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Installing new bridges/tuners

Metaldood19

Metaldood19

Apr 9, 2011
250
5
#1
Hey everyone, I just got in some new hipshot ultralites and some hipshot triple lockdown bridges for my 6 string brice. Being the broke college student that I am, I'd really like to install them and set up my bass on my own (not only because it's cheap but it's something I've wanted to learn for quite some time). However, I have to ask, is there a big risk of me installing them incorrectly and possibly causing some damage to my neck if I attempt to install/set up on my own or should I just bite the bullet and save up to have it taken care of by my local guitar tech? Thanks!

PS I should note that I don't mind purchasing tools (rulers or whatever) to set up on my own as I had stated before, setting up and doing maintenance on my instrument is something I've wanted to learn for a while..
 
#3
Don't tighten the tuner bushings to much, just lightly snug. It's likely you'll have to drill holes for the screws on the back of the head, just be careful. Don't tighten the screws down too much: just until they make contact with the plate; they're small and easily twist off.

For the bridge, if the holes line up you are golden. Make sure the ground wire makes good contact with the bridge bottom. Tighten the bridge down as tight as you can without stripping out the screw heads; once the driver begins to torque up out of the socket a tiny bit, stop. Make sure that your screwdriver fits the screw socket properly: not too small or large, it should fill the socket entirely and perfectly fit in.

Setups are easy and fun to learn, just read the stickies. Beware of some homemade YouTube vids like the one where the guy is sitting on the floor against his sofa. What a dou$&@bag.
 
#4
Tuner (machine head) screws are very small, and easy to strip/snap off ... FWIW, if you have access to tap the size of the screw threads, it certainly helps for ease of installation rather than cutting the threads with the screw you are going to use ... bridge mounting screws are usually much larger diameter and not as much of an issue, but again, a tap never hurts ... and also if the headstock is exceptionally hard, I sometimes like to just run the screw theads against a bar of soap to lubricate it prior to running it in ... JMHO
 
#6
96tbird said:
Good points, soap is a great live for this, although taps are for bolt threads not screw threads, they don't match.
Click to expand...

Aw, I guess I wasn't aware that they didn't have taps for wood screws, I just use the miniature pointed taps I have on hand that are just slightly smaller than the screw but seem to match closely ... the final screws have threaded easily and tighten up snug ... my objective is not to use the screw that is going to be the final one to cut the threads ... thanks for pointing that out .. I suppose that would be a 'dont do as I do' thing then ..
 
#8
Hi...Plus 1 on not overtighting the tuner screws.. i went to schallers and broke the first head screw off... so use soap..or any thing to get the small screws to go in straight!!

Good luck
 

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