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How many here use HipShot D-Tuners?

#122
rosanne said:
I've often thought about having one of these on at least one of my bases BUT:
- I've never even seen one and don't know how they work. And I have the impression that it is some kind of lever you need to operate with your thumb, and IF SO then it's out for me cuz my thumb joints are pretty well destroyed by arthritis - there is no cartilage left in either one.

Am I right or wrong about these?
Click to expand...

The pressure needed to flip the lever is very minimal. If you can open a box of cereal, you can operate the Hipshot! :)
 
#123
rosanne said:
I've often thought about having one of these on at least one of my bases BUT:
- I've never even seen one and don't know how they work. And I have the impression that it is some kind of lever you need to operate with your thumb, and IF SO then it's out for me cuz my thumb joints are pretty well destroyed by arthritis - there is no cartilage left in either one.

Am I right or wrong about these?
Click to expand...


The best I could do is respectfully suggest that you try a bass with a Hipshot D-tuner on it. And see how it feels.
 
#124
I personally don't like them. They are ugly, heavy and inaccurate. Yes, I know how to set them. I just quickly D tune with standard tuning machine / gear and check harmonic quickly. Take 2 seconds. Once you do this several hundred times it comes easy.
 
#126
fenderbassman55 said:
I just quickly D tune with standard tuning machine / gear and check harmonic quickly. Take 2 seconds. Once you do this several hundred times it comes easy.
Click to expand...
That's what I've always done in the past, and I agree that it's something that can be done quickly and easily, with minimum distraction to the audience. I always think that at least some of the people who claim any audible tuning activity is somehow "unprofessional" have a) never seen a symphony orchestra or b) never learned how to accurately tune by ear quickly and efficiently.

That said, I'm getting a D-tuner out of curiosity, just to give it a try.
 
#127
Well, there is a few more tricks to a Hipshot.

You can change tuning mid song, mid riff, even.

You can flick it mid note, using it as an effect, check how Entwisle, Franklin & Manring use/d theirs.

You can grab the key itself, and pull towards the body, stretching the note sharp, almost trem like. I've not seen anyone famous use this trick yet.

Also remember, you can do these to harmonics, again, ala Manring.

Tony Franklin has two, and E & G, and uses them to drop to a very fun to use open tuning, DADA, as far as I remember.
 
#128
bassybill said:
That's what I've always done in the past, and I agree that it's something that can be done quickly and easily, with minimum distraction to the audience. I always think that at least some of the people who claim any audible tuning activity is somehow "unprofessional" have a) never seen a symphony orchestra or b) never learned how to accurately tune by ear quickly and efficiently.

That said, I'm getting a D-tuner out of curiosity, just to give it a try.
Click to expand...

While I'm still not even sure if I'll keep the D-Tuner ultimately, I do have to take exception to the highlighted 1/2 of your argument. I do applaud your willingness to try the product, though! :)

Assuming that an electric bass guitar isn't being used in a symphonic or chamber music performance, and that the nature and flow of a typical pop/rock/etc... ("popular" music genre) concert is very different than the environment you reference- I think that your point "a)" is a stretch. Plus, given this differentiation, point "b)" may be negated as well. I agree that audible tuning doesn't necessarily make one "unprofessional", however in the performance styles that bass guitar is a staple- it does show a lack of preparation and care.

It's rare that I've been to a top-tier "popular-genre" concert where a musician planned on audibly tuning on-stage in the middle of a performance. Furthermore, the fact that a musician opts to use silent electronic tuning, or some other method of discreet tuning, should not bring one to the conclusion that said instrumentalist is incapable of tuning otherwise. Silent tuning is more of a courtesy to the other performers and the audience! In a symphonic ensemble, or other "traditional" ensemble (chamber orchestra, string quartet, etc...), the collective pre-performance tuning has become, in fact, a part of the performance! It is not only for the utility of the performers, but an expected element of the concert experience. Not so with the vast majority of genres featuring electric bass!
 
#129
bassybill said:
That's what I've always done in the past, and I agree that it's something that can be done quickly and easily, with minimum distraction to the audience. I always think that at least some of the people who claim any audible tuning activity is somehow "unprofessional" have a) never seen a symphony orchestra or b) never learned how to accurately tune by ear quickly and efficiently.

That said, I'm getting a D-tuner out of curiosity, just to give it a try.
Click to expand...

I have 'tried' Schaller and Hipshot Drop D tuners several times. I have two vintage Jazz 'players' I use for my gigs. Thought one of these tuners would make it easier to drop to low D. However, they were more of a nuisance than then a help. Yes, I know how to 'set' them and did with a Peterson strobe tuner.
However, on the gig they never seem to pitch right one way or the other. Some of you must have good experiences with them as it appears a lot of good players use them.

As I said, it takes 2 seconds to tune to harmonic either with amp muted with in line tuner, or simply by ear.

I know what songs are coming and plan for this in advance. One thing I do goof on is tuning BACK to straight E before the next song! lol:eyebrow:
 
#130
scotch said:
While I'm still not even sure if I'll keep the D-Tuner ultimately, I do have to take exception to the highlighted 1/2 of your argument. I do applaud your willingness to try the product, though! :)

Assuming that an electric bass guitar isn't being used in a symphonic or chamber music performance, and that the nature and flow of a typical pop/rock/etc... ("popular" music genre) concert is very different than the environment you reference- I think that your point "a)" is a stretch. Plus, given this differentiation, point "b)" may be negated as well. I agree that audible tuning doesn't necessarily make one "unprofessional", however in the performance styles that bass guitar is a staple- it does show a lack of preparation and care.

It's rare that I've been to a top-tier "popular-genre" concert where a musician planned on audibly tuning on-stage in the middle of a performance. Furthermore, the fact that a musician opts to use silent electronic tuning, or some other method of discreet tuning, should not bring one to the conclusion that said instrumentalist is incapable of tuning otherwise. Silent tuning is more of a courtesy to the other performers and the audience! In a symphonic ensemble, or other "traditional" ensemble (chamber orchestra, string quartet, etc...), the collective pre-performance tuning has become, in fact, a part of the performance! It is not only for the utility of the performers, but an expected element of the concert experience. Not so with the vast majority of genres featuring electric bass!
Click to expand...
I can certainly agree to some extent with a lot of what you wrote there, except maybe the bit about a lack of preparation and care.

Please note that in the bit you quoted, I did say "... at least some of the people..." (meaning, not all) and I still think what I said does apply in some cases.
 
#131
I am surprised how many people found it inaccurate. I am finding that the E is now the most stable string on the bass (used to be the G).

But I could understand that different instruments may react differently. The bass I have the d-tuner on has a nut which is supposed to have very little friction. This probably helps the d-tuner work more reliably.
 
#132
Once installed correctly and when tuning, 'tuned correctly' they work perfectly. The design is brilliant. ..... Just to recap the best I can; 1) drop the lever and tune you dropped 'd' adjuster wheel first then engage lever back so it's locked in. Then back off/tune down your E tuning key. Now hit your E-string and as you raise it into pitch flip the D lever a few times till your E string is in tune. When you've done this correctly both the E & D will be perfectly in tune. If its not go back and do it again. Takes a few times to get it down. I've had mine so long I do it by ear.

Someone mentioned T. Franklin having one on his E & G string but that couldn't be on a Fender bass. A Musicman I could see.
 
#134
UPDATE TIME. This is lifted verbatim directly from what I just posted on Hipshot's Facebook page:

HUGE ups and a few pints to Hipshot's Bill Woolery for making my beloved G&L JB-2 look like it was born with an Xtender key, and thanks again to Hipshot endorser, and fellow talkbass.com forum denizen, JauqoIII-X for lighting the way! That's what community's all about, and that's what great customer care is all about, too. Hipshot rules!


OK, I have to get things properly set to show some before and after pix, and it's a crazy week of gigs forthcoming, but I just wanted to convey my gratitude and express supreme satisfaction as quickly as I could. Thanks again, guys!
 
#136
bunkaroo said:
I've often thought about trying to have two hipshots put on my Stingray 5 to drop to low A and D. Is that theoretically possible or would they get in the way of each other?
Click to expand...

Most headstocks make it very difficult to fit two Xtender levers on- they need a fair amount of room, and the Stingray headstock is too small to fit them. The double Xtender the Jauqo has may work though as it only uses a single lever.
 

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