Hipshot Ultralight regular clover keys vs. mini-clovers vs. stock NS Starfire Grover tuners

[lungimsam]

For reference.
Hipshot regular size clover keys vs. mini -clovers are in the pic with two headstocks.
Stock Grover’s are the single headstock pic. Hipshots are over 1/4 lb. lighter than stock Grover’s.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Back view?

 

[lungimsam]

The body assembly’s are the same. You need the 1/2” shaft version with 18mm bushings for the NS Bisonic Starfires. Tuners come stock with 17mm. You can add the 18mm to your cart from the accessories page.
You can see one of the red bass tuners tilted in its hole because of the gap from the 17mm bushing used. Back then they didn't sell 18mm bushngs, afaiknew. I have to get another set of 18mm to put on it. The green has the 18mm and they don't have any play at all.
The bushings are threaded cylinders that act as nuts that the tuner body receives. So even if you have the 17mm bushings you can tighten it enough that it won't move, but 18mm fits perfect so better use that then you don't have to tighten down too much. Gotta be prudent or you could pop the headstock if you tighten too much.
The Ultralight tuners sit inside the footprint of the Grover tuners so you can reverse the mod unnoticed if you want later.

 

[Nuuska]

. Hipshots are over 1/4 lb. lighter than stock Grover’s.

What are the actual weights ?

For a set of 4 tuners.

 

[lungimsam]

On my food scale:
218g for the Ultralights set - shiny nickel with mini-clovers.
228g for the Ultralights set - shiny nickel with regular sized clovers.
352g for the Grovers set. That's alot of weight to be out on the boom like that.

On paper the mini clovers were supposed to yeild a 60g weight savings over the ultralight regular clovers but in the real world, on my scale, it was only 10g.
Anyways, no more neck dive on my Starfires after installing. Praise the Lord, it worked out great!! Now I can play with the headstock as high as I like and it stays there. No more fighting to hold up the neck with my left hand while playing. I like the headstock at about the height of my shoulder to head when I play standing.

PS - these are all the USA made versions. The non-usa "licensed" versions are way less expensive but I would not hesitate to get them instead because my Gibson bass came with them stock and they are just as nice looking and functioning as the USA version.
TIP: email Hipshot and ask them if they can do a better price and they will. Substantially better. They did for me for all 4 sets I have bought from my basses over the years. They have always been very nice people to work with.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Thanks for response to my request for more PICs and for sharing other info.

 

[GGJaguar]

This is great info!