Fender string keeper thingy

[jeffbrown]

Arrggh.

I am not satisfied with the break at the nut for the E string on my Fender Jazz 5er, 50th Year Anniversary model, Gotoh tuners. Here's a link to a similar bass: Invalid Link Removed
Mine's black/pearloid, same neck.

I bought the keeper from Fender to get a better angle. To my surprise and dismay, it doesn't fit.... Here's a shot. The ring is too large.

For comparison, here's a shot of the thing with my MIM Fender Jazz 4 with the normal(?) open gear tuners:

I do believe it would fit this one....

What's a guy to do? Does anybody make one of these for Gotoh tuners??

 

[sissy kathy]

That's called a Stealth String Retainer. I don't think anyone else even makes one. Put it under the other string retainer, pointing toward the tuner, until you come up with something better. FYI Hipshot makes a top load 4 string tree.
Bass String Retainer

 

[RyanOh]

I bought a couple A rings and then realized you need threaded barrels to make it fit properly. I put one on this bass when installing Hipshot Ultralites. I'm happy with it. It replaces the washer. (I think, from memory)

 

[mongo2]

From your photo it seems the string is as far down the post it can go.

What is it about the string angle you are dissatisfied with?

Have you established good witness points for the strings at the nut?

Do the nut slots have any fall-off toward the headstock?

 

[jeffbrown]

Thanks for the link, Sissy, but I'm loathe to make holes in the headstock. Don't ask me why....

Ryan, I think I see what you're saying, but I plan on keeping the Gotohs (see above), and those darn things are too slim!

Mongo, yes I purposely wound the string down, per recommendations of all here! I believe I did make good witness points (at the bridge as well), but of course, I can always try again.... I'll have to check the nut, but wouldn't good points help alleviate that? My dissatisfaction stems from the "wandering" of the string's tuning. That is, I can tune to my Snark, but it often won't settle on E, but goes sharper/flatter while I'm at it. I was thinking if I got a better angle, like the rest of the strings, it might help. Here's a profile of the 5er:

And a profile of the 4:

My Ibby SG 5er has an offset headstock and doesn't have this problem. Actually, neither does the Fender 4. I'll probably put it on the 4, just because.

Thanks, folks, for your suggestions. I appreciate it, for sure. I'll keep plugging away....

 

[96tbird]

Not enough winds on the posts. Your Strings exit the posts at the concave in the middle. You need like 5 wraps to force it down to the deck.

Concave and or tapered tuners are a bad design to choose for a non tilted headstocks. They pull the strings to the middle of the post. The old straight barrel tuners are better.

 

[ctmullins]

Concave and or tapered tuners are a bad design. They pull the strings to the middle of the post. The old straight barrel tuners are better.

Let's not over-generalize here. For the sake of anybody who doesn't already know, this statement may be true for straight (Fender-style) headstocks, but not for tilt-back headstocks. I actually like waisted (concave, tapered) stems for their self-centering function. Then again, I abhor and eschew straight headstocks.

 

[96tbird]

Let's not over-generalize here. For the sake of anybody who doesn't already know, this statement may be true for straight (Fender-style) headstocks, but not for tilt-back headstocks. I actually like waisted (concave, tapered) stems for their self-centering function. Then again, I abhor and eschew straight headstocks.

Fair enough. I fixed my post.