What is your favorite setup for tuning pegs?

this is mostly for guitars but I suppose it could be applied to bass as well.

Westone guitars come in all variations depending on year and model, so...

what is your favorite setup for tuning pegs? and why?
(is it the function, the style, maybe just old habits???)

what about flat headstock vs tilted headstock?

i like the 3 X 3 best. that is the setup on most of my favorite guitars.

i began playing on a Yahama acoustic and it just feels normal to have the tuners 3 X 3.

my first electric was the Thunder IIA and it also has 3 X 3, with tilted headstock. that's my favorite setup

6 left side. I'm a strat guy, first guitar was/is a strat....just feels normal.
I do have a few 3+3 guitars and on those when tuning I'm fine with the left 3, but ALWAYS turn the first on the right side the wrong way first.....old habits die hard.

The one I have that's most interesting to me is the "alternate 3 x 3"
This is off my BC Rich W.M.D. Warbeast.

I guess my most comfortable setup is 3+3 (feels the most "natural"). However, from a restringing POV, 6 inline probably is the easiest not to mess up.

From a functional perspective though the 3+3 "spread" makes better sense as regards things like break angles, length of string from nut to post, etc.

But the one which takes the top prize I think is Music Man's 4+2 layout. The string path is straight on all six strings and the headstock is very small by comparison to say, a Strat. And no trees required! Very kewl.

Although I stted with a Thunder 1, I prefer a Strat, I have spertzels (height varied for each string) so I don't use he string trees (they're still there to fill the holes). I used to have a reverse headstock guitar that always had me thinking-fortunately it had a locking nut so the m/heads weren't played with too often

IanO wrote:...reverse headstock guitar that always had me thinking...

Spawn of Satan! Hate restringing those things. The young shredder Ibanez guyz always seem to have 'em.

Also prefare 3x3 but have a look at this below.

Lefthand tuners on a right hander, to compensate for the string path. Obviously they wind as right handers.

Works a treat.

Barry wrote:But the one which takes the top prize I think is Music Man's 4+2 layout. The string path is straight on all six strings and the headstock is very small by comparison to say, a Strat. And no trees required! Very kewl.

i like the way they look too. nice and compact, and stylish.
and just recently i got a super deal on a project guitar with a 4 X 2 setup...an OLP MM1 (EVH) in black sparkle. i have to finish fitting a new nut and adjust the truss rod a bit, but an easy fixer-upper.

and for size comparison, a thunder headstock and a strat headstock....

Sorry Barry...I got an 80's Ibanez as well. Don't mind restringing (I do it 1 at a time) but changing string guage is a nightmare!

gittarasaurus wrote:...i like the way they look too. nice and compact, and stylish.

Yup. But it does take a little getting used to. Most folks when first shown the MM's comment that they think the guitar is a 3/4 scale such is the visual impact of the small headstock! It's amazing how big a Strat headstock is, and how accustomed we've grown to that big balloon end!

Barry wrote:I guess my most comfortable setup is 3+3 (feels the most "natural"). However, from a restringing POV, 6 inline probably is the easiest not to mess up.

From a functional perspective though the 3+3 "spread" makes better sense as regards things like break angles, length of string from nut to post, etc.

But the one which takes the top prize I think is Music Man's 4+2 layout. The string path is straight on all six strings and the headstock is very small by comparison to say, a Strat. And no trees required! Very kewl.

I agree! Although I like the looks of the more conventional shape Westone used a lot.
As for 'stringtrees' and radical shapes how about this:

( 1982 Modern Gibson Heritage reissue headstock. Photo: Dave's Guitar Shop)
The 'longer' Westone headstock is somewhat similar to 'The Heritage' Brand.
On my strat I'm used to it being six in a row, no problem.
At least it aint pointy and I can't poke eyes out.
Don't like pointy.

Yikes!

Amateurs.... this is how a NZ builder does weird, ugly head stocks....

http://www.google.com/search?q=langcaster+guitars&hl=en&tbo=d&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3ZGcUNufMeSjiAfckIDoCw&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=672#biv=i|3;d|BPAHVOIcrAhMsM:

its funny you should link that John, I was watching this: https://youtu.be/JeCQd8FBabo
just last week.....interesting guy, beautiful looking guitars.....if you ignore the headstocks

The swamp kauri is spectacular, isn't it, but those who've paid the exorbitant money being asked for them, are lukewarm in their praise....

That goofy bloody headstock is just fugly, it really is awful.....