I'm not sure you understood what the thread was about.
Or maybe you understood and I didn't understand you did.
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Double Bass Hipshot FreeRange Xtender
- Thread starter powerbass
- Start date
Or maybe you understood and I didn't understand you did.
OK I'll try to explain.
A C extension string is a longer E string, right ?
When you put the Xtender, the string ball is faraway from the original position.
The string length is reduced, how many millimeters, inches, I don't know but it's something, it's shorter.
Does the string length look like a 5/4 or 1/2 string length ?
Some put solo string set tuned EADG to get less tension, some put 4/4 strings on 3/4 basses to get less tension.
Now, does someone understand ?
I own the hipshot, but perhaps i don’t understand what you’re getting at. It reduces the length of your after length, but the vibrating length is the distance from the nut to the bridge.
It will of course reduce the tension when in the detuned position. But if you put on a 1/2 size string, i don’t think it’s going to work well when tuned to E (assuming you use standard tuning and have a 3/4 or larger bass). I would just go up in gauge personally.
Edit: i was going to mention Spirocore stark because just about everyone can appreciate spiro E strings, but they only come in 4/4. That might be a too much length in the pegbox for many basses with the hipshot.
It will of course reduce the tension when in the detuned position. But if you put on a 1/2 size string, i don’t think it’s going to work well when tuned to E (assuming you use standard tuning and have a 3/4 or larger bass). I would just go up in gauge personally.
Edit: i was going to mention Spirocore stark because just about everyone can appreciate spiro E strings, but they only come in 4/4. That might be a too much length in the pegbox for many basses with the hipshot.
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I get it, thanks ! I was the one who didn't understand. I saw the light !
Tangent: There is an old thread somewhere on the BG side that discusses afterlengths and what might be thought of as perceived tension. They actually called it string compliance. Iirc, a luthier came up with and tested the concept and wrote a white paper about it. They were of course mostly talking about head stock geometry, but two piece bridges (like Warwicks have) could come into play as well. One big effect was how far you have to bend notes to get the same change in pitch (on fretted instruments, that is).
Point is, the hipshot would technically change this string compliance as well as add mass to the after length/bridge, which could affect over tones and wolf tones. Not something i would be concerned about, just interesting to consider.
Point is, the hipshot would technically change this string compliance as well as add mass to the after length/bridge, which could affect over tones and wolf tones. Not something i would be concerned about, just interesting to consider.
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
Yes - 100% - I came here to say this.
Hi all,
Can anyone summarize this for me? Does this thing work well or is it problematic? I play Spiro Mittels.
Can anyone summarize this for me? Does this thing work well or is it problematic? I play Spiro Mittels.
A downtuned E will move the angle of the tailpiece because there is less force towards the E-side. And that results in detuned upper strings.
It might not be enough to be clearly audible and it might also depend on the strings, but a DB is much more sensitive to a tension change of a string than an EBG.
But it is faster than manual detuning and the unwanted detuning of the other strings might tolerable.
It might not be enough to be clearly audible and it might also depend on the strings, but a DB is much more sensitive to a tension change of a string than an EBG.
But it is faster than manual detuning and the unwanted detuning of the other strings might tolerable.
The detuning effect on the other strings should be the same with or without the hipshot. So if you want measure the effect, just drop D (or tune the E string to whatever other note you want to check) and then check the tuning of the other strings.
If the other strings change significantly, I suggest checking/adding graphite lube to the bridge slots. Detuning the E quickly and by a step or more could allow the bridge to shift or lean, which I would expect to have an even bigger effect on the other strings than the tail piece leaning.
It’s also possible for the tailpiece wire to slip….
But this is making things too complicated. The hipshot works fine. It’s basically just a drop D tuner for upright.
Still curious about them, regadless of my prior experience, I purchsed one and had it for about three months.
I used it on several different basses. Tuning was not 100%, but it was close, maybe a slight tweek on the scroll end. More than anything, it adds mass behind the bridge. Some bridges respond very little to mass in that area, so it was fairly normal sounding. Other, more sensitive basses it was pretty obvious amount of muting / dampening.
I can't speak for ease of installation, mainly because almost every bass I touch seems to have some small inconsistency, so I automatically pick up the tools and make a few tailpiece tweeks, et cetera.
One thing I do like is that loosening a string to lower the tension is very different than using a longer scale ( like an extension) that keeps the same tension but you go lower down the string to achieve the note. For my needs and preference, lower tension to crate the note is much better. All of my basses seem to open up significantly and bloom with a dropped D note, so much that a couple of years back I built a nice new neck with a nice extension for myself and within about three days, I chopped it off and went back to using a dropped D; 'still happy to this day.
I used it on several different basses. Tuning was not 100%, but it was close, maybe a slight tweek on the scroll end. More than anything, it adds mass behind the bridge. Some bridges respond very little to mass in that area, so it was fairly normal sounding. Other, more sensitive basses it was pretty obvious amount of muting / dampening.
I can't speak for ease of installation, mainly because almost every bass I touch seems to have some small inconsistency, so I automatically pick up the tools and make a few tailpiece tweeks, et cetera.
One thing I do like is that loosening a string to lower the tension is very different than using a longer scale ( like an extension) that keeps the same tension but you go lower down the string to achieve the note. For my needs and preference, lower tension to crate the note is much better. All of my basses seem to open up significantly and bloom with a dropped D note, so much that a couple of years back I built a nice new neck with a nice extension for myself and within about three days, I chopped it off and went back to using a dropped D; 'still happy to this day.
Tangent, but if your basses sound better with lower tension, why not switch to lower tension strings all around?
I have one but don’t use it anymore. I’ve been on the fence about putting it back on my bass vs selling it.
