Is there such a thing as…?

[bassbiscuits]

Some sort of adapter ferrule that will enable a smaller machine head to fit into a larger hole in a headstock?

 

I have a set of Fender Japan-sized machine heads - the tuner posts are 12mm diameter but the holes I am putting them into are 14mm (replacing vintage fender sized tuners). 
 

Long story short, it’s been a nightmare trying to find anything that will fit and these are perfect apart from the bushings/ferrules etc not matching up. 
 

Does such a conversion kit exist? I’ve been googling and some exist for guitars it seems but not for basses. I don’t even know what they’d be called to search for them. 
 

Anyone else overcome this same problem?

 

Cheers

 

 

[Lozz196]

When I’ve put Hipshot Ultralites into basses they’ve been slightly small, Hipshots advised to use aluminium HVAC tape to get them to fit and it worked well.

[Sté]

I followed Lobster advice on my Sire U5 with hipshot 1/2 ultra lite and it worked perfectly. 

 

 

[Silky999]

Nylon bushes work really well. That’s what I have used on hipshots before. Something like this?

 

https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/Bearings-Plastic-Bushes-Plain-Plastic-Bushes/c3_7393_7507/index.html?selection=Polymer+Plastic+Plain+Bushes&currency=EUR&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22899024857&gbraid=0AAAAAD-_g0G0gk7d4QmDX_CQkkTkSs_jf&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgKjHBhChARIsAPJR3xfybaezK0fAD-aI_5EQ_83ZY_clj2wXLACS7-AzSPas9YNAkF3dXOcaArEYEALw_wcB

 

 

[PaulThePlug]

I like the nylon bush approach, and used simply bearings for stuff before...

Maybe Brass or Copper pipe olives for compression fittings?

Might need to 'slot' them for fit with a thin dremmel wheel.

Edited October 11 by PaulThePlug

[Silky999]

I slotted the nylon ones when I fitted the hipshots and fitted like a glove. It was was that or try and ream them out a mm or 2

 

I used 10mm length and these were invisible when the tuner was inserted. 

Edited October 11 by Silky999

[Joe Nation]

To fit a 12mm peg in a 14mm hole, you only need something 1mm thick to fill the gap. Amazon sells lengths of plastic tubing that you can easily cut down to size, brass would probably work fine too.

[Wombat]

I guess there might not be such a thing near you but when I had some ‘issues’ building a 5er from a kit I visited a model shop (RC aircraft, air fix etc.) where they had all sort of stuff ‘sold by the foot’. And the owner was vey helpful/interested in helping solve my engineering problems.

[stevel]

Do you have any way to accurately measure the hole this needs to fill? If you can give me an accurate internal and external diameter, and the length, it shouldn't be too hard to make some plastic bushings on my lathe. 

[bassbiscuits]

On 15/10/2025 at 10:21, stevel said:

Do you have any way to accurately measure the hole this needs to fill? If you can give me an accurate internal and external diameter, and the length, it shouldn't be too hard to make some plastic bushings on my lathe. 

Cheers Steve - that’s a great idea. Leave it with me and I’ll come back to you.