LeftyBassist.com

Reverse tuners-

I'm gonna blame this one on being lefty. The few times, long ago, that I recall reading or discussing this it was done from the perspective of a "righty" (of course) and was having to go go back and forth in my mind to compensate for the persons righty perspective, etc..

So what's the story on reverse tuners? Do they have anything to do with righty/lefty? Were they a factory mistake made long ago that caught on? Does it have something to do with reverse headstocks?

I've been under the impression for years it relates to which way the tuner increases/decreases string pitch?

Is that correct and if that's so, I've had basses that worked both ways and don't know which one was "reverse"

Vol. & Tone pots-

I know it's been discussed about changing values i.e. 500k or 250k, etc.

And I've had basses with each.

Talked about MUCH less is completely bypassing all the pots. P/U's are wired straight to the jack...

Anyone here experienced this?

I must be living under a rock - I don't know what you mean by a "reverse tuner".

As for pots, I've heard of p/u's being directly wired to the jack, but obviously then you can't control the volume, etc. from the guitar. I think the 'benefit' is that the fewer connections, the less chance for noise to creep in.

Well don't feel bad, the more I learn about bass stuff the more I realize I don't know much...



You would not have any volume or tone control but most of all it would sound very harsh and clanky. I'm sure it's been tried by every single tech guy who owns a soldering iron and works on guitars but no one ever thought it was a good idea...

Regarding your tuner question, I'm not sure to understand your question, but pretty much, if it is not a problem you have to deal with at the moment, don't worry about it! Keeping your brain focused on honing your bass skills is the best thing to do IMO.

Reverse tuners are simply regular tuners with knobs (not the string posts) turning in reverse direction. Fender used these a long time ago, and vintage bass nuts and those who want a historically correct reissue love them but to anyone else they don't offer anything extra.

This time: Fingerboards

I've just begun noticing some Fender-style aftermarket necks with fingerboards that extend a fret (maybe two) past the end of the neck on the heel end.

What is this really about?

I can't tell if this is just a gimmick or to skirt patents/lic. or if it's the "bonus" of extended range/playability that is touted.

Please share your understanding/opinion.

are we talking about head stock tuners? how is that possible? the direction you turn the peg is the direction the string will wined up to.
regardless of left\right up\down. i thought they just turned both ways. that's how it is on guitars any way.

The "reverse tuner" thing came from the original Kluson tuners Fender used to use back in the beginning.

If I recall correctly, the gears were originally machined so the tuner would turn clockwise when tightening the string... which makes perfect logical sense (to me, anyway)... but righties apparently felt it was uncomfortable to turn the peg that way to tighten, so they switched to a reverse thread, therefore screwing us... as usual.

My Fender Custom Shop '64 NOS Jazz Bass has Kluson "Reverse Tuners" on it, but they actually work perfectly on my bass since it's a lefty.

Would you post a close-up?

I need further explanation on this. what difference does it make? turn it counter clockwise and the string will be wound as well, just from the opposite side. out side inwards so to speak. is this a problem in bass? (I am a guitarist) does this cause the instrument to go out of tune?

For clarity -

there's only one way to wrap the string around the post and have the string sit in its nut slot...

Lefty bassist with 4-string Jazz bass strapped on... headstock is pointing out from right sight of the body....tuner shafts/heads are on top of headstock.....you want to tighten/sharp a string.....some tuners require clockwise turning, some require counter-clockwise....

I'm not sure which tuner is considered "Reverse"....

I've had Fenders (basses) do both...

I know that I prefer to turn clockwise to tighten. I think Addison is saying "reverse tuners" do it this way.

I've never seen an instrument in which the tuners can't do both. in most stringed instruments (that includes my charango and my violin)
what matters is how you turn it when you first insert the string. the thing can spin both ways either way you spin it will tighten a string.
but you live and you learn.

It'll spin both ways but it won't tighten both ways and be aligned thru the nut slot.

So, any of you have an overlapping fingerboard?

Like this?


I dig it, got mine from Warmoth.
As ya know the highest fret on a standard bass is Eb, that kinda sucks, this one has one extra fret, going to E.

Yeah, like that. I had to count the frets though as that overhead angle doesn't make it obvious.

Was the extra fret a feature you wanted and that's why you got it that way?

Shielding -

Does a Jazz bass's metal jackplate offer any advantage vs. a P's plastic? Or is the crucial element of shielding that which lines the routes themselves?

With Walmoth it is a no-charge option.

With Walmoth it is a no-charge option.

Somewhere in one of Rod's two forums he has a lengthy explanation on the reasoning behind using reverse or nonreverse tuners. Bottom line IIRC has to to with relieving strain on the wrist, which can be uncomfortable for some players.