WHUFC BASS Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 I'm in the market for a new 4-string which is unusual as I'm generally a five string player but there's some songs that are just easier (for me anyway) to play on a 4-string and was wondering if it's worth investing in a Hipshot Bass X-Tender in order to drop down to D (or it'll be Db in my case as we play in Eb for almost all our songs). Anybody using one? Good ... Bad ... Ugly ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollie 55 Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 2 minutes ago, WHUFC BASS said: I'm in the market for a new 4-string which is unusual as I'm generally a five string player but there's some songs that are just easier (for me anyway) to play on a 4-string and was wondering if it's worth investing in a Hipshot Bass X-Tender in order to drop down to D (or it'll be Db in my case as we play in Eb for almost all our songs). Anybody using one? Good ... Bad ... Ugly ? billy sheehan uses one he loves it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 It’s an amazing gadget and I used one for years, but I have to admit, once you learn how to drop tune by ear, it takes a short amount of time (or with a tuner of course). This is probably the reason why I would like a drop tuner, but in over 20 years since not having one, I’ve never needed it ha ha! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHUFC BASS Posted December 30, 2018 Author Share Posted December 30, 2018 2 minutes ago, Dood said: It’s an amazing gadget and I used one for years, but I have to admit, once you learn how to drop tune by ear, it takes a short amount of time (or with a tuner of course). This is probably the reason why I would like a drop tuner, but in over 20 years since not having one, I’ve never needed it ha ha! This is the dilema I'm having at the moment. Is it easier to just drop down using the tuning peg (by ear) or invest in a Hipshot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollie 55 Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Just now, WHUFC BASS said: This is the dilema I'm having at the moment. Is it easier to just drop down using the tuning peg (by ear) or invest in a Hipshot. hipshot is easier to drop down. then to retune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Just now, WHUFC BASS said: This is the dilema I'm having at the moment. Is it easier to just drop down using the tuning peg (by ear) or invest in a Hipshot. Well, the DTuner when set up properly will be super fast, no doubt. Though in any gig situation, if any of my band members need to say, change guitar or what have you, then it’s usually factored in to our performance to ensure there are no long pauses. That’s possibly something you could look in to if you end up not going for the DTuner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 D tuners are the bomb. I have them on everything (and that is too many). I even have one on my DB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny-79 Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, WHUFC BASS said: This is the dilema I'm having at the moment. Is it easier to just drop down using the tuning peg (by ear) or invest in a Hipshot. Drop it down by ear it’s much easier. I had a Hipshot D tuner and couldn’t get on with it. Lots of fiddling about setting it then I found that after a few back an forths I was needing to adjust it all again. Plus it’s extra weight on the headstock. Definatly not a fan Edited December 30, 2018 by danny-79 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Very useful bits of kit. After years of drop tuning by ear I can now do it in an instant, even mid-song. The only slight criticism is the sloppy thread on the adjuster screw - which was easily "locked" with a dab of clear nail varnish. It does make tuning up marginally more awkward as you need to drop it down and up to even out the tension, but not a major problem 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thodrik Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 2 hours ago, WHUFC BASS said: This is the dilema I'm having at the moment. Is it easier to just drop down using the tuning peg (by ear) or invest in a Hipshot. I have had this dilemma for ten years or more. I generally hit mute on my Boss tuner and then retune. It generally takes about 3-5 seconds and I never have needed to switch tunings in the middle of a song. Even if I had an extender I would still probably stop and check the tuning anyway so I don’t think an extender would save me any time in practical terms. I don’t do any session stuff, pit work, open mic nights or blues jams that require me to have access to standard tuning, drop D or songs in e flat tuning on the fly. If I did, an extender would probably be very handy, if just playing a five string is not an option. I have generally been in bands where the guitarists are checking tuning every other song and take far longer to switch to drop D (or equivalent) than it does for me to do the same on the bass, particularly if the guitarist is playing a Les Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHUFC BASS Posted December 30, 2018 Author Share Posted December 30, 2018 1 hour ago, danny-79 said: Plus it’s extra weight on the headstock. Ah ... now that would be a deal-breaker for me if that was the case. The last thing I'd need would be a bit of neck dive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) Excellent bits of kit imho - i have them on all my basses. We do a few specific songs and links that don't give me time to retune manually - i used to manage it but the detuner makes the whole process simple and fast. When set up and tuned correctly they are reliable - the only issue i've ever had was on a Spector Euro and now believe a snaggy nut (ooh missus...) was the culprit rather than the detuner. And the weight difference is miniscule - you're adding a thin plate, a little screw and a spring effectively. Try one - the best way to tell is to give it a go Oh and if anyone has a black GB7 one spare i'll have it off you for my new toy :-) Edited December 30, 2018 by Mudpup 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddycall Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 I had one on my Ibanez in my last band. Needed it for a few songs. Singer and guitarists would never factor in time for me to retune so the d tuner was awesome. Never had tuning issues, it was very reliable. As stated above you need to use iit whilst tuning up to make sure the strings settled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 The weight difference is negligible One other very minor aesthetic issue I've just thought of - mine is nickel plated rather than chrome like the rest of the tuners. Nobody has ever noticed it though and I don't give it a second thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) 7 hours ago, WHUFC BASS said: I'm in the market for a new 4-string which is unusual as I'm generally a five string player but there's some songs that are just easier (for me anyway) to play on a 4-string and was wondering if it's worth investing in a Hipshot Bass X-Tender in order to drop down to D (or it'll be Db in my case as we play in Eb for almost all our songs). Anybody using one? Good ... Bad ... Ugly ? Brilliant! I fitted one on Kert's Camphor single cut. I was dubious at first and surprised just how expensive they are but they are easy to fit and VERY easy to set up and use. I'd certainly use them again Edited December 30, 2018 by Andyjr1515 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 I use it on several songs and often change during the song. On Get lucky I have the E string set to D for the verse then flick it down to B for the chorus and back up to D again, We do the live version of Crazy in Love and I drop it do D when it goes into the Gnarls Barklay song Crazy then back up again. As long as you spend time adjusting it correctly when you fit it and tune it the way Hipshot tell you to tune it then they are very easy to use and a great alternative if you don't really need a 5 string bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineweasel Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Agree with all the positive comments above. Excellent, reliable devices. I have them on both my gigging basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 I had one on my Dingwall Super J that got stolen, but they are much more useful on 4s (need to get one for my Sadowsky). I have them on my acoustic guitars and sometimes change tuning mid song when I realise I want a nice deep low D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny-79 Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 4 hours ago, WHUFC BASS said: Ah ... now that would be a deal-breaker for me if that was the case. The last thing I'd need would be a bit of neck dive. If you have never tried one give it a go, mine retrofitted so no extra holes to drill or leave exposed when/if you take it off. I personally didn’t get on with it. Just a gadget to do a job that I can do with out one. There are enough people who do like them so guess they have a purpose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 Easy to fit, easy to use, minimal weight excess, keeps either tuning rock solid, you can set it to drop what you want, semi tone, tone etc. You can even get a double stop lever to drop it 2 tones. Nice bit of kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 I'd have them on all my basses but just too expensive for me for the benefit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 I’ve fitted them to every 4 string bass I have and many more previously. Fantastic piece of kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 Yep, I have one on all four of my main gigging basses. Essential kit. Just remember to flick the thing back up into tune for the next song, tho...I still forget... 😕🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 49 minutes ago, Muzz said: Yep, I have one on all four of my main gigging basses. Essential kit. Just remember to flick the thing back up into tune for the next song, tho...I still forget... 😕🙂 I've never done that........honestly.......;-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 Me neither...I believe it can happen, tho...😕😀 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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