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Hipshot licensed Ultralites


TRBboy
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Hey folks, 

Now looking at the licensed ultralite Y tuners for my build, but I have a couple of questions :

You can get 3/8" or 1/2" posts - which do I go for and what difference does it make (or is it only relevant if you're replacing existing tuners?). 

There don't seem to be L & R options - can you use them on either side? 

 

Many thanks

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Depends on the hole size of your tuning pegs in the neck head.

If the hole is bigger than the bushing, then you can often just wrap tape around the bushing that screws over the peg to make it fit and it can’t be seen, obviously not the same the other way round.

USA licensed ones which are more expensive are able to be swapped around by unscrewing and re-arranging.

Cheaper version are just as good but you can’t swap

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19 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

Depends on the hole size of your tuning pegs in the neck head.

If the hole is bigger than the bushing, then you can often just wrap tape around the bushing that screws over the peg to make it fit and it can’t be seen, obviously not the same the other way round.

USA licensed ones which are more expensive are able to be swapped around by unscrewing and re-arranging.

Cheaper version are just as good but you can’t swap

Thanks @Cuzzie

Well, as I'm building it from scratch I can make the holes whatever size. 😊 No other issues though? 

What do you mean the licensed ones can't be swapped? I can't see any options for L/R hand ones, so are they reversible? 

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1 hour ago, TRBboy said:

Now looking at the licensed ultralite Y tuners for my build, but I have a couple of questions :

You can get 3/8" or 1/2" posts - which do I go for and what difference does it make (or is it only relevant if you're replacing existing tuners?). 

There don't seem to be L & R options - can you use them on either side?

There are certainly options for which side you want when I look, who are you getting them from?

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17 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

There are certainly options for which side you want when I look, who are you getting them from?

I was looking on bass directs website, their prices seem as good as any. Couldn't see a L/R option? 

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Bear in mind that the 3/8" or 1/4" is the bushing size, not the hole size: the 3/8" bushing needs a 9/16" hole, and the 1/4" bushing needs a 11/16" hole.  All dimensions here: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1574/0577/files/206.PDF?5066948558007359183

Bass Direct's website isn't amazing to navigate... the bass-side tuners are here: https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Hipshot,_Licensed_tuners.html , and the treble-side are here: https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Hipshot,_Licensed_tuners_treble_side.html

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Thanks guys, I see where I was going wrong now! 

I was looking at the Schaller BM Light tuners before, but then read that they can be a pig to install.... The licensed ultralites don't seem to be much more, so will probably go with those. 

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Be wary of the Bass Direct website. I ordered some ultralites 5 weeks ago on the basis they were in apparently in stock. They were not and I am still waiting, even though they took my money on the day of order. 
 

I suggest calling the shop to check on a) are they in stock and b) delivery times if they are not. They are being totally non committal with me as to when they will come in. 

Edited by Bobthedog
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5 hours ago, Bobthedog said:

Be wary of the Bass Direct website. I ordered some ultralites 5 weeks ago on the basis they were in apparently in stock. They were not and I am still waiting, even though they took my money on the day of order. 
 

I suggest calling the shop to check on a) are they in stock and b) delivery times if they are not. They are being totally non committal with me as to when they will come in. 

Same here, I purposely ordered the ones listed as IN stock. They weren't, although full marks to them they emailed me to tell me and I got a refund straight away. Tried again two weeks ago, still out of stock. On ebay they cost a fortune unless you're happy to get from USA

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Thanks guys, that sounds like some frustrating experiences with bass direct, which is quite unlike them! 

Are there any other reasonably priced lightweight tuners out there? I did start a thread about the Schaller BM Light, but I'm assuming no one's tried them because no-one replied... 

I know there's the Gotoh Res-o-lites, but they seem to be almost as much as USA Ultralites... 

Any other suggestions? 

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All depends on how much look and tightness means to you.

I got a set from Axesrus, their own brand - £24 all in, do the job very well, if you are harsh you can tell they are not geared as well but they do not drop the tuning and hold it well, or hold off for the second hand market

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49 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

All depends on how much look and tightness means to you.

I got a set from Axesrus, their own brand - £24 all in, do the job very well, if you are harsh you can tell they are not geared as well but they do not drop the tuning and hold it well, or hold off for the second hand market

Oh cool, are they lightweight ones? 

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1 hour ago, sykilz said:

Same here, I purposely ordered the ones listed as IN stock. They weren't, although full marks to them they emailed me to tell me and I got a refund straight away. Tried again two weeks ago, still out of stock. On ebay they cost a fortune unless you're happy to get from USA

If I had not chased, I would have heard nothing from them. As it is, all I have had was a promise to call the supplier but that has not happened. I am actually quite whizzed off with BD as I have always bought my kit from them and defended them against comments of bad service. Sadly I no longer feel I will do that. 

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1 hour ago, Bobthedog said:

If I had not chased, I would have heard nothing from them. As it is, all I have had was a promise to call the supplier but that has not happened. I am actually quite whizzed off with BD as I have always bought my kit from them and defended them against comments of bad service. Sadly I no longer feel I will do that. 

Always a shame, it is easier to keep customers than get new ones. I have personally never had particularly good dealings with them, and they aren't a place I would use for anything that I couldn't get anywhere else.

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I’m pretty sure I read a thread somewhere over on TB (no, I don’t visit oftempn, it was a Google search result) where someone weighed the tuners and despite being spec’ed as heavier, the licensed ones were actually slightly lighter? Maybe it was a one-off. And to avoid confusion: the licensed tuners are non-reversible; the USA (double the price) tuners are reversible. There also seems to be almost no weight difference between elephant ear and Y-key versions. 

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On 19/08/2020 at 23:56, Woodinblack said:

Always a shame, it is easier to keep customers than get new ones. I have personally never had particularly good dealings with them, and they aren't a place I would use for anything that I couldn't get anywhere else.

I've had bad experiences twice with Bass direct, ordering Hipshot tuners and then ordering Mike Lull pickups. Never again 

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