I recently decided to upgrade my Ibanez TMB35 with a set of Hipshot Ultralites with the lollipop keys and thought some of you might be interested in seeing the results.
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Ibanez TMB35 with Lollipop Ultralites
- Thread starter Single Coil
- Start date
No reason to justify a nice set of 'pops. I like 'em.
It definitely reduces the neck dive for these basses. I still feel a bit of a “tug” towards the headstock, but it is reduced. The bass is much more comfortable with the Ultralites. I’ll be playing my first sets at church this morning since the upgrade.
According to the numbers I have, they save approximately 3 ounces per tuning key. 3 ounces x 5 = 15 ounces (just short of 1 pound). Later this morning I’ll be going to my lab and will get an actual mass for the original tuners. The literature for the Hipshots list their mass as 1.93 ounces each.
According to the numbers I have, they save approximately 3 ounces per tuning key. 3 ounces x 5 = 15 ounces (just short of 1 pound). Later this morning I’ll be going to my lab and will get an actual mass for the original tuners. The literature for the Hipshots list their mass as 1.93 ounces each.
Okay...I have data. My source of information was way off regarding the weight of the original tuners.
The weight of the original tuners is 2.97 ounces apiece; the weight of the Ultralites is 1.93 ounces apiece according to the literature from Hipshot. This equates to a weight savings of 5.2 ounces overall.
That’s not nearly as much as I wanted to save, but it makes a clear difference in terms of neckdive. I’m glad I made the change.
The weight of the original tuners is 2.97 ounces apiece; the weight of the Ultralites is 1.93 ounces apiece according to the literature from Hipshot. This equates to a weight savings of 5.2 ounces overall.
That’s not nearly as much as I wanted to save, but it makes a clear difference in terms of neckdive. I’m glad I made the change.
Never underestimate the power of the lever
Thanks, that assuages my curiosity.
Please don't talk physics around musicians, it only confuses them.
Exactly. Those 5 ounces might not change the total weight as much, but they’re in a crucial spot so it probably feels a lot better. Same with a grippy strap, it will be more comfortable to play even though it doesn’t change the weight.
I should probably state that I use a four inch wide leather Italia strap. At church this morning I had no neck dive, just a bit of a tug on my left shoulder
Also, I calculated a difference of about 0.40 foot-pounds reduction in torque (for you physics people) since the weight difference is at the end of the neck.
Also, I calculated a difference of about 0.40 foot-pounds reduction in torque (for you physics people) since the weight difference is at the end of the neck.
I put the same on my Paranormal, no neck dive and perfect balance. Plus they tune super precise
I just put Ultralites on my TMB 105. Neck dive no more. And they operate far smoother then the originals.
Had one of these for a few weeks. Thought it was a great bass, although mine had bad QC. Looks great with the upgrade.
Learning about moments and center of mass on TB!
Sweet! Those are going on my pending Bordwell sixer. I'm tired of seeing the same tuner shapes on every bass.
As soon as I saw this bass in that color I thought, “That bass needs lollipops.”
I thought the originals felt fine until I installed the Ultralites; they are much smoother.
I like lollipops, and they fit that headstock well. Did the same upgrade with my bass:
I'd say this is all that matters, but c'mon, we all want a cool looking bass, right? Function first, but coolness totally matters too. Those lollipops look perfect on there!
Lollipops look like they were the originals on this bass indeed.
