Hipshot licensed (not exactly) Ultralite

[ctmullins]

Been shopping for a set of tuners lately. Decided to save a bit of money and pick up a set of Hipshot Licensed 3/8" Y keys on the 'Bay. Never had them before, but I really like my USA Hipshots on my Tele, and I figured the Licensed version would be nearly as good.

They came in the mail yesterday. I opened the package and picked one of them out. It looks and feels like a quality product, but gosh, it feels a bit heavy, doesn't it? Let's get the postal scale out and give it a weigh.

Wow!

60 grams!

Seriously??

Hipshot's documentation states that the USA 3/8" Y key is 44 grams, and I expected - you know, since it still carries the name "Ultralite" - that the Licensed version would weigh about the same.

But no. 60 grams.

I might as well have used the Gotoh GB7s that I already had on hand.

Humph.

 

[Aidil]

Coincidentally I've just received Hipshot Licensed Ultralite tuners this morning. Later I'll make a comparison with Gotoh Res-o-lite GB350 which I bought directly from one of Gotoh rep in Japan few months ago.

Now if I could just find my wife kitchen scale...

 

[ctmullins]

I love the GB350. Mine measure out exactly to spec, 40g. More money, but they're worth it!

 

[Aidil]

Yeah, GB350 is the current best if one can afford it. I recently ordered (lic'd) Ultralite to replace a wobbly tuning post on my Cort A6 which came with the same (lic'd) Ultralite tuners. I use GB350 Resolite on my other 6er.

I've just finished weighing my Ultralite(s) and Resolite.

Hipshot Ultralite (lic'd) Y key that came with my Cort A6 (silver washer & ferrule):

49 grams, a bit heavier than USA version

The replacement Ultralite (came with black washer & ferrule):

Same 49 grams

And Gotoh GB350 Resolite:

The lightest: 40 grams

So it seems like the licensed Ultralite Y keys that I have were from different manufacturer than OP's.

 

[ctmullins]

Thanks for that data. When you buy from the 'Bay, I guess sometimes you can never be quite sure what you'll actually get. The ones I bought were advertised as an "older, discontinued model". Maybe the earliest ones were heavier, with improvements made later?

 

[Aidil]

What colors are yours?

I'm guessing the ones with black & silver combination like mine, including the replacement that I got online, were manufactured in Cort Indonesian plantation.

 

[ctmullins]

Black. Here's the listing: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

They look nice, and I expect they'll work fine. I was just hoping for lighter weight.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I recently ordered (lic'd) Ultralite to replace a wobbly tuning post on my Cort A6 which came with the same (lic'd) Ultralite tuners.

49 grams, a bit heavier than USA version

The replacement Ultralite (came with black washer & ferrule):

Same 49 grams

And Gotoh GB350 Resolite:

The lightest: 40 grams

So it seems like the licensed Ultralite Y keys that I have were from different manufacturer than OP's.

Say what? The component on both the US and lic'd imports can be disassembled, tightened, replaced, whatever. For that fact, Hipshot Products stands behind their products 100%. In the rare event that a component is beyond repair or defective, they'll take care of it for you.

Riis

 

[Aidil]

Say what? The component on both the US and lic'd imports can be disassembled, tightened, replaced, whatever. For that fact, Hipshot Products stands behind their products 100%. In the rare event that a component is beyond repair or defective, they'll take care of it for you.

Riis

I don't quite know how to say this... Okay, basically the tuner has a pole where one can twist and another pole to put the string on. The wobbled part was the first one but it didn't have any affect to the tuning as the later one was solid.

It seemed to be an easy fix of tightening the screw. But the problem was, I stripped the hex head when trying to tighten it. As it didn't have any affect to the tuning, thus I left it like that for quite sometime, until 2 weeks ago when I saw a local online add selling a similar tuner with a reasonable price (about USD 5.40 a piece, postal incl'd). So I bought a few just for the sake of peace of mind.

I'm sure Hipshot Products stands behind their products... for their USA ones... not sure for the licensed ones. To make it worst, buying a guitar here, even from authorized distributor listed on Cort website, will not get any warranty. Even more pathetic when you know that their factory is located within the same country and in the same island where I live.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I don't quite know how to say this... Okay, basically the tuner has a pole where one can twist and another pole to put the string on. The wobbled part was the first one but it didn't have any affect to the tuning as the later one was solid.

It seemed to be anwhat easy fix of tightening the screw. But the problem was, I stripped the hex head when trying to tighten it. As it didn't have any affect to the tuning, thus I left it like that for quite sometime, until 2 weeks ago when I saw a local online add selling a similar tuner with a reasonable price (about USD 5.40 a piece, postal incl'd). So I bought a few just for the sake of peace of mind.

I'm sure Hipshot Products stands behind their products... for their USA ones... not sure for the licensed ones. To make it worst, buying a guitar here, even from authorized distributor listed on Cort website, will not get any warranty. Even more pathetic when you know that their factory is located within the same country and in the same island where I live.

Your description is fine: post = string wraps, peg / key = the thing you grab. Sounds like you rounded out the hex socket on the cap screw tensioner...hey, I've done it myself. I even keep a spare supply of the cap screws and clear nylon washers which fit beneath. Here's a quick-trick in case it happens again: use a Dremel with cut-off wheel or a thin jeweler's file and cut a straight notch across the cap screw. You can now use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the cap screw. I say remove because you really need to dig out the old thread sealant (...lord knows what they use) and apply some blue Loctite before re-assembly.

Thanks for the heads-up on the warranty. I was thinking of relocating to Indonesia but this kills the deal.

Riis