Those GIANT Fender tuning keys!

[Jon Muir]

Well, the obvious next step is to reduce the size of the headstock, too I like ernie ball guitars' 4+2 headstocks, I imagine a 3 + 1 headstock that's guitar sized would still suit fender basses.

EBMM bass?

 

[InternetAlias]

EBMM bass?

Yes, but I meant sized like a guitar headstock would be, and with guitar tuners. EBMM headstocks are smaller than fender ones, sure, but they are still pretty big.

 

[JRA]

the fender bass and headstock are quite large

unnecessarily big

Oversized headstock, oversized tuners. Neck dive city

 

[juggahnaught]

Dated as they may be, I tried replacing the regular keys with some smaller ones (like the ones you mention).

The smaller ones just didn't look right on the Fender headstock, to my eyes at least.

It's because of the location of the string post; it's located pretty deep into the body of the headstock (there's a large margin between the post hole and the edge of the headstock), so smaller tuners just don't seem like they fit well. Not a fan of the huge tuners, but they are proportional to the bulbous headstock. Shame, really.

 

[Lexy Bivens]

That's what she said.

No, it's HOW you USE it that matters more

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Speaking of oddballs, who could forget the Mosrite "feet".....

View attachment 3141743

BnB

 

[wvbass]

What a weird thread.

 

[wesonbass]

Gotoh tuners came on my fender jazz. Someone over in the j bass club told me where to order big fender style keys to replace these. Keeping the tuners and replacing the knobs /buttons with elephant ears. Can't wait.

 

[LowEndOperative]

People! Leo designed the tuning keys so that lecherous right-handed bass players could surreptitiously ogle women dancing on the stage right side of the floor. That's why they originally only came in shiny mirror-like chrome. I thought this was common knowledge.

Surreptitiously, eh? Guess I need to fine-tune my technique.

 

[fretno]

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I love the old open-gear, huge clover-head tuning machines. Hate the tiny ones...

 

[wvbass]

Gotoh tuners came on my fender jazz. Someone over in the j bass club told me where to order big fender style keys to replace these. Keeping the tuners and replacing the knobs /buttons with elephant ears. Can't wait. View attachment 3142850

Those are original. Its a 1996 American Standard, right?

 

[wesonbass]

Those are original. Its a 1996 American Standard, right?

you're exactly right. Bought it in 2007 I didn't like the smaller tuners at first but they work great. After I got use to the look, I've come to like them a lot. Haven't noticed any of the dead spots that have been mentioned.

 

[wvbass]

you're exactly right. Bought it in 2007

I have a 1997 in Inca Silver.

 

[wesonbass]

 

[bassdude51]

Those big axx tuners on pre-CBS Fenders is what makes them look sooooooo cool!

 

[lowphatbass]

Those big axx tuners on pre-CBS Fenders is what makes them look sooooooo cool!

View attachment 3143398

View attachment 3143399View attachment 3143400View attachment 3143401View attachment 3143402

Indeed!
And as others have said, pretty much a slightly reengineered copy of the tuners found on domestic DBs of the day.

 

[lowphatbass]

Here’s an early 50s Kay.

 

[nerkoids]

I much prefer the long-stemmed, elephant ears on my basses as well.

Mind you, my real pet peeve is the notch a lot of modern, more budget-friendly tuning machines have. I just find it looks ridiculously cheap and unnecessary:

Much prefer these ones - Ping Classic Vibe tuning machines. On a low-profile headstock, they end up looking a lot like the old Klusons on pre-CBS basses... well at least from the front...

 

[CGremlin]

With all due respect to our lady TBers, I think a big, manly instrument should have big, manly tuners. Besides, it makes me smile to know the guitarists have tuner envy.