Ultralite tuners

[davidjbass]

I talked with the a good friend of mine who is a luthier about putting these hipshots on my MM Classic 5. He owns a small music store and builds his own instruments. I have known him for years and he makes some high quality stuff. So I really respect his opinion. He told me he would not recommend using the hipshot ultra lights because he has put them on a few of the instruments he has built and had problems with the gears stripping on them. After hearing that the case was closed for me. The last thing I need is to be in the middle of a gig and have one of my tuning pegs strip. Now if is a was a nice looking chick dancing and stripping in front of me that would be a different story.

 

[keko]

In my opinion it's the same when some people claim they can hear a difference from top loaded to through body bridges.

I'm sorry my friend, but I'm the one of "some people"!

 

[nicjimbass]

I talked with the a good friend of mine who is a luthier about putting these hipshots on my MM Classic 5. He owns a small music store and builds his own instruments. I have known him for years and he makes some high quality stuff. So I really respect his opinion. He told me he would not recommend using the hipshots because he has put them on a few of the instruments he has built and had problems with the gears stripping on them. After hearing that the case was closed for me. The last thing I need is to be in the middle of a gig and have one of my tuning pegs strip. Now if is a was a nice looking chick dancing and stripping in front of me that would be a different story.

Strange, I've never heard this myself. I had Ultralites on my StingRay 5 for a while, and it definitely helped with balance. Was toying with the idea of ptting them on my Bongo before I traded it. UL's, while lighter, were not superior to the stock tuner, IMO. In fact, they felt stiff and coarse when tuning, no matter what I did to the tension screw or with lubricants. The stock tuners are so smooth and sexy.. I love the feel... but hate the weight. Eh, it must not have bothered me too much... have had the stock tuners on for several years now with no plan on going back to the UL's.

 

[yourwhathurts69]

He told me he would not recommend using the hipshots because he has put them on a few of the instruments he has built and had problems with the gears stripping on them.

i'm surprised the hipshots would be of such poor quality, especially when so many manufacturers use them as standard tuners. was it just the ultralites that stripped, or was it the regular hipshot tuners, too?

 

[davidjbass]

i'm surprised the hipshots would be of such poor quality, especially when so many manufacturers use them as standard tuners. was it just the ultralites that stripped, or was it the regular hipshot tuners, too?

It was just the ultra lights that he had problems with. I have the standard hipshots on one of my other basses and they work great. I clarified my previous post.

 

[depalm]

I have Ultralites installed on my sterling for many years now, never had any problem with them after thousands of concerts and recording sessions all over the world!

Other light tuners works very well for me too, like the Gotoh Res o Lite. Weight the same as Ultralites. I have them installed on my Js.

I doubt Sadowsky or Nordstrand would use poor quality tuners on their basses.

Anyway, my point is: Light tuners are a blessing.

best