---
product_id: 4826153
title: "Auto-Trim Tuning Machines - Locking Tuners for Guitars - 6 In Line Setup, Black"
brand: "d'addario"
price: "$270.03"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
category: "D'addario"
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/4826153-auto-trim-tuning-machines-locking-tuners-for-guitars-6-in
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# Locking mechanism for fast string changes Precision 18:1 gear ratio Auto trims excess string Auto-Trim Tuning Machines - Locking Tuners for Guitars - 6 In Line Setup, Black

**Brand:** d'addario
**Price:** $270.03
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> ✂️🔒 Tune Fast, Play Faster — The Ultimate Locking Tuners for Pros

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Auto-Trim Tuning Machines - Locking Tuners for Guitars - 6 In Line Setup, Black by d'addario
- **How much does it cost?** $270.03 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/4826153-auto-trim-tuning-machines-locking-tuners-for-guitars-6-in)

## Best For

- d'addario enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted d'addario brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Sleek Black Finish:** Modern, stealthy look that elevates your guitar’s style on stage or in the studio.
- • **Universal 6-In-Line Fit:** Seamlessly fits most electric and acoustic guitars without drilling or mods.
- • **Precision Tuning Mastery:** 18:1 gear ratio delivers ultra-smooth, exact tuning with zero slippage.
- • **Built-In String Auto-Trim:** Automatically cuts excess string during tuning—no clippers needed, no mess left behind.
- • **Effortless String Changes:** Locking tuners secure strings instantly, slashing restringing time and hassle.

## Overview

D'Addario Auto-Trim Tuning Machines combine patented auto-trim technology with a precision 18:1 gear ratio and locking string clamps to revolutionize guitar tuning. Designed for 6-in-line electric and acoustic guitars, these sleek black tuners eliminate the need for string cutters and multiple wraps, ensuring faster string changes and rock-solid tuning stability—even under aggressive playing or tremolo use.

## Description

Product Description Features: Patented Ned Steinberger Design Cuts Excess String While Guitar Is Tuned, Eliminating Need For Extra String-Cutting Tools. Individual String Clamps Securely Hold String In Tuner - No Need For Multiple Wraps Around The Tuning Post. Excellent For Aggressive Tremolo Use. Precision 18:1 Gear Ratio Provides Smooth, Exact Tuning, While Virtually Eliminating Backlash And Slippage. Available In Chrome, Black And Gold Finishes From the Manufacturer The Planet Waves 6-in-line Auto Trim Tuning Machines are precision tuners that automatically cut the excess string while changing strings, eliminating the need string clippers making string changes easy and fast. The 18:1 ratio worm gear constructions ensures greater precision than standard tuners and ensure tuning stability even during the hardest playing. Includes 6 tuners and mounting hardware. Black finish. 6 in-line setup for instruments that have all 6 tuning machines on the same side of the headstock.Ordinarily, restringing is a tedious chore, requiring extra tools such as string cutters in order to get the job done. Planet Waves Auto-Trim tuners eliminate this need by automatically trimming the excess string from the tuning post as you increase the tension on the string. The Auto-Trim's rugged, die-cast housing and precision machined 18:1 bevel and worm gears assure in-tune performance after even the most aggressive playing or tremolo use. The tuners include a string clamp that securely hold the string in place, eliminating the need for multiple wraps around the tuning post. Simply insert the string, tighten the clamp, tune it up to the proper tension and allow the auto-trim feature to remove the excess string. Changing strings has never been easier. A Ned Steinberger Design.Planet Waves, part of the D'Addario family of brands, is known for innovative, problem-solving, quality musical accessories. Planet Waves offers a complete line of award-winning accessories including cables, picks, tuners, capos, straps, humidifiers, maintenance tools and more.

Review: Nice tuners, good value, perfect fit for my specific application - SUMMARY Nice tuners, and a reasonable price. If they fit your guitar, I think you'll like them. Same locking mechanism as most locking tuners, with a thumbscrew on the back. I like the auto-trim feature a lot. When you tune the guitar, it just cuts those strings right off. Nice. Seem to have a nice snug feel and a decent tuning ratio. Not a good choice to replace modern Fender/Schallers because they don't cover the alignment pin holes. Fits well in 25/64" peg holes. (You can measure with drill bits if you aren't sure what your headstock has.) I wish they made these with a housing that would cover the alignment holes of most other tuners (Fender 2 pin and Sperzel 1 pin look like they would leave holes these can't cover.) PROs - Reasonable price for locking tuners - Nice fit/feel - Very secure once installed (properly) - Black everywhere (unlike sperzel's black lockers which have a silver center peg.) - Fits in 25/64" hole, typical of many guitars. - They appear to be available in multiple finishes. I bought black. - Small silver "dot" on center peg aids visibility/string insertion in darker environments. (like a club) CONs - Will not cover the 2 alignment pin holes on Stratocasters/Telecasters that use modern fender/schaller tuners. (as shown in photos on product page) - Center peg is flat black, while the tuner handles and back casing are more of a shiny black. - Washers and nuts seem thin/flimsy. I was concerned the nuts might strip really easily, but they went on ok using a socket. - You will probably need to drill the holes for the alignment screws. DETAILS, INSTALLATION HELP, OBSERVATIONS I bought these to put on a Fender Custom Telecaster FMT HH that had black tuners, and they worked out great. I was really annoyed that the tuners on that guitar had the 2 alignment pins about 1 pin width closer to the center peg than a normal fender/schaller tuner. But because of that, these Planet waves tuners were able to just cover the two holes. I wouldn't buy these for an American for Mexican strat or tele because as shown in the photos - they do not cover the alignment pin holes -- so they leave an unprofessional looking installation. But for this particular guitar, they worked great. I really like the auto-trim feature. The locking knob could be slightly larger in diameter as it is the same as the tuner housing so is slightly harder to grip than it would be if it were a little bit larger, but it works ok. I prefer the shape of a fender/schaller tuning knob, so I may try taking the tuning knobs off the old tuners and putting on these, but I'm not sure if that will work or not. Overall, these have a nice feel to them when installed. The basic mechanism is the same as any locking tuner, and they have a little silver pin on the center shaft that helps to show you where the string hole is. (Nice because with the black tuners, in a low light environment like a bar or club, when you have a broken string, the black is hard to see, but that little silver button/dot helps a lot. The nuts and washers on the front seem a little cheapish/flimsy, but they worked ok. These fit without issue in the 25/64" tuner holes in my head stock, no modification there. Before you drill, install all 6 tuners into the headstock holes, tighten them snug but not so firm that you can't rotate them with a little resistance. Then put a ruler across the back, align all 6 so they are straight, slightly tighten the nuts until you have them all aligned perfectly. Now drill the alignment screw holes using a 1/16" or smaller drill bit. Be careful to drill no deeper than the length of the screw. If in doubt, drill slightly less deep.I used the tiniest drill bit I have (1/16") to drill pilot holes for the anti-rotation screws...worked well. You can mark the drill bit with a black marker for the depth by holding it up to the screw to determine how deep it should go into the hole. Then drill slowly to get just the right depth for the screw. (Drill with the tuners in place.) UPDATE 7/24/15 - I've had these installed for 6 months or more now on one of my guitars. I think they are really great. In fact I have upgraded my star rating from 4 to 5 stars after using these for a while. I've also expanded my own exposure to a variety of other locking tuners from Grover, Schaller and Fender and I have to say these would be my favorites if only the center post finishes matched the rest of the tuner, and if the mounting could conceal the holes of other original tuners better. Functionally, I love these. Cosmetically, they leave minor issues for me. I see they are now offered in some other finishes like Gold, Chrome and that's good except they all have the same black center post? I'm not crazy about that. I also see both 3x3 and 6 inline offerings which is good. Would love to see them offer additional button options like keystone shaped, grover kidney bean shaped, etc. Another clever option would be to offer some thin mounting adapter plates that would allow the tuner to cover the mounting holes of other popular tuners like the Fender/Schaller tuners. Planet Waves team - feel free to take those ideas and grow your tuner business! I would have put them on 5 more guitars by now if they hadn't lacked the ability to give a clean looking installation.
Review: These are really fantastic tuners. They aren't exactly what I was expecting - These are really fantastic tuners. They aren't exactly what I was expecting. I had thought locking tuners were able to "lock in" my tuning. Like, physically preventing the tuning knobs from turning. This is not the case. All they do is lock the string itself in place inside the eyelet of the tuning peg. This allows for tuning up without wrapping the strings several times around the peg. Supposedly it results in better tuning stability as there is less slack around the peg which can shift around slightly and make you go flat. In addition to the locking mechanism, they also cut the excess string off when you are first tuning up. There is a raised section of metal that covers up the eyelet halfway around the tuner, so when the peg turns, it cuts the string. I've found that these tuners allow for re-using old strings much more easily than standard tuners. Normally, taking off a string results in a springy coil at the end of the string, and trying to straighten that out to feed it back through the guitar's body is hell. Also there is a good chance the string will break at the tuner if you do manage to put it back on since it is very difficult to get a clean wrap with the unruly coil of a used string. The locking tuners make these non-issues, since there is barely any length on the string that actually wraps around the peg (a half turn or less!). It is very manageable. I have removed and reinstalled a single set of coated Elixer strings upward of 5 times without issue. Installing new strings is very fast, too. I have had a little experience with Sperzel locking tuners since buying these, and while the Sperzel's definitely have somewhat better build quality, and the locking knobs on the back are slightly more comfortable to turn, they lack the "Auto-trim" feature, which is one of my favorite things about the Planet Waves tuners.

## Features

- AUTOMATICALLY CUTS EXCESS STRING WHILE TUNING: Trims excess string while tuning to ensure consistent and accurate tuning.
- EASY STRING CHANGES: The locking tuners make changing strings fast and easy.
- SMOOTH AND PRECISE TUNING: The sealed gear box with lubricated gears ensures smooth and precise tuning.
- UNIVERSAL FIT: Fits most 6-in-line electric and acoustic guitars without drilling or modification.
- ATTRACTIVE FINISH: Adds a sleek and modern look to your guitar while providing reliable tuning performance.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B0002E2N9K |
| Back Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Best Sellers Rank | #18,932 in Musical Instruments ( See Top 100 in Musical Instruments ) #85 in Electric Guitar Tuning Keys |
| Body Material | steel |
| Color Name | Black |
| Compatible Devices | Guitar |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (521) |
| Date First Available | March 10, 2007 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 7 ounces |
| Item model number | PWAT-6R2 |
| Material Type | Steel, Chrome |
| Product Dimensions | 4 x 2 x 6 inches |
| Size | 10.2 x 5.1 x 15.2 centimetres |
| String Material | Nylon |
| Top Material | Maple |

## Product Details

- **Back Material Type:** Carbon Fiber
- **Brand:** D'Addario
- **Color:** Black
- **Finish Type:** Black
- **Instrument:** Guitar
- **Item Weight:** 0.2 Kilograms
- **Item dimensions L x W x H:** 4 x 2 x 6 inches
- **Size:** 10.2 x 5.1 x 15.2 centimetres
- **String Material Type:** Nylon
- **Top Material Type:** Maple

## Images

![Auto-Trim Tuning Machines - Locking Tuners for Guitars - 6 In Line Setup, Black - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/716RcB3qhoL.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: What kind of pins, if any, are on the back side of the tuner? 2 pin, 1 pin, or 0 pins? I would guess 0 since there is a screw for anti rotation.**
A: Lol,I dont know what kind the guy that said 1 pin had cause these dont have any pins.As for strats they are not staggered like Fender strat tuners are from tall to short.They are all the same height so You Must Use String Trees.For looks I would recommend the Fender locking tuners and they are actually cheaper.But if you want the convenient string trimmers they are very nice and have a better gear ratio.

**Q: can i apply them without drilling holes ? i mean if i screw hard the top will they move?**
A: I would not use them without drilling and installing the  tuners with the screw.  That screw provides necessary stability.  If you don’t want to drill… find tuners exactly like the ones you have… with the hole in the exact position as your old tuners.  Then you can install with a minimum of work.  Take a photo of your existing tuners and buy good replacements.  Make sure you select 3x3 or 6 inline based on what you have, and search online.  It’s been my experience you want tuners that are good… and quality starts at $50 and up.

**Q: Will these fit a peavey v type guitar?**
A: They fit 10mm tuner holes.
If your tuner holes in your peg head are smaller you will need to drill them out

**Q: 3x3 with offset screw position?**
A: You'd need a different setup; the 6 in-line is different height based poles.  So essentially they're not designed to "get out of the way" of each other.  Now, that's not saying you can't use it, but the heights are not aligned so may be an issue (you may not care about it and depending on the guitar, it may not be a problem).  I would look for the correct positioning.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nice tuners, good value, perfect fit for my specific application
*by J***R on December 10, 2014*

SUMMARY Nice tuners, and a reasonable price. If they fit your guitar, I think you'll like them. Same locking mechanism as most locking tuners, with a thumbscrew on the back. I like the auto-trim feature a lot. When you tune the guitar, it just cuts those strings right off. Nice. Seem to have a nice snug feel and a decent tuning ratio. Not a good choice to replace modern Fender/Schallers because they don't cover the alignment pin holes. Fits well in 25/64" peg holes. (You can measure with drill bits if you aren't sure what your headstock has.) I wish they made these with a housing that would cover the alignment holes of most other tuners (Fender 2 pin and Sperzel 1 pin look like they would leave holes these can't cover.) PROs - Reasonable price for locking tuners - Nice fit/feel - Very secure once installed (properly) - Black everywhere (unlike sperzel's black lockers which have a silver center peg.) - Fits in 25/64" hole, typical of many guitars. - They appear to be available in multiple finishes. I bought black. - Small silver "dot" on center peg aids visibility/string insertion in darker environments. (like a club) CONs - Will not cover the 2 alignment pin holes on Stratocasters/Telecasters that use modern fender/schaller tuners. (as shown in photos on product page) - Center peg is flat black, while the tuner handles and back casing are more of a shiny black. - Washers and nuts seem thin/flimsy. I was concerned the nuts might strip really easily, but they went on ok using a socket. - You will probably need to drill the holes for the alignment screws. DETAILS, INSTALLATION HELP, OBSERVATIONS I bought these to put on a Fender Custom Telecaster FMT HH that had black tuners, and they worked out great. I was really annoyed that the tuners on that guitar had the 2 alignment pins about 1 pin width closer to the center peg than a normal fender/schaller tuner. But because of that, these Planet waves tuners were able to just cover the two holes. I wouldn't buy these for an American for Mexican strat or tele because as shown in the photos - they do not cover the alignment pin holes -- so they leave an unprofessional looking installation. But for this particular guitar, they worked great. I really like the auto-trim feature. The locking knob could be slightly larger in diameter as it is the same as the tuner housing so is slightly harder to grip than it would be if it were a little bit larger, but it works ok. I prefer the shape of a fender/schaller tuning knob, so I may try taking the tuning knobs off the old tuners and putting on these, but I'm not sure if that will work or not. Overall, these have a nice feel to them when installed. The basic mechanism is the same as any locking tuner, and they have a little silver pin on the center shaft that helps to show you where the string hole is. (Nice because with the black tuners, in a low light environment like a bar or club, when you have a broken string, the black is hard to see, but that little silver button/dot helps a lot. The nuts and washers on the front seem a little cheapish/flimsy, but they worked ok. These fit without issue in the 25/64" tuner holes in my head stock, no modification there. Before you drill, install all 6 tuners into the headstock holes, tighten them snug but not so firm that you can't rotate them with a little resistance. Then put a ruler across the back, align all 6 so they are straight, slightly tighten the nuts until you have them all aligned perfectly. Now drill the alignment screw holes using a 1/16" or smaller drill bit. Be careful to drill no deeper than the length of the screw. If in doubt, drill slightly less deep.I used the tiniest drill bit I have (1/16") to drill pilot holes for the anti-rotation screws...worked well. You can mark the drill bit with a black marker for the depth by holding it up to the screw to determine how deep it should go into the hole. Then drill slowly to get just the right depth for the screw. (Drill with the tuners in place.) UPDATE 7/24/15 - I've had these installed for 6 months or more now on one of my guitars. I think they are really great. In fact I have upgraded my star rating from 4 to 5 stars after using these for a while. I've also expanded my own exposure to a variety of other locking tuners from Grover, Schaller and Fender and I have to say these would be my favorites if only the center post finishes matched the rest of the tuner, and if the mounting could conceal the holes of other original tuners better. Functionally, I love these. Cosmetically, they leave minor issues for me. I see they are now offered in some other finishes like Gold, Chrome and that's good except they all have the same black center post? I'm not crazy about that. I also see both 3x3 and 6 inline offerings which is good. Would love to see them offer additional button options like keystone shaped, grover kidney bean shaped, etc. Another clever option would be to offer some thin mounting adapter plates that would allow the tuner to cover the mounting holes of other popular tuners like the Fender/Schaller tuners. Planet Waves team - feel free to take those ideas and grow your tuner business! I would have put them on 5 more guitars by now if they hadn't lacked the ability to give a clean looking installation.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ These are really fantastic tuners. They aren't exactly what I was expecting
*by G***1 on January 27, 2015*

These are really fantastic tuners. They aren't exactly what I was expecting. I had thought locking tuners were able to "lock in" my tuning. Like, physically preventing the tuning knobs from turning. This is not the case. All they do is lock the string itself in place inside the eyelet of the tuning peg. This allows for tuning up without wrapping the strings several times around the peg. Supposedly it results in better tuning stability as there is less slack around the peg which can shift around slightly and make you go flat. In addition to the locking mechanism, they also cut the excess string off when you are first tuning up. There is a raised section of metal that covers up the eyelet halfway around the tuner, so when the peg turns, it cuts the string. I've found that these tuners allow for re-using old strings much more easily than standard tuners. Normally, taking off a string results in a springy coil at the end of the string, and trying to straighten that out to feed it back through the guitar's body is hell. Also there is a good chance the string will break at the tuner if you do manage to put it back on since it is very difficult to get a clean wrap with the unruly coil of a used string. The locking tuners make these non-issues, since there is barely any length on the string that actually wraps around the peg (a half turn or less!). It is very manageable. I have removed and reinstalled a single set of coated Elixer strings upward of 5 times without issue. Installing new strings is very fast, too. I have had a little experience with Sperzel locking tuners since buying these, and while the Sperzel's definitely have somewhat better build quality, and the locking knobs on the back are slightly more comfortable to turn, they lack the "Auto-trim" feature, which is one of my favorite things about the Planet Waves tuners.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Look great! Very easy to change strings
*by R***K on October 21, 2014*

Fit perfectly! Work perfectly! Look great! Very easy to change strings! Hold in tune very well! I put these on an old Korean Strat. I have been rebuilding for a project, and they were perfect replacements for the stock Gotoh tuners. It took maybe a 1/2 hour to put them all on the guitar and now the guitar stays in tune. I was trying to save a bit of money since this Strat is sort of a mongrel now anyway. If this was a top of the line Stratocaster I might have set aside my concerns about the amount I was spending and gone for a set that matched the stock guitar. Nice thing about these is they lock and cut off the string neatly. Just be sure to leave a little slack and don't pull the string tight before tightening the thumb screw back of the tuner to secure the string, as it can be a bit short. The string stretches slightly when you tighten it and you don't want to risk having it go beyond the in-tune point before you wind it to cut the string off. Takes about a 1/4 to 1/2 turn to cut the string off. Hope that makes sense! No big deal after you've done it once. If your not a purist who has concerns about putting a tuner on a Strat. that will not look or be "Stock" then these are very practical!

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-03-02*