MIM Fender tuners versus Hipshot Ultralite?

uOpt · #1 02-23-2013, 01:25 PM

I have a USACG Jazz neck with ebony board that needs tuners. I have a sealed package of MIM Fender vintage style tuners here (well the package says Made in Korea but whatever). The neck with it's ebony board would also look right with the Ultralites.

If I can avoid it, I don't want to crack open the sealed MIMs in case I end up not using them. What can I expected from them? Are they reasonably precise with little play? I have seen similar tuners with all kinds of quality and can't say from the outside. Is there a big difference to vintage style tuners on US made instruments (I guess that would be AVRI)?

It looks like the MIMs are pretty heavy around 3.0-3.2 oz, is that correct?

chuck norriss · #2 03-10-2013, 10:31 PM

Mim tuners are fine. They're solid but heavy. You'll shave a half pound with ultralites.

dStar · #3 03-10-2013, 11:02 PM

They don't have any play, but the ratio could be higher, IMHO.

96tbird · #4 03-11-2013, 06:15 AM

If you have the cash, may as well go for the ultralights. Nothing wrong with the MIM tuners though just heavy. IMO, high ratio is overrated. 18:1 works fine. Ymmv.

4Mal · #5 03-11-2013, 10:59 AM

Ultralites for certain. Why devalue a nice neck like that ?

uOpt · #6 03-16-2013, 08:41 AM

Yeah things got fuzzy.

Currently making a round with a scale to see what tuners I have here.

The MIM came without bushing. I now have a set of WDs here that look like good quality but everything is heavy.

The best vintage style tuners I have here seem to be on my $300 Krame Focus. Duh. Ultralites here I come.

southsounder · #7 03-16-2013, 10:27 AM

One other thing to watch for - the MIM headstocks are about 1/16" thinner than the US versions - 0.5" vs 0.5625". The dimensional drawing on the HB6 shows the threaded insert as being 0.515". With a washer it should be OK, but just be aware it's pretty close.

uOpt · #8 03-16-2013, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southsounder

One other thing to watch for - the MIM headstocks are about 1/16" thinner than the US versions - 0.5" vs 0.5625". The dimensional drawing on the HB6 shows the threaded insert as being 0.515". With a washer it should be OK, but just be aware it's pretty close.

Oh. ***. Thanks.

I think I should just shoot the hip lite and forget about the dinos.

BAce · #9 03-16-2013, 11:28 AM

I put a set of Hipshot Ultralights on a bass that suffered from severe neck dive. Had Schallers on it to start with. Immediately cured the problem, and in my case, the Hipshots are better tuners by far.