Hipshot extender (GB7) for warwick bass, any issues?

jimbobothy

jimbobothy

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Hi all,
Just started to put on a GB7 on my Streamer Pro M 4 string and I am rather shocked by the poor quality of the thing. There is so much play in the shaft/gear interface I wondered if they made it wrong and the string post doesn't protrude as far as the standard Warwick tuners and in general it's pretty lame!
Has anyone else come across this or is this what I should have expected when paying what I think is way too much for a low quality product?
 
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I just got one for my birthday and found that the GB7 seems to have a VERY short string post. In the specs it says that the post is the same length as the Gotoh-style tuners that wicks come with but a little ruler time i worked out that the post IS the same length, but the base plate is on top of that, resulting in a post that is about 3-4mm too short.
♣♣♣♣ing clown shoes.
I'll install it anyway and see how it goes.
Heaps of other forumites seem to like it so i got one, I'm wondering if there is a different batch or model or something.......
or maybe Streamer headstocks are really thick or something.

Let me know if you work something out cuz I'm pretty annoyed at this thing.

Anyone else know how to have a non-♣♣♣♣ GB7 on a streamer?
 
Me again, got the thing on and tuned (after a bit of swearing and head scratching) Feels rock solid now and seems to work nicely. But it have the EXACT amount of room on the HS, any lower than D will be impossible. Not unhappy except i have to remember to cut my strings considerably shorter and to never do a gig with strings that haven't been broken in or the stretch will be a tuning nightmare.

One thing the little flathead screw it came with was made of some sort of plasticine. It wasn't even gripping the timber before it was stripped by me using TWO FINGERS on a tiny screwdriver. The original one fits fine tho so that is no issue. Hipshot may be getting some constructive criticisms from me regarding useless specs and sending crap screws with expensive hardware.

Next upgrade.....Preamp
 
I guess I should put it on then critique it, I just wasn't impressed at all considering the amount they charge for it. Thing is loads of peeps have them so perhaps they work well but are just made with poor manufacturing standards?
 
I think the loose feel to the parts pretty much disappears once you have string tension on it. It was strange, when i got mine on everything was kinda floppy until it was strung then everything locked in and it feels pretty good. The shaft gear movement should be able to be tightened by the little screw on the peg end. If you get it on and things still feel loose you might have a dud then, but get it on and try it out. It takes literally 5 minutes to swap it over and does o damage to the bass so its pretty risk free.I admit i was underwhelmed at first but i am coming around. The machine head itself seems pretty good, and if you don't like ti you can just not use the dropper or sell it on ebay.
 
the short shaft is bothersome...but much less of a problem if you use Warwick strings.
Also, be sure to lube the thing with Teflon grease.
 
I've got one on a Fortress MasterMan 4-Banger, and an FNA 5er. The 5er took some modification to let the Control Arm fit over the top of the "B" Tuner when activating.

The Shaft is the same length as stock, but the Hinge that the tuner now sits under takes up the 1/4" or so, which makes it seem shorter. (Hipshots explaination!) Spin it how you like, you get less shaft to wind your strings on!

But mine worked fine once I trweeked them...
 
Yeah they seem pretty good (spent a few hours last night bashing away on the LX. The flip is silent, no click, quite possible to use it mid-song). And i did hear Hipshot's explanation as Anthony said, And it's bollocks. True the shaft is the same length but the usable length is MUCH shorter. Only prob i have with it. Hipshot are just too slack to get custom machine heads made, it looks like a modded Gotoh (nothing wrong with gotoh hardware but it seems they should mod something with a longer shaft).

In conclusion: YAY GB7, BOOO short shaft. MEGA YAY to my new Streamer LX- damn they punch hard and slap sweet.
"That's all I have to say about vietnam." -Gump
 
Well I got over the poor manufacturing and decided to put it on, the ability to drop the tuning is nice but the quality of the product is awful, nuf said.

Thanks for your comments,

James.
 
Don't feel bad; all of the Hipshots I've had on Fender basses have had the exact same shaft issues. I wonder if Hipshot really only makes the back plates and gets the shafts made at the same place that the other tuners are made (hence the same shafts). I agree though, if this thing is supposed to be a direct replacement, it would be good if they took the extra couple of minutes to make sure that you don't have to do anything different when stringing up the bass.
 
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