Polished Mix Yes I was pretty confused as well the first time I had to change the strings on my wings. Looking at the directions on PRS's website weren't the most helpful, so I had to pretty much just guess, and try and do what I thought was correct. I finally found a video a while back that had better directions, and that helped a bunch. The big thing I think most people miss is having the slots lined up. Your video does a great job of pointing this out. I did pick up one little tidbit from your video though, the pushing up on the wings to lock the string in. I have always just pulled the string tight and tuned up letting the tuner do its thing and locking the string in place. I hope that more people will find your video. It should be on PRS's website 👍🏻
Very helpful! But what do I do with the thumbscrews that are on top of the tuners? Your video didn't mention those, and the PRS video doesn't mention them either.
Man, I cannot thank you enough for this tutorial. I've been shopping to replace these tuners but now have this video saved for my next restring. This was well done!!
Glad I could help and save you some frustration and money, Jon. Let me know how it goes after a restring. Mine still holds a tuning after a few months in the case.
Good tutorial. These tuners are actually great. One thing I might add is that the strings lock easier if you pull the string slightly towards the outside of the headstock.
Prefer the new style tuners with the screws in the posts. So easy. Here's a tip that use when I restring my PRS. You are correct that it is important to pull the string tight before you lock it. I stand the guitar upright, grab and hold the string above the tuner with pliers and gently lift the guitar off the table slightly as I lock the strings. The guitar's weight pulls the string tight. Works great with the screw type locking tuners. Don't know how well it would work with the winged tuners since they are a little more involved.
@@Polishedmix Thankyou!! Yes I love it, got it last week and played it about 12 hours and it's got the best intonation, setup and sound Ive seen yet and I'm a Strat, Tele. guy for over 50 yrs. so that's saying something, but yeah AWESOME tone and playability, love the rotary switch, not loving the tuners yet but I did get strings on it thanks to your video. Thanks so much!! 😀👌
I've been dealing with them on my CE-24 for 20 years and I still find them to be a pain in the ass. A major problem with them is aligning is flat side of the center pin before you lay the string in the groove of the wing. I need the guitar to be flat on a table with a good strong light available. I shudder to think how I would do this in an emergency on a dark stage. Ultimately, they work OK but they're needlessly complex and fiddly, and there are plenty of other locking tuners that are more user-friendly and work just as well. Someday I'll get fed up for good and replace them.
Good point about changing these in a gig situation. One way is to have the string line up into the groove, press with two fingers on both ends, while using the other hand to turn the tuner until the string sinks down into the groove. But I do agree there are much simpler solutions. Hopefuly this video will make your life a little better. Thanks for watching!
You're absolutely right...it's not a simple way to lock strings..I had a Custom 24 20th Anniversary and the Phase II locking tuners were far better than this bullshit..I plan to buy Phase II or Phase III but i don't know if they match with my Swamp Ash Special ?, Any idea ?
Strange that so many guys have a problem with these. I'm far from a rocket engineer and they worked for me from day one. And when they came around there was no internet and UA-cam tutorials. The same with Floyd Rose trems; no big deal...
Still can't figure it out. I've decided to finally change the string on a 86 that was given to me. It was playing amazingly so I pushed the day I'll have to restring it. First of all, my wings are set the other way around. So weird. I should have payed more attention when I removed the old string. It didn't seem too complicated, I watched this video a couple of time...the result is really bad, the string are now so hard to bend, and when you bend, the string below will now just roll under my fingers. The thing is I can't see up close if the string are supposed to make and angle with the wing just where it reach the tuner(?) this def change the angles and that's no good . Also it seems now they are higher from the head that they used to be (distance wood-string on the head)
These are really fast and easy if you know how to do it. Probably 90 seconds per string. Change one string at a time or put something under the back of your bridge so the finish doesn’t get damaged when the string tension comes off the bridge.
Thanks for the video, but I can't stick my .60 string into that tuner! What's the problem with that? Is there a limitation for string gauge for those or I'm doing something wrong?
Polished Mix in our band we use drop B tuning so I was afraid that with. 56s guitar won't be able to intonate well, however I'll try 11-56 strings, thanks)
The Phase III locking tuners are fantastic but if you want to keep the original ones, they still work well. Just need a little bit more work to get the most out of them.
Right... and then if you don't get them locked in properly and need to perform... ugh... its a disaster. That combined with my playing which can be a disaster - perfect storm.
Looks like over engineered crap to me! Why mess with something that should be simple like vintage Fender tuners.Tuners don't slip if you just use them properly, no need for all this locking crap.
Once you get a hang of it, they are great. It's one of the first locking tuners around, so they still haven't ironed everything out but the guitar from this video stays in tune for weeks.
I've been playing guitar for more than 20 years and recently bought a PRS. To be honest it's just an expensive piece of crap. Those tuners are horrible, i just want to smash my guitar to pieces when changing strings. And those PRS pickups just sound terrible. Hop I can get rid of it very soon.
Love the winged tuners. They are so simple to use when done correctly.
Thanks for tutorial. It's been much needed for years.
They're not as bad as people say. I was confused with mine at first and the documentation is not perfect. I'm glad you found it useful, Todd.
Polished Mix
Yes I was pretty confused as well the first time I had to change the strings on my wings. Looking at the directions on PRS's website weren't the most helpful, so I had to pretty much just guess, and try and do what I thought was correct.
I finally found a video a while back that had better directions, and that helped a bunch.
The big thing I think most people miss is having the slots lined up. Your video does a great job of pointing this out. I did pick up one little tidbit from your video though, the pushing up on the wings to lock the string in. I have always just pulled the string tight and tuned up letting the tuner do its thing and locking the string in place.
I hope that more people will find your video. It should be on PRS's website 👍🏻
Very helpful! But what do I do with the thumbscrews that are on top of the tuners? Your video didn't mention those, and the PRS video doesn't mention them either.
Man, I cannot thank you enough for this tutorial. I've been shopping to replace these tuners but now have this video saved for my next restring. This was well done!!
Glad I could help and save you some frustration and money, Jon. Let me know how it goes after a restring. Mine still holds a tuning after a few months in the case.
@@Polishedmix Will do, just intonated it with my poor initial stringing. Standby.
Good tutorial. These tuners are actually great. One thing I might add is that the strings lock easier if you pull the string slightly towards the outside of the headstock.
Prefer the new style tuners with the screws in the posts. So easy. Here's a tip that use when I restring my PRS. You are correct that it is important to pull the string tight before you lock it. I stand the guitar upright, grab and hold the string above the tuner with pliers and gently lift the guitar off the table slightly as I lock the strings. The guitar's weight pulls the string tight. Works great with the screw type locking tuners. Don't know how well it would work with the winged tuners since they are a little more involved.
saving the day for me again friend. Great instructional video. The tuners made no sense without me watching this video haha. Much thanks.
Thank you, I just bought a gorgeous 1992 PRS. now I can resting it! 😊👌
Norm Cote congratulations! They are wonderful guitars. Glad I could help.
@@Polishedmix Thankyou!!
Yes I love it, got it last week and played it about 12 hours and it's got the best intonation, setup and sound Ive seen yet and I'm a Strat, Tele. guy for over 50 yrs. so that's saying something, but yeah AWESOME tone and playability, love the rotary switch, not loving the tuners yet but I did get strings on it thanks to your video.
Thanks so much!! 😀👌
What is the problem? I love these tuners. String changes are easy, the video shows how easy it is. Plus strings stay in tune forever.
I've been dealing with them on my CE-24 for 20 years and I still find them to be a pain in the ass. A major problem with them is aligning is flat side of the center pin before you lay the string in the groove of the wing. I need the guitar to be flat on a table with a good strong light available. I shudder to think how I would do this in an emergency on a dark stage. Ultimately, they work OK but they're needlessly complex and fiddly, and there are plenty of other locking tuners that are more user-friendly and work just as well. Someday I'll get fed up for good and replace them.
Good point about changing these in a gig situation. One way is to have the string line up into the groove, press with two fingers on both ends, while using the other hand to turn the tuner until the string sinks down into the groove. But I do agree there are much simpler solutions. Hopefuly this video will make your life a little better. Thanks for watching!
You're absolutely right...it's not a simple way to lock strings..I had a Custom 24 20th Anniversary and the Phase II locking tuners were far better than this bullshit..I plan to buy Phase II or Phase III but i don't know if they match with my Swamp Ash Special ?, Any idea ?
@@Polishedmix Thanks for the GREAT tip!! ☺👌
Strange that so many guys have a problem with these. I'm far from a rocket engineer and they worked for me from day one. And when they came around there was no internet and UA-cam tutorials. The same with Floyd Rose trems; no big deal...
I’ve had my 98 PRS since new with these tuners and the low strings are easy. The fiddly strings are the E and the B
Still can't figure it out. I've decided to finally change the string on a 86 that was given to me. It was playing amazingly so I pushed the day I'll have to restring it. First of all, my wings are set the other way around. So weird. I should have payed more attention when I removed the old string. It didn't seem too complicated, I watched this video a couple of time...the result is really bad, the string are now so hard to bend, and when you bend, the string below will now just roll under my fingers. The thing is I can't see up close if the string are supposed to make and angle with the wing just where it reach the tuner(?) this def change the angles and that's no good . Also it seems now they are higher from the head that they used to be (distance wood-string on the head)
That does not sound good at all. You might want to take it for a professional guitar setup to make sure everything is working fine.
Very good Thank you for years I have been doing all wrong. I was only interested in getting the tips outward lol Thanks Buddy c];-)
No problem, I'm glad you found it helpful!
What are the thumb screws for?
These are really fast and easy if you know how to do it. Probably 90 seconds per string.
Change one string at a time or put something under the back of your bridge so the finish doesn’t get damaged when the string tension comes off the bridge.
Thanks for the video, but I can't stick my .60 string into that tuner! What's the problem with that? Is there a limitation for string gauge for those or I'm doing something wrong?
Whoa! .60 is something out of a 7 string guitar or a baritone. If this is a regular, 6 string PRS I wouldn't put anything thicker than 12-56.
Polished Mix in our band we use drop B tuning so I was afraid that with. 56s guitar won't be able to intonate well, however I'll try 11-56 strings, thanks)
Great help! Thank you!
So Polished stands for Polish?
A cookie for this gentleman!
Seems like some many wasted things you gave to do vs other locking ones.
Of course it will work fine looking like a mess but why not make it work well and look like a pro instead?
Inefficient design compared to standard PRS locking tuners.
Thanks a lot
Yes thanks...nobody knows how to properly install strings on these tuners and everybody hates them including me until now...
Haha! Yeah, they're quirky but once I figured it out, I love how they stay in tune for a long time. Glad the video helped you!
no wonder people doing it wrong so much undeed steps
The Phase III locking tuners are fantastic but if you want to keep the original ones, they still work well. Just need a little bit more work to get the most out of them.
Right... and then if you don't get them locked in properly and need to perform... ugh... its a disaster. That combined with my playing which can be a disaster - perfect storm.
I've got old PRS with these tuners. I don't like them.
Ridiculously fussy tuning system. Can you imagine trying to change a string on stage??????????
Looks like over engineered crap to me! Why mess with something that should be simple like vintage Fender tuners.Tuners don't slip if you just use them properly, no need for all this locking crap.
Once you get a hang of it, they are great. It's one of the first locking tuners around, so they still haven't ironed everything out but the guitar from this video stays in tune for weeks.
So does my old Strat with vintage tuners. No fuss, No muss. KISS Theory! Keep it simple stupid!
@@georgelackey622 I have to agree with you, my Clapton Strat. has vintage 57 tuners, put the string in the drilled hole, wind it and it does not slip.
@@normcote270 Sorry but that is nonsense. I own a lot of guitars with vintage tuners and no way they stay in tune as well as locking tuners.
This has to be one of the worse PRS' tuners ever made. THey do stayed in tune but changing or restring are in the ass!!!
These tuners suck. A PRS mistake.
I've been playing guitar for more than 20 years and recently bought a PRS. To be honest it's just an expensive piece of crap. Those tuners are horrible, i just want to smash my guitar to pieces when changing strings. And those PRS pickups just sound terrible. Hop I can get rid of it very soon.
How much are you asking for it?
@@jackorion7157 Well ... Did he sell it to you, Jack ?