Fender PBass- bent tuner. Complete mystery.

[K2000]

Tonight I noticed that the G string tuner on my (4 string) PBass was bent. This is very weird because the bass hasn't left my practice space. I never dropped the bass. It seems like it had to happen over the last couple days (because I tune up every time I play).

It's bent where the "clover leaf" meets the post. Also, it seems like the clover leaf is slightly rounded.

The bass was in pretty much in tune when I pulled her from the bag. I've never noticed it being very out of tune (like it was dropped or bumped) After I saw the tuner was bent, I inspected the bass. No dings on the headstock or anywhere else.

One of the bands that share the practice space just moved out. They were kinda jerks.

I guess my question is, how difficult is it to bend a Fender tuner like this? (slight but noticeable bend). I tried to bend it back by hand, and it didn't seem to budge.

[K2000]

Is this something easy to fix/fix it myself, or do I have to kill someone?

[svenbass]

I had the same thing happen on my Fender, and my upright. I've been told by my luthier to either replace them, or just leave 'em alone. Trying to bend them back could snap them immediately, or weaken the metal and have them snap at a later, and probably more inconvenient time. The Fender tuners are pretty cheap $25 bucks or so - fixin' my upright is gonna cost a boatload

[GrooveBass]

First off, don't go killing anyone literally. Second, don't bend it back, it'll just snap like svenbass said. Last thing, a gigbag probably doesn't offer the kind of tuner protection that a hardcase would do. I would suggest getting one of those not only for that, but case's are great for somewhere to put random stickers

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I'm sorry if this may sound blunt, but what did You expect the protection of a bag be, no matter how well padded?

The headstock that is usually farthest from the base point of rotation, will have considerable amount of kinetic energy when it hits something, and bad things can happen before You know it. Storing an instrument in a bag is asking for trouble, IMHO/IME of course.

The truth is that a hard case is the only way to have a some kind of protection other than those from the elements. And not even a case is 100% protective as quite a few here can tell by experience.

And Yes the worm shaft will most likely break if You try to bend it back.

I'd advice on buying a replacement, I for one haven't been able to live with crooked tuners, not on my basses nor guitars. So yes, that happens and almost every time I could've sworn that "I didn't slam it that hard".


Regards
Sam

[K2000]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

So yes, that happens and almost every time I could've sworn that "I didn't slam it that hard".

I didn't slam it at all.

Like I said, the strange thing is that the tuner is bent, but the bass was still in tune. I'm suspicious that someone did it on purpose. I've been playing a P Bass since 1981 -- when something is wrong, a tuner is bent, it's immediately noticeable. If I dropped the bass and bent something, I would know it.

[J.D.B.]

Is the shaft itself bent or is the cloverleaf cocked in the slot on the end of the shaft? A picture would be helpful here.
Josh

[Rick Auricchio]

Originally Posted by K2000

One of the bands that share the practice space just moved out. They were kinda jerks.

Was your bass left there when the other band(s) were there?

If so, then you have no idea what someone else might have done.