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machine head replacement..CARVIN

Randyt

RAAPT Custom Wood Productions
Jul 21, 2010
1,532
275
Barrie, Canada
i have attached a couple of pics of my Carvin fretless 6 xer...i want to replace the machine heads to Hipshot ultra lite HB6Y-3/8"Y key tuners...i have measured and its close yet i have this feeling this fitting is incorrect. The center post is 3/8 and the hole opening is 5/8"...the hipshots are longer and i could redrill hole for mounting yet the width(back) is the concern as the top two are very close together.

Will it work or is there a better replacement part?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
Randy
 

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on another note...i was on the warmoth site and these heads look very similar to the Gotoh GB7 tuners...are they the same?...Are Gotoh tuners any good?...i have only used hipshots on all my basses.(this bass is new to me)
 
My Carvin B40 has tuners that are 9/16" diameter peg hole, according to Carvin's specs.


I wanted to change the tuners to Hipshots' Ultralite Clover tuners. But they only have 1/2 " and 3/8".

The Hipshot (non-ultralite) HB1, HB2 and HB3 tuners are 11/16".

Are you saying I could use one of those for my Carvin?

If so, which ones? The 3/8" or 1/2" or 11/16"?

Sorry Randyt, I don't mean to hi-jack or derail your thread.

But this is something I've wanted to do for a while now and it would be helpful to me and others to know.
 
From the Hipshot website FAQ:

The 3/8" model is designed to accommodate a 9/16" headstock hole diameter. The 1/2" model is designed to accommodate an 11/16" headstock hole diameter. The 3/8" and 1/2" measurement we use references the diameter of the string post on the tuner.
 
My Carvin B40 has tuners that are 9/16" diameter peg hole, according to Carvin's specs.


I wanted to change the tuners to Hipshots' Ultralite Clover tuners. But they only have 1/2 " and 3/8".

The Hipshot (non-ultralite) HB1, HB2 and HB3 tuners are 11/16".

Are you saying I could use one of those for my Carvin?

If so, which ones? The 3/8" or 1/2" or 11/16"?

Sorry Randyt, I don't mean to hi-jack or derail your thread.

But this is something I've wanted to do for a while now and it would be helpful to me and others to know.

First of all, only the Ultralites will work for you in this application and you'll need to get the 3/8" Ultralites because they require a 9/16" hole drilled in the headstock. The 1/2" Ultralites require an 11/16" hole like fender drills for most of their tuners.
 
on another note...i was on the warmoth site and these heads look very similar to the Gotoh GB7 tuners...are they the same?...Are Gotoh tuners any good?...i have only used hipshots on all my basses.(this bass is new to me)

The GB7's are what you have on your Carvin. They just have the Carvin name on them and yes, these are good tuners but they do weigh more than Ultralites. Check out this link from Hipshot on weight...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
i have attached a couple of pics of my Carvin fretless 6 xer...i want to replace the machine heads to Hipshot ultra lite HB6Y-3/8"Y key tuners...i have measured and its close yet i have this feeling this fitting is incorrect. The center post is 3/8 and the hole opening is 5/8"...the hipshots are longer and i could redrill hole for mounting yet the width(back) is the concern as the top two are very close together.

Will it work or is there a better replacement part?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
Randy

Like I mentioned to TMart99, only the Ultralites will work for you in this application becuase of the small gear casing on the back on the tuner and you'll need to get the 3/8" Ultralites because they require at least a 9/16" hole drilled in the headstock. But you may have a bigger problem than that. The shape of your Carvin headstock is pointed and if you look at the back of your headstock where those top two tuners meet, they are touching. If the gear casing for the Ultralite tuner is any bigger than the casings of those stock Carvin tuners, you may have problems mounting those Ultralites properly. They may be able to be mounted OK as far as the back of the headstock goes, but they might not be at the right angle from the front and could cause problems when you go to turn the key as it might hit the headstock or not look right from the front. If you really want to do this swap, make sure that you purchase the Ultralites from someone that has a good return policy in case they don't work out.
 

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