Members buzzbass123 Posted October 11, 2005 Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 I'm looking for general tuning machine advice. I'm currently making a custom J-bass (light swamp ash body and maple neck). I'm interested in the Hipshot Ultralites but am afraid that the weight difference may adversely affect the overall tone. I've heard that heavier tuning machines will actually "remove" dead spots in the neck. I have a hard time believing this. My questions is: How does machine weight affect tuning, tone, etc.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheDarxide Posted October 11, 2005 Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 Sounds like crap to me. More weight at the headstock will affect the resonance of the instrument, kinda like the fat fingers or whatever it is that's marketed at guitarists. Although I doubt that you'd notice much difference to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members buzzbass123 Posted October 11, 2005 Author Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 ...and what about gear ratio? I'm guessing that the higher the ratio, the more precise the tuning. What's practicle though? Is there really a difference between 22:1 and 20:1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LanEvo Posted October 11, 2005 Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 Originally posted by buzzbass123 I'm interested in the Hipshot Ultralites but am afraid that the weight difference may adversely affect the overall tone. Ultralites are terrific tuning machines. They're very light (as you'd expect) and hold their tune very well. I have a set on my custom 5-string. I was originally going to get Sperzel locking tuners (which were all the rage at the time) but Sheldon Dingwall convinced me to try the ultralights. He sent me a set and I love them! Originally posted by buzzbass123 I've heard that heavier tuning machines will actually "remove" dead spots in the neck. I have a hard time believing this. My questions is: How does machine weight affect tuning, tone, etc.? Adding or removing weight from the neck will change the resonances. A wooden neck will pretty much always have dead spots somewhere. In theory, you can use weight at the headstock to move those deadspots around a bit. But, no, you can't categorically say that heavy machines will "remove dead spots." More important for me was having a balanced instrument. I can't stand neck dive...yet I want a reasonably lightweight bass. So, any weight you can remove from the headstock would be welcome. Emre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members buzzbass123 Posted October 11, 2005 Author Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 Thanks for the feedback on the Ultralites. They sound like a great option. With regards to "moving" the deadspots, is this something I can attempt with my current tuners? I guess my question is: Can you move the dead spots by adjusting your tuner position or are you locked into a set of dead spots based on your tuner make & model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LanEvo Posted October 11, 2005 Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 Originally posted by buzzbass123 With regards to "moving" the deadspots, is this something I can attempt with my current tuners? I guess my question is: Can you move the dead spots by adjusting your tuner position or are you locked into a set of dead spots based on your tuner make & model? It has more to do with weight than anything else. Years ago a company called "Fat Head" used to sell a weight you'd stick on the back of your headstock that was supposed to eliminate the common dead spots on P bass and J bass necks. I've never known anyone who used them. What you can try is hanging some light weights off the head of your bass to see if it makes a difference. Personally, I seriously doubt that a few ounces of weight will make any difference...but it's worth a try I suppose. Emre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gruven Posted October 11, 2005 Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 Originally posted by LanEvo What you can try is hanging some light weights off the head of your bass to see if it makes a difference. Personally, I seriously doubt that a few ounces of weight will make any difference...but it's worth a try I suppose.Emre This test won't work because the weight has to become part of the overall mass of the instument (headstock). The weight needs to be fastened securely. I once owned a MIJ 70's re-issue Jazz, that I put Hipshot nickel plated, classic style tuning gears on. I loved them; they were very well made. The gear ratio allowed more precise tuning but the extra mass (they were pretty chunky) did almost nothing for the classic dead spot. In theory, the additional weight should work against the 'dying note' because this problem is caused by the sympathetic (and opposite) vibration of the neck eliminating all but the higher harmonics of the note. The added mass changes the vibration slightly. Finer gears = Finer tuning and a little more turning when replacing strings. Coarser gears = Less turning and slightly less accurasy. More mass = ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knuckle_head Posted October 11, 2005 Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 Originally posted by Gruven More mass = ? = Better sustain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gruven Posted October 11, 2005 Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 Originally posted by knuckle_head = Better sustain That's one theory. A very popular one, I might add. I've owned light and heavy basses that both sustained very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knuckle_head Posted October 11, 2005 Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 Originally posted by Gruven I've owned light and heavy basses that both sustained very well. Rigidity and mass.... not much else will offer it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hawkhuff Posted October 11, 2005 Members Share Posted October 11, 2005 Originally posted by buzzbass123 I'm looking for general tuning machine advice. I'm currently making a custom J-bass (light swamp ash body and maple neck). I'm interested in the Hipshot Ultralites but am afraid that the weight difference may adversely affect the overall tone. I've heard that heavier tuning machines will actually "remove" dead spots in the neck. I have a hard time believing this. My questions is: How does machine weight affect tuning, tone, etc.? Sometimes to fix dead spots in a neck a luthier will put copper or brass plugs into a neck. Given this information, I would think that tuners will change the vibrational frequency of a neck to a degree but one tuner over another more than likely won't change the overall outcome. My $0.02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.