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Hipshot D Tuner Pro's Con's

#21
erigod23 said:
Lately, though when my A and E strings are in tune, the tuner pegs sit parallel with the headstock. When I flick the detuner, they touch.
Click to expand...

Loosen the A string all the way off the machine, turn the tuning machine a little bit, and rewrap the A. That should put it so when the A is in tune its ear won't be in place to get bumped by the E's machine when you drop it down.

That's the problem I had on my Hammer Cruise bass, and it's a quick fix.

jte
 
#22
I use Hipshot Xtenders on both my fretless Rob Allen MB2 and a cheap Washburn "Bantam series" fretted practice instrument.

Pros:
1) You find you don't really need a 5-string instrument.
2) Great for those tunes in D and Eb--and surprising to your bandmates (especially those used to playing with upright players).
3) Installation is simple and fast. Intonation is good.
4) I have never found the lever an impediment to my playing in the detuned (slack) position.
5) Your brain quickly learns to adjust to the different tuning.

Cons:
1) You drop down in the middle of a tune and then find yourself playing out of tune 6 bars into the next tune, when your notes on the low string are a whole-step out of tune with what you're reading on the page. D'oh! Hint: start every song in the "E" tuning.
 
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#23
I use a D-tuner on my Rob Allen Mouse. Before getting the 4-string Mouse, I was a 5-string player, so I got the D-Tuner to retain a bit of extended-range capability. I don't use it much, but when I do, having the low D available is awesome. My brain has not adjusted to the alternate tuning very well so I don't use it much. But I would still order it with any 4-stringer that I order. Highly recommended.
 
#24
Once you can get your brain wrapped around the different tuning, they are really nice. I still prefer the standard tuning of a 5 string, but for a dedicated few songs, its like having two basses in one (actually sold my 5 string). I find that usually the D and E shifts are right in tune and if they are off it is only by the slightest margin. And absolutely no change in feel at the nut from the lever on my 4-94.
 
#25
I have one on my current bass and love it. I had one on my p-bass but I took it off to sell as it seemed that no one was interested in a MIM P-bass with it and other upgrades on it.

I have not seen any cons with it at all and the difference in weight between it and a regular Hipshot tuner has got to be in the grams range. I know I did not notice any sort of drastic shift int he center of gravity of the bass when it was installed.

I do have BT7 listed in the classifieds if that is the type you are considering
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=507549
 
#26
I use them on a couple of my basses. Only real downside I can see, besides the slight cost/weight penalty, is that the lever is secured with a very, very short screw. It only grabs the thickness of the sheet metal base. I've used them for years and never had one fail, but if it did you'd be hosed. The bass would be rendered unplayable, because that screw is needed whether your in tune or dropped.
 
#28
Yep. It has a negligible effect on the tuning of the other strings (as one might expect from a minor change in overall neck tension). You should be able to play drop-tuned without noticing any audible changes on the other strings. When you tune back up, the neck tension returns to normal.

The effects of constant detuning and retuning using the Hipshot are minimal at best and take a while to build up. When they eventually do, a minor tweak or two is all it takes to get your bass back to normal.

Drop-tuning an E string usually doesn't screw up the overall tuning. But drop-tuning a G string usually wreaks havoc. :hmm:
 
#34
If you don't ever flip the lever, it's just another machine head. A little nut sauce under the E string, and it drops to D very accurately, with great repeatability.

I like it a lot.
 
#35
I just got one last week. Amazing!

- It didn't change the instrument's balance that I could notice.
- The tuning is dead simple. Tune the E, drop to D, tune that with the thumb screw. Once that's done, the drop always stays in tune with the E, so all you have to do is make sure the E is in tune.
- The string post is a bit shorter. That may be a pro or a con depending on your case. It's borderline on mine, but still ok.
- Cost: $75. How many sets of strings for a five-string will this buy? Not to mention the cost of the bass to begin with.

Bottom line: I love it.
 
#36
My Fender Roscoe Beck IV Signature came stock with one. The band I'm playing with now only plays one dropped "D" song Slither by VR. If I'm not playing my RB IV, I hit the Sub-Bass on my Mo' Bass, and just play the main riff on my "D" string. (Sub-Bass drops the tone down an octive)

I don't really like having one string dropped. They should make a Dropped Tuner for ALL the strings at once...:hiding:
 
#37
The Hipshot Bass Xtender is a great piece of American-made gear and the family-owned company is tops in customer service. I had one I wanted to move to a bass that had a thicker than average headstock. I emailed Hipshot and they had me send it to them and they extended the post and even changed the key color to match the new bass at no charge beyond my shipping costs.
 

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