Problems with Hipshot D Tuner

[bassnyc1]

Hi all,

Hope this is the right forum. If not, my apologies.....

I have a Hipshot D Tuner on my P Bass. Actually, all the tuners were replaced at the same time and I think Hipshot makes extremely good products. Would definitely recommend them. The only problem is the D Tuner. I followed all the instructions as to getting the tuner to switch between D and E but it never works right. I'll tune in E and then lower the D tuner and it will be slightly flat. Then if I tune it in D and lift it back up, the E will be sharp. Does this make any sense? I even watched the video on Hipshot's website and it doesn't work. Any advice?

[cassius987]

Your nut might need work by a luthier. My D tuner goes from E to D and back with no issues or tuning calibration required. Make sure you tune the E a little flat at first if you are having tuning issues, and that the length of that twist knob on the back is correct (it tunes the D note). Once you get it right don't mess with it, it should stay in place.

[Craig_S]

The nut doesn't need work. You need to set the D-Tuner properly.

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krL94...layer_embedded

It takes some practice.

[eyeballkid]

ok.. just to make sure...
close the hipshot so that it is not dropped tuned.
use the tuning peg to correctly tune to E.
flip it open.
play an open note.
use the little spring knob to tune to D.
when you close it again it should not have altered E as the knob only effects the travel distance of the swing arm..

is that what youre doing?

btw.. mine sometimes had small issues that i found had to do with the groove in the nut being tight on the E string so that it didnt fully "relax" back to what it should and made the string slightly sharp or flat (i dont remember which and its too late at night for me to figure it out) and by very subtely filing it open more it fixed it.

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

use the tuning peg to correctly tune to E.
flip it open.
play an open note.
use the little spring knob to tune to D.
when you close it again it should not have altered E as the knob only effects the travel distance of the swing arm..

Wrong. Watch the video and listen to the man who made the thing...

I have two basses with X-Tender keys. They both work wonderfully--after watching the video and listening to it. Before that, the E string always came back sharp.

[cassius987]

My E string never comes up sharp even without any work and I'm convinced it's because the nut is well-cut. This is a bass with an angled-back headstock so the nut would have to be cut perfectly parallel for this to occur. So I'm not saying it has to happen but if you're doing what it says on the video and still having trouble...

[John Herzog]

I have the Xtender on 3 basses. I tune the E a little flat flip the lever down and back up and recheck the tunning. If it is still flat I give tune up a little more and repeat the process. If it's sharp I start over. After that I set the tuning for the D.

I know this sounds like a hassle but after doing it for about 5years now I can usually get the E tuned after a try or 2.

[eyeballkid]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

Wrong. Watch the video and listen to the man who made the thing...

I have two basses with X-Tender keys. They both work wonderfully--after watching the video and listening to it. Before that, the E string always came back sharp.

Wrong. Read the instructions the man who made the thing gives you when you buy it.

http://www.hipshotproducts.com/files...0a0bcb239e.pdf

I have Hipshots on every bass and after reading the instructions they all work wonderfully, but the one mentioned, and Ive never needed the video.


Tact: its free, try some.

[Webtroll]

Originally Posted by GiantSlacker

I have the Xtender on 3 basses. I tune the E a little flat flip the lever down and back up and recheck the tunning. If it is still flat I give tune up a little more and repeat the process. If it's sharp I start over. After that I set the tuning for the D.

I know this sounds like a hassle but after doing it for about 5years now I can usually get the E tuned after a try or 2.

+1 The string never goes to the exact tuning I initially set it to, but if I bring it up from flat and stop just short, then flip the tuner to D and back it releases some of the extra tension behind the nut so the initial note is a little sharper. Get that set first, then adjust the thumbscrew to get the D in the right place. If you have to change it much or back and forth you may have to retune the E. Do this often enough and eventually it becomes second nature and very reliable.

[eyeballkid]

agreed.