Hipshot tuners?

[Rex_Rocker]

They seem to be all the rage right now, but I haven't tried them.

I like the idea of the open gear thing because that'd likely make them lighter. However, I don't like the idea of debris being able to get to the gears. What are you guys' experiences on that?

Kinda torn on the look as well. Hate the trapezoid buttons, but I see they have other stuff available as far as buttons go.

Also, the universal mounting plaque... kinda looks like sweeping dirt under the rug, LOL. Do the plates weight a lot?

Thanks!

 

[solspirit]

I've got a set of Hipshot sealed grip-locks that I haven't tried yet, I'll probably put them on a project Strat in a month or so.

 

[Chris Pile]

Also, the universal mounting plaque... kinda looks like sweeping dirt under the rug, LOL. Do the plates weight a lot?

The first time I saw them I thought they were stupid. I was wrong. It's a great way to mount tuning machines, and the adapter plates are super thin stainless. They weigh nothing. I've been converted to a big fan of the mounting plates. Of course - their tuning machines are excellent.

 

[Mincer]

I have a few sets, and I love them. The mounting plate is a great idea, too. It hides all of the holes, makes it easy to make them all straight, and looks good, too. No worries about stuff getting in the gears, they are fantastic.

 

[beaubrummels]

I only have them on one guitar. Seem fine. Very solid and smooth action. Can't say I've felt any weight problem related to them. They might be a little heavier than some other options, but for me, all the tuners that are solid, smooth and work well have a little bit of weight to them.

 

[Masta' C]

Once I tried them, I found I liked the universal mounting plates way more than I thought I would, at least on your typical Inline-6 headstock. Fixes a lot of issues, especially on used necks and guitars that had different tuners installed originally.

That said, there's really nothing particularly special about the actual tuners. They are made overseas by a company that makes a lot of OEM tuners and while they are consistent, I think Gotoh, Schaller, etc make slightly higher quality tuners overall.

Right now, I'd say 1/3 of my guitars have Hipshots, 1/3 have Allparts locking tuners, and 1/3 have Gotoh or Schaller. I'm pretty happy with all of them, to be honest.

 

[GuitarStv]

I have hipshot tuners with the mounting plate on a guitar. The tuners themselves work well and are light weight (I think I slightly prefer Gotoh tuners, but not much difference between them). The mounting plate is OK. I find that it doesn't hold the tuners in place as well as screws, and if you don't crank on the hex nut on the tuner pretty well the tuner can rotate when you're using a string winder.

 

[Blille]

I have them in a guitar, really like them. They are pretty much a standard for basses.

 

[Chris Pile]

I find that it doesn't hold the tuners in place as well as screws, and if you don't crank on the hex nut on the tuner pretty well the tuner can rotate when you're using a string winder.

You sure you didn't mount the plates wrong?

 

[Mincer]

You sure you didn't mount the plates wrong?

I have to say, there is no way they can spin if you put it on correctly. The 'walls' on the sides of the plates prevent them from spinning.

 

[Chistopher]

I like em. I use their "industrial" knobs on quite a few of my guitars as well. You lose a bit of torque and the ability to use string winders, but it looks better and I feel it's more natural movement to tune them.

 

[ehdwuld]

They use a standard 3mm D knob , dont they?

You can change to knob , cant you?

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, I think they offer a bunch of different knobs.

 

[GuitarDoc]

I don't know if they are "all the rage now", but I've got a couple Hipshots and think they're great. The mounting plate works quite well, as has been said, and absolutely keeps them solid if mounted correctly. I haven't had any problems with debris getting into the gears...that was also a concern I had when I bought them. But I suppose that if you DID get stuff in the gears, at least it should be quite easy to clean them and relube them.

 

[GuitarStv]

I have to say, there is no way they can spin if you put it on correctly. The 'walls' on the sides of the plates prevent them from spinning.

Yeah, I get that that's the theory. The walls are very short (less than two mm for sure) and it's not hard for the tuners to ride up and over them. Maybe the plate I got wasn't manufactured right?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Yeah, I get that that's the theory. The walls are very short (less than two mm for sure) and it's not hard for the tuners to ride up and over them. Maybe the plate I got wasn't manufactured right?

In theory and actuality. Tuners will ride up over the walls only if you didn't mount the tuners in the plates properly and tighten down the retainer rings on the front of the headstock.

 

[GuitarStv]

In theory and actuality. Tuners will ride up over the walls only if you didn't mount the tuners in the plates properly and tighten down the retainer rings on the front of the headstock.

Yep, if you crank down the hex nuts on the front of the headstock then it works OK (that's what I ended up doing). But like I originally said, you have to crank down with a lot more force on them than is necessary if the tuners are screwed in at the back.

 

[Chris Pile]

But like I originally said, you have to crank down with a lot more force on them than is necessary if the tuners are screwed in at the back.

Then you're doing it wrong.

 

[GuitarStv]

Then you're doing it wrong.

Could you explain to me how to do it right then?

This video is what I followed when installing, which resulted in the need to crank down the hex nuts very tight:

 

[Chris Pile]

Could you explain to me how to do it right then?

This video is what I followed when installing, which resulted in the need to crank down the hex nuts very tight:

Maybe we differ on the definition of "crank down". I use a 10mm wrench to tighten the nuts until snug, and they don't want to jump over the little nubs on the plate.