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Gotoh V. Hipshot Hardware

#101
Zooberwerx said:
Do you have a link for Gotoh customer service? I’ve never required their intervention but it would be nice to have on hand. OTOH, Hipshot and I have a dialogue as ol’ fumble-fingers has screwed-up stuff more than once.

Riis
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i was having mechanical trouble with the Gotoh GB640s, additionally, they are not readily available in the US.

i reached out to Gotoh here

G-GOTOH Co., Ltd.
Web : www.g-gotoh.com
E-mail : [email protected]

i'm only sticking with the Gotoh GB640s because they are lightweight and cover the stock tuner mounting hole pattern.

i don't like the way they feel nor do i have confidence with their reliability - i've had one break.

i've never had issues with Hipshot.

so, my “Colloquial” assertion:

Hipshot sh1ts all over Gotoh
 
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#102
Zoot H Rollo said:
i was having mechanical trouble with the Gotoh GB640s, additionally, they are not readily available in the US.

i reached out to Gotoh here

G-GOTOH Co., Ltd.
Web : www.g-gotoh.com
E-mail : [email protected]

i'm only sticking with the Gotoh GB640s because they are lightweight and cover the stock tuner mounting hole pattern.

i don't like the way they feel nor do i have confidence with their reliability - i've had one break.

i've never had issues with Hipshot.

so, my “Colloquial” assertion:

Hipshot sh1ts all over Gotoh
Click to expand...
I have the GBR 640’s I love the way they feel and they are very lightweight
IMG_1291.jpeg
 
#105
I can only speak from experience with my dealings with Hipshot. Being an American product their threads are all imperial but when I contacted them by email they got straight back with the information I needed (give or take the 6-8 hour time lag between the US and Europe).
I can't say I'd really need to contact Gotoh about tuners as there's very little to them, and their bridges will be metric I assume so availability of spare parts won't be a problem here. However it would be nice to be able to reach out to them easily if needed rather than having to go through a dealer.
Most of the guitars I've ever previously owned had been Japanese and I drive a Mazda, my Fender P is MIJ although I could have got a MIA for the same price. I guess at the time I bought it you know you're getting consistency rather than some variability (which I don't mean in a detrimental way). With that in mind I'd say with US made products you have more personality and more of a how would I say, human touch rather than a faceless manufacturer who's products are excellent.
Listen, I don't even know whether what I've said makes any sense in the debate we're having here but I wouldn't care whether I bought Hipshot or Gotoh, both products are excellent and I'd buy what's available and suits me at the time rather than having to get involved in confirmation bias of any sort.
 
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#106
TeeSee said:
Listen, I don't even know whether what I've said makes any sense in the debate we're having here but I wouldn't care whether I bought Hipshot or Gotoh, both products are excellent and I'd buy what's available and suits me at the time rather than having to get involved in confirmation bias of any sort.
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i couldn't agree more.

i think the argument of one brand over another is silly.

i'm just having some holiday fun poking the turkey.
 
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#108
TeeSee said:
I can only speak from experience with my dealings with Hipshot. Being an American product their threads are all imperial but when I contacted them by email they got straight back with the information I needed (give or take the 6-8 hour time lag between the US and Europe).
I can't say I'd really need to contact Gotoh about tuners as there's very little to them, and their bridges will be metric I assume so availability of spare parts won't be a problem here. However it would be nice to be able to reach out to them easily if needed rather than having to go through a dealer.
Most of the guitars I've ever previously owned had been Japanese and I drive a Mazda, my Fender P is MIJ although I could have got a MIA for the same price. I guess at the time I bought it you know you're getting consistency rather than some variability (which I don't mean in a detrimental way). With that in mind I'd say with US made products you have more personality and more of a how would I say, human touch rather than a faceless manufacturer who's products are excellent.
Listen, I don't even know whether what I've said makes any sense in the debate we're having here but I wouldn't care whether I bought Hipshot or Gotoh, both products are excellent and I'd buy what's available and suits me at the time rather than having to get involved in confirmation bias of any sort.
Click to expand...

That sounds good and all but it’s just what people do. They debate on what’s better. Example: Do you like the Jeep Renegade or the Kia Soul. What are the pros and cons to each and why do you prefer one over the other. Of course I would use hipshot. I just posted a picture of a bass that I use the ultralight tuners on.. However in my experience the gotoh stuff has worked better for me. If you don’t like getting caught up in opinions. Then just don’t comment. However opinionated dialogues are fun it creates different perspectives and higher learning. So I welcome them.
 
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#109
PleyswethSqwerl said:
That sounds good and all but it’s just what people do. They debate on what’s better. Example: Do you like the Jeep Renegade or the Kia Soul. What are the pros and cons to each and why do you prefer one over the other. Of course I would use hipshot. I just posted a picture of a bass that I use the ultralight tuners on.. However in my experience the gotoh stuff has worked better for me. If you don’t like getting caught up in opinions. Then just don’t comment. However opinionated dialogues are fun it creates different perspectives and higher learning. So I welcome them.
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Fair point. And by the way that rainbow that rainbow bass is bangin'. But just confused a bit here, because I have respect for both marques and would use both at any given time, I have no right to comment on this thread?
OK point taken. I'll get me coat and let the fanboys duke it out between themselves. ;)
 
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#110
TeeSee said:
Fair point. And by the way that rainbow that rainbow bass is bangin'. But just confused a bit here, because I have respect for both marques and would use both at any given time, I have no right to comment on this thread?
OK point taken. I'll get me coat and let the fanboys duke it out between themselves. ;)
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Thank you so much yeah that one was a nightmare to build
 
#114
Both offer features / options not available on the other. Here are two Soundgear basses: (1) the scalloped buttons look so darn cool on the 1405's 2+3 headstock but would be glaringly out-of-place in other applications (2) by sheer coincidence, I had a set of short-stem Ultralites that better complement the 755's abbreviated, thin waisted headstock:
 

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#115
Zooberwerx said:
Both offer features / options not available on the other. Here are two Soundgear basses: (1) the scalloped buttons look so darn cool on the 1405's 2+3 headstock but would be glaringly out-of-place in other applications (2) by sheer coincidence, I had a set of short-stem Ultralites that better complement the 755's abbreviated, thin waisted headstock:
Click to expand...


If you can get the hipshot ultralites on basses then they are great for “Pre CBS” bass hipshot ultralites will not work. You will need the gotoh GBR 640’s ultralight or some heavy heavy Hipshot HB3’s which tune well but adds lots of weight to your instrument. Overall IMO gotoh has better hardware as it pertains to bridges and tuners. Additionally they are not charging you an extra $100 plus tax to do business in New York for every part you buy. Example for a set of Gotoh GBR 640’s you’ll pay $100-$139 for Hipshot ultralites (USA) version you’ll pay over $200. For a gotoh 303SJ bridge or Gotoh 201 bridge. You’ll pay a flat $100 maybe less. Hipshot A, B, and vintage bridge. Over $200 after tax if you buy directly from the website. Gotoh’s materials are used with purpose to address weight and tonal characteristics. Example: Gotoh uses lightweight duralumin with steel saddles for bridges, and or a zinc bridge with steel or brass saddles which mimics the tone of a high mass bridge. Hipshot uses either aluminum with brass or steel saddles for bridges or Brass saddles with steel or brass saddles. These materials don’t give you the best tonal qualities. Their Brass bridges are god-awful in which some can’t even be mounted on the instrument and makes the instrument heavy as all H:E double hockey sticks. In short, if you do your research IMO you’ll find that quality wise Gotoh wins. However if you are all about the nostalgia of being American made. I’d go for the hipshot. ***Noting*** that their ultralite tuners are great and about the only thing I’d buy from them outside of string ferrules.
 
#116
Just ordered nickel Gotoh GBR640’s from Philadelphia Luthier Tools for my MIJ 62 reissue P. I’ve been struggling with how heavy the neck feels on this bass when playing standing for long periods of time. The previous owner installed Hipshot HB3’s, which look nice and function well but weigh a lot. I had never used these Hipshot tuners before so I had just assumed they were lightweight, or at least lighter than the stock tuners. Maybe they are but not enough.

The whole set of Gotoh’s was $96 shipped. Which to me is a great price if they are lightweight and high quality. I plan to recoup some of that money back by selling the HB3’s. But also note the Hipshots aren’t $200+ like some have mentioned. Maybe the price dropped since this thread was posted but you can get a set of HB3’s for about $115.
 
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#118
Gotoh is fantastic in that they offer a light option for vintage tuners with no modifications. Modding a vintage bass for ultralites is not something I would want to do. So when I am replacing vintage Fender tuners its Gotoh every time. For modern applications or in situations I don't care about adding an extra screw hole its ultralites every time. Not that Gotoh isn't a good product I just like supporting an American company and having dealt with both Hipshot's customer service is 10x better. Probably one of the best companies I have had to deal with.

Also I saw a few times in the thread that there is no plastic in the vintage Res-o-lite tuners and I am 99.9% sure that's not true. I think they are very good at making it not appear to be plastic but I am confident it is. Not that it matters to me. As I have said I use them frequently to replace vintage tuners. They turn great and are super light
 
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#119
Johnny Alien said:
Also I saw a few times in the thread that there is no plastic in the vintage Res-o-lite tuners and I am 99.9% sure that's not true. I think they are very good at making it not appear to be plastic but I am confident it is. Not that it matters to me. As I have said I use them frequently to replace vintage tuners. They turn great and are super light
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The "Res" is supposedly resin / plastic which is incorporated into their GB-7 drop-ins (spec'ly the keys...you can even see the seam) but I don't see it in the big-plate cloverleaf Fender-type stuff.

Riis
 

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