Problem w/Genuine Fender Lite Tuners

[BassMan99]

I bought a set of these for about 100 dollars.
NEW Genuine FENDER/Schaller American Deluxe Bass Tuners
Item Id: 300535830814
End time: Apr-10-11 19:40:09 PDT
The screw and bushing thing fell out of the end of one of the tuners at gig this weekend. Gone forever. And the tuner is useless now. I noticed the others were loose and tightened them. This is a huge dissapointment as they were expensive. Anyone else have this problem with these? Seems to me to be a design flaw. And I dont trust them now on my main gigging bass.

[john grey]

That's a serious disappointment and a concern. I'm hesitant to ask the obvious, however when you installed them were they tightened down?
In other words how did this happen to something that shouldn't have "come loose"? IF this is the same item, then problems with them are not new:
http://www.fender.com/community/foru...d21349efeaae49

IF your installation was honestly faulty I imagine you're out $100 but if they were installed for you; I would get back with however did that and get my $ back! You COULD attempt to contact the mfg and note the above in addition to your issue. Perhaps there IS an issue that would warrant a replacement....?

[BassMan99]

John,

That looks like the same tuners-with a different problem. The pins are plastic and I can see that being another problem with these.
My problem has nothing to do with mounting. On the tuning key itself- at the opposite end of the clover leaf - there is a screw that holds a bushing in and holds the tuning key together. If this screw come loose ( as mine did and as it looks they all will eventually) it falls out and the tuner will no longer hold a tune or let you tighten/loosen it.
Very bad design. No word back from the seller, who told me he has sold 100's of these. Beware.

[walterw]

you're talking about these?



they're nice lightweight keys, but they do indeed have that one fatal flaw, which is why fender stopped using them.

contact fender directly; you should be able to get replacement screws and bushings for the ones that fell out. once you get them, take out the screws you do still have, drip some loc-tite 290 on the threads, and re-install them, quickly adjusting for your preferred amount of turning tightness (not too tight).

once all the keys are loc-tited this way, you should have no further problem. i've had a set for years now with no problem after doing the loc-tite trick.

[Marton]

How can you loose the screw and bushing with strings installed on the bass ?

[slaphappychappy]

Anythings possible. I once lost 2 ferrules . Work that one out.

[walterw]

it's the little screw and bushing opposite the cloverleaf button, that you adjust to control how easy the key is to turn. (can't see it in the picture)

[BassMan99]

Walter- Yes those are the ones. And you cannot see the screw in that image. It is at the opposite end of the cloverleaf.
Thanks for the tip. No idea how to contact fender. I bought these tuners aftermarket.

[john grey]

Try this:
Fender's customer service # is (480) 596-7195.

Please don't waste your time w/ Email: that goes nowhere.

I would 1st attempt the aftermarket vendor and be very polite & explain that they came loose during a performance, etc and it just "looked really bad"....

"Is there anything you can do to help me: I'm a loyal customer, bla, bla, bla.... & I could guarantee that I would talk you up to everyone I met if there's someway you could make this right"....

"I can send you the originals & you'd quickly see the problem. I would consider this a real Customer Service Issue & I would not forget your ethical intervention"...

If they couldn't care less after they have your money, then try Fender. but remember they really DON'T care if they loose 100 customers; there's another 1000 to take their place just to have a "Fender" in their closet.

Best of luck!

[walterw]

i would actually try fender first, as the aftermarket vendor isn't gonna have the spare parts. (they might be willing to replace the entire thing if it happened soon after you bought them, though.)