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The Ultralites are reversible, you could get a 5-straight and then switch one. I've done it, and it's pretty simple.
As much as I like the Ultralites, I find that the Gotohs smoother.
Yes, I agree. Something else to be aware of for those considering the Licensed Hipshot instead of the USA ... Not only are the licensed heavier than the USA, they are also not as smooth as the USA and they are NOT THE SAME SIZE. The Licensed 1/2" are smaller and the ferrules/sleeves require shimming as they are very loose in the headstock holes.
This is a licensed 1/2" sleeve wrapped with aluminum tape to get it to the same diameter as the USA 1/2". Otherwise it is VERY sloppy fit in a Fender headstock that the USA hipshot fits perfectly.
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I've only just got into bass, and I got myself Invalid Link Removed one.
After playing for only a few days, I did notice the neckdive. Thought it perhaps was me, always having played strats & other regular guitars, but I'm glad to see it's a genuine bass-thing. Actually I'm freakin' lucky they put this is the newsletter of talkbass, or I never would've thought of it. I took of two tuners to see whether the neckdive lessened significantly, and YES it did. So hooray for lightweight tuners!
Can anybody help me with these questions though:
1, The hole is 11/16, the diameter of the tuners itself is 1/2 - So I don't need the 3/8 but the 1/2, right? I'm finding all sorts of crazy contradictory stuff online.
2, When ordering the hipshots online, I see all kinds of tuners available. I want the lightest, I don't care how they look. The table above (@pilotjones) only mentions the Y and Clover leaves. Any weights available on the mini clovers & lollipops?
After playing for only a few days, I did notice the neckdive. Thought it perhaps was me, always having played strats & other regular guitars, but I'm glad to see it's a genuine bass-thing. Actually I'm freakin' lucky they put this is the newsletter of talkbass, or I never would've thought of it. I took of two tuners to see whether the neckdive lessened significantly, and YES it did. So hooray for lightweight tuners!
Can anybody help me with these questions though:
1, The hole is 11/16, the diameter of the tuners itself is 1/2 - So I don't need the 3/8 but the 1/2, right? I'm finding all sorts of crazy contradictory stuff online.
2, When ordering the hipshots online, I see all kinds of tuners available. I want the lightest, I don't care how they look. The table above (@pilotjones) only mentions the Y and Clover leaves. Any weights available on the mini clovers & lollipops?
If you call up Hipshot, they'll sell you a nut/piece of hardware that can be used with the US Hipshot to make them fit LIC size holes. They charge $1/tuner. Call 'em up they're super nice.
The US are larger and the Licensed are smaller. Are you saying they'll sell you smaller bits so the US ones will fit a smaller hole? That's the opposite of what I need - the US ones fit the hole and the Licensed ones are so small the tuners slop around in the hole.
Or did you mean they will sell you a larger nut that will make a licensed tuner fit a US sized hole?
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11/16" is the hole size on classic Fenders - the USA ultralights labeled as 1/2" (that's the shaft) will fit 11/16" hole as the Nut/sleeve is sized for 11/16. The licence ultralights are metric and work out to be about 5/8" which doesn't sound like much (1/16" smaller) but they are surprisingly sloppy in a Fender sized hole.
The Gotoh GB350 are the lightest, but they only come in 3/8" shaft which is too small for Fender sized holes unless you make a sleeve. The Hipshot USA 1/2" with Y key is the lightest I know of that will fit the Fender sized hole. The clover key will be heavier.
They sell you a smaller piece to make it fit. Give 'me a call man they'll hook you up.
I think they have the larger pieces too. For christ's sake just call them and tell them what your problem is! They hooked me up with the right stuff AND painted my Lakland bridge black for a very reasonable price...
So I got my hipshot ultralites in for my Lakland. Overall, I am much more impressed by the Gotoh Res-O-Lite tuners that I installed on my Warwick last week. The finish on them is much better than the Hipshots (the painted black on the hipshots is already starting to chip off), and they feel much more solid. I already managed to break one of the ultralites lol.
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This jives with what I've heard about Hipshot.
While I think that the Gotoh product is slightly more refined, I've heard very good things about Hipshot customer service and none of the products I own (Bridges, Lic and USA tuners) has ever been a problem.
They're really nice, right?
If they fit on your bass, they are a no brainer choice over the hipshots (which are fine but not as quality in fit/finish IMO and IME)
Aside from dropping half a pound from my headstock, now my bass is balanced perfectly for me. They are a beautifully made product. Very high quality and look exactly like fender vintage tuners. I looked into hs ultra lights, not crazy about the look and i would also have exposed screw holes to deal with. The resolites are lighter and better in every way.
