Hipshot Dtuner Question

[lkngro]

I searched this, and it seems that all of the threads that came up were very specific questions involving setup and such. I just want to know the general concensus on these.

Do people generally like them? Once I set it can I just flip back and forth between normal and drop tuning as much as I want? Say, in the middle of a song? And it will stay (closely) in tune?

 

[Hellbastard]

I have one. I really like it. Yes you can flip the lever between songs without an issue.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I've been using them on every 4 string bass I own since the mid '80s. Great little tool.

 

[biobass]

They work fine, as long as you set them correctly i.e. according to the directions. I have found that the tuning is just as stable with the Hipshot as it is with the other tuners on my '65 Jazz, meaning that generally the E string stays in tune throughout a gig and for weeks when only playing at home. I check my tuning regularly with a Peterson Strobo-Flip. I often use mine in the middle of a song if only one section requires a low D or Eb. Just be aware that fliping it can be audilbe if you don't mute the string. Great little device.

Cheers,
Dennis

 

[JTE]

I've used them since they first came out, and all but one of my 4-string basses have them. I've had eight or nine different tuners for different basses over that period. Switching in the middle of songs is a snap, and it's utterly reliable. As biobass says, follow the directions carefully, put some graphite in the nut slot, and use good strings.

John

 

[ffutterman]

Do the detuners cause any neck tension issues over time?

 

[Sam Reese]

Do the detuners cause any neck tension issues over time?

No.

 

[Hellbastard]

NO.

 

[thehangingmist]

i love having it! i can flip in the middle of a song. i can play so many otherwise standard tuning songs in drop d just to make it heavier especially if those songs are in D. i wont even think about playing in drop D so much if i never had this

 

[jumbodbassman]

had a few few years. always fine. set up first time is key...

 

[zenrad]

Michael Manring makes very good use of them - they hold tune nicely



He's also got a special bridge that allows him to change tune, he uses that and 4 hipshots.

 

[ga_edwards]

I think it's a great and reliably device and have them on both my main basses (came stock on the Attitude). Once set correctly and tuned it hold tuning throughout a set just fine, even flipping on and off mid-song. I do check my tuning before each set, but it normally hold just fine. I don't even use a 5 string live anymore, just no need.

The only issue I've ever had is with certain brands of strings. I used a set of DR coloured strings for a short while, that had tight outer winding along the entire length of the string (so the winding was just as tight around the tapered tuner end as the main string itself), and no silks. The slot in the tuning peg managed to slice through the winding which then slid along the inner core, exposing the core. Thus, the tuning peg couldn't grip the string. I'm convinced flipping tuning caused the issue.

So I would advise using strings that either have widely spaced winding where it goes around the tuning peg, or silk wraps.

Other than that, no problems.

 

[Breslin dp]

My 5 string Warwick came with one on it and I do find myself using it to drop A.

 

[rick0link]

i have one on each of my basses and make good use of them. one of the most useful mods i have done to my basses.

 

[Greyfin10]

The number one problem is really a setup problem, and can be avoided by watching this (especially from 2:30 on):



Basically, if you don't set it up properly, it'll go out of tune when flipping the lever. But, set properly, I find that it's extremely reliable. Pretty sure you have to revisit that adjustment everytime you change string gauges.

Go for it... I use it on all my basses.