Cons of Hipshot Xtender machines?

[Geri O]

Personally, I've never understood their appeal. They are expensive, add weight, can make a bass hang incorrectly on a wall hanger, and it's just another moving part that has the potential to fail. Besides, I can tune up or down in about the same amount of time it takes to flip the lever. Why bother?

Jimmy M covered, nay, refuted your points quite well. I can only share the sentiments and add, I've installed 6 of them, mouth one ever broke, never sat funny on a stand (I hate hanging stands anyway, but never a problem when I just had to use one). Expense is relative and once you set the stop for correct tuning when you lower the pitch, there simply no way you can change the tuning as fast manually and I've certainly tried.

It's fine if you don't like the drop tuner idea, but that's the only valid and legitimate reason for not using one. You aren't making a very good case against them.

 

[Warpeg]

Jimmy M covered, nay, refuted your points quite well. I can only share the sentiments and add, I've installed 6 of them, mouth one ever broke, never sat funny on a stand (I hate hanging stands anyway, but never a problem when I just had to use one). Expense is relative and once you set the stop for correct tuning when you lower the pitch, there simply no way you can change the tuning as fast manually and I've certainly tried.

It's fine if you don't like the drop tuner idea, but that's the only valid and legitimate reason for not using one. You aren't making a very good case against them.

Refuted? False. His opinions are just in conflict with mine. Neither of us are right; this matter is subjective. In any event, you keep using the de-tuners and I will continue not using them. It's as simple as that.

 

[FRoss6788]

NOBODY can detune as fast as using a Hipshot, that's just BS.

Great product, I have them on all my four strings.

 

[friskinator]

For everyone saying you can detune just as quickly and accurately as the Xtender can: I don't believe you.

 

[Warpeg]

For those of you getting all hot and bothered about my comment, "Besides, I can tune up or down in about the same amount of time it takes to flip the lever", the operative word is "about". Of course the de-tuner is faster. My point is that I can tune up or down very quickly and find no value in this product's purpose. Some of you do find value. That's fine and it is what it is.

 

[buldog5151bass]

For those of you getting all hot and bothered about my comment, "Besides, I can tune up or down in about the same amount of time it takes to flip the lever", the operative word is "about". Of course the de-tuner is faster. My point is that I can tune up or down very quickly and find no value in this product's purpose. Some of you do find value. That's fine and it is what it is.

It allows an instant precision retune that can be repeated as often as possible. I've done it mid-song plenty of times.

 

[FRoss6788]

It allows an instant precision retune that can be repeated as often as possible. I've done it mid-song plenty of times.

Beat me to the punch with this!
Yes, I've used them mid song many many times, just not possible using "caveman" de-tuning.
To me there is no downside whatsoever.
If using a Hipshot affects your other strings, you need a new and better bass...

 

[JimmyM]

Accurately isn't the problem, but quickly and accurately is

 

[Real Soon]

The only con I've found from using one is: initial tuning when getting set up for the rehearsal/gig is a little more fiddly than otherwise. Tune, lever down, lever up, tune, lever down, tune, lever up, tune, lever down, tune, lever up, tune. That's kind of on the extreme end & a couple extra flicks up & down to get tension released helps keep it pretty simple.

Also: I'm considering putting one on my 5-string. Haven't decided if I wanna put it on the E string for the sake of those drop-D songs that need open D & fretting way up the neck... or the B string, just to get weird. Needless to say, the slight extra initial tuning time isn't fazing me.

 

[Jonni]

I'm about to buy one. I've seen a few reviews mention that the rest of the strings go out of tune when the tension is released which but me off at first, but then common sense kicked in...Surely if the hipshot affects the other strings on your bass, then manual detuning without the extender will have exactly the same impact!?

 

[SteveCS]

I'm about to buy one. I've seen a few reviews mention that the rest of the strings go out of tune when the tension is released which but me off at first, but then common sense kicked in...Surely if the hipshot affects the other strings on your bass, then manual detuning without the extender will have exactly the same impact!?

Yes it will. The extent depends on the general stiffness of the neck, it's natural profile (no strings and loose truss rod), the overall change in tension between tunings and how much work the truss rod is (or isn't) doing holding things in place.

 

[Flamingo21]

I'm about to buy one. I've seen a few reviews mention that the rest of the strings go out of tune when the tension is released which but me off at first, but then common sense kicked in...Surely if the hipshot affects the other strings on your bass, then manual detuning without the extender will have exactly the same impact!?

That's a good observation. Thanks.

 

[JimmyM]

Yes it will. The extent depends on the general stiffness of the neck, it's natural profile (no strings and loose truss rod), the overall change in tension between tunings and how much work the truss rod is (or isn't) doing holding things in place.

Honestly I don't have that problem on the 4 basses I have them on.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Honestly I don't have that problem on the 4 basses I have them on.

I have had one for 16 years on my Lull P4, and had it for 36 on my Fender Parts bass (P neck). I used it often, including back and forth between songs. Never had a tuning issue.

The only reason it's not on my Fender is the lever finally broke, and I have to order a new one.

 

[SteveCS]

Honestly I don't have that problem on the 4 basses I have them on.

Nor me, now. I did have a Jazz once with a particularly whippy neck that went a little sharp if you dropped E to D. But it was marginal.

 

[Jonni]

Yes it will. The extent depends on the general stiffness of the neck, it's natural profile (no strings and loose truss rod), the overall change in tension between tunings and how much work the truss rod is (or isn't) doing holding things in place.

Exactly, so if your bass is set up properly and all of those things are at a point where manual drop-tuning doesn't affect the tunings of the other strings, then you shouldn't have any issues when using the Xtender (always makes me think of Alan Partridge )

 

[wvbass]

I've used Hipshot Xtenders for almost as long as they've existed. Since the '80's maybe? I have only ever had three complaints.

1) There is a bit of an art to getting a new string installed and set up to stay in tune. I went for a few years playing mainly fivers and when I started using Xtenders again, I had to relearn this "art." It is frustrating for a bit, but one you get it figured out, there are zero tuning issues.
2) I don't like the double stop lever. I love the concept, but in actual practice, the middle position (the D) is the most needed drop, and it is...precarious. You can't just flip the lever carelessly, because it will drop all teh way to the lowest position. It isn't as good for mid-song changes. This drove me to get used to playing songs tuned one way or the other, without mid-song tuning changes.
3) A lot of my four string basses don't have Xtender keys. That kinda stinks.

 

[JimmyM]

2) I don't like the double stop lever. I love the concept, but in actual practice, the middle position (the D) is the most needed drop, and it is...precarious. You can't just flip the lever carelessly, because it will drop all teh way to the lowest position. It isn't as good for mid-song changes. This drove me to get used to playing songs tuned one way or the other, without mid-song tuning changes.

While this is true, I still like having the double stop lever, even if I may only use the B tuning once or twice on a gig. But I only have one bass with the double stop, so it's all good.

 

[40Hz]

Refuted? False. His opinions are just in conflict with mine. Neither of us are right; this matter is subjective. In any event, you keep using the de-tuners and I will continue not using them. It's as simple as that.

It's as "simple" as reality not supporting your contentions. Things like not allowing a bass to hang properly on a hanger, or being heavy enough to affect neck balance, and it being able to accurately detune manually just as fast are all easily verifiable. No opinion required. And the simple answers are: it doesn't, it doesn't, and extremely doubtful. About the only thing that could be considered opinion is the question of expense. That's a personal thing.

You have the right to form your own opinions. You don't have the right to formulate your own "facts."

 

[wvbass]

It's as "simple" as reality not supporting your contentions. Things like not allowing a bass to hang properly on a hanger, or being heavy enough to affect neck balance, and it being able to accurately detune manually just as fast are all easily verifiable. No opinion required. And the simple answers are: it doesn't, it doesn't, and extremely doubtful. About the only thing that could be considered opinion is the question of expense. That's a personal thing.

You have the right to form your own opinions. You don't have the right to formulate your own "facts."

I have had issues with Hipshot Xtenders and guitar stands/hangers.

Hercules stands have yokes that aren't necessarily Hipshot-friendly. The lever wants to sit on the back of the stand rather then letting the guitar drop into the hanger properly. When I use other stands, I have no issues.