Replacement 'lighter' tuners for Fender American Standard - pre 2008

flewis · #1 04-11-2010, 11:05 PM

I'm looking to replace the tuners on my 2005 American Standard Jazz. What is out there that is lighter in weight, but when installed, the 2 pin holes would be covered.

I thought of HipShot Ultra Lights, but I don't think they would cover the two pins holes beneath the stock tuners. Just curious, if anyone out there has made this modification.

MR PC · #2 04-11-2010, 11:38 PM

Gotoh Res-O-Lite.

walterw · #3 04-12-2010, 12:34 AM

or, for less $$, the fender "boron" keys as used on the deluxes of the period.

you'll need to drill new holes for the two little projections to fit into, but they cover all, and are well lighter than those american standard anvils hanging on your headstock now.

the only issue (which is why fender stopped using them) is that the little tension screw likes to back out and fall off, taking the little metal grommet with it.

all you have to do is take out that screw, run a little loctite 290 onto it, and put it back in, quickly adjusting it to give the key the right amount of turning resistance.

i have these on my '96 american standard P, and they made all the difference in balance for that fairly lightweight bass.

MR PC · #4 04-12-2010, 12:45 AM

No kidding! A simple search turned up a set of the Boron's for about 30 bucks.

flewis · #5 04-12-2010, 09:16 AM

Thanks for the input guys!

bmc · #6 04-12-2010, 09:27 AM

I'm sure you've considered this, that you the changes will not make a huge difference and you will reduce the value of the bass.

flewis · #7 04-12-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmc

I'm sure you've considered this, that you the changes will not make a huge difference and you will reduce the value of the bass.

Thanks! I know what you mean here! I wanted to see if there were options that would not require any modifications to the bass headstock other than maybe a simple single screw hole. I'm more than OK w/ the stock tuners, just what to see if anything was out there that was lighter and a direct replacement.

I do appreciate the input!

ajn · #8 04-12-2010, 04:59 PM

I replaced the tuners on my '03 Jazz with Hipshots and, for me, it made a world of difference in the balance and comfort of this bass by taking about 1/2 pound off of the end of the neck. It did leave the original holes exposed, but I filled them in with light maple colored wood putty (which can be easily removed if needed), and it is actually much less noticable than this picture would suggest. You only need to drill one small hole for the screw, which is entirely covered up if you put the original tuners back on. Also, at the time, Hipshot had in stock a run of Ultralights with key shafts that were almost 1/4" taller than standard, which look nicer on Fender basses. They weren't listed anywhere, but when I called them they mentioned they had them.

flewis · #9 04-12-2010, 05:05 PM

Thanks 'ajn'!

I was thinking about the Hipshot Ultralights, but were not sure how they would look with the Fender tuner's two pin holes exposed. They looked great on your bass. Nice job!

3wavylines · #10 04-12-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajn

Also, at the time, Hipshot had in stock a run of Ultralights with key shafts that were almost 1/4" taller than standard, which look nicer on Fender basses.

That would be cool.

I put Ultralights on my '99 Jazz. They helped the balance a lot. I'm not so crazy about the look. They're not as tall as Fender tuning keys, and get partly hidden by the headstock. Being taller would help how they look from the front.

I'm not so worried about how the Hipshots look from the back. I haven't bothered to fill in the holes from the Fender keys.

I've been wondering if the 2008-style Fender keys would be a drop-in replacement for pre-2008 Fenders.

walterw · #11 04-12-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmc

I'm sure you've considered this, that you the changes will not make a huge difference and you will reduce the value of the bass.

no way! a little weight reduction at the end of that long "moment arm" of the neck makes a big difference in overall balance, and one could always put the original boat anchors back on.

ajn · #12 04-12-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3wavylines

I've been wondering if the 2008-style Fender keys would be a drop-in replacement for pre-2008 Fenders.

Not at all. The stabilizing pegs for the newer tuners are on the opposite side of the headstock holes from the pre-2008 ones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

no way! a little weight reduction at the end of that long "moment arm" of the neck makes a big difference in overall balance, and one could always put the original boat anchors back on.

Big +1 on that.

3wavylines · #13 04-13-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajn

The stabilizing pegs for the newer tuners are on the opposite side of the headstock holes from the pre-2008 ones.

That's a bummer, but thanks for the info.