Rattle/Buzz coming from 2 of my Hipshot Ultralites!

lespaulmarshall · #1 01-21-2010, 07:13 PM

On my USA Fender Jazz Deluxe, the bottom of my Hipshot Ultralites rattle on the D and G strings. I have worked out what it is… There is a small washer that is mounted on the underside of the tuner and it is moving around causing a rattle/buzz sound. In the attached picture the red arrow points to this washer (the end of the arrow finishes on top of the washer).

The yellow arrow points to a screw that is uses a hex arrangement and my thinking is that this needs to be tightened. Does any one has any information on this happening or have the size of the size of the hex screw that I need? Its pretty important that I fix this up, as it is quite acoustically loud, and sometime depending on the notes I play it will become amplified.

Note that these are installed stock on the deluxe model.

Cheers guys, any help is muchly appreciated!

Mr.Bassie720 · #2 01-21-2010, 07:23 PM

No worries. That "screw" is for tension adjustment. Tighten with the correct size allen wrench and you will be good to go.

lespaulmarshall · #3 01-21-2010, 07:59 PM

Sweeeet, confirms what I thought.

Do you know the size of the hex screw? My thinking is that it will be imperial.

Zooberwerx · #4 01-22-2010, 04:38 AM

I highly recommend you remove the tuner from the headstock and check the gear mechanism for excessive play first. If things are nice and snug, then its not the tensioner (hex screw, nylon washer, metal spacer). You can find a complete set of hex wrenches at your local hardware store....great idea. If you're still having difficulty, I have extras on hand and will mail you one. Jason Ungelich / Hipshot sent me a handful a few years ago. Update: I believe its a 1/16"....I can make out "1/?" on the shaft and it measures out accordingly with my pocket rule.

Couple words of caution:

*The US domestic and Lic'd models use two different size hex screws. Your's appears to be US so the 1/16" should work.

*It easy to round-out the hex hands if not careful...I've done it more than once. I'd recommend first removing the screw, cleaning off any residual thread-lok , applying blue loctite, and re-installing.

Riis