Those GIANT Fender tuning keys!

[Kukulkan61]

If you put guitar size tuners on a Fender Headstock...
Google Image Result for http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/23800000/-Beetlejuice-beetlejuice-the-movie-23839141-1360-768.jpg

 

[Lexy Bivens]

My new bass has "normal sized" tuners, and I hate it!!! I miss my big old tuners!
(Also, I miss my inline head. PITB to get to the D tuner for some reason. My e/a bass it's not as awkward)

 

[monkeyland]

I don't think the fender tuners are large. More like normal. They set the standard.

 

[wmhill]

does anyone still call em elephant ears??

 

[Jason Hollar]

I love the huge Fender headstock and the tuners look perfect with it.

I like the look & function too - but the bass goes a little out of tune in the gig bag depending on the tuning key orientation.

 

[flam]

My Aria has these twisty open back Grovers that I like a lot, probably my favorite so far. As far as Fender tuners, I like a large tuner but something has always bothered me about how thin the clover bit is. Probably because I once bought a bass where it was bent.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I love the vintage style Fender tuners with the long stems. I even put clovers on my Thunderbird.

 

[GretschWretch]

I am working on a set of helium-filled tuners to maximize lightness. They will cost as much as a mid-level entire bass, but they will be "totally worth it". Coming soon: Ballooner-Tuners. Patent pending.

Sounds like a lot of hot air to me.

 

[basshawk21]

This is probably as small as you would want to go with this style headstock. I prefer the bigger tuners though.

 

[GretschWretch]

This was a Fender headstock. I modified it because I wanted to reduce some weight on my Fenderbird and just wanted to give it a different look.

View attachment 3141368

Fixed all the problems! No neckdive, big headstock or big tuners! But now I don't know what to call it. It's not a fenderbird now since it doesn't have a Fender headstock!?!

BnB

Headstock profile suggests a bird of prey.

 

[lowphatbass]

View attachment 3141461
View attachment 3141465

My Aria has these twisty open back Grovers that I like a lot, probably my favorite so far. As far as Fender tuners, I like a large tuner but something has always bothered me about how thin the clover bit is. Probably because I once bought a bass where it was bent.

I had something similar on an 80’s P copy Kramer(I think?) and I agree, the wavy tuners are groovy.
The Fender tuners will bend but you’ve got to bang em pretty good. I think 1 out of the 16 tuners I currently operate are/were bent. I say were because it’s been straightened, still has a crease though.

 

[Canadian APII]

After starting with a Fender back in the 80s, then switching for years to other basses (Carvin, Yamaha, Hofner), then grabbing another Fender a couple years ago, I finally figured out what feels weird to me: it's the giant tuning keys.

Likely of course these are a carry over, when Leo first did his thing, from the double bass, which the P etc. was designed as an alternative.
But they just seem, to me anyway, so...I dunno... unnecessarily big!

YMMV. Just commenting. No response required.

This is my solution. Mid eighties Grover wavies. I have been using this set since about 86.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Yep, the ones with the big tuners we call "the bass" the others "guitars"

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Oversized headstock, oversized tuners. Neck dive city. No thanks!

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Oh boy, gettin queasy now....must find the porcelain throne.

Different strokes and all....

Final product looks like this...

BnB

 

[chuck3]

Shaft diameter always plays a role.

That's what she said.

 

[zenrad]

A bass key should be big enough to serve a holiday ham on.

^ Sig worthy

 

[consectaneus]

It's funny, but believe it or not, it was those big clover leaf tuners that made me say "I want a bass". It was a prime time Elton John special in the '70s and the man holding that Fender bass was Dee Murray.

 

[Booty Shaman]

I love the big clover tuners & the Fender headstock - the tuners are like functional bass jewelry. I have been fantasizing about casting some custom big ginko leaf tuners for one of my basses. One of many projects I hope to get to in this life time.

 

[Fender_Bender]

Different strokes and all....

Final product looks like this...View attachment 3141567
BnB

Looks a lot better with the paint. Those plugs were...aesthetically challenged .