It's a question of balance. I prefer the balance of an instrument with lighter tuners.
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Why Use Anything But Hipshot Ultralites?
- Thread starter Icculus
- Start date
It's a question of balance. I prefer the balance of an instrument with lighter tuners.
mongo2, do you have any experience with the black GB350 tuners? Are they indeed black in person?
While I like the light weight of Hipshots, I have always felt the backside mounting hardware looked kind of dinky. It's a great product and they're a great company, but I kinda prefer the look of Gotoh Resolites in that they maintain the look of a full mounting plate.
It all depends on the materials you want to use, and what sort of tooling and/or manufacturing you have expertise in. I would personally approach the design and manufacturing from a different angle - but the product does what it does well and many high end builders swear by their quality and service.
As to whether it makes sense for someone to replace something fully functional, well I guess it wouldn't be much different than upgrading the rims or tires on your car, or the light fixtures in your home. It's a personal taste/comfort thing, and that's that.
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It all depends on the materials you want to use, and what sort of tooling and/or manufacturing you have expertise in. I would personally approach the design and manufacturing from a different angle - but the product does what it does well and many high end builders swear by their quality and service.
As to whether it makes sense for someone to replace something fully functional, well I guess it wouldn't be much different than upgrading the rims or tires on your car, or the light fixtures in your home. It's a personal taste/comfort thing, and that's that.
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On anything I build and most rebuilds I use them or the Licensed By. I can't tell the difference between how they work. The biggest difference is the price. And they do make chrome ones.
Ok, reviving an old thread.
Looks like I am replacing my tuners. They just keep slipping and not holding tune as I play.
Any opinions between the Hipshot Ultralites and the HB1s?
Here's what in my head: Decisions are my downfall.
HB1s:
- I like the 27:1 ratio on the HB1s but not sure it is worth the extra weight.
- Looks like its a direct drop in for my oem tuners, so no drilling. The mounting holes per the schematic look like they will work and the post hole is 17.5mm same as the schematic shows.
- I like the look.
- About $10 cheaper in total than the Ultralites.
Ultralites:
- Lighter
- I'd have to drill one hole for each tuner. No big deal.
- 20:1 gear ratio, not sure this matters as much as I am thinking it does.
- $10 more. I found the US Ultralites and HB1s online for only about a $10 total price difference.
- I could add an aluminum bridge eventually and shave a bit more weight off.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Looks like I am replacing my tuners. They just keep slipping and not holding tune as I play.
Any opinions between the Hipshot Ultralites and the HB1s?
Here's what in my head: Decisions are my downfall.
HB1s:
- I like the 27:1 ratio on the HB1s but not sure it is worth the extra weight.
- Looks like its a direct drop in for my oem tuners, so no drilling. The mounting holes per the schematic look like they will work and the post hole is 17.5mm same as the schematic shows.
- I like the look.
- About $10 cheaper in total than the Ultralites.
Ultralites:
- Lighter
- I'd have to drill one hole for each tuner. No big deal.
- 20:1 gear ratio, not sure this matters as much as I am thinking it does.
- $10 more. I found the US Ultralites and HB1s online for only about a $10 total price difference.
- I could add an aluminum bridge eventually and shave a bit more weight off.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
They only make them in Satin chrome, if you want shiny chrome, you have to use the License version, still a good tuner, but it's not much lighter than other less expensive tuners. If you really want a well balanced bass, play a headless with bridge mount tuners, there just is no comparison for balance and tuning stability.
I use the Ultralites or Gotoh Res-o-lites exclusively. BTW, nothing wrong with lic'd / import Ultralites if driven by budget. If tuners keep slipping / not holding tune, there's a good chance it's NOT the tuners and may be some other element that can be corrected.
Riis
Thanks, I've done a good set up and everything seems good. The nut doesn't seem to be sticking. But just keeps going out of tune.
Anything else I can look at?
Are they going sharp or flat? Most of the issues I see are due to questionable string installs or marginal set-ups.
Edit: pics may help.
Riis
I'll have to pay more attention, seems like they are drifting both ways. Goes a little sharp, re-tune then goes a little flat. Then I have to go really flat or sharp then re-tune and it seems to hold for a while longer.
Could be a few things. Do the existing machine heads have an inordinate amount of lash / play / slop? If something goes sharp, binding or drag at the nut slot comes to mind immediately.
Riis
I didn't read the thread.
My problem with them is the high (numerically low) gear ratio, which is maybe ok with the 3/8 post but I'm not buying the 1/2 again.
I have switched to slightly heavier Gotoh Res-o-lite with a much lower (numerically higher) ratio for finer tuning.
My problem with them is the high (numerically low) gear ratio, which is maybe ok with the 3/8 post but I'm not buying the 1/2 again.
I have switched to slightly heavier Gotoh Res-o-lite with a much lower (numerically higher) ratio for finer tuning.
I'll check that out tonight. They definitely have play. I took one tuner off to measure the tuner, screw holes and post hole and checked it out. I can move the tuner post and the cog doesn't move, takes a good amount of turning. It feels like there is sand in them. I took it apart and cleaned it and it still feels the same, almost like it's a little bent or binding or something. It gets better if I tried to bend it a little but didn't want to get too pushy with it, feels cheaply made. I've seen a couple posts with the clover leaf and post broken off.
I've been geeking out on this all day.
Can you explain this a bit? I would be getting the 1/2" size tuner. Is the ultralite, 20:1 ratio too low? Seems about standard. The heavier HB1's have a 27:1 ratio.
Thanks!
@PhinDog
27:1 is a finer ratio - for a given turn of the key, it doesn't pull the string as much as a 20:1. < I like this very much.
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For a given turn of the key,
a 20:1 with a 3/8" post pulls the string about as much as a 26:1 with a 1/2" post. < Ok with me.
a 20:1 with a 1/2" post pulls the string farther, because the circumference around the post is greater, and so the tuning is coarser, or more touchy. < I will avoid this, myself.
27:1 is a finer ratio - for a given turn of the key, it doesn't pull the string as much as a 20:1. < I like this very much.
*
For a given turn of the key,
a 20:1 with a 3/8" post pulls the string about as much as a 26:1 with a 1/2" post. < Ok with me.
a 20:1 with a 1/2" post pulls the string farther, because the circumference around the post is greater, and so the tuning is coarser, or more touchy. < I will avoid this, myself.
Got it. Thanks for the explanation. I was thinking about it in reverse. I thought the 27:1 would be more touchy. But your explanation makes sense.
I will be switching out the dark nickel tuners on my BTB676 in a while.
Hipshot Y-Key gold Ultralites are my go to.
Hipshot Y-Key gold Ultralites are my go to.
Nice! Have you used them before? Smooth and accurate tuning with less weight? I guess that's all I need to know. The other stuff at this point is weight vs looks.
