Schaller Mini Tuning Machine Heads are lighter and smaller machines, designed for Stratocasters and 12-string guitars with heads inline on the headstock. Set of 6.6-in line Button: 1-4/5/8 [Read more]
A tuning machine's Gear Ratio (ex. 15:1) tells us how many times the tuner's knob must be turned before the string post rotates a full 360°'s.
The higher the gear ratio the more precise the tuning is as relatively small adjustments can be made.
Bushings
(Press On vs. Bolt On)
The tuning machine's bushing (also called ferrule) is inserted into the peghead and surrounds the tuner's string post.
Some bushings are simply pressed into the peghead hole and remain there by friction. Others, screw to the tuners. In most cases the required peghead hole size will differ.
Locking Tuner
Locking tuners clamp down on the string as it passes thru the tuning machine post hole. Most use a "vice" like mechanism which is tightened/loosened by a knob on the back side of the tuner.
Mini Tuners
Some smaller pegheads use mini tuners to allow closer side by side mounting and reduce weight.
Graduated Tuners
Graduated tuners have lower posts for strings that are further away from the nut (treble B and E string). This is helpful for pegheads that are not angled. An example of a non-angled peghead would be a Telecaster. Angled pegheads like those on Les Paul style guitars use non-graduated tuners.
