Anyone else have probs w/ Hipshot threading too short for headstock?

bongomania · #1 01-04-2010, 11:07 AM

I have a bass with a headstock that is 17.5 mm thick. Not too abnormal--my other basses' hstocks are 16-17 mm thick. I bought some Hipshot HB6Y's, and the threaded portions do not overlap enough to thread together. There's like 1-1.5 mm overlap. I contacted Hipshot about it, and they said "oh, those must be a custom model we make for recessed tuner headstocks--we'll send you the correct bushings for a normal headstock." And they did; the new ones were identical to the ones I had. I talked to them again and they said "OK, we'll send you some extra-long bushings"--and they did. In the wrong diameter.

I sent the whole bundle back to them, and said "please send me 1/2" shaft tuners that will fit a headstock that is 17.5 mm thick". They said sure, no prob, and then sent me another set exactly like the first set.

So what do I do now? On the one hand their CS has been excellent, in that they were quick to respond and send me goods at no charge on repeated occasions. But OTOH there is some total failure to connect on the measurements, which seems really basic.

Let's level-set here. Am I right in thinking 17.5 mm is not too thick to be considered "normal"? Even if "normal" is more like 16 mm, shouldn't the bushings be designed to overlap by more than one or one-and-a-half rotations? Shouldn't they overlap by several rotations, for solid, secure attachment? Why would the regular/stock length of the Hipshot bushings be designed for so little overlap? Has anyone else experienced this?

bongomania · #2 01-05-2010, 01:52 PM

bump!

Zooberwerx · #3 01-05-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I have a bass with a headstock that is 17.5 mm thick. Not too abnormal--my other basses' hstocks are 16-17 mm thick. I bought some Hipshot HB6Y's, and the threaded portions do not overlap enough to thread together. There's like 1-1.5 mm overlap. I contacted Hipshot about it, and they said "oh, those must be a custom model we make for recessed tuner headstocks--we'll send you the correct bushings for a normal headstock." And they did; the new ones were identical to the ones I had. I talked to them again and they said "OK, we'll send you some extra-long bushings"--and they did. In the wrong diameter.

I sent the whole bundle back to them, and said "please send me 1/2" shaft tuners that will fit a headstock that is 17.5 mm thick". They said sure, no prob, and then sent me another set exactly like the first set.

So what do I do now? On the one hand their CS has been excellent, in that they were quick to respond and send me goods at no charge on repeated occasions. But OTOH there is some total failure to connect on the measurements, which seems really basic.

Let's level-set here. Am I right in thinking 17.5 mm is not too thick to be considered "normal"? Even if "normal" is more like 16 mm, shouldn't the bushings be designed to overlap by more than one or one-and-a-half rotations? Shouldn't they overlap by several rotations, for solid, secure attachment? Why would the regular/stock length of the Hipshot bushings be designed for so little overlap? Has anyone else experienced this?

Nope, must be you. On a hunch, I picked up my Lakland and, lo and behold, the headstock measures out @ ~17.5 mm but each tuner hole is countersunk maybe 2-3 mm to accommodate the "washer" portion of the assembly. From your description, I can see where your project would require an extended-length bushing for flush-face mounting. Keep in mind that, without countersinking, this will leave less of the string post exposed which may or may not be problematic (e.g. string angle from nut to base of string post).

Riis

bongomania · #4 01-07-2010, 12:23 AM

Bump?

Stuggi · #5 01-07-2010, 06:29 AM

You have the kind of tuners that have a threaded bushing that goes over the string post on the front of the head stock and threads into the tuner assembly, right? (I'm just getting things straight in my head here).

I wouldn't worry too much about how much or little thread catches the assembly, as long as it fits together and tightens down properly. It should be solid after using a light touch to fix the bushings.

That said, if you want it properly done, just measure the length of the bushings you got that were too short, and then ask for something a couple mm longer than that. That way they don't have to remember exactly what they sent you already, and you don't have to deal with this "extra long, regular etc." BS. If they then send you the wrong stuff, you have it on paper exactly what you asked for, and what you got.

bongomania · #6 01-07-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuggi

You have the kind of tuners that have a threaded bushing that goes over the string post on the front of the head stock and threads into the tuner assembly, right?

Yep.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuggi

I wouldn't worry too much about how much or little thread catches the assembly, as long as it fits together and tightens down properly. It should be solid after using a light touch to fix the bushings.

See though these barely fit together and do not tighten down hardly at all, that's the issue. I can get a half-turn of threading on a couple of them, and no turns, no threading on a couple others.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuggi

That said, if you want it properly done, just measure the length of the bushings you got that were too short, and then ask for something a couple mm longer than that. That way they don't have to remember exactly what they sent you already, and you don't have to deal with this "extra long, regular etc." BS. If they then send you the wrong stuff, you have it on paper exactly what you asked for, and what you got.

Good point, certainly. I guess a big part of my question though is "is this normal?" It will be great when they eventually send me parts that fit, but why don't the stock normal parts fit? It's bizarre.

bongomania · #7 01-27-2010, 12:46 AM

Nobody else has had this experience?

How about this--when you are installing your Hipshot tuners on a non-countersunk headstock, how much do the two threaded segments thread together for you?

Zooberwerx · #8 01-27-2010, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Nobody else has had this experience?

How about this--when you are installing your Hipshot tuners on a non-countersunk headstock, how much do the two threaded segments thread together for you?

Bongo,

Tell ya what I'll do...

When I get home this evening, I'll dismantle the G tuner on my Cirrus 5. I feel its fairly representative at a thickness of ~15 mm. I'll back off the nut until the threads disengage and measure the gap betweenst the headstock and bottom of the nut. I'll then mark the nut and re-tighten to spec. to get an idea of how many complete revolutions 'til snug. That should get us in the ballpark.

Forgot to mention: these are US Hipshots, not the original GB-7's.

Riis

brstma · #9 01-27-2010, 03:00 PM

I have HB6Y on my Cirrus so I pulled one off to check. With the nut threaded on one complete turn there's 19mm from the machine to the back of the washer. The male threads on the machine are 10mm long and the nut is 16mm end to end.

Zooberwerx · #10 01-27-2010, 07:06 PM

Okay, I pulled the nut and washer and re-inserted to the point where the threads engaged. I measured from the headstock surface to the bottom of the washer and found the gap to be 4 mm (5/32"). I forgot to count how many rotations 'til snug must it must have been ~3. The headstock thickness is 15 mm so if use the same Hipshot tuner on a 17.5 mm non-countersunk headstock, you'd probably see a gap somewhere around 1.5 mm requiring only 1 or 1 1/2 rotations until snug. That's cutting it close IMO.

Sorry for the less-than-scientific measurements and assessment.

Riis