where my pick would come down, I keep my palm on or above the bridge

It might be the case that most of it is from when I played d-beat punk in Terania ... that is certainly the case for the pink one and this was used in practice and live occasionally for that band. I don't use it much in Sloven and picking is more deliberate and slow

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Yes, looks better for sure. I like the functionality of locking tuners though (in an ideal world).

 

[Dave Sloven]

So I had a problem with one of my regular Grovers on my Greg Bennett (Samick) acoustic so I fitted the Rotomatics that used to be on the SG Special.

You don't often see locking tuners on an acoustic

 

[Dave Sloven]

If you look at the high strings you will notice that the rotomatics still have the issue of slippage in the post even on the wound G (22W)

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Nice job - hope it stays in tune!