Tuning Machine Question Affinity-P/S

SurferJoe46 · #1 05-27-2010, 08:09 PM

I just read that the Affinities have smaller and lighter tuning machines.

If that's so - how much larger do they come and are these the smaller ones?

It's a 1999 Chinese I believe :::

I've recently changed the strings and never felt any stiffness or out-of-round gears, and I think I read that the cheapies are closed-gear too.

There is never any tuning problems and they hold for weeks - pretty close considering the temperature and humidity extremes I have here in the 4,000 foot high semi-desert.

Any info?

mw1151 · #2 05-31-2010, 10:48 AM

You have the "better" Affinity tuners- they also use a closed back version on some Affinities that are very light duty- those open backs are what I'm using. Can't see $ to upgrade above this level, while on my level. Yours should be fine!

SurferJoe46 · #3 05-31-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mw1151

You have the "better" Affinity tuners- they also use a closed back version on some Affinities that are very light duty- those open backs are what I'm using. Can't see $ to upgrade above this level, while on my level. Yours should be fine!

Thanks for the answer. I was kinda suspicious that I had some junky ones - but as I've never had any trouble with them at all - it was kinda perplexing.

I hear all sorts of veiled insulting comments (and some not so veiled) about the quality of the Affinity series - but I took this bass to my local GC and there's a couple of bass-pros there who were quite impressed with it's general playability and tone and set-up.

It works well for me and I've gone about as far as I can with it to keep it stock-looking and frankly, it's a conversation piece when I play it and people ask me what it really is.

Maybe a different PG - but that's maybe a good stealth point too - leave 'er alone and keep 'em guessing.

They think I rebadged it to a Squier/Affinity confuse them.

stratovani · #4 05-31-2010, 05:49 PM

I've got the small tuners on my Squier Affinity P-Bass. I've replaced everything on my P - from the nut to the bridge - but I've kept the original tuners. The have not given me the slighest bit of trouble in all the time I've owned my bass. They turn easily, and hold their tuning seemingly forever. And they're lighter than those large Fender tuners. Maybe I just got lucky, but I like these tuners.

SurferJoe46 · #5 05-31-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

I've got the small tuners on my Squier Affinity P-Bass. I've replaced everything on my P - from the nut to the bridge - but I've kept the original tuners. The have not given me the slightest bit of trouble in all the time I've owned my bass. They turn easily, and hold their tuning seemingly forever. And they're lighter than those large Fender tuners. Maybe I just got lucky, but I like these tuners.

Can you tell me the year of your Affinity? I am trying to compile some facts and info on them.

But I see your point well and good. If it's working - why bother?

I had some bad times with some flaky tuners on guitars in the years past and had to upgrade them - so I wuz just wondering, that's all.

stratovani · #6 05-31-2010, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Can you tell me the year of your Affinity? I am trying to compile some facts and info on them.

But I see your point well and good. If it's working - why bother?

I had some bad times with some flaky tuners on guitars in the years past and had to upgrade them - so I wuz just wondering, that's all.

I bought my Affinity from an eBay seller back in January 2008. I'm not sure of the manufacturing date but from what I've seen of other Affinities on eBay I'd say it's got to be no older than 2006. Older Affinities have tuners like the OP's Affinity.

Hey, let us know what you come up with when you're done compiling info on Affinities. I'm curious to see this.

SurferJoe46 · #7 05-31-2010, 06:27 PM

'K.

It's in the works - and I have a few holes to fill yet:: serial number runs and such and then there's some rumors that some stored pre Fullerton-Era parts went to China and they got used - that's something I'm working yet with some oddly strange yet seriously mixed results.

One odd rumor is that some wonderfully good wood got painted over and turned into Affinities too. That wood might've ended up in other higher-end basses but they needed forms NOW and just covered them over for a Xmas rush season that hit pretty big in 1996-7 or so.

stratovani · #8 05-31-2010, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

'K.

It's in the works - and I have a few holes to fill yet:: serial number runs and such and then there's some rumors that some stored pre Fullerton-Era parts went to China and they got used - that's something I'm working yet with some oddly strange yet seriously mixed results.

One odd rumor is that some wonderfully good wood got painted over and turned into Affinities too. That wood might've ended up in other higher-end basses but they needed forms NOW and just covered them over for a Xmas rush season that hit pretty big in 1996-7 or so.

Let me know if you need anything - serial number, general info about my P-Bass, etc. And that goes for the rest of you Affinity freaks out there!

Buslady7803 · #9 06-01-2010, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

'K.

It's in the works - and I have a few holes to fill yet:: serial number runs and such and then there's some rumors that some stored pre Fullerton-Era parts went to China and they got used - that's something I'm working yet with some oddly strange yet seriously mixed results.

One odd rumor is that some wonderfully good wood got painted over and turned into Affinities too. That wood might've ended up in other higher-end basses but they needed forms NOW and just covered them over for a Xmas rush season that hit pretty big in 1996-7 or so.

Not to hijack the thread, I have a Squier as well, if you need a serial or pix or whatever, lemme know. im still trying to figure out what year mine really is. My headstock isn't printed like ofther Affinities..I dunno what I really have a cheesy bass or something better than I thought. It plays great and stuff, but I dunno what it is.

SurferJoe46 · #10 06-01-2010, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

Let me know if you need anything - serial number, general info about my P-Bass, etc. And that goes for the rest of you Affinity freaks out there!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buslady7803

Not to hijack the thread, I have a Squier as well, if you need a serial or pix or whatever, lemme know. im still trying to figure out what year mine really is. My headstock isn't printed like other Affinities..I dunno what I really have a cheesy bass or something better than I thought. It plays great and stuff, but I dunno what it is.

I would never consider it a hijack to add info or ask a question about the general subject: "Affinity" in any case. Don't worry.

I'm going to be gathering this info for a while yet and any numbers, colors, country-of-origin and pictures will surely help.

I thought of a spreadsheet with headstock shots and any other 'anomalies' photographed. Any known histories like: where/when bought, new/used, price paid, repair parts that you had to install, playability, action, troubles with set-ups, will be good info.

One thing I noticed was that sometimes the headstock wood is a slightly different thickness on one Affinity to another and I wonder why.

If you wonder if yours is a clone or know it's not would also be interesting to ask too.

Using a Google spreadsheet will allow Affinity owners to add info as they get it, take more pixs and things like that.

I suggest that you use Picasa to upload your pixs to your GMail account, open the spreadsheet (after I figure out the categories we need) and you can link any photo albums in their entirety with an entry and keep the spreadsheet from too much clutter.

For some reason, services like: Photobucket (sp?) drop the ball all the time and dead links are a bane!

Why doesn't someone start an Affinity Club on the Basses-side of the site too?

I looked for one and it doesn't exist yet as far as I know.

SurferJoe46 · #11 06-01-2010, 09:09 AM

See if you guys like this format:

QUESTIONNAIRE

SurferJoe46 · #12 06-04-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mw1151

You have the "better" Affinity tuners- they also use a closed back version on some Affinities that are very light duty- those open backs are what I'm using. Can't see $ to upgrade above this level, while on my level. Yours should be fine!

I guess these are the light-duty ones then?