NBM: Harley Benton Enhanced MP-5EB

[morrisonhendrix]

I think it was a #9 rubber O-Ring/washer that I put around the post underneath the sheath /nut. I saw them recommended elsewhere here at TB for the same problem.

 

[MaglorOnBass]

I’ve installed Hipshot Ultralites on 4 basses. I used aluminum tape on all of them to make the bushings fit. Works great. You just cut strips out with a scissors.

 

[And I]

I've only installed them on 2 bases, and I'll say it also works great if you don't do this... But to each their own.

 

[morrisonhendrix]

I’ve installed Hipshot Ultralites on 4 basses. I used aluminum tape on all of them to make the bushings fit. Works great. You just cut strips out with a scissors.

Yeah, I was gonna cut it with scissors, but not sure how accurate I could be cutting a straight line for a consistent width of tape. I know I'm OCD about that and you'll never see it, but I didn't want issues with the wrapping of it.

 

[MaglorOnBass]

Yeah, I was gonna cut it with scissors, but not sure how accurate I could be cutting a straight line for a consistent width of tape. I know I'm OCD about that and you'll never see it, but I didn't want issues with the wrapping of it.

You can’t possibly be more OCD than me.

Here’s my advice if you want to use the metal tape:

1) It doesn’t matter if you can’t cut a perfectly straight line. The tape is very forgiving and you can put it on straight even if your cut isn’t.

2) Remember to put the washer on before you wrap the bushing. If forgotten this several times. Lol

3) It will take some trial and error to get the length right (it’s okay if your first attempt isn’t one continuous piece).

4) Use enough to keep the bushing from rattling around, but DO NOT use so much tape that you have to force the bushing into place. This will result in the tape bunching up and will cause problems down the road.

5) Err on the side of cutting the tape too thin. Again, you will be less likely to have bunching issues. And you can worry less about cutting it perfectly straight.

You got this man. It’s worth your time to get rid of neck dive. Finish your project and get back to us!

 

[MaglorOnBass]

You can see a little bit of space between the sheath and the post.
View attachment 3679040

The concern isn’t the distance between the post and the bushing. The concern is the distance between the bushing and the hole in the headstock (wood). Wrapping the bushing with the foil tape completely corrects this. They fit snug and the whole job only takes a half hour.

 

[And I]

well maybe i've been doing it wrong but i've not used this foil tape and have had no problems with my aftermarket tuners after several years of use (on other basses, this one of course is not yet 1 year old).

 

[MaglorOnBass]

With the bushings loose in the holes I’d be worried that the tuners wouldn’t be centered in the holes.

 

[MaglorOnBass]

To clarify, all the times I’ve done it there was a millimeter of space all around the bushing where it was supposed to be snug to the wood. That’s unacceptable to me. Maybe it’s not that bad in this case.

 

[And I]

i didn't even think twice about it. just slapped the washers down, screwed the bushings into the tuners through holes in the headstock, set the angle, then drilled and screwed the tuners into the back of the headstock, and strung it up... like i said, maybe i've been doing it wrong. i quite often do.

 

[MaglorOnBass]

Well, my OCD would make me forever wonder if that bushing was centered in the hole. Lol

 

[morrisonhendrix]

Well, my OCD would make me forever wonder if that bushing was centered in the hole. Lol

Sir, you have read my mind.

 

[morrisonhendrix]

With the bushings loose in the holes I’d be worried that the tuners wouldn’t be centered in the holes.

This is exactly the issue that concerns me.

 

[And I]

well... I'm not sure if the bushings are centered in the headstock holes but the tuning posts are definitely not centered inside the bushings... it all leans in the direction of the string tension.

I'll tell ya though... I'm having a hard time caring. this bass plays great, stays in tune despite my shoddy installation job on the tuners, and is now my #1 bass.

 

[And I]

I also have the balance between P solod and P/MM together figured out. My nordy preamp has two volumes, which is a key mod from the stock blend knob. With both pickups, I have the preamp on with a slight mid boost at 1k and both volumes full. With the P solod I bypass the preamp and set the P pickup volume at about 85%.

 

[SgtHulka]

I’ve installed Hipshot Ultralites on 4 basses. I used aluminum tape on all of them to make the bushings fit. Works great. You just cut strips out with a scissors.

Or you can call and get the right bushing size from the outset.

 

[MaglorOnBass]

Or you can call and get the right bushing size from the outset.

I pay $90 for a set of US Ultralites on eBay.
I think it’s $5 each to get the correct bushings from Hipshot. $110 seems like a lot to spend on tuners.

 

[morrisonhendrix]

I pay $90 for a set of US Ultralites on eBay.
I think it’s $5 each to get the correct bushings from Hipshot. $110 seems like a lot to spend on tuners.

I bought my Hipshots here on TB but didn't realize until this moment that you could get two different size bushings for their 1/2" licensed tuners. I'll have to see if I have the 16mm or 18mm, since it's been a few months since I measured them. Seems like they were 18mm

 

[SgtHulka]

I pay $90 for a set of US Ultralites on eBay.
I think it’s $5 each to get the correct bushings from Hipshot. $110 seems like a lot to spend on tuners.

Yeah, I agree, which is why I went with the licensed version. When it was bassstringsonline.com, I before I ordered them, I asked Jason, and he custom ordered the tuners with the correct bushings for me free of charge. I paid $46 for all 4 and correct bushings (18mm). His site is now fretnation.com - but I bet he would be willing to do the same for you. Great guy who gets a lot of love around here.

 

[And I]

i thought i was smart because i knew to get the 1/2" and not the 3/8" post... i didn't realize bushing size was a thing, i didn't call hipshot i just ordered from their web site... is there really a downside? the thing holds its tuning well.