Squier Precision tuner upgrades

[landwomble]

Hi All,
Picking up a Squier CV 70s Precision next month. Tuners feel kind of cheap.
What's the standard upgrade that doesn't require redrilling of screw holes?

thanks!
Ric

[Grangur]

Please excuse the ignorance but is this the open back tuners, or the covered ones?

I have a set of Fender/Squier style open ones available if that's what you want. But you'd have to check the screw spacing.

[Telebass]

I put Hipshot HB7 lollipops on my P5. They drop in on Squier, MIM Fender, and American Special.

[NoirBass]

I'm interested in this too. I was under the impression that Hipshot HB-1's are the retro fit tuner for CV basses.

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/drop-in-tuners-for-squier-classic-vibe-jazz.616279/

However I've also seen people talking about HB-7's, although I thought they were for Japanese Fenders and Squiers.

I've got some HB-1's on my Stingray and a CV bass, I'll swap them over and see if they fit - unless anyone here can confirm first.

[NoirBass]

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1436504921' post='2818636']
I put Hipshot HB7 lollipops on my P5. They drop in on Squier, MIM Fender, and American Special.
[/quote]

Ha, there you go! nice one Telebass.

[SubsonicSimpleton]

You might want to live with the stock tuners for a little while before scrapping them, I was sceptical about the tuners on my CV Pino P initially, but they have proved to be quite capable of accurate tuning and very stable.

[philw]

The problem I've experienced with Squire tuners is not that they don't basically work, it's that the pressed steel lollipop bits are not fixed particularly well in the shaft, so they rattle. I put a set of Wilkinsons on one Squire. New screw holes were needed but the old screw holes were hidden.

[Jono Bolton]

The Hipshot HB7s wouldn't be a direct drop in on a CV bass; the tuner holes wouldn't line up and it would require redrilling. If you're not bothered about drilling new holes then presumably nearly any open-gear tuner would fit on there. The HB1s look like they'd drop straight in to the existing screw holes though. I've had no problem with the tuners on either of my Matt Freemans, I'd wait and see how you get on before changing them out.

[uk_lefty]

I have a set of un-used black die cast Wilkinson P Bass style tuners ready for a loving home

[NoirBass]

[quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1436537999' post='2819000']
The Hipshot HB7s wouldn't be a direct drop in on a CV bass; the tuner holes wouldn't line up and it would require redrilling. If you're not bothered about drilling new holes then presumably nearly any open-gear tuner would fit on there. The HB1s look like they'd drop straight in to the existing screw holes though. I've had no problem with the tuners on either of my Matt Freemans, I'd wait and see how you get on before changing them out.
[/quote]

If its the HB-1's then I bought some recently for my Stingray. By far and away the cheapest I could find in the UK was the set of four from Axesrus:

http://www.axesrus.co.uk/Hipshot-HB-1-Machine-Heads-s/2274.htm

I would also echo the above in that I've had the original tuners on my CV P bass since i got it and I've always found them to work great; accurate tuning and no rattles. But if you must change them then Hipshots are the way to go.

[Telebass]

Further research: if the CV tuners are the same size as the real thing, then Hipshot HB2s are the correct fit. Otherwise, I'm sticking with the HB7s.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Telebass

[NoirBass]

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1436712737' post='2820117']
Further research: if the CV tuners are the same size as the real thing, then Hipshot HB2s are the correct fit. Otherwise, I'm sticking with the HB7s.
[/quote]

CV tuners are not the same dimension as pre CBS Kluson or post CBS Fender tuners, so the HB-2's would definitely require drilling new holes to fit.

[Jono Bolton]

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1436712737' post='2820117']
Further research: if the CV tuners are the same size as the real thing, then Hipshot HB2s are the correct fit. Otherwise, I'm sticking with the HB7s.
[/quote]

The HB7s wont fit without drilling as the screw holes won't line up. The tuners on the CV Squiers are the same as on the MIC Fenders (Modern Player etc), and are a different shape to the ones used on the MIM basses for which the HB7s are a direct replacement. The HB1s look most likely of all the Hipshot models to fit.

[Telebass]

Fair enough - HB1s sounds like the way to go.

Edited July 14, 2015 by Telebass

[pfretrock]

Have just put HB7s on my MIM Fender - a big improvement. The original tuners have a plastic shim under the cog which breaks up and drops out, that's when rattling started. HB7s are a much better design. The bushes supplied would not fit (too small for the bored headstock holes) so I left the originals in. The 27:1 ratio is better, originals were 22:1 . If you want to adjust the small screw that adjusts the stiffness, it looks like a 1/16th Allen key is required.

[landwomble]

Thanks all. Looks like hb7s the way to go.

[Woodinblack]

So was it something that has got worse over time? I have the originals on my 70s CV, and I don't have any issues with them, they seem similar to the ones I have on my fender.

[pfretrock]

[quote name='landwomble' timestamp='1436907969' post='2822022']
Thanks all. Looks like hb7s the way to go.
[/quote]
See post #8, #13....

[landwomble]

Typo, hb1s!