My journey into Graph Tech Ratio tuners began with replacing stock tuners on a bass guitar about a year ago and has continued with me installing Ratio tuners on every non-locking, non-microtuner bearing guitar that I own. I have installed 7 sets across standard and multiscale basses and guitars with an 8th set to be installed soon. I currently work as a mix and production engineer, and having instruments perfectly and, almost more importantly, easily in tune heads off so many problems before they can manifest. Yes, the Ratio tuners are an additional expense. Yes, they are sometimes as much as 50% more than a set of high quality tuners from Gotoh, but the ease in getting and keeping an instrument in tune is well worth the additional cost for me because dependable and exact tuning saves me hours of time in sessions.

The difference is real, else I wouldn't keep buying and installing these units. Especially since my OCD self has to be okay with hardware finishes sometimes not matching on a guitar since the Ratio tuners only come in 2-4 finishes depending on the set. More finishes would be great, but I can also attest to the wear quality of the sets that I have. The limited number of finishes may be just to ensure that their products wear well. (I'm looking at you, "Cosmo Black" from Ibby. Damn those finishes wear quickly even with appropriate care.)