Anyone got Hipshot ultralight tuners on their Starfire bass?

lungimsam

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I want to get some but my holes in the headstock are 17mm which is. wider than the 3/8 and 1/2" bushings sizes ultralights come in.

What is the fix? How did you get them installed on your bass?

I remember once Hipshot made custom size bushings to fit another of my basses and I will see if they can do so for this bass. But if not, how did you get it done?
 

mgod

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I’ve got them on an M-85, but Rick Turner put them on.
 

AcornHouse

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The 3/8" and 1/2" sizes that Hipshot lists are not the bushing size, they are the shaft size that the string winds around. I just installed a set on the bass I built, and made that same mistake. I had to get a special, rather odd fractional size, drill bit for the holes. Off hand I can't remember what it was, but it was bigger than 1/2" for the 1/2" size.
 

mellowgerman

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Yes, I do think they offer the ultralights in the standard Fender tuning peg size, which is what I believe the NS basses have as well. I don't own one though, so don't quote me on that!
 

AcornHouse

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The 1/2” Hipshot tuners need a 21/32” hole, which is about 16mm.
 

twocorgis

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Don't have much to add here other than to say that I have them on my Casady bass along with a Supertone bridge (no more neck dive!), and on the J-neck that I installed on my '73 P-Bass, and I love them. Soon to be added to my GSR M85II bass, which has worse neck dive than the Casady, but is so light (6.2 pounds) that it's not as much of an issue.
 

lungimsam

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Thanks! Sounds like the 1/2” will work!!

Update: Hipshot said the bushings for 1/2” are 16mm so will fit my 17mm holes in the headstock.
 
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lungimsam

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Ultralights on.
Neck dive gone.
 
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