LeftyBassist.com

Here's another interesting product that caught my eye. Wondered if anyone has any experience with these - it allows you to drop your E string to a D with a flip of the tuning peg. I have a DVD of John Entwistle performing in his later years and using a similar device to play "The Ox" while trading solos with his drummer - it's awesome. Is the Hipshot brand a reliable one, or are there other manufacturers of such a device that might be of a different quality?

in my biased opinion (I have an OEM arrangement with Hipshot), the Hipshot de-tuner is the best on the market.

for best performance you will need to fine tune the de-tuner adjustment so that you drop a precise 1/2 step (or whole step should you choose)

you will also need to practice playing a song and dropping the tuning where needed. after a while it becomes second nature to utilize the de-tuner ... and it may just be enough to eliminate the perceived need to move to a 5-string bass to cover a low E-flat or D

all the best,

R

I had one on my Stingray briefly. It was cool, and did work, but I never used it. I think it's now on Mystic Boo's Stingray.

I've used Hipshot detuners on a few of my basses for years. I love them, and they're especially useful for stubborn players like me who won't be playing a 5er anytime soon.

FYI, you can tune them lower than drop D if you desire.

Cool stuff! Thanks for the feedback. I'm really interested in installing one, and I'll let you know if I take the plunge.

Indeed it is. And I use it ALL the time. Thanks again, Andrew!

The Xtender is essential in my current band because we switch often between drop-D and E standard.

It's a bit of a hassle to initially set up, but once you've done it, it works beautifully. If you change gauges or switch to a different brand/type of string, you will need to make some minor adjustments.

I'd also suggest picking up a small container of Vaseline or other petroleum jelly, because you'll need to keep the contact point for the lever lubricated. Fortunately, you don't need to do this often (once every few months).