Hipshot Bass Xtender...do you use one?

[streetknight]

I seem to need to go to drop D quite often and these look handy. What is your experience with them? I watched the video from Hipshot showing how to install and tune. I think it said to tune the E with the tuner and the D with the thumbscrew? Do they stay in tune or do you have to adjust all the time after flipping the lever. Thanks

 

[JAUQO III-X]

I think they are an essential tool for some of my uses. So much so that I had Hipshot make me a double D-Tuner. It allows me to drop my E and A string down to C# and F# with the release of one lever.

I also have The HipShot DoubleStop lever on one of my basses as well.












I'm a Hipshot endorser.

 

[WaskoDS]

Man, that's badass.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Thank you. I have this type of set up on two of my 4 string basses. It really is a serious tool for me.

 

[MelodiousThump]

I've got one on my fretless Jazz Bass. I had trouble at first, but none now. I think it was a lubrication- stiff new parts issue.
I seem to play a lot of bass parts in the key of D. Nice to have that low D.

 

[perogato02]

No need to retune after flipping and reflipping the lever, really handy thing to have if your band has a few songs in drop D.

 

[Barduuk]

I use mine to quickly flip to Drop-D in one section of one of my bands songs.. Never had any issuses going back to E at the end of it..

 

[JxBass]

I have them on all of my basses. They've improved over the years and stay in tune much better than some of the older ones, a slight tweak of the thumbscrew now and then is all that's needed. One tip from my favorite luthier is to put a very small amount of grease, like Vaseline, in the nut groove. It facilitates string slide, as any grabbing could throw off the tuning.

 

[MikeBass]

I have them on all my 4's as well.
They work great. Zero issues really.

The HipShot DoubleStop lever is also a great improvement to the D-Tuner. It gives you two dropped settings.
I have mine set to drop to D and also to B.

 

[Denny Coon]

i put them on every bass i have..they are awesome...couldnt live without it...dependable...they last forever

 

[bassmeknik]

I highly recommend it, they are on two of my basses and they are VERY consistent. Occasionally the string hangs up on the nut during reset to "E" and a quick stretch fixes that I reworked the nut and lubed it as JxBass suggested and now I grab a low "D" mid song and go right back to standard tuning without missing a beat. VERY COOL product. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

The guys at Hipshot made me a custom version for my beater bass that has a reverse head stock (lefty neck on a right handed body) as the standard model will not work in that application. It came in a week no extra charge for the mods. They rock...

 

[MonacanHill]

I put one on my Bass after a traumating tuning experience at a show, can't say it's let me down so far. It's a great timesaver if you go occationally go to drop D, but you can also be creative with it, flipping to hit the low D before quickly returning to standard. I'd definatly reccomend it.

 

[streetknight]

Thanks everyone, I want to put one on my Cirrus. Sounds like the way to go.

 

[thisSNsucks]

I put one on my Bass after a traumating tuning experience at a show, can't say it's let me down so far. It's a great timesaver if you go occationally go to drop D, but you can also be creative with it, flipping to hit the low D before quickly returning to standard. I'd definatly reccomend it.

Yeah similar experience at a gig once made me buy one. I can honestly say that every bass I buy from now on will have one installed, they're absolutely great!

 

[negative theory]

My band plays in D most of the time, but they have enough songs in drop C that I have a Hipshot detuner on both of my 4 strings. There's even a song where I hit the low C for a section and then flip back up to finish the song.

 

[cableguy]

I've had mine on for over a decade. Really awesome. I put a little graphite powder in my nut so it slides & stays in tune.

 

[scotch]

I use one & it works great! More useful live than in the studio for me - but they are a great product and Hipshot is extremely helpful with support, modifications, etc.

 

[electracoyote]

I had one on a 4 string Jazz once. If installed and used correctly, they're pretty foolproof. I eventually adapted to a 5 string, but the Hipshot was very cool and convenient, quite accurate.

 

[kcole4001]

I have one on my 4003 since early this year, built by Bob at Hipshot.
It works perfectly, and I use it for 4 songs that we do currently.

I find it much better than constantly detuning/retuning, and it's obviously much faster.
Once you get used to the tuning process, it's a snap to get it set.
It does seem to take a little longer for new strings to settle in, but as long as you give them enough time between gigs you're allright.

It doesn't add enough weight to the headstock to make it dive, and matches the stock tuners perfectly.

Excellent service by Hipshot, I highly recommend getting one.
If you have questions, just shoot them an email.

 

[Muttleybass]

I've got one on my Sterling. I don't think I could live without it anymore. It beats the snot out of lumping together all the D songs (there seems to be a lot lately) or switching basses all the time.

No issues. It takes a tad getting used to as you tune it a tad flat, flip the lever, then it goes into tune. Once it's in tune, it stays there.