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Losing some weight

Kleingeld

Asked by Kleingeld,

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Kleingeld Member

Kleingeld

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I have a B8S I'm modifying to make it the kind of player I can use on a regular basis. One thing that will strike anyone when they pick a B8S up is, this thing is heavy! Has anyone successfully lightened theirs? Short of drilling a lot of holes (which I will not do), there's not a lot that can be done. I did switch the bass from active to passive, saving the weight of one whole 9 volt battery.

The only other thing I can come up with is changing the tuners for lighter weight ones. I've successfully done this on an old Fender Jazz of mine. I'm wondering if anyone as done this with a Hamer bass with worthwhile results?

Any other suggestions?

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Kleingeld Member

Kleingeld

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Next step is to find the right light weight replacement tuners. Schaller makes a light weight M4, but the screw hole points down rather than in the opposite direction from the tuning pegs as the stock Schallers do. Any suggestions?

JohnnyB Veteran HFCer

JohnnyB

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^ this (re: the strap)

I use Levy 4.5" wide padded leather straps:

http://www.amazon.com/Levys-Leathers-MSS2-4-BLK-Garment-Signature/dp/B000XPNWU2

My old Bs aren't so bad, but the Gibson Triumph that I also gig is a bit of a beefcake (~10.5 lbs). Those straps make a huge difference after holding that thing 4-5 hours.

That's a good start, but speaking of wide, padded Levy's, I have two of these, and they really distribute the weight. I have two collapsed discs in my lower neck, and I can play bass with these for hours.

mc2 Veteran HFCer

mc2

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Yeah, wide strap...although I've never thought the B8S was especially heavy.

Strap on a B12A for a set....and you will thank God you own a B8S (and wonder how the hell Tom Petersson is still walking upright after playing a B12A nightly for decades?)

But Hamers vary in weight widely....if you have a maple bodied B8S it might be heavier than some, especially some of the mahogany ones.

Swapping metal tuner buttons for bone or plastic ones will also help.

You can remove the four fat strings and extra tuners and just hum the root notes if you get real desperate...or play it as a piccolo bass thru an octave box to add the roots. :)

Send it to Murkat and have him slice open the back and chamber it some and glue it back together....That's my former black one with the ebony 'board, no? Would be easier to do that since it is black. That would take some pounds off....not sure how much it would change the tone though. but I wouldn't put an F hole/open sound hole cuz then you would be dealing with feedback.

Kleingeld Member

Kleingeld

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Yup, that's your bass. Fear not, it's well cared for and getting a lot of attention.

I can't imagine myself doing surgery on it. If after I replace the tuners (still looking for the right replacements) and the knobs (as you suggested) it's still heavy, my big fat strap and I are just going to have to suck it up. :^D

Kleingeld Member

Kleingeld

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Okay, I've searched the world over and there doesn't seem to be a light weight bass tuner that's the same configuration as the existing Schaller. As I said above, The difference is the location of the screw holes. There don't seem to be any light tuners were the screw hole points in the same direction as the stock Schallers do.

I've looked into Schaller, Gotoh, Grover, Hipshot, and MusicLily. Just about all require the addition of a new screw hole to anchor each tuner. There are a couple exceptions where, instead of a screw eye that extends from the tuner, has little anchors between the tuner and the headstock. It still requires the addition of little indents in the headstock, but no extra hole. Right now I'm thinking I'm going to go with this Schaller option:

http://www.allparts.com/TK-7971-010-Schaller-2x2-Lightweight-Keys-Chrome_p_4072.html

I'd value any advice or opinions before I pull the trigger.

cmatthes Veteran HFCer

cmatthes

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I would NOT change the tuners. Swapping out the tuner buttons to plastic, wood or some other lighter weight alternative shaves a considerable amount of weight off of an 8 String headstock - I think you'll be surprised. The Schaller buttons are also commonly available, so an easy fix.

Kleingeld Member

Kleingeld

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Great suggestion. Apparently, you can buy the lightweight tuner head separately: http://guitar-parts.biz/hp14638/Bass-Button-22-CH-11230200.htm?ITServ=C362c19bdX14852562e19X7b79. Unfortunately, the only place I've found to purchase them online are from European sources. Does anyone know of a U.S. source?

In looking for other alternatives, I've only found one place that will make you custom wooden tuner heads (also called tuner knobs or tuner buttons) for $35 each(!). Again, if anyone knows of any other sources, I'd be very grateful.

Kleingeld Member

Kleingeld

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Yup, I've found lots of sources too but, like the site you sent, they don't have tuner heads for bass, or if they do they're for Fender clover leaf style.

cmatthes Veteran HFCer

cmatthes

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Start with the M6 Style tuners first.

cynic Veteran HFCer

cynic

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Unfortunately, the only place I've found to purchase them online are from European sources. Does anyone know of a U.S. source?

If it's what you need, order it from Europe. If they don't ship to the US, reach out and see if you can get a member here to give you a hand.

Kleingeld Member

Kleingeld

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Last night I removed a tuner just to see how much weigh we're talking about here and what the potential weigh savings might be. My conclusion is that this is probably not worthwhile. At best, I'd only be able to shave a few ounces. The stock tuners really aren't that heavy. My previous frame of reference was tuners from a Fender Jazz, and those weigh a lot. The Schallers do not. Swapping out just the tuner heads would yield next to nothing. The real weigh is in the lug nut that anchors the tuner to the headstock. I've searched for a lower weight replacement for just that part from Schaller, but it doesn't seem to exist. In the end, I'm going to sit tight for now.

I will say that, having totally disassembled one of the Schaller tuners, they are beautifully made. When you have it down into its component parts you can really see how well designed and constructed they are. I've been a fan of Hipshot products for years, but looking at the Schallers you can see that they're just a tick more elegant in their design and build.

Swapping out the control knobs. Now THAT saved some weight!

JohnnyB Veteran HFCer

JohnnyB

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Sometimes it's not the loss of weight itself, but where that weight is. For neck-diving instruments, some people hang a bag of shot or washers from the bottom strap button to balance the instrument better. That's why tuners and tuner buttons can make such a difference--the leverage inherent in their position at the headstock.

Tres Aardvarks Veteran HFCer

Tres Aardvarks

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Sometimes it's not the loss of weight itself, but where that weight is.

This ^^^. Multiply the total weight savings of the different tuner heads by the length of the lever arm(the neck) from its pivot point (upper strap pin) to the center of the headstock. That's your effective change.

I played Randy's duotone(which had all 12 tuners switched courtesy of BCR Greg) at a guitar jam, and it balanced phenomenally on the strap.

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