slight o/t: new hipshot extenders blow, old hipshot extenders are gold

**chilix** · 02-12-2008, 03:00 PM

so i have a hisphot extender key from the 80's that I bought a long time ago on one of my stingray basses and i love it, same gear ratio, discreat, looks like the other tuners and works great with a good stiff hold on the string tension and such...never had a problem with it. Since I found I couldn't live without the extender key, I bought a newer hipshot (BT-1) for another stingray and WOW am i dissapointed!!!!!!!!! First off the thing is much bulkier than the older type I have, the string post is longer, the tuning peg sits at least a 1/4 high than all of the other tuning pegs on the top side of the bass, has a different and finer gear ratio which is driving me crazy, doesn't hold tune at all, the lever that drops the tuning down on the bass string is like a snap rather than a gentle pull not to mention how tacky the whole thing looks on the bass compaired to my old style hipshot...

anyone agree about the newer hipshots? anyone know where i can find the old style kind (in any condition), the ones that fit musicman basses but say "fender" as the logo on the tuning maching...

**carpedebass** · 02-12-2008, 03:15 PM

Hmmmm....I play 5 and 6 string basses....never used one! Sorry....

**oli@bass** · 02-12-2008, 03:23 PM

Don't know. I ordered three BT-1 recentely (and had also MM style tapered and bevelled string posts added to the order... these are available on customer request!), and didn't think they looked any differen than those I knew from the early 90's.

However, the mid 80's EB4 I have which are replacements for Schaller M4S seem to work "nicer", and keep the dropped tuning better. The main problem on the newer ones is that the spring locking the drop tuning thumb screw is less strong and the thumb screw therefore too easily adjusted.

**hankSRay** · 02-12-2008, 03:36 PM

yeah I didnt like the one I had on my bass either. luckily my EBMM basses hold their tune so perfectly, that if I know which way the key is facing in what tuning. I just turn it and 9 out of 10 times I'm spot on lol.

**chilix** · 02-12-2008, 03:47 PM

the thing is the old BT1 that I have on my bass is awesome and works and looks great...the new BT1 is all redesigned and feels wrong...i want another of the old style which I've never had a problem with and always have been happy with

**the unrepentant** · 02-12-2008, 03:51 PM

I'd have said ebay was your best bet but i don't think they come up all that often, unless you can find a vintage parts site, in which case they might not sell them as the BT1 is still in production (whether it's as good or not) but try googling it.

**TCJ** · 10-11-2008, 03:44 PM

Just added a BT1 to my EBMM Sterling the other day. Yeah, it doesn't match the other tuners at all. I'm contemplating ordering a tapered string post from Hipshot. Not sure why it just doesn't come with it. The post that does come with it looks like a giant terd! It stays in tune, so I shouldn't complain.

**Rano Bass** · 10-12-2008, 01:23 PM

I thought they were direct replacements

Do you have any pics to see how they are different from standard EB tuners?
Thank's for the tip.

**the unrepentant** · 10-13-2008, 01:10 AM

Nah i think the shaft is longer, like fender sort of length... which is fine for a MIM fender.... but looks plain silly on what we know to be the better bass

**chilix** · 10-13-2008, 09:52 AM

i don't like the fine gearing either plus the lever arm sticks out from the front when in up position unlike the old model that is consealed...my old skool hipshot rocks!!!

**TCJ** · 10-13-2008, 03:43 PM

Here's a couple of pics to show the difference. Hipshot BT1 on EBMM Sterling.

**mynan** · 10-13-2008, 04:01 PM

Wow, it's like it has braces...

It's like it was assimilated by the Borg...

...this coming from a guy that could never use one because there is absolutely no way that I could ever wrap my mind around the different tuning on 1 string...therefore I must poke fun. Thank God for 5ers.

**oli@bass** · 10-14-2008, 03:12 AM

Originally Posted by chilix

i don't like the fine gearing either plus the lever arm sticks out from the front when in up position unlike the old model that is consealed...my old skool hipshot rocks!!!

Can you post a pic?

I don't remember my '90s BT-1 to have been any different than the current ones.

But as already mentioned: Call Hipshot and have them send you a tapered string post. Improves looks by several hundred percent.