I have guitars without any locking devices on the strings. They require more frequent tuning than the guitars I have with various string locking devices.

I like the guitars I have that have Floyd Rose or Kahler bridges. Both of those types lock the string at the nut and provide for tuning at the bridge. The downside is that it is more difficult to get the locking nut at the right height. They are a true PITA to change a string when you break one.

All my newer Tom Anderson guitars have locking screws that secure the string at the tuning knob. I don't find that they are all that useful as I just don't have issues with string slip when I change my own strings.

Once you have played the guitar with a Floyd style bridge and stretched the strings out it will stay in tune until you stretch the strings more by playing. The more bends you do the quicker this will happen.

If I am playing on stage I check the tuning after just about every song. If I am playing every night, I change the strings every night.

The bottom line...nice to have stuff but we played for years without it.

Billy

“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”