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Anyone tried the new Gotoh tuners?

Frank Martin

Frank Martin

Bitten by the luthiery bug...
Oct 8, 2001
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Budapest, Hungary, EU
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#1
I'm especially interested in the GB350 and even more so in the 720.
The GB350 is only 35 gramms, making it even lighter than the Hipshot Ultralite (44 gramms) - meanwhile it has fully sealed gears.
There's also the GB720, which is supposed to be teh lighter-weight version of the GB7 (it also has aluminium shaft and plated plastic button, like the 350), but I couldn't find much info about it's weight so far. It also costs about half what the GB350 goes for (... never thought I'd spend so much on tuners...) so being as broke as I am now, I'd be quite happy to be able to save those couple of bucks for the finishing of my bass. If they are under 50 gramms, I'm game.
So anyone ever seen them?
Thanks in advance!
 
#5
NJL said:
Frank, you would think that Gotoh had a web?

I have never found a site for them....
Click to expand...

I noticed that too.. I've been googlin' for some info on these tuning machines, but not really coming up with much.

Aluminum shaft? I've never seen these, but I'd be nervous about the strength of those. I had a Gotoh machine's shaft break on me last year, and I wasn't tuning any higher than standard.
Any special reason you're wanting to go "ultra-lite" with your machines?

Mag...
 
#9
Frank Martin said:
:hmm:
Makes the decision between GB720, GB350 and Hipshot Ultralite even harder...
Click to expand...

Before that machine snapped on me, I honestly believed that one could never break. I don't think a Fender-type could ever break like that.
I think it's the fact that machines are being made much smaller these days, and that lower quality metals are being used.
I'll bet that those aluminum ones have a larger and stronger post. It would have to be.

Mag...
 
#13
I didn't get a reply, either...

Maybe try this place:
Link Removed

GB350s are 35 gramms, but are quite expensive (there's a price list on the site).
Hipshot Ultralites are 44 gramms. The best price I've found for them so far is $22 for the blacks - it was IIRC $20 for chrome.

Shipping will be an issue, though...
 
#14
Eureka! Here is the pricelist for 350. I'll end by reading japanese I guess :D [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

1 US$ = 114.69 JPY
So you can make the calculations.
One piece, black (color code CK), GB350 is $30.5; golden is $34

One piece, black, GB720 is $28 (well it changes a little with the number you get, those are approx. prices)

Any TB'er from Japan to help us understand that page?
 
#15
Frank Martin said:
Shipping will be an issue, though...
Click to expand...


Shipping is always an issue for me ALWAYS ALWAYS :bawl:

I pay almost 2 or 3 times(or even more) more for the shipping, handling, customs taxes, additional fees etc. compared to most TB'ers here.

So in fact to place an order from the states, from Germany, from Japan or from Madagascar doesn't make a big difference for me, it always costs a lot. :crying:

6 pieces of GB350 costs
30.5 x 6 = $183 (I can buy an SX bass for this money :D )
+ god knows how much for the shipping (I can upgrade the stock SX PU's to Dimarzio's :D ) OK maybe I should do this :p
 
#16
There's Babelfish (should rather be called Bablefish :rolleyes: :p ) for translating webpages.
This page:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
has the list prices. (if you are too lazy to translate it, the red kanji above the picture are the price)

This other page:
Link Removed
has some sale prices.

I think there's something wrong with your calculations...
 

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