Interview KTar Tuners: “They Have Unique, Decisive, And Incomparable Personal Character”

One of the many interesting people at the 2024 Mannheim Guitar Summit was Alessandro Moro of KTar tuners. This Italian entrepreneur has developed guitar tuners that are of the highest quality you can find on the market. We at FretboardFrenzy.com thought we should feature him on the website. Alessandro was happy to cooperate, so here it is: our deep dive into KTar tuners.

Alessandro markets his tuners as “the best in Italy”, and quite possibly, they’re the best tuners in the world. At the very least, they can compete with all the high-quality products from the major machine head brands we all know.

Using modern and innovative materials from racing cars and airplanes, Alessandro and his staff create exceptional tuners. Now, let’s hear from Alessandro about his fascinating products!

How have KTar tuners changed over time? What gave you the idea for the first design?

My background comes from the field of mechanical design, 3D metal printing, and precision machining. For 20 years, I worked in the plastic and die-casting mold industry with a company I owned; they were years of satisfaction and growth.

By chance, in 2013, I met classical guitar luthier Michele della Giustina. We became friends, and over the years, I became passionate about the world of acoustic guitars. Thanks to my experience and Michele’s support, I began to make my first prototypes.

Passion for mechanics and my technical skills did the rest. I said to myself, “Let’s make a tuner of the highest quality, without compromise and without regard to expenses or mass production logic to reduce costs… Pure craftsmanship!”

KTar uses materials from racing cars and airplanes. How does this help guitar players?

The goal of KTAR tuners is to adhere to three essential aspects that should be respected to achieve a quality product: Aesthetics, Functionality, and Precision.

These “pillars” are very often bypassed or left out of mass production to give way to production logic, cost minimization, and profitability.

In my own small way, I have chosen to remain faithful to the initial intuition. At the aesthetic level, I have decided to work on an attractive and innovative made-in-Italy design, also thanks to the materials I have decided to use.

In terms of functionality, KTAR tuners are an extract of technology that guarantees professional and pleasant use from the point of view of both smoothness and precision, so here we get to the last point we mentioned.

On a guitar, the precision of tuners provides excellent tunings, durability, and dynamic playability response.
These are the reasons why the KTAR project was born.

Your company uses a special coating on parts. How does this make the tuners work better and look nicer?

KTAR tuners are, most likely, the only ones made through milling processes from an integral blank block. This allows better sound transmission through a more stable, rigid, and precise system.

Micrometric technological coatings give a self-lubricating surface to the parts. Finally, the different colors that can be obtained ensure a unique aesthetic character.

It is possible to combine various colors to obtain numerous configurations to make your tuners special. In the custom shop section, you can access numerous other options for housing colors.

How does KTar keep the string-winder shaft aligned? Why is this important for keeping guitars in tune?

The string tensioning shaft of the KTAR tuners is held perfectly on axis thanks to a small taper made in the washer located in the headstock; this ensures high coaxiality in the housing assembly, shaft, centering sleeve, and fixing bushing.

In this way, the tensioning shaft does not have the possibility to move and twist inside the passage hole and thus transmit abnormal vibrations to the neck.

All this can only be achieved by making the aforementioned bushings in one piece from an integral blank, a choice that is certainly not cheap and not dictated by the logic of economizing.

This guarantees perfect intonation and tuning retention over time.

KTar makes tuners for different instruments like acoustic guitars and ukuleles. How do you change the design for each one?

I started with the idea of creating a new design, which was not the consequence of something already seen, and precisely for this reason, KTAR tuners have unique, decisive, and incomparable personal character.

Moving within this initial concept, I developed three models: the Integrex model (progenitor with orientation pin), to which were added the “S” model (with fixing screw and orientation instead of pin), and finally, the ultimate model for lovers of classic lines and design with two fixing screws.

KTar uses light materials like titanium. How does this affect the playability of a guitar?

Titanium, like aluminum, is a very light material, allowing about a 30 percent reduction in weight compared to traditionally marketed tuners.

This ensures significant benefits for the musician who often complains of the guitar’s imbalance toward the headstock.

Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, having a housing made in one piece has remarkable advantages in terms of system stability, vibration transmission, tuning tightness, and “noise” suppression.

Your tests show KTar products show exceptionally long lifecycles. Can you tell us more about these tests and how they compare to industry standards?

The tests were carried out by comparing a KTAR tuner and a top-quality commercial tuner on a mechanism that simulated the tension of a guitar string by applying a 10 kg weight.

They were run in a continuous cycle to assay their mechanical tightness under stress. It should be noted that KTAR tuners have all gears and worms made of AISI 304 stainless steel coated with PVD treatments. In conclusion, tests have shown that a KTAR tuner has a lifespan at least 30 times longer than traditional tuners.

This makes KTAR one of the most durable products in the market, also thanks, as I mentioned, to the steel gearing – a solution that to date almost no manufacturer adopts for obvious cost reasons.

Your customers have customization options to KTar tuners. What are some popular customizations requested by luthiers or players?

Thanks to the materials used, the coatings that can be performed on titanium and aluminum, and also thanks to the fact that they are made in small series, it is possible to have multiple aesthetic solutions.
Currently, the color that is most popular is black.

In fact, it is difficult to find completely black and matte tuners on the market because traditional nickel plating coatings do not allow for the deep black that can be achieved with the PVD coatings that I use.

9) How do you think guitar tuners will change in the future? What role does KTar plan to play in that future?

This is a long-standing question I have been asking myself. For most acoustic and electric guitarists (and consequently manufacturers), the topic of tuners is not of such great interest.

For the average guitarist, the important thing is that their guitar is of a well-known, resalable, and famous brand. They care little that tuners are of high quality; tuners are not a subject of interest and consideration when buying a new guitar.

Very often, I have seen guitars (even luthier-made guitars) with tuners of mediocre quality. There is a lot of outreach work to be done so that we can realize that in the guitar “system,” everything is important, not only brand and woods but also the components and accessories that go with them.

It would be a bit like buying a supercar with iron wheels – it’s funny just thinking about it.

This approach is completely different in the world of classical guitars, where musicians are particularly sensitive to everything about their instrument and the quality of accessories.

In conclusion, I am aware that there is a lot of outreach work to be done; it will take a long time….

Many renowned luthiers praise KTar tuners. How do you work with them to make sure they meet their standards?

As I mentioned earlier, artisanal tuners in the acoustic and electric guitar world are a novelty and a niche. It will definitely take time to acquire slices of the market and increase awareness among potential buyers.

Over the past few years, I have worked hard trying to elevate the quality standards of my products. You never stop growing, learning, and evolving.

I feel very satisfied with the work I have done. In fact, not many, but some of the best makers are choosing KTAR tuners, and this gives me enthusiasm and confidence.

How do KTar tuners help guitar players when they record music or play live?

Choosing a quality product crafted in Italy allows you to rely on something that has been conceived, designed, and manufactured to provide the highest performance in all settings, whether playing with friends, in a recording studio, or live on a stage.

There is no distinction between these musical approaches; when looking for a professional product, the environment of use does not matter. It is important to know that you will be able to use it always to the best of your ability with the guarantee of maximum reliability.

12) For new guitar players, why can investing in high-quality tuners like KTar’s improve their playing experience?

I think I explained it at length above: moving toward quality, in all areas of life, is a profound, spiritual choice.

It takes courage to break the patterns dictated by the:
“We have always done it this way….”
My answer remains the same:
“But do you know what you have been missing?”

If someone wants to modify the tuners on their guitar, is it easy to retrofit KTar tuners onto existing guitars?

Let’s say that it is possible to do this, but it definitely depends on the type and model of tuners present on the guitar. In any case, a good luthier will be able to perform this upgrade by taking care of modifying and adapting the existing seats.

How does KTar address environmental sustainability in its manufacturing processes and choice of materials?

In recent years, there is a lot of talk about sustainability. What I am seeing is that many major corporations use this term to enhance their image and marketing push.

The profound and primary choice of each of us should be to live with respect for ourselves, others, and this wonderful earth we have been given.

We are the primary proponents of change, not because it is imposed on us by regulations and legislation or because this ensures us greater visibility, but simply because we choose it as the general direction for our lives.

Change, if it is real change (and not merely a commercial maneuver to increase business), comes from within. At this point, it is not even necessary to tell others; you just do it.
That changes your life.

What advice would you give to (aspiring) luthiers about choosing and installing high-quality tuners like KTar’s?

I manufacture a small annual batch of handcrafted acoustic guitars by myself, and I have realized that the most rewarding thing is doing what I like, following my own path.

We makers frequently tread paths already trodden, copying and repeating patterns and style lines already seen just because they are commercially appealing and recognizable to the masses.

This precludes innovation and creativity; it seems that the guitar in general always has to be made in the same way, following the template of already established and well-known designs. The blame, if it may be said so, is to be shared in part with potential buyers who too often seek copies of well-known and recognizable designs.

Experiment, try things out, follow intuitions without being afraid of being wrong, follow new paths, be inspired… Even while making mistakes!

The greatest inventions and innovations in history have come from mistakes, wrong recipes, or designs that no one approved… Good work, but most of all, have fun everyone!