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Willcox Bass Club (Lightwave)
- Thread starter kirkdickinson
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Has anybody changed the tuners on a Willcox Lightwave? I am not loving my tuners and was looking at the Graphtech ratio tuners. I am wondering if they are a drop in replacement?
Not sure what tuners are on lightwaves.
graphtech.com
Not sure what tuners are on lightwaves.
RATIO 3+2 Bass Tuners Y-Style Button PRB-5320 | Graph Tech
🛒 RATIO® bass tuning machines [PRB-5320] 5 string bass tuning pegs 3+2 Y-style button in a chrome or black finish. Right-handed set. ✔️45-day guarantee.
graphtech.com
I believe the tuners on my Sabre SL are Gotoh
When I looked at the Willcox website, under the Custom section, I saw that Gotoh Resolite is the default tuner selection
I'm not super enamored with the tuners on my Sabre (the D string tuner is sticky), but they are very light and I don't need to re-tune it very often since I put TI flats on it
When I looked at the Willcox website, under the Custom section, I saw that Gotoh Resolite is the default tuner selection
I'm not super enamored with the tuners on my Sabre (the D string tuner is sticky), but they are very light and I don't need to re-tune it very often since I put TI flats on it
I like TIJF's and have a set on my 6 string Portamento. I have a couple of tuners that are "sticky" and since I have all the strings off working on the neck and plan to put Thomastik Infield Accousticores on it, now would be a good time to swap out the tuners also.
I went ahead and ordered the Graphtech Ratio tuners for my bass. Looking at the schematics, the screw offset is the same so it shouldn't require a new hole drilled. I ordered from Amazon instead of Graphtech because the set was $20 cheaper and it is much easier to return to Amazon if I have to. I have had to return a bridge to Graphtech before and it was a pain.
I'm crossing my fingers.
Whatever the original tuners are, the Graphtech tuners are an exact fit. I put them on last night and it was a simple process. Even the screw holes aligned perfectly. I don't have strings back on it because I am still working on the neck. Tonight will sand up to 20K. It is already smooth as glass.
I believe so. Looks the same. I ordered mine from Amazon and it was a 3+2 set.
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Neck is finished.
I put on Thomastik Infield Accousticore strings. We'll see how that works out. Supposed to be the Bomb on a lightwave bass. I can't believe how much they stretched bringing them up to pitch. Still doing the setup so I haven't put the truss rod cover back on. I had to turn the truss rod to neutral. These strings don't have nearly as much tension as the LaBella Black tapes that I had on there before.
I'll let it settle in for a day or so then do the final truss rod adjustment, then string height, then intonation, then dial in the sensors. Changing strings on one of these is more of a commitment than other basses.
I put on Thomastik Infield Accousticore strings. We'll see how that works out. Supposed to be the Bomb on a lightwave bass. I can't believe how much they stretched bringing them up to pitch. Still doing the setup so I haven't put the truss rod cover back on. I had to turn the truss rod to neutral. These strings don't have nearly as much tension as the LaBella Black tapes that I had on there before.
I'll let it settle in for a day or so then do the final truss rod adjustment, then string height, then intonation, then dial in the sensors. Changing strings on one of these is more of a commitment than other basses.
Well... the Thomastik Infield Accousticore strings don't have much tension. Are Lightwave truss rods dual action? I turned the truss rod out until there was no tension on it and it is not quite flat. I need to go a tiny bit the other way to add a very small amount of relief and I thought these were dual action, but it doesn't seem so. I didn't want to completely unscrew the truss rod nut trying to get some dual action.
Does anybody know if they are dual action?
Does anybody know if they are dual action?
Could someone (preferably a few people in case it changed over time) tell me the specs on a power supply for these lightwaves. My serial number starts with a 12 if that helps. Voltage, amperage, and center neg or pos please?
Better yet if you can snap a pic for future reference for everyone.
Better yet if you can snap a pic for future reference for everyone.
Ill try to remember to snap a photo of the diagram on the power block when I get home tonight.
Why not just pick up the correct one from Willcox?
Shop Standard Wall-Style Rapid Charger - Willcox Guitars
Shop Standard 110V AC Charger For use in the United States and Canada. Universal and works on all Willcox Guitars and LightWave Systems instruments.
www.willcoxguitars.com
Sorry, I haven't gotten a photo of the power brick. It it located at my other house, and I haven't been over there to take a photo. I'll try to get it tonight.
Here is the sticker on mine. I was going to measure the plug but can’t find my micrometer.
I'm going to be getting a Hex SL5 soon.
I noticed they have no warm/cool switch, so are they biased towards warm, cool or in-between?
I wouldn't be too afraid to install a switch eventually if the functionality is still there.
I noticed they have no warm/cool switch, so are they biased towards warm, cool or in-between?
I wouldn't be too afraid to install a switch eventually if the functionality is still there.
I just placed an order for a Lightwave Classica 5-string from GC used inventory. has the original gig-bag, charger, and looks to be in excellent shape. can you all share any info on this model? Not finding much with my google-fu.
