tunning key ratios question

Steven Black · Post by **Steven Black** » 9 Aug 2007 8:36 am

can anyone tell me what the ratios should be on tunning keys on a steel guitar? I am building a steel and need to know what the ratios should be before I order my tunning keys.

Mike Wheeler · Post by **Mike Wheeler** » 9 Aug 2007 9:04 am

Steven, have a look at these...they might be just what you're looking for. They even give some measurements.

Scroll down the page to find the pedal steel tuners.

Click Here

Bobby Johnson · Post by **Bobby Johnson** » 9 Aug 2007 10:24 am

I noticed that the Grover 210-C series is for PSG thats awsome But also the site is in the UK where would one find thease in the US?

Also is there a short shaft sperzel for PSG and where can one find them?
Any help would be great.

Thanks Bobby Johnson

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 9 Aug 2007 10:22 pm

For tuning precision, the higher the ratio the better.

I would go for the truly beautiful Gotoh Delta series, which are 22:1 and have "rock solid" string posts - no wiggle at all. I have them on one of my acoustic guitars, and they are extremely smooth and accurate. Smooth organic looks as well. Luthier's Mercantile sells them, Stew-Mac also (but they only carry the 18:1 version, which looks the same). My self-build project will be keyless, though.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 10 Aug 2007 2:14 am

Sperzel's are made close to you, in Cleveland.

I don't know what the ratio is, but my Franklin has them and I know Carter uses them so they must be suited for Pedal Steel.

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 10 Aug 2007 3:21 am

The Sperzel keys I had on a Telecaster (now sold) were 12:1, the low end of the ratio spectrum. But they had a nice satin finish and cool square looks. Most tuning machines are in the 12:1 - 15:1 range. Steinberger and LSR are the extreme solutions at 40:1, but the former would be impossible to turn on a steel, and the latter are no longer in production (and wouldn't work with a peg winder anyway). If you go keyless, you are free to choose any ratio.