fender tuning peg question.

eyeballkid · #1 01-22-2010, 03:44 PM

the newer fender basses have those "deluxe lite" tuning pegs.. the ones that are much smaller and lighter, usually with a metal key and a black plasticish gear casing.

my question is, if i wanted to install the classic style F logo tuner machines on one of these basses, do they drop right in? or do i have to drill new holes?.... also, does it mess up the balance at all and create neck dive? I dont know if they did this to just make the neck lighter or if there was an overall design change that required lighter tuning pegs to prevent neck dive..

thanks in advance folks.

Johnny Alien · #2 01-22-2010, 04:03 PM

They did do this to reduce weight but at the same time I don't think that adding traditional tuners will make it severely neck heavy. I have not had any problems with neck dive on my older Fenders with the classic tuners.

That aside I am not sure if it is drop in but I am almost inclined to say that I doubt it. I know Hipshots that are smaller like that are not the same size as traditional Fender tuners but I could be way off on that.

eyeballkid · #3 01-22-2010, 04:17 PM

yeah...the jazz i used to have wasnt neck heavy.. but i didnt know if they did any design changes..

mostly I do wanna know if theyre drop in... cos i found a bass i like that has the new lites.. and i wanna change em out, so i wanna know before i buy..

eyeballkid · #4 01-22-2010, 05:00 PM

anyone else know if they drop in?

ajn · #5 01-22-2010, 05:37 PM

If by the "F logo" tuners you mean the large, clamshell style that was used on the US bases from '83 to '07, then the answer is no. While those and the "deluxe lite" tuners are both "screwless" style tuners, the little pegs that hold them in place are on opposite sides of the shaft hole. You would need to drill 2 new 1/8" diameter holes to accommodate the pegs on the other tuners.

BTW, I have a Jazz that had those clamshell tuners and while it did not have neck dive when standing, it did feel very heavy out there at the headstock. I replaced them with hipshot ultralites and I cannot tell you how much better it feels after a few hours of gigging.

eyeballkid · #6 01-22-2010, 05:48 PM

hmmm.. thanks AJN!!..

walterw · #7 01-22-2010, 11:53 PM

yeah, i think it would be a backwards move. traditional keys will make the thing more neck-heavy than it is now, and who wants that?

the only thing you should do with those lightweight keys (if they're this version) is unscrew the little tension screw that's on the end of the cloverleaf shaft, drip some loc-tite 290 in the threads, and screw it back in, adjusting the tightness for smooth but not stiff turning of the key. they had a bad habit of coming loose and falling out.